Smartphones have largely replaced digital compact cameras. Their sensors, lenses and image processing software have improved so dramatically that the best models can now easily replace an average compact camera. However, image quality still varies considerably between phones.
Below, we list the smartphones best suited to photography that performed particularly well in our extensive testing. At the end of this article, you will also find a wide selection of sample photos comparing camera smartphones.
| Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display | Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. 89.1%  |
Vivo X300 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
List Price: 1999€ | 232 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.82″ 3168×1440 510 PPI LTPO OLED |
90.7 % |
| 2. 88.1%  |
Vivo X300 Pro MediaTek Dimensity 9500 ⎘ Arm Mali G1- Ultra MC12 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
List Price: 1399€ | 226 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.78″ 2800×1260 453 PPI AMOLED |
90.3 % |
| 3. 88.9%  |
Oppo Find X9 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
List Price: 1699€ | 236 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.82″ 3168×1440 510 PPI AMOLED |
89.9 % |
| 4. 90.4%  |
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
Amazon: 1. $1,290.00 XIAOMI 17 Ultra Ai 5G (Compa… 2. $1,289.50 XIAOMI 17 Ultra Ai 5G (Compa… 3. $779.50 XIAOMI 17T PRO Ai 5G (Compat… List Price: 950€ |
224 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.90″ 2608×1200 416 PPI AMOLED |
89.3 % |
| 5. 87.7%  |
Oppo Find X9 Pro MediaTek Dimensity 9500 ⎘ Arm Mali G1- Ultra MC12 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
Amazon: 1. $1,909.00 OPPO Find X9 Pro Dual-SIM 51… 2. $1,034.08 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Un… 3. $1,949.00 OPPO Find X9 Ultra Dual-SIM … List Price: 1299€ |
224 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.78″ 2772×1272 450 PPI LTPO AMOLED |
87.7 % |
| 6. 89.8%  |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 4.x |
List Price: 1449€ | 214 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.90″ 3120×1440 498 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
87.5 % |
| 7. 87.9% |
Motorola Signature Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 829 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
List Price: 1000 Euro | 186 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.80″ 2780×1264 450 PPI AMOLED |
87.5 % |
| 8. 89.5% <img src="https://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_processed_/webp/Notebooks/Apple/Apple-iPhone-18-Pro-q82-w250-h.webp” alt=”Apple iPhone 18 Pro” loading=”lazy”> |
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Apple A20 Pro ⎘ Apple A20 Pro 7-core GPU ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe |
List Price: 1449€ | 211 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.30″ 2622×1206 458 PPI OLED |
87 % |
| 9. 89%  |
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB UFS 4.x |
Amazon: 1. $779.50 XIAOMI 17T PRO Ai 5G (Compat… 2. $779.50 XIAOMI 17T PRO Ai 5G (Compat… 3. $1,290.00 XIAOMI 17 Ultra Ai 5G (Compa… List Price: 940€ |
219 g | 1TB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.90″ 2608×1200 416 PPI AMOLED |
87 % |
| 10. 89.3%  |
Honor Magic8 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x |
Amazon: 1. $1,120.00 HONOR Magic8 Pro 5G BKQ-N49 … 2. $1,100.00 HONOR Magic8 Pro Dual-SIM 51… 3. $1,120.00 HONOR Magic8 Pro 5G BKQ-N49 … List Price: 1300€ |
219 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.71″ 2808×1256 458 PPI OLED |
86.6 % |
The table above lists the best camera smartphones tested by Notebookcheck in the last 12 months as well as other products that are relevant and still available. If several products have the same rating, the newer one will be listed higher. The prices shown are automatically updated daily and may change over time.
Link:all tested products in this class
In this month’s update, we welcome the iPhone 18 Pro to our list of the best camera smartphones. It replaces its predecessor, which remains worth considering for its camera capabilities.
The X300 Ultra is one of Vivo’s newest products developed in collaboration with Zeiss. In addition to arguably the best image processing algorithms in the smartphone world, the flagship phone features very large camera sensors, including one for the front camera. The ultra-wide-angle camera and the 200-MP telephoto camera rival the main camera in image quality.
Unlike its competitors, Vivo uses a considerably longer focal length of 35 mm for the main camera, giving photos a distinctive look with appealing depth of field.
Vivo’s X300 Ultra is one of the best camera smartphones of the year, and perhaps the best, for photo and video enthusiasts.
Thanks to its extra-bright, sharp OLED screen and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the X300 Ultra doesn’t disappoint in other areas, either. However, this comes at a price.
In Germany, the RRP of the Vivo X300 Ultra is 1,999 euros. When ordering from overseas, prices start at less than 1,000 euros (Trading Shenzhen link).
Vivo’s X300 Pro is a flagship camera phone with many premium features. Its extra-bright LTPO AMOLED display, ultra-fast ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and modern communication features, including a walkie-talkie function, give it plenty to offer.
In our testing, the X300 Pro proved to be an uncompromising camera flagship and a great buy for photo enthusiasts.
The flagship phone has a Zeiss triple-camera setup with a Sony main sensor. It takes very good photos, with strong low-light results thanks to a dedicated image processing chip.
The ultra-wide-angle and telephoto cameras also deliver high image quality. The optional teleconverter further expands the X300 Pro’s photographic capabilities, offering more flexibility than most rival phones.
In Germany, the X300 Pro is available directly from Vivo and from retailers such as Amazon.de.
The cameras developed by Oppo in collaboration with Hasselblad performed well in almost every respect in our tests. When it comes to focal length coverage, the X9 Ultra is currently the best option on the market. In addition to its 200-MP main camera, the flagship phone has an ultra-wide-angle camera and two telephoto cameras, offering lossless magnification of up to 10x.
The Find delivers excellent sharpness and dynamic range, while the main camera’s large aperture ensures excellent low-light performance. Oppo’s LUMO image processing with variable pixel binning further enhances detail.
With the Find X9 Ultra, Oppo shows what a flagship smartphone in 2026 should offer. The optional camera kit also gives the Android phone a more traditional camera experience.
If you are looking for a high-quality, high-end smartphone with a brilliant LTPO OLED display, a comprehensive feature set, powerful speakers and top performance, our review of the Find X9 Ultra is well worth reading.
The model has a recommended retail price of €1,699 in Germany. When ordering from overseas, prices for the Oppo flagship start at 1,030 euros at Trading Shenzhen.
The 17 Ultra is a high-end smartphone in a class of its own. In addition to super-thin display bezels, strong performance and an extra-bright OLED display, the flagship phone also boasts some of the best smartphone speakers.
Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra is an excellent product with one of the best camera setups on the market.
At the heart of the rear Summilux camera array is a 1-inch sensor, now equipped with LOFIC technology for improved dynamic range. The sensor, marketed as Light Hunter 1050L, or Light Fusion internationally, captures plenty of detail in high-contrast scenes, with appealing highlights and shadows. Even in poor lighting, the Xiaomi phone delivers highly detailed, sharp images.
Its two other Leica-branded cameras are also among the best in the smartphone world. These include a 200-MP telephoto camera with a Leica APO optical design and a high-resolution ultra-wide-angle camera that is also suitable for macro shots.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has an RRP of around 1,500 euros in the EU and is available directly from the manufacturer or from retailers such as Amazon.de.
Oppo’s Find X9 Pro sets the bar high. The successor to the mighty Find X8 Pro improves on its predecessor in many areas, with the new LUMO image processing showing particular promise.
The Find X9 Pro delivers strong photo quality and smart camera software.
The Hasselblad-branded rear camera system is particularly impressive thanks to its new 50-MP main sensor. This large stacked Sony sensor uses Hybrid Frame HDR to capture a particularly wide dynamic range. Its daylight photos look very good, with first-class dynamic range. A new 200-MP telephoto camera provides 3x optical zoom and captures plenty of detail in daylight.
The collaboration with Hasselblad brings familiar features to the Find X9 Pro, including XPan mode and Hasselblad Master mode with 16-bit RAW capture.
The X9 Pro is available in the EU at an RRP of 1,299 euros. For a lower price, the Chinese version is available from around 750 euros at Trading Shenzhen, with a language pack pre-installed.
While the S26 Ultra uses the same 200-MP main sensor as its predecessors, its f/1.4 aperture improves light sensitivity. Photo quality is among the best on the market, thanks in no small part to Samsung’s software, which adds versatility and expands shooting options.
The zoom cameras have received significant upgrades. The 5x optical zoom camera uses ALoP technology, while the 3x camera has a new sensor.
Samsung’s 2026 flagship offers a flexible camera system and good imaging performance.
Beyond its cameras, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a sophisticated high-end smartphone with new display privacy features that reliably restrict viewing angles when needed. It also retains the strengths of previous Ultra generations, including multiple years of updates, an integrated S Pen and great speakers.
In Germany, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is available in all color and memory/storage variants directly from the Samsung Store. Many configurations are also available from Amazon or MediaMarkt, among other retailers.
Motorola equips its Signature with four 50-MP cameras and highlights its use of Sony LYTIA sensors. The rear camera system takes very good pictures in daylight, with plenty of detail and excellent dynamic range. Colors also look very realistic.
The Motorola Signature stands out for its long software support and excellent camera setup.
The Signature is a powerful flagship smartphone that impresses with its slim yet robust body, very bright AMOLED screen and seven-year update guarantee.
It has an RRP of just under 1,000 euros in Germany and is available directly from Lenovo Germany or from retailers such as Amazon.de.
The iPhone 18 Pro impressed in our review with its new 48-MP camera, which features a variable aperture of f/1.48–f/4.0 and allows users to adjust background blur manually. Photo quality is very good. Otherwise, little has changed in the triple-camera system compared with the iPhone 17 Pro.
Alongside familiar formats such as ProRes and ProRAW, “Apple Reference Image” is now available for capturing unprocessed photos. Our measurements show good color accuracy in photos.
If you are looking for a compact camera powerhouse, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro delivers strong cameras in a handy form factor.
Beyond its cameras, Apple’s flagship stands out for the exceptional performance of the Apple A20 Pro, excellent stereo speakers and an extremely bright OLED panel.
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro has a recommended retail price starting at €1,449 and is available directly from the manufacturer or from online retailers, including nbb.com.
Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max has nearly everything most buyers could want from a flagship phone. Its huge battery provides excellent battery life, while a second display on the back makes it an ideal companion for selfie fans and vloggers.
The second OLED display lets you use the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s rear cameras for selfies.
Its rear camera system was developed in collaboration with Leica, with the Light Hunter 950L serving as the main camera sensor. Photos are highly detailed, with excellent dynamic range even in challenging conditions. All cameras on the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max have a resolution of 50 megapixels, including the ultra-wide-angle and telephoto cameras, and deliver solid results.
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is not officially sold in the EU at the time of writing, but it can be ordered from Asia-based e-commerce platforms such as TradingShenzhen, which provided our review unit, starting at approximately 890 euros.
The Magic8 Pro comes close to being a fully fledged flagship phone, impressing with its elegant finish, IP69K certification and bright LTPO OLED display. A Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers excellent performance, while an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and 3D face recognition provide extensive security features.
The Honor Magic8 Pro aims to be an all-rounder, with multiple years of updates included.
The Honor Magic8 Pro’s cameras impress with detailed photos and good stabilization. Its powerful periscope zoom camera, in particular, holds its own against those of other top camera smartphones.
In Germany, the Magic8 Pro can be ordered directly from Honor.
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Honor Magic6 Pro
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Comparison of older smartphones with great cameras
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Vivo X80 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
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Huawei P50 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Google Pixel 6
Canon EOS 90D
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Google Pixel 6 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Canon EOS 90D
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Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Apple iPhone 13
OnePlus 10 Pro
Canon EOS 600D
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Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Oppo Find X5 Pro
Honor Magic4 Pro
Canon EOS 90D
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Oppo Find X5 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Canon EOS 90D
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Huawei Mate Xs 2
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Honor Magic4 Pro
Canon EOS 90D
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Oppo Find X5 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Canon EOS 90D
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Vivo X80 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Canon EOS 90D
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Apple iPhone 14
Canon EOS 600D
Apple iPhone 13
Honor Magic4 Pro
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Samsung Galaxy S22+
Canon EOS 90D
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
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Marcus Herbrich (Update: 2026-10-18)
