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Best Camera Phones: Top 9 Choices In 2022

Best Camera Phones: Top 9 Choices In 2022

Posted by Greg Knell on 5th Jul 2022

Camera quality consistently ranks at or near the top of the most important smartphone features to consumers. Mobile phone camera technology in 2022 is astounding, especially in the models mentioned below. These are the best of the best when it comes to camera technology in smartphones today. Details and nuances for each of the best camera phones are laid out so you can decide which one best suits what you’re looking for.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

best camera phones 02
wired.com

If you’re searching for the smartphone with the very best video quality currently available, this is it. As you would expect, Apple’s newest model is their best yet in every way, perhaps most especially in the camera quality department. All the videographers and photographers out there will absolutely love the improved 6x telephoto camera and the 120 Hz display refresh rate. This phone also features two new modes: cinematic video and macro photography. This is also Apple’s first phone to offer 1TB of internal storage.

The phone looks a lot like the iPhone 12 Pro Max on the outside, though the battery is improved and the phone itself is a little bit thicker and heavier. But the flawless performance and beautiful display, along with the incredible camera and video quality, make this one of the very best camera phones on the market in 2022.

Notable specs:

  • Dust & water resistant (IP68)
  • Weighs 240g
  • 12MP front camera
  • 12MP telephoto w/ 6x optical zoom (rear camera)
  • 12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide (rear camera)
  • 4 internal storage options (1TB, 256GB, 128GB, 128GB)
  • Apple A15 Bionic chip
  • 6.7 inch OLED at 458 ppi display (2,778 x 1,284 pixel resolution)
  • Long battery life
  • New cinematic video and macro photography modes

Purchase on Amazon, Apple, or Best Buy.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G

best camera phones 03
samsung.com

Looking for a foldable camera phone? This is 2022’s best. It doubles as a mini tablet. Despite looking similar to the previous model, the Z Fold 2, there are many new features (and it costs less). It has an updated refresh rate and cover display resolution, improved screen protector, panels, and durability, and new under display camera. It’s also water resistant, has S Pen support, is lighter, and sleeker.

Notable specs

  • Weighs 27
  • 4MP and 10MP (front cameras)
  • 12MP telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra-wide (rear cameras)
  • 2 internal storage options (512GB, 256GB)
  • 12GB of RAM
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.2 inch AMOLED cover display (720 x 1680 pixel resolution)
  • 7.6 inch 120Hz AMOLED main display (2,208 x 1,768 pixel resolution)
  • IPX8 water resistance
  • S Pen support

Purchase Amazon, Samsung, and Best Buy

Google Pixel 6 Pro

best camera phones 04
xda-developers.com

If your camera usage is more point-and-shoot, you should go after the Google Pixel 6 Pro. Some tech sites and YouTube channels rate this as the best overall camera phone right now. This most recent model from Google has a Google Tensor processor and upgraded cameras. Powered by Android 12, the OS is designed to optimize your camera experience as you use it. The more you use it, the better it will be at matching your styles, colors, and more. The only downsize to the Google Pixel 6 pro is its limited avaialbility.

Notable specs

  • Weighs 210g
  • 11.2MP (front camera)
  • 50MP, 48MP, 12MP (rear cameras)
  • 3 internal storage options (512Gb, 256GB, 128GB)
  • 12GB of RAM
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.7 inch OLED display (3,130 x 1,440 pixel resolution)

Purchase at Best Buy, Target, or the Google Store.

Sony Xperia Pro-I

best camera phones 05
zdnet.com

For professional photographers who prefer to go beyond the automatic settings, this is the smartphone for you. Most smartphone users don’t veer beyond default camera settings. But with the Sony Xperia Pro-1, Sony has provided full-control functionality. The triple camera array can be customized in hundreds of ways. You won’t find a traditional camera app on the phone. There are multiple camera apps depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. Video Pro, Cinema Pro, Photo Pro, and Imaging Edge, the latter allowing users to connect to standalone cameras and unlock even more functionality.

If an expert-level camera phone is what you want, the Sony Xperia Pro-1 is your best option in 2022. It’s not cheap, but it’s amazing.

Notable specs

  • Weighs 211g
  • 8 MP (front camera)
  • 12MP (rear cameras)
  • 512GB of internal storage
  • 12GB of RAM
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.5 inch OLED display (3,840 x 1,644 pixel resolution)
  • microSD card
  • camera shutter button
  • 3.5mm audio port
  • notification light
  • Sony Alpha camera experience

Purchase at Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy.

Oppo Find X3 Pro

best camera phones 06
notebookcheck.net

Now we’re on to the best micro-camera. The rear-quad camera system is the most impressive feature of the Opportunity Find X3 Pro. The rear cameras have 60x magnification, 5x optical telephoto, more color support, and enhanced functionality compared to the previous model. Taking pictures of things that the naked human eye can’t see is one of the things this camera phone does best. T high-resolution cameras on this phone are off the charts. It’s not readily available in the U.S., so if you can get your hands on one, you’ll be the envy of your peers and have one of the best camera phones of all.

Notable specs

  • Weighs 193g
  • 32MP (front camera)
  • 50MP, 12MP, 3MP (rear cameras)
  • 256GB of internal storage
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.7 inch OLED display (3,216 x 1,440 pixel resolution)

Purchase on Amazon or eBay.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

best camera phones 07
samsung.com

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the very best camera/stylus combo. Samsung has called this the official Note successor. The Galaxy S22 is fully equipped with a square, flat design and an S Pen silo. Also, the camera system on this phone outstanding. The three rear cameras have 10x optical, 2x optical, and ultra-wide capabilities, respectively. With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, it has better overall camera capabilities. Users are raving about the amazing low-light shooting that is possible with this phone, in particular. The zoom capability here is better than any Apple or Google phone currently availabile

Notable specs

  • Weighs 229g
  • 40MP display camera
  • 12MP, 108MP, 12MP (rear cameras)
  • Many internal storage options between from 128GB to 1TB
  • 12GB of RAM
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU
  • 6.8 inch 120Hz AMOLED display (3,088 x 1,440 pixel resolution)
  • IP68 dust & water resistant
  • High-capacity battery

Purchase at Samsung or Verizon.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

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wired.com

The art of taking a selfie is a key skill in many industries. In order to be a pro at selfies, you need the very best camera phone, particularly one that’s designed for that very purpose. That is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Among the many interesting things about this phone, one is that despite not being the current flagship Samsung model, it’s still rated the highest when it comes to taking selfies. And it’s cheaper than anything in the Galaxy S22 series. Of the three rear cameras, one has 30x super-resolution zoom and another has 3x optical. The front camera is high-res 32MP and the phone has enormous battery capacity. This phone often gets compared to the Google Pixel 6 and is one of the best camera phones out there.

Notable specs

  • IP68 dust & water resistant
  • Weighs 177g
  • 32MP (front camera)
  • 8MP, 12MP, 12MP (rear camera)
  • Multiple storage options between 128GB and 256GB
  • Two RAM options (6 and 8GB)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.4 inch 120Hz AMOLED display (2,400 x 1,080 pixel resolution)
  • Available in four different colors
  • microSD card slot
  • large capacity battery (4,500mAh)

Purchase at Samsung or Verizon.

OnePlus 9 Pro

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notebookcheck.net

The OnePlus 9 Pro is the best macro-photography phone there is in 2022. The manufacturer says this model has the best camera of any OnePlus phone to date. This isn’t the first of their models with a dedicated macro lens, but it is the first one that uses a 50MP ultra-wide camera with macro mode. Getting up close has never had so much detail and clarity.

Also worth noting is OnePlus is free from ads and bloatware, a tactic designed to set themselves apart from Apple and Samsung that many users love. The reverse wireless charging feature is also unique to OnePlus.

Notable specs

  • Weighs 197g
  • 16MP (front camera)
  • 8MP, 48MP, 50MP (rear cameras)
  • Two internal storage options (128GB, 256GB)
  • Two RAM options (8GB, 12GB)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • 6.7 inch 120Hz AMOLED display (3,216 x 1,440 pixel resolution)
  • Reverse wireless charging

Purchase on Amazon or Best Buy.

Cat S62 Pro

best camera phones 10
nordicelectronics.dk

And finally, we give you the best phone for thermal imaging. Despite its mid-range specs, this is a highly capable and unique model that is very valuable to professional fieldworkers. This rugged phone has an integrated FLIR thermal camera with a 4x improvement over the previous model. Custom temperature ranges can be monitored anywhere between -4°F and +752°F and set alerts. You can also change the MSX intensity. It’s heavy, but affordable.

Notable specs

  • IP68/69 dust & water resistance
  • Weighs 248g
  • 8MP (front camera)
  • 12MP wide and FLIR Lepton 3.5 infrared thermal imaging (rear cameras)
  • 128GB of internal storage
  • 6GB of RAM
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 CPU
  • 5.7 inch OLED display (2,160 x 1,080 pixel resolution)
  • Can be used in almost any environment.

Purchase on Amazon or Best Buy.

Best Camera Phones: Top 9 Choices In 2022 – Conclusion

Do you use one of the phones on this list? Share your experience in the comments. Or is there one that we didn’t include on our best camera phones list? We’d love to hear from you.