Which smartphone has the best camera. Inexpensive smartphone with a good camera: phone rating

The only explanation more banal than this axiom is “the iPhone, it turns out, does not have a slot for a memory card.” But newbies continue to make mistakes when they fall for the number of megapixels in the camera, which means they have to repeat themselves.

Imagine a window - an ordinary window in a residential building or apartment. The number of megapixels is, roughly speaking, the number of glasses inside the window frame. If we continue to draw parallels with smartphones, in ancient times window glasses were the same size and were considered a scarce commodity. Therefore, when the so-called “Tolyan” said that he had 5 glasses (megapixels) in his window unit, everyone understood that Anatoly was a serious and wealthy person. And the characteristics of the window were also immediately clear - a good view to the outside of the house, a large glazing area.

A few years later, windows (megapixels) were no longer in short supply, so their number just needed to be increased to the required level, and that was it. Just adjust it to the area (a window for ventilation and a loggia, for the sake of strength, require a different number of windows) so that the camera produces a slightly denser picture than 4K monitors and TVs produce. And finally deal with other characteristics - for example, combat clouding of glass and image distortion. Teach cameras to focus correctly and paint available megapixels efficiently, if you want specifics.

On the right there are more “megapixels”, but they do not provide anything other than “obstacles” with the same “sensor” area

But people are already accustomed to measuring the quality of cameras in megapixels, and sellers happily indulged this. Therefore, the circus with a huge amount of glass (megapixels) in the same frame dimensions (camera matrix dimensions) continued. As a result, today the pixels in smartphone cameras, although they are not “packed” with the density of a mosquito net, the “deglazing” has become too dense, and over 15 megapixels in smartphones almost always spoil rather than improve photographs. This has never happened before, and now it turns out again that it’s not size that matters, but skill.

At the same time, the “evil,” as you understand, is not the megapixels themselves - if tons of megapixels were spread out on a fairly large camera, they would benefit the smartphone. When a camera is able to unleash the potential of all megapixels on board, and not “smear” them in large quantities when shooting, the photo can be enlarged, cropped, and it will remain of high quality. That is, no one will understand that this is just a fragment of a larger picture. But now such miracles are found only in “correct” SLR and mirrorless cameras, in which the matrix alone (a microcircuit with photo sensors, onto which the image flies through the “glasses” of the camera) is much larger than the assembled smartphone camera.

“Evil” is the tradition of putting a clip of megapixels into tiny cell phone cameras. This tradition brought nothing but a blurry picture and an excess of digital noise (“peas” in the frame).

Sony piled 23 megapixels where competitors put 12-15 megapixels, and paid for it with a decrease in picture clarity. (photo - manilashaker.com)

For reference: in the best camera phones of 2017, the main rear cameras (not to be confused with the b/w additional ones) all operate with a “pathetic” 12-13 megapixels. In photo resolution it is approximately 4032x3024 pixels - enough for a Full HD (1920x1080) monitor, and for a 4K (3840x2160) monitor too, albeit back to back. Roughly speaking, if a smartphone camera has more than 10 megapixels, their number is no longer important. Other things are important.

How to determine that a camera is of high quality before looking at photos and videos from it

Aperture - how wide the smartphone “opened its eyes”

The squirrel eats nuts, deputies eat people’s money, and cameras eat light. The more light, the higher the quality of the photo and the more details. But you can’t get enough sunny weather and studio-style bright lighting for any occasion. Therefore, for good photos indoors or outdoors in cloudy weather/at night, cameras are designed in such a way that they produce a lot of light even in unfavorable conditions.

The easiest way to get more light to reach the camera sensor is to make the hole in the lens larger. The indicator of how wide the “eyes” of the camera are open is called aperture, aperture, or aperture ratio - these are the same parameter. And the words are different so that reviewers in articles can show off incomprehensible terms for as long as possible. Because, if you don’t show off, the aperture can simply be called, excuse me, a “hole,” as is customary among photographers.

The aperture is indicated by a fraction with an f, a slash and a number (or with a capital F and no fraction: for example, F2.2). Why

So - it’s a long story, and that’s not the point, as Rotaru sings. The point is this: the smaller the number after the letter F and the slash, the better the camera in the smartphone. For example, f/2.2 in smartphones is good, but f/1.9 is better! The wider the aperture, the more light enters the matrix and the better the smartphone “sees” (takes better photos and videos) at night. The bonus of a wide aperture comes with beautiful background blur when you photograph flowers up close, even if your smartphone does not have a dual camera.

Melania Trump explains what different apertures look like in smartphone cameras

Before buying a smartphone, don’t be lazy to check how “sighty” its rear camera is. If you have your eye on the Samsung Galaxy J3 2017, search for “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture”, “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture” or “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture” to find out the exact number. If the smartphone you have your eye on doesn’t know anything about the aperture, there are two options:

  • The camera is so bad that the manufacturer decided to remain silent about its characteristics. Marketers engage in approximately the same rudeness when, in response to “what processor is in the smartphone?” they answer “quad-core” and do their best to avoid disclosing the specific model.
  • The smartphone has just gone on sale and no specifications other than those in the advertising announcement have been released yet. Wait a couple of weeks - usually during this time the details will be released.

What should the aperture be in the camera of a new smartphone?

In 2017-2018 Even a budget model should have at least an f/2.2 rear camera. If the number in the denominator of this fraction is larger, get ready for the camera to see the picture as if through darkened glasses. And in the evening and at night she will be “low-blind” and will be able to see almost nothing even at a distance of several meters from the smartphone. And don’t rely on brightness adjustments - in a smartphone with f/2.4 or f/2.6, an evening photograph with a programmatically “tightened” exposure will turn out to be a “rough mess,” while a camera with f/2.2 or f/2.0 will take a higher-quality photo without tricks.

The wider the aperture, the higher the quality of shooting on a smartphone camera

The coolest smartphones today have cameras with an aperture of f/1.8, f/1.7 or even f/1.6. The aperture itself does not guarantee the maximum quality of pictures (the quality of the sensor and the “glass” has not been canceled) - this, to quote photographers, is just a “hole” through which the camera looks at the world. But all other things being equal, it is better to choose smartphones in which the camera does not “squint”, but receives an image with “eyes” wide open.

Matrix (sensor) diagonal: the larger the better

The matrix in a smartphone is not the matrix where people with complex muzzles in black cloaks dodge bullets. In mobile phones, this word means a photocell... in other words, a plate on which a picture flies through the “glasses” of the optics. In old cameras, the picture flew to the film and was saved there, and the matrix instead accumulates information about the photograph and sends it to the smartphone processor. The processor forms all this into the final photo and stores the files in internal memory or on microSD.

There is only one thing you need to know about the matrix - it should be as large as possible. If the optics is a water hose, and the diaphragm is the neck of a container, then the matrix is ​​the same reservoir for water, of which there is never enough.

The dimensions of the matrix are usually measured in inhuman, from the bell tower of ordinary buyers, Vidicon inches. One such inch is equal to 17 mm, but cameras in smartphones have not yet grown to such dimensions, so the diagonal of the matrix is ​​denoted by a fraction, as is the case with the aperture. The smaller the second digit in the fraction (divisor), the larger the matrix -> the cooler the camera.

Is it clear that nothing is clear? Then just remember these numbers:

A budget smartphone will take good photographs if its matrix size is at least 1/3" and the camera resolution is no higher than 12 megapixels. More megapixels means lower quality in practice. And if there are less than ten megapixels, the photo will be visible on good large monitors and TVs look loose, simply because they have fewer dots than the height and width of your monitor screen.

In mid-class smartphones, a good matrix size is 1/2.9” or 1/2.8”. If you find a larger one (1/2.6” or 1/2.5”, for example), consider yourself very lucky. In flagship smartphones, a good tone is a matrix measuring at least 1/2.8”, and better – 1/2.5”.

Smartphones with large sensors take better pictures than models with small photocells

Can it get any cooler? It happens - look at 1/2.3” in Sony Xperia XZ Premium and XZ1. Why then don’t these smartphones set records for photo quality? Because the camera’s “automation” constantly makes mistakes with the selection of settings for shooting, and the camera’s reserve of “clarity and vigilance” is spoiled by the number of megapixels - in these models they piled up 19 instead of the standard 12-13 megapixels for new flagships, and the fly in the ointment crossed out the advantages of the huge matrix.

Are there smartphones in nature with a good camera and less harsh characteristics? Yes - look at the Apple iPhone 7 with its 1/3" at 12 megapixels. On the Honor 8, which has 1/2.9" with the same number of megapixels. Magic? No - just good optics and perfectly “polished” automation, which takes into account the potential of the camera as well as tailored trousers take into account the amount of cellulite on the thighs.

But there is a problem - manufacturers almost never indicate the size of the sensor in the specifications, because these are not megapixels, and you can embarrass yourself if the sensor is cheap. And in reviews or descriptions of smartphones in online stores, such camera characteristics are even less common. Even if you choose a smartphone with an adequate number of megapixels and a promising aperture value, there is a chance you will never know the size of the rear photosensor. In this case, pay attention to the latest characteristic of smartphone cameras, which directly affects the quality.

Better few large pixels than many small ones

Imagine a sandwich with red caviar, or take a look at it if you don’t remember what such delicacies look like. Just as the eggs in a sandwich are distributed over a piece of loaf, the area of ​​the camera sensor (camera matrix) in a smartphone is occupied by light-sensitive elements - pixels. There are, to put it mildly, not a dozen, or even a dozen, of these pixels in smartphones. One megapixel is 1 million pixels; typical smartphone cameras from 2015-2017 have 12-20 megapixels.

As we have already figured out, containing an excessive number of “blanks” on a smartphone’s matrix is ​​detrimental to photographs. The efficiency of such a crowd is similar to that of specialized teams of people replacing a light bulb. Therefore, it is better to observe a smaller number of smart pixels in a camera than a larger number of stupid ones. The larger each of the pixels in the camera, the less “dirty” the photos are, and the less “jumpy” the video recording becomes.

Large pixels in the camera (photo below) make evening and night shots better quality

The ideal smartphone camera consists of a large “foundation” (matrix/sensor) with large pixels on it. But no one is going to make smartphones thicker or dedicate half of the body at the back for the camera. Therefore, the “development” will be such that the camera does not stick out from the body and does not take up much space, the megapixels are large, even if there are only 12-13 of them, and the matrix is ​​as large as possible to accommodate them all.

The size of a pixel in a camera is measured in micrometers and is designated as µm in Russian or µm in Latin. Before you buy a smartphone, make sure that the pixels in it are large enough - this is an indirect sign that the camera takes good pictures. You type into the search, for example, “Xiaomi Mi 5S µm” or “Xiaomi Mi 5S µm” - and you are pleased with the camera characteristics of the smartphone that you have noticed. Or you get upset - it depends on the numbers you see as a result.

How big should a pixel be in a good camera phone?

In recent times, it has become especially famous for its pixel sizes... Google Pixel is a smartphone that was released in 2016 and “showed Kuzkin’s mother” to competitors due to the combination of a huge (1/2.3”) matrix and very large pixels of the order of 1.55 microns. With this set, he almost always produced detailed photographs even in cloudy weather or at night.

Why don’t manufacturers “cut” the megapixels in the camera to a minimum and place a minimum of pixels on the matrix? Such an experiment has already happened - HTC in the flagship One M8 (2014) made the pixels so huge that the rear camera could fit... four of them on a 1/3” matrix! Thus, One M8 received pixels measuring as much as 2 microns! As a result, the smartphone “torn” almost all competitors in terms of the quality of images in the dark. Yes, and photographs in a resolution of 2688x1520 pixels were enough for Full HD monitors of that time. But the HTC camera did not become an all-round champion, because the Taiwanese were let down by HTC’s color accuracy and “stupid” shooting algorithms that did not know how to “correctly prepare” the settings for a sensor with unusual potential.

Today, all manufacturers have gone crazy with the race for the largest pixels, so:

  • In good budget camera phones, the pixel size should be 1.22 microns or more
  • In flagships, pixels ranging in size from 1.25 microns to 1.4 or 1.5 microns are considered good form. More is better.

There are few smartphones with a good camera and relatively small pixels, but they exist in nature. This, of course, is the Apple iPhone 7 with its 1.22 microns and OnePlus 5 with 1.12 microns - they “come out” due to very high-quality sensors, very good optics and “smart” automation.

Without these components, small pixels ruin the photo quality in flagship smartphones. For example, in the LG G6, the algorithms create obscenities when shooting at night, and the sensor, although ennobled with good “glasses,” is cheap in itself. IN

As a result, 1.12 microns always spoil night shots, except when you enter into battle with “manual mode” instead of stupid automation and correct its flaws yourself. The same picture prevails when shooting on a Sony Xperia XZ Premium or XZ1. And in the masterpiece, “on paper”, the Xiaomi Mi 5S camera is hampered from competing with the flagships of the iPhone and Samsung by the lack of optical stabilization and the same “crooked hands” of the algorithm developers, which is why the smartphone copes well with shooting only during the day, but not at night very impressive.

To make it clear how much to weigh in grams, take a look at the characteristics of the cameras in some of the best camera phones of our time.

Smartphone Number of megapixels of the “main” rear camera Matrix diagonal Pixel size
Google Pixel 2 XL 12.2 MP1/2.6" 1.4 µm
Sony Xperia XZ Premium 19 MP1/2.3" 1.22 µm
OnePlus 5 16 MP1/2.8" 1.12 µm
Apple iPhone 7 12 MP1/3" 1.22 µm
Samsung Galaxy S8 12 MP1/2.5" 1.4 µm
LG G6 13 MP1/3" 1.12 µm
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 12 MP1/2.55" 1.4 µm
Huawei P10 Lite/Honor 8 Lite 12 MP1/2.8" 1.25 µm
Apple iPhone SE 12 MP1/3" 1.22 µm
Xiaomi Mi 5S 12 MP1/2.3" 1.55 µm
Honor 8 12 MP1/2.9" 1.25 µm
Apple iPhone 6 8 MP1/3" 1.5 µm
Huawei nova 12 MP1/2.9" 1.25 µm

What type of autofocus is best?

Autofocus is when a mobile phone “focuses” on its own while taking photos and videos. It is needed so as not to change the settings “for every sneeze”, like a gunner in a tank.

In old smartphones and modern Chinese “state-priced” phones, manufacturers use contrast autofocus. This is the most primitive method of focusing, which focuses on how light or dark it is “straight ahead” in front of the camera, like a half-blind person. That’s why cheap smartphones need about a couple of seconds to focus, during which it’s easy to “miss” a moving object, or stop wanting to shoot what you were going to do because “the train has left.”

Phase autofocus “catches light” across the entire area of ​​the camera sensor, calculates at what angle the rays enter the camera and draws conclusions about what is “in front of the smartphone’s nose” or a little further away. Due to its “intelligence” and calculations, it works very quickly during the day and does not annoy you at all. Common in all modern smartphones, except very budget ones. The only drawback is working at night, when the light enters into the narrow hole of the mobile phone’s aperture in such small portions that the smartphone “breaks the roof” and it constantly fidgets with focusing due to a sudden change in information.

Laser autofocus is the most chic! Laser rangefinders have always been used to “throw” a beam over a long distance and calculate the distance to an object. LG in the G3 smartphone (2014) taught this “scanning” to help the camera quickly focus.

Laser autofocus is amazingly fast even in indoor or dim environments

Take a look at your wristwatch... although, what am I talking about... okay, turn on the stopwatch on your smartphone and appreciate how quickly one second passes. Now mentally divide it by 3.5 - in 0.276 seconds, the smartphone receives information about the distance to the subject and reports this to the camera. Moreover, it does not lose speed either in the dark or in bad weather. If you plan to shoot photos and videos up close or at a short distance in low light, a smartphone with laser autofocus will be a big help.

But keep in mind that cell phones are not Star Wars weapons, so the range of the laser in the camera barely jumps a couple of meters. Everything that is further away is viewed by the mobile phone using the same phase autofocus. In other words, to photograph objects from afar, it is not necessary to look for a smartphone with “laser guidance” in the camera - you will not get much use from such a function in general shots of photos and videos.

Optical stabilization. Why is it needed and how does it work

Have you ever driven a car with leaf spring suspension? On army UAZs, for example, or ambulances with the same design? In addition to the fact that in such cars you can “beat off the butt,” they shake incredibly - the suspension is as rigid as possible so as not to fall apart on the roads, and therefore it tells passengers everything that it thinks about the road surface, frankly and not “spring” (because that there is nothing to spring with).

Now you know how a smartphone camera without optical stabilization feels when you try to take a photo.

The problem with shooting with a smartphone is this:

  • The camera needs a lot of light to take good photos. Not direct rays of the sun into the “face”, but diffuse, ubiquitous light around.
  • The longer the camera “examines” the image during the photo, the more light it captures = the higher the quality of the picture.
  • At the time of shooting and these camera “peeps”, the smartphone must be motionless so that the picture does not get “smeared”. If it moves even a fraction of a millimeter, the frame will be ruined.

And human hands are shaking. This is clearly noticeable if you lift with outstretched arms and try to hold a barbell, and less noticeable when you hold a cell phone in front of you to take a photo or video. The difference is that the barbell can “float” in your hands within wide limits - as long as you don’t touch it against a wall, a neighbor, or drop it on your feet. And the smartphone needs to have time to “grab” the light for the photo to come out successful, and do this before it deviates a fraction of a millimeter in your hands.

Therefore, the algorithms try to please the camera and not put increased demands on your hands. That is, they tell the camera, for example, “so, 1/250th of a second you can shoot, this is enough for the photo to be more or less successful, and taking a shot before the camera moves to the side is also enough.” This thing is called endurance.

How optical stabilization works

What does optostab have to do with it? So, after all, he is the “depreciation” with which the camera does not shake like the body of army trucks, but “floats” within small boundaries. In the case of smartphones, it does not float in water, but is held by magnets and “fidgets” at a short distance from them.

That is, if the smartphone moves a little or shakes during shooting, the camera will shake much less. With such insurance, a smartphone will be able to:

  • Increase the shutter speed (the guaranteed time “to see the picture before the photo is ready”) for the camera. The camera receives more light, sees more image details = the quality of the photo during the day is even higher.
  • Capture clear photos on the move. Not during an off-road sprint, but while walking or from the window of a shaking bus, for example.
  • Compensate for shaking in video recordings. Even if you stomp your feet very sharply or sway slightly under the weight of the bag in your second hand, this will not be as noticeable in the video as in smartphones without an optical stabilizer.

Therefore, optostab (OIS, as it is called in English) is an extremely useful thing in a smartphone camera. It’s also possible without it, but it’s sad - the camera must be of high quality “with a margin”, and the automation will have to shorten (worse) the shutter speed, because there is no insurance against shaking in a smartphone. When shooting video, you have to “move” the image on the fly so that the shaking is not visible. This is akin to how in old movies they simulated the speed of a moving car when it was actually standing still. The only difference is that in films these scenes were filmed in one take, and smartphones have to calculate the shaking and deal with it on the fly.

There are vanishingly few smartphones with a good camera, which without stabilization takes pictures no worse than competitors with stabilization - these are, for example, Apple iPhone 6s, the first generation of Google Pixel, OnePlus 5, Xiaomi Mi 5s and, with some stretch, Honor 8/ Honor 9.

What not to pay attention to

  • Flash. Useful only when shooting in pitch darkness, when you need to take a photo at any cost. As a result, you see the pale faces of people in the frame (all of them, because the flash is low-power), eyes squinted from the bright light, or a very strange color of buildings/trees - photographs with a smartphone flash definitely do not carry any artistic value. As a flashlight, the LED near the camera is much more useful.
  • Number of lenses in the camera. “Before, when I had 5 Mbps internet, I wrote an essay in a day, but now, when I have 100 Mbps, I write it in 4 seconds.” No, guys, it doesn't work like that. It doesn’t matter how many lenses there are in a smartphone, it doesn’t matter who released them (Carl Zeiss, judging by the quality of the new Nokia cameras, too). Lenses are either high quality or not, and this can only be verified with real photographs.

The quality of the “glass” (lenses) affects the quality of the camera. But the quantity is not

  • Shooting in RAW. If you don’t know what RAW is, I’ll explain:

JPEG is the standard format in which smartphones record photos; it is a “ready-to-use” photo. Like the Olivier salad on a festive table, you can take it apart “into its components” in order to transform it into another salad, but it won’t turn out to be of very high quality.

RAW is a hefty file on a flash drive, in which all brightness, clarity and color options for a photograph are sewn in its pure form, in separate “lines”. That is, the photo will not be “covered with small dots” (digital noise) if you decide to make it not as dark as it turned out to be in JPEG, but a little brighter, as if you had set the brightness correctly at the time of shooting.

In short, RAW allows you to “Photoshop” a frame much more conveniently than JPEG. But the catch is that flagship smartphones almost always select the settings correctly, so apart from the smartphone’s RAW memory being polluted with “heavy” photos, there will be little benefit from “Photoshopped” files. And in cheap smartphones, the camera quality is so bad that you will see poor quality in JPEG, and equally poor quality in RAW. Don't bother.

  • Camera sensor name. They were once super important because they were the “quality mark” of a camera. The size of the matrix, the number of megapixels and pixel size, and minor “family characteristics” of shooting algorithms depend on the model of the camera sensor (module).

Of the “big three” manufacturers of camera modules for smartphones, the highest quality modules are produced by Sony (we do not take into account individual examples, we are talking about the average temperature in a hospital), followed by Samsung (Samsung sensors in Samsung Galaxy smartphones are even better than the coolest Sony sensors, but “on the side” the Koreans are selling something absurd), and finally, the last of the list is OmniVision, which produces “consumer goods, but tolerable.” Intolerant consumer goods are produced by all other basement Chinese companies, the name of which even the manufacturers themselves are ashamed to mention in the characteristics of smartphones.

8 - execution option. Do you know how this happens in cars? The minimum configuration is with “cloth” on the seats and a “wooden” interior, the maximum is with artificial suede seats and a leather dashboard. For buyers, the difference in this figure means little.

Why, after all this, should you not pay attention to the sensor model? Because with them the situation is the same as with megapixels - Chinese “alternatively gifted” manufacturers are actively purchasing expensive Sony sensors, trumpeting at every corner “our smartphone has a super-high-quality camera!”... and the camera is disgusting.

Because the “glass” (lenses) in such mobile phones is of appalling quality and transmits light a little better than a plastic soda bottle. Because of these same bastard “glasses,” the camera aperture is far from ideal (f/2.2 or even higher), and no one is tuning the sensor so that the camera selects the colors correctly, works well with the processor, and doesn’t spoil the pictures. Here is a clear example that the sensor model has little effect:

As you can see, smartphones with the same camera sensor can shoot completely differently. So don't think that the cheap Moto G5 Plus with IMX362 module will shoot as well as the HTC U11 with its amazingly cool camera.

Even more annoying is the “noodle on the ears” that Xiaomi puts on the ears of buyers when it says that “the camera in Mi Max 2 is very similar to the camera in the flagship Mi 6 - they have the same IMX386 sensors! They are the same, but the smartphones shoot very differently, the aperture (and therefore the ability to shoot in low light) is different, and the Mi Max 2 cannot compete with the flagship Mi6.

  1. The additional camera “helps” take photos at night with the main one and can take black and white photos. The most famous smartphones with such camera implementations are Huawei P9, Honor 8, Honor 9, Huawei P10.
  2. The secondary camera allows you to “shove in the impossible,” that is, it takes pictures with an almost panoramic viewing angle. The only proponent of this type of camera was and remains LG - starting with the LG G5, continuing with the V20, G6, X Cam and now the V30.
  3. Two cameras are needed for optical zoom (zooming in without losing quality). Most often, this effect is achieved by simultaneous operation of two cameras at once (Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8), although there are models that, when zoomed in, simply switch to a separate “long-range” camera - ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, for example.

How to choose a high-quality selfie camera in a smartphone?

Best of all - based on examples of real photographs. Moreover, both during the day and at night. During the day, almost all selfie cameras produce good photos, but only high-quality front-facing cameras are capable of shooting something legible in the dark.

It is not necessary to study the vocabulary of photographers and go deeper into what this or that characteristic is responsible for - you can simply memorize the numbers “this much is good, but if the number is higher, it is bad” and choose a smartphone much faster. For an explanation of terms, welcome to the beginning of the article, and here we will try to derive the formula for a high-quality camera in smartphones.

Megapixels No less than 10, no more than 15. Optimal - 12-13 MP
Diaphragm(aka aperture, aperture) for budget smartphones- f/2.2 or f/2.0 for flagships: minimum f/2.0 (with rare exceptions - f/2.2) optimal - f/1.9, f/1.8 ideal - f/1.7, f/1.6
Pixel size (µm, µm) the higher the number, the better for budget smartphones- 1.2 microns and above for flagships: minimum - 1.22 microns (with rare exceptions - 1.1 microns) optimal - 1.4 microns ideal - 1.5 microns and above
Sensor (matrix) size the smaller the number in the fraction divisor, the better for budget smartphones - 1/3” for flagships: minimum - 1/3” optimal - 1/2.8” ideal - 1/2.5”, 1/2.3”
Autofocus contrast - so-so phase - good phase and laser - excellent
Optical stabilization very useful for shooting on the go and night photography
Dual camera one good camera is better than two bad ones, two average quality cameras are better than one average one (brilliant wording!)
Sensor (module) manufacturer not specified = most likely there is some junk inside OmniVision - so-so Samsung in non-Samsung smartphones - ok Samsung in Samsung smartphones - excellent Sony - good or excellent (depending on the integrity of the manufacturer)
Sensor model a cool module does not guarantee high quality shooting, but in the case of Sony, pay attention to sensors IMX250 and higher, or IMX362 and higher

I don't want to understand the characteristics! Which smartphone to buy with good cameras?

Manufacturers produce countless smartphones, but among them there are very few models that can take good photographs and shoot videos.

For many users, the quality of images obtained using a smartphone camera is extremely important. Many are even willing to overpay for the camera. Which smartphones have the best camera? Let's try to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, the company's previous flagships (more on them below) set a very high bar when it comes to the quality of the resulting photos. The main emphasis in the new Galaxy S8 was on an unusual design, but the rear camera, according to some sources, remained the same as on the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge.

However, there are also updates. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S8 (and the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus - versions with a larger display) should produce fewer blurry frames due to the new multi-frame technology. In addition, the camera has been improved by software, which is confirmed by numerous photographs on the Internet.

Conclusion? Samsung Galaxy S8 is a smartphone with perhaps the best camera on the market.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.8 inches
  • Screen resolution: 2960×1440
  • Weight: 155 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 2
  • Processor: Samsung Exynos 8895
  • Memory capacity: 64 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: yes
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

Samsung Galaxy S7 (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge)

The Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone and its “big brother” Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge received a 12 MP camera. It is worth noting that until this point, Samsung’s flagship smartphones traditionally took first place in the ratings, but now the Korean company has shown a completely new level of shooting quality.

The Sony IMX260 sensor is used here - an updated version of the IMX240. For faster focusing, Dual Pixel technology is used, which is used in some DSLR cameras. The pixel size is 1.4 microns, there is optical image stabilization, and the lens aperture has increased to f/1.7. All this is complemented by an LED flash.

As a result, it’s one of the best cameras on the market (after the Galaxy S8). As experts say, this is not yet at the level of “DSLRs,” but with this camera you can take extremely high-quality photographs. This means that with the development of current technologies, we will soon see pictures from smartphones that will compete in quality with DSLRs. We wait.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches
  • Screen resolution: 2560×1440
  • Weight: 157 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 2
  • Processor: Samsung Exynos 8890
  • Memory capacity: 32 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Battery capacity: 3600 mAh
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: yes
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

iPhone 7 (iPhone 7 Plus)

Not long ago, Apple introduced a new generation of iPhone smartphones, showing two models at once - 7 and 7 Plus, one smaller, the other larger. But in fact, there are more differences between them and one of the main ones is that the 7 Plus is equipped with a dual camera module! But first things first.

The resolution of the main camera is 12 MP, the wide-angle lens consists of six lenses. Aperture - f/1.8 versus f/2.2 in the previous model, optical stabilization, a new processor for image processing. The 7 Plus uses a second camera with a focal length of 56 mm and an f/2.8 aperture, which allows you to zoom 2x without losing quality.

In fact, both the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7 shoot at the same, very cool level. Apple is better in some ways, Samsung is better in others. For example, according to reviews, the Galaxy S7 listens better indoors, while the iPhone 7 listens better in sunlight.


  • Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches
  • Screen resolution: 1920×1080
  • Weight: 188 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 1
  • Processor: Apple A10 Fusion
  • Memory capacity: 32 GB
  • RAM capacity: 3 GB
  • Battery capacity: 2900 mAh
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: no
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

LG G6

The new flagship from LG, like its predecessor, has a dual camera module - one with a standard focal length and the other with a wide-angle one. Both cameras are Sony IMX258, while the main lens has phase detection autofocus and optical stabilization, but does not have laser focusing.

Based on reviews and photographs, it is clear that LG has presented an excellent camera. The cameras performed especially well during the day, although the new ones produce decent quality pictures.

By the way, don't forget that the LG G6 has become waterproof.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.7 inches
  • Screen resolution: 2880×1440
  • Weight: 163 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 2
  • Memory capacity: 64 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Battery capacity: 3300 mAh
  • Camera: 13 MP
  • Memory card support: no
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

Google Pixel (Google Pixel XL)

The Google Pixel, the latest device from Google, could easily become a competitor to the market leaders. It uses a 12.3-megapixel sensor from Sony - IMX378. Pixel size is 1.55 microns, aperture is f/2.0. Both phase and laser autofocus are used for focusing, and proprietary electronic stabilization is present. It is claimed that Google Pixel and its “big brother” Google Pixel XL take pictures almost instantly, that is, when you press a button. We'll check if necessary.

In the meantime, if you believe the reviews, the camera is at least no worse than that of the iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches
  • Screen resolution: 2560×1440
  • Weight: 168 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 1
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
  • Memory capacity: 32 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Battery capacity: 3450 mAh
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: no
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

Huawei P10 Dual sim

The flagship smartphone from Huawei, which uses a dual camera from the famous Leica company. These include: a 12 MP sensor, a 20 MP monochrome sensor, dual LED flash, optical stabilization, hybrid autofocus and hybrid zoom, Leica SUMMARIT-H optics with f/2.2 aperture. The result is great photos.

In some reviews you can even find the following sentence: “The Huawei P10 takes better pictures than the iPhone 7.” Agree, it costs a lot.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.1 inches
  • Screen resolution: 1920×1080
  • Weight: 145 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 2
  • Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 960
  • Memory capacity: 64 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Battery capacity: 3200 mAh
  • Camera: 20 MP
  • Memory card support: yes
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

Sony Xperia X Performance

The camera of the Sony Xperia X Performance smartphone impresses primarily with its resolution - as much as 23 MP! But practice suggests that resolution does not always mean that the camera allows you to take pictures of excellent quality. The Xperia X Performance is a pleasant exception.

It uses a wide-angle G Lens, f/2.0 aperture, 5x Clear Image zoom, predictive hybrid autofocus, Sony Exmor RS, and LED flash.

By the way, the 13 MP front camera allows you to take excellent selfies.

  • Screen diagonal: 5 inches
  • Screen resolution: 1920×1080
  • Weight: 165 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 2
  • Memory capacity: 64 GB
  • RAM capacity: 3 GB
  • Battery capacity: 2700 mAh
  • Camera: 23 MP
  • Memory card support: yes
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

HTC 10 32Gb

You can also get excellent pictures using the HTC 10 smartphone. It’s funny that even before the release, some users said that it was unlikely that HTC would be able to offer something truly impressive in terms of camera, but they were wrong, since the HTC 10 camera takes excellent pictures. This is confirmed by both specialists and ordinary users.

The camera resolution is 12 MP, f/1.8 aperture, pixel size is 1.55 microns, uses a BSI sensor with UltraPixel 2 technology, has laser focusing, optical stabilization, and a dual-LED flash.

  • Screen diagonal: 5.2 inches
  • Screen resolution: 2560×1440
  • Weight: 164 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 1
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
  • Memory capacity: 32 GB
  • RAM capacity: 4 GB
  • Battery capacity: 3000 mAh
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: yes
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

iPhone 6s (iPhone 6s Plus)

Yes, yes, even though the iPhone 7 has already been released, the iPhone 6s (like the iPhone 6s Plus) is still in service, you can buy it without problems and it is unlikely to disappear from store shelves in the next couple of years.

It uses the same 12 MP camera, although the characteristics are different: pixel size - 1.22 microns, aperture - f/2.2, five-lens optics, hybrid IR filter, dual flash, phase focusing, optical stabilization is found only in the iPhone 6S Plus.

It's still one of the best smartphone cameras on the market, but it's still inferior to the iPhone 7, albeit only slightly. The 6s Plus model uses a single module, unlike the iPhone 7 Plus.

  • Screen diagonal: 4.7 inches
  • Screen resolution: 1334×750
  • Weight: 143 g
  • Number of SIM cards: 1
  • Processor: Apple A9
  • Memory capacity: 16 GB
  • RAM capacity: 2 GB
  • Battery capacity: 1715 mAh
  • Camera: 12 MP
  • Memory card support: no
  • Support for 4G networks: yes

Smartphones with cameras are not uncommon, but a smartphone with a good camera is exceptionally rare. The fact is that most manufacturers install the most common sensors with high resolution (measured in megapixels) and LED flashes in their phones. They, of course, allow you to get good pictures, but only during daylight hours and only under ideal conditions (lighting, immovable object, etc.). However, there are other gadgets with really good sensors, but for starters...

Which camera is considered good?

The most important thing is not to pay attention to the number of megapixels. Often manufacturers and sellers point to 12 megapixel resolution as an advantage, but in reality it has little effect (only on image size). But even a large image can be terribly low-quality. The following parameters are more important: stabilization system, flash, camera software (different settings), fast automatic focusing, the ability to record video at high speed, etc. The sensor also plays a role.

10 best phones with good cameras

1st place – Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) SM-A510F (14,000 rubles)

First place goes to the Samsung Galaxy A5 with the largest number of positive reviews. It uses a 13-megapixel camera with optical stabilization, autofocus and LED flash. It takes great pictures even in the dark. However, it is worth noting that color rendition is noticeably worse than in expensive flagships. It will easily satisfy 90% of the requests of ordinary users, but sophisticated users are unlikely to choose this smartphone specifically because of the camera. In the price category of 18-20 thousand rubles, the phone took 5th place - you will find it.

Be that as it may, this particular smartphone has collected the largest number of positive reviews, it has an excellent price and a good camera. That's why he comes first.

Other characteristics:

This is a beautiful, functional and reliable device that can easily be mistaken for a flagship phone. True, there are also disadvantages: a fragile display (if it falls, it can easily break), bad headphones included, not a TOP processor, but it also provides high performance. There are also complaints about the stiffness of the fingerprint scanner.

Video review:

2nd place – Samsung Galaxy S7 (20,000 rubles)

Some stores have promotions and discounts, and it is rare to find this model for 25,000 rubles. Most often, the current price is 20,000 thousand rubles.

This flagship is known to everyone. There is a cool rear sensor with Dual pixel technology, which was previously only available in professional DSLRs. The manufacturer claims that this technology will allow you to focus on objects faster and better (detect their contours). As a result, the photo is more contrasty and clear. In addition, there is optical stabilization, LED flash, and the resolution is 12 megapixels. The rear camera is simple - with a resolution of 5 megapixels.

Options:

Announced at the beginning of 2016, the device managed to collect a lot of positive reviews. Of course: this is a reliable and high-quality device, which is a pleasure to use. It doesn’t lag (with such and such “hardware”), it works quickly, and holds a charge for a long time.

As for the disadvantages, first of all it is the high price. If you break it, you will have to pay a lot of money to replace the same screen. There is also a bunch of pre-installed “slag” that is not needed at all, but at the same time consumes resources. Some users highlight the weak battery, but with normal use it lasts until the evening.

Considering the price and some shortcomings, we put this gadget in 2nd place in the ranking. He certainly deserves it.

Video review:

Prices

It is most profitable to buy on Ali. There the price is 15-16 thousand, plus the phone is delivered to your home for free!

3rd place – Xiaomi Mi5 (17 thousand rubles)

The Pro model has slightly better parameters. And yes, the phone is sold in a wide price range - it can be found for 16,000 rubles. So look for where it’s cheaper and you’ll find it.

First of all, we are interested in the sensor. Its resolution is 13 megapixels, there is optical stabilization, flash, autofocus, but the main thing is that it has a Sony sensor. The result: a very good camera that can take decent pictures even in limited lighting.

Other parameters of the model are also impressive:

Good hardware, excellent optimization and performance, convenience and good MIUI firmware. We’ve already talked about the camera, but it’s worth saying a few more words about what users think about it: it takes bright and juicy pictures, quickly and automatically (without manual settings). Of course, there are manual settings and room for creativity.

Disadvantages: the phone is slippery, and if you suddenly take it out of your pocket, there is a risk of dropping it. It is advisable to use a bumper. The phone is also powerful and gets very hot under heavy loads. The firmware... although it has advantages, it is still non-standard and some users have a hard time, but these are minor things.

Video review:

4th place – OnePlus3 (27-30 thousand)

Relatively expensive, but cool device with positive reviews and good characteristics. The camera here has optical stabilization, a resolution of 16 megapixels and an LED flash.

Of course, this model cannot be called a flagship. The camera here, although inferior to the flagship models, is certainly hot on their heels. If you give a rating, then on a 10-point scale it gets a solid eight. The device takes good pictures at night, but it’s impossible to say “good”. However, there is no obvious disadvantage in this, because... Most shoot during the day, in normal lighting. And during the day there are no complaints: excellent color rendition, excellent detail. And yes, it uses a sensor Sony IMX 298.

You can also note the fact that there is a protruding camera eye, so chips and scratches are inevitable. Even in the case, manufacturers make a protruding part.

Characteristics:

Hardware based on a powerful processor and 6 GB of RAM is the first advantage of the smartphone. There is also good Gorilla Glass 4 coverage, good battery life (the smartphone works all day without recharging) and clean software without unnecessary pre-installed programs. So we can recommend this device. It's really good and has a great camera.

Video review:

Prices

5th place – Apple iPhone 7 (47-60 thousand rubles)

Depending on the amount of memory “on board”, the price of a flagship can vary from 47 to 60 thousand rubles. The camera here is great, but the model gets 5th place primarily because of the reviews - there are fewer positive reviews about it than about the previous models in the rating.

So... the iPhone 7 uses a 12-megapixel sensor with optical stabilization and a 6-lens system. To improve images, a special photo processor is used that pre-analyzes and processes the images. The iPhone 7 model has one rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 7 Plus has two, working together. The quality of the pictures is really good. There is an opinion of experts that among the existing flagships, the Apple iPhone 7 has the best camera. It’s not for nothing that a huge amount of effort and money has been invested into it. Color rendition, contrast, detail - all this is at its best. Good hardware allows you to take pictures very quickly.

The mobile phone is designed to work autonomously in the cellular network, which is in demand and is developing dynamically. It has become an essential means of communication for users. This is a high-tech device that identifies the subscriber using a SIM card. There are many types of phones.

In comparison with each other, they differ in technical characteristics, functionality, and design. The cost directly depends on the capabilities of the device, its manufacturer, quality and form factor. There are main types of mobile devices:

  • monoblock with keyboard;
  • slider;
  • cot;
  • mobile phone with touch screen.

Modern technologies

Progress does not stand still, and now smartphones have become in great demand. This is an “intelligent” mobile phone that functions at the same level as a personal computer. It has an operating system and also works with a variety of programs, applications, and has WIFI and GPS modules. This makes it radically different from a simple telephone.

The phone catalog presents the latest device models. Main characteristics of modern smartphones:

  • operating system;
  • amount of RAM, built-in memory;
  • permission;
  • camera;
  • monoblock type.

The higher these indicators are for a smartphone, the higher its price will be.

Where can I buy

Online stores offer a wide selection of device models from the most popular, trusted global brands: Samsung, Alcatel, Fly, Lenovo, HTC, Nokia, IPhone and others. New, improved models are appearing. Prices for phones, additional accessories, components, spare parts can be compared using the Aport website. In addition, the site will help you evaluate market offers and choose the best seller.

Due to the fact that modern means of communication, in addition to their immediate function, acquire a full-fledged multimedia purpose, many buyers are interested in the question: how to correctly choose the best phone with a good camera? In order to make it easy and comfortable for the average user to choose a specific model, ratings were compiled according to the Mark.guru portal of the most popular smartphones for several price ranges: up to 20, from 20 to 30 and over 30 thousand rubles.

When choosing a smartphone with a good camera and high-performance hardware, you need to pay special attention to several factors:

  1. Central processing unit (CPU). This module is responsible for the speed and quality of processing photographs obtained from a digital camera. The more powerful the processor, the higher the quality of the converted information. The best results are achieved if the CPU has multiple cores at its disposal that can successfully handle multiple data streams. The most powerful chips installed in modern phones also allow you to shoot video clips at high frame rates per second: up to 30 fps.
  2. Photo matrix resolution. The higher this parameter is, the better and clearer the image will be. Phones with a good camera should have 16 megapixels. At the same time, 8 megapixels will be enough for an additional camera
  3. Camera aperture. When choosing the best smartphone camera, you should decide on the aperture value (f). The smaller it is, the better the camera will be at shooting in low light conditions. The most common indicators today are 1.9, 2.0 and 2.2.
  4. Optical stabilization. A phone equipped with this feature can be used as a camera phone. Such a device allows you to shoot objects with a moving hand without blurring the image. This feature becomes especially important when photographing in low light conditions, when about 2–3 seconds are spent on a photo.
  5. Screen type. When choosing mobile phones, you need to find out the type of display matrix. The most common are IPS and Super Amoled. The first type has good color rendering and clear contrast. The second type has reduced energy consumption and no glare. However, the most advanced devices have PLS matrices from the manufacturer Samsung. Only the best camera phones come with this type of display.
  6. Flash. There are LED and xenon flashes. The first category provides standard lighting and does not have any outstanding qualities. These are inexpensive tools that are installed in cheap smartphones. The second class of devices contributes to high quality shooting in the absence of proper lighting. Such elements are installed in smartphones belonging to the high price range.

The top 10 devices with a very good camera are presented by companies that are best known to domestic consumers. Among them, brands such as Xiaomi, HTC, Sony, Asus and BBK stand out. The ranking of the 10 best-selling phones of 2018 included models from various price categories.

Up to 20 thousand rubles

The online publication Mark.guru included the following devices in the top smartphones with the best cameras: Xiaomi Mi5 64GB, HTC One X10 and Sony Xperia XA1. These models are positioned as devices representing the lower price segment.

1. Xiaomi Mi5 64GB

The top three smartphones with a good camera in 2018 are opened by the Mi5 64GB model, manufactured by Xiaomi, located in China.

This is a fast and light phone with solid technical performance.

The device uses Android 6.0 as the operating system. The Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 processor running on four cores is responsible for the high level of performance of the device. The Adreno 530 video adapter provides the user with high-quality graphics.

Specifications:

  • case material - metal;
  • display type - IPS;
  • screen size - 13.08 cm;
  • image quality - 1920×1080 pix;
  • aperture size - 2.0;
  • camera - 16 Mpix;
  • amount of RAM - 3 GB;
  • weight - 129 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD - 14.46x6.92x0.73 cm.

Advantages:

  • good camera;
  • Beautiful design;
  • decent speaker volume;
  • high-quality assembly
  • high frame rate when playing video files;
  • cheap protective covers;
  • acceptable price.

Flaws:

  • slippery surface of the body;
  • There is no module for playing radio stations.

The smartphone with the best Mi5 camera has an average price of 15.50 thousand rubles.

Prices for Xiaomi Mi5 64GB:

2. HTC One X10

The second position in the hit parade of the best smartphones of 2018 is occupied by the One X10 device from the famous company HTC. The model released this year demonstrates high performance and excellent power. And all this thanks to the eight-core MediaTek P10 chip, which operates at a frequency of 2.0 GHz and the Mali-T860 MP2 video controller, operating at a frequency of 700 MHz.

A 16 Mpix camera with optical stabilization is responsible for the high quality of video and photos.

Technical specifications:

  • body - metal;
  • display type - Super LCD3;
  • screen size - 13.97 cm;
  • camera aperture - 2.0;
  • RAM volume - 3 GB;
  • weight - 175 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD - 15.3x7.6x0.82 cm
  • good connection quality;
  • excellent battery;
  • solid body, no backlash or squeaks;
  • scratch-resistant tempered Gorilla glass;
  • loud sound;
  • fast charging;
  • high-quality color rendition of the camera;
  • two-color flash.
  • inconvenient location of the fingerprint scanner;
  • lack of a protective cover.

The cost of the phone today varies quite widely and ranges from 19.99 to 26.33 thousand rubles.

Prices for HTC One X10:

3. Sony Xperia XA1

The third line in the ranking of the most popular smartphones of 2018 rightfully belongs to the Xperia XA1, produced by the legendary Japanese company Sony. The device is based on the Android platform version 7.1. The smartphone is equipped with an eight-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor and a Mali-T880 MP2 video chip. The device supports two SIM cards and has a slot for storage devices with a capacity of 256 GB.

The phone has the best camera with a resolution of 23 MPix.

Technical aspects:

  • body - metal;
  • screen matrix type - IPS;
  • display size - 12.7 cm;
  • display quality - 1280x720 pix;
  • aperture - 2.0;
  • weight - 143 g;
  • Dimensions HxWxD - 14.5x6.7x0.8 cm.

Positive sides:

  • convenient control;
  • excellent quality front and rear cameras;
  • bright screen;
  • pleasant appearance;
  • high performance;
  • clear sound when using headphones;
  • inexpensive.

Negative sides:

  • non-removable battery with low power;
  • long focusing of the camera near the subject being photographed;
  • weak back cover.

Those wishing to become owners of this device must have funds in the amount of 15.32 to 23.99 thousand rubles.

Prices for Sony Xperia XA1:

From 20 to 30 thousand rubles

1. OnePlus OnePlus3 64Gb

OnePlus is a trademark owned by the Chinese company BBK Electronics, which has long specialized in the production of inexpensive communications equipment. OnePlus3 64Gb is the pre-top model of the series and is one of the three most popular smartphones of 2018 on the market today.

The device is equipped with a Snapdragon 820 CPU and the popular Adreno 530 graphics accelerator.

Chinese manufacturers managed to equip the smartphone with 6 GB of memory, which has a frequency of 1.87 GHz.

Technical aspects:

  • body - aluminum;
  • display matrix type - Amoled;
  • screen diagonal - 13.97 cm;
  • camera - 16 Mpix
  • picture size - 1920×1080 pix;
  • weight - 158 g;
  • Dimensions HxWxD - 152.7x74.7x0.74 mm.

Advantages:

  • The phone has a durable and reliable body with a large screen;
  • the camera in good lighting is not inferior to the camera installed in the Samsung Galaxy S7;
  • when using headphones, the smartphone boasts excellent sound;
  • The system holds the battery charge well;
  • The phone has a fingerprint scanner with good response;
  • The device fits well in the hand.

Flaws:

  • Without a cover, the camera sticks out a lot;
  • Lack of quality safety glass.

A mobile phone with a good OnePlus3 camera today costs about 23.40 – 36.59 thousand rubles.

Prices for OnePlus OnePlus3 64Gb:

2. Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 32Gb

The second place in the 2018 rating is occupied by the Xperia XA1 Ultra 32Gb. This is a powerful and relatively cheap smartphone that has top performance. It can successfully compete with more expensive devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG V10. The smartphone carries an eight-core MediaTek Helio P20 CPU and a dual-core Mali-T880 MP2 video adapter. The amount of RAM reaches 4 GB.

Specifications:

  • body - aluminum combined with plastic;
  • display type - IPS;
  • diagonal - 15.24 cm;
  • rear camera of the smartphone - 23 Mpix;
  • front camera - 15 Mpix;
  • display size - 1920×1080 px;
  • weight - 188 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD - 16.5x7.9x0.81 cm.

Advantages:

  • stylish case design;
  • durable Gorilla Glass;
  • the presence of two high-quality cameras;
  • presence of autofocus;
  • There is a built-in radio receiver.

Flaws:

  • the best smartphones with a good camera should have higher shooting quality;
  • the phone cannot boast of outstanding sound characteristics;
  • The protective glass is 4 mm smaller than the screen area.

Despite a number of shortcomings present in the design of the phone, you won’t be able to purchase this device cheaply. Buying a smartphone will cost the consumer 24.18 – 30.68 thousand rubles.

Prices for Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 32Gb:

3. ASUS Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 64Gb

Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 64Gb is one of the three most popular smartphones in the price range up to 30 thousand rubles. It was developed in the Republic of China at the production facilities of Asus. Thanks to the advanced technical stuffing, which is based on Qualcomm 625 and Adreno 506 processors, the device has a high level of performance in modern applications.

As for the camera, it has the best resolution, which is 23 Mpix.

Specifications:

  • case material - aluminum alloy; matrix type - IPS;
  • display size - 13.97 cm;
  • graphics quality - 1920×1080 pix;
  • weight - 155 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD -15.26x7.74x0.77 cm.

Strengths:

  • the device is quite easy to use;
  • photographs captured on a smartphone camera have high detail and natural colors;
  • the speaker produces high-quality sound;
  • A powerful battery ensures uninterrupted operation of the device throughout the day.

Weak sides:

  • the protective glass does not completely cover the screen;
  • It is not possible to use two flash cards at the same time.

In order to choose a Zenfone 3 64Gb smartphone as a purchase, the consumer must have an amount of 21.90 thousand rubles.

Prices for ASUS Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 64Gb:

Over 30 thousand rubles

1. ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL 64Gb

The top camera phones of 2018 are topped by the ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL 64Gb from Asus.

This is a flagship model that has a vibration motor, an orientation sensor and a high-quality Super Amoled display with automatic brightness control.

The Snapdragon 821 processor and Adreno 530 graphics adapter are responsible for the system performance.

Specifications:

  • case material - metal;
  • display diagonal - 14.48 cm;
  • camera - 23 Mpix;
  • screen resolution - 1920x1080 pix;
  • weight - 172 g;
  • Dimensions HxWxD - 15.6x7.7x0.75 cm.

Positive characteristics:

  • high performance;
  • convenient software shell from Asus;
  • clear and loud sound;
  • the presence of two high-resolution cameras;
  • good equipment;
  • no overheating during prolonged use of gaming applications.

Negative points:

  • problems with choosing a protective cover;
  • low battery life.

For users who are going to choose between top-end Samsung and Asus devices, it would be more rational to choose the second option. You can buy the latest model ZenFone 3 Deluxe cell phone for 46.79 thousand rubles.

Prices ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL 64Gb:

2. Sony Xperia XZs Dual 64Gb

The second position of the best smartphones of 2018 is occupied by the Xperia XZs Dual 64Gb. This phone has a powerful quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor and a classic Adreno 530 chip. The RAM capacity is 4 GB, the amount of internal memory reaches 64 GB. This smartphone is small in size and fits comfortably in a small hand. It has an elegant design that can please the female eye throughout the entire life of the device.

Technical indicators:

  • body - metal;
  • display matrix class - IPS;
  • screen diagonal - 13.21 cm;
  • main camera - 19 Mpix;
  • weight - 161 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD - 14.60x7.20x0.81 cm.

Advantages:

  • minimalistic design;
  • high quality display;
  • a large number of settings for the camera;
  • the presence of the best camera on a smartphone, if we consider competitors such as Samsung and Apple;
  • good optimization of the software shell;
  • protection of the housing from water;

Flaws:

  • low speaker volume;
  • small battery volume;
  • high price.

The cost of this device ranges from 30.88 to 35.99 thousand rubles.

Prices for Sony Xperia XZs Dual 64Gb:

3. LG G5 SE H845

The third place in the most popular smartphones of 2018 belongs to the G5 SE H845 device from LG. The device has a thin body with a retractable battery. The electronic part is represented by the Snapdragon 652 processor, which runs on eight cores.

In addition to the two classic ones, smartphones in this series have an additional wide-format camera with a viewing angle of 1350, which allows you to photograph panoramic landscapes and large architectural structures.

Technical specifications:

  • body - metal;
  • display type - IPS;
  • display size - 13.46 cm;
  • pixel density per inch - 554 pix;
  • aperture - 1.8;
  • camera - 16 Mpix;
  • weight - 156 g;
  • dimensions HxWxD - 14.94x7.39x0.73 cm.
  • High resolution screen provides realistic images;
  • performance in heavy graphics applications is head and shoulders above that of Samsung;
  • built-in speaker provides good sound quality;
  • a high level of autonomy allows you to use the camera throughout the day.
  • protective glass significantly reduces screen brightness;
  • custom charging port;
  • expensive accessories, the cost of the case can reach up to 3 thousand rubles.

The price for this gadget ranges from 19.33 to 42.99 thousand rubles.

Prices for LG G5 SE H845:

4. Sony Xperia XZ Dual

The Xperia XZ Dual gadget took fourth place among the best-selling camera phones of 2018. The hardware of the device is based on a quad-core Snapdragon 820 chip and a dual-core Adreno 530 accelerator.

All technical components are housed in a waterproof case with durable Corning Gorilla glass.

Technical indicators:

  • body - aluminum alloy;
  • matrix type - IPS;
  • screen diagonal size - 13.21 cm;
  • main camera - 23 Mpix;
  • additional camera - 13 Mpix;
  • RAM capacity - 3 GB;
  • weight - 161 g;
  • dimensions - 14.60x7.20x0.81 cm.

Advantages:

  • excellent optimization of the operating system;
  • good color rendering;
  • excellent hardware performance;
  • fast battery charging;
  • ability to select a shooting mode;
  • the presence of two built-in speakers.

Negative points:

  • if it overheats, the camera turns off;
  • There are few original accessories on sale.

The average cost of the device reaches 35.37 thousand rubles.

Prices for Sony Xperia XZ Dual:

Conclusion

To the question of how to choose a smartphone with a good camera, we tried to give a comprehensive answer in the form of a rating for each price segment of the Russian market. As you would expect, the top list included devices developed by Chinese manufacturers. The list of the best includes devices representing brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus and ASUS. These are the most productive devices that are of high quality and have the best cameras for their price range.