The cameras built into the very latest smartphones are starting to seem even more advanced than some of the actual cameras.

While it's true that camera phones are getting a lot of innovation, it's important to remember that engineers are trying to squeeze as much performance as possible from these small, flat devices. Small sensors can't compete with DSLR and cameras in this area. Night Modes, which are being heavily trailed on the newest smartphones but can't compete with dedicated Astrophotography cameras, gets double that.

The quality and sensitivity of the sensors in the phone cameras are getting better each year and we've already got to a stage where flagship phones can take decent images at night. There are even phones that claim to be able to take a close-up of the moon. The software is adjusting the image. The software is getting better and can now produce clean shots.

We scoured the market for the best camera phones and rounded up the best for general photography, including Night Mode. You'll find everything from the very latest and priciest flagship phones from Apple and SAMSUNG to contender from the likes of GOOGLE, HUAWEI and FOES There are a few camera phones that may not be right up there, but offer something that might suit you better than a flagship phone. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great camera phone.

For casual night sky shots and for all-round photography, the camera phones are going to do a decent job, but if your aim is top-notch, they are not going to delight you, but for casual night sky shots and for all-round photography they will do a decent job

Best camera phone overall

Product photo of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Image credit: Apple)

The flagship Apple phone is at the cutting edge. Even in low light and at night, this one can produce brighter photos. It has an excellent Night Mode that makes it possible to take pictures of the night sky.

The built-in high dynamic range mode for all photography kicks in when it's dark. Advanced hardware also contributes to simplicity. Three rear cameras, wide, ultra-wide and telephoto, all have a 3x optical/15x digital zoom. Video with stunning 4K 60 frames per second quality can be found in selfies and video calls.

Best Android smartphone camera

The rear of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

(Image credit: Samsung)

Is this the best phone for taking pictures? It is and a large part of why.

It's not possible to take ultra-high resolution images if you want to improve the ones you take in low light. In order to create a cleaner and more detailed image, the 6.8-inchGalaxy S21 Ultra takes nine separate 12-megapixel images and then loses the noise in them. It's possible to use that sensor to take pure images, but why would you want to? The maximum built-in storage can't be changed. The 10x optical and 100x digital zoom can be useful if you want to take pictures on a tripod.

When we have spent enough time with the new phone, we'll add it.

  • Related: How to take photos of the night sky with a smartphone

Best for optical zoom

Front and rear image of the Huawei P40 Pro Plus

(Image credit: Huawei)

Do you think the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ are right for you? With a true zoom lens, the latter brings 10x optical zoom, which means more detail and editing options than a digital zoom.

There's more to be excited about on this 6.58-inch phone, which includes a 3x optical telephoto, ultra- wide lens and a time-of-flight depth sensor. Clean, colorful images that reveal more detail in shadows are produced by its Night Mode. It works well on the long lens, but not on the wide one.

An animal is in the room. The lack of apps and services on the phones may make them less attractive.

Best for built-in software

Product photo of six Google Pixel 6 Pro's laid face down

(Image credit: Google)

The best phone for software and photo editing is the new one from the internet giant. The camera app will show you all the usual modes, such as portrait, panorama, and Night Sight. The Motion mode is for taking creative long exposure shots. Real Tone and Magic Eraser can be used to remove people and objects from photos after-the-fact.

The hardware isn't bad either, with a 50-megapixel wide lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. Adding some unusual color choices like yellow and gold, white and gray, and black and gray seems to be a good choice for style and substance.

Best for ease of use

Product photo showing the Apple iPhone 13 Pro is available in black, gold, white and blue

(Image credit: Apple)

The design of the phone hasn't changed, but there are some changes that make it better for photography. There are some differences between the two phones. The 6.1-incher has a brighter screen, more battery power, and a better photography suite than the mainstream device.

The rear camera array has a wide and ultra-wide lens, a telephoto lens, a 3x optical zoom, and a LiDAR scanning device. It's possible to take images in professional quality using Apple ProRAW and record video up to 30 frames per second on the iPhone 13 pro.

Best for wide-angle photography

OnePlus 9 Pro product photo

(Image credit: OnePlus)

Is the OnePlus 9 Pro up to par? It has a gorgeous AMOLED QHD+ display that is best in terms of color and black levels, and it's running an operating system that's known for its reliability. It is able to fully charge in half an hour using its 65W power source.

The array of cameras on the back is busy. There is a logo on the building. The 9 Pro's camera array was developed with 'Natural Color Calibration' in mind. The photography highlight is its wide-angle lens that corrects for edge distortion.

The main camera records in 12-bit RAW and videographers will love its ability to record in 4K/ 120FPS and even in 8K.

Best value Android camera phone

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus in pearl, purple and black

(Image credit: Samsung)

The less expensive version of the S21 Ultra still has a lot to offer to photographers, even though it doesn't have the big camera and zoom of the S21 Plus.

Housed in a redesigned camera strip on the rear of this 6.7-inch handset are 12-megapixel wide and ultra-wide-angle lenses and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens. The latter offers 3x optical zoom and 30x digital. In bright conditions, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus takes colorful, vibrant and detailed photos that are equal of most other phones. In low-light, it produces images that are a touch brighter than, say, the iPhone. 

However, its Night Mode hugely benefits from using a tripod (or at least balancing it on a wall or similar).  

Best value iPhone

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

(Image credit: Apple)

Is the iPhone still competitive? It can. A 6.01-inch phone with a triple camera array, wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens, and 2x optical zoom, has a lot to offer. It has a measly 2x optical zoom. It's better for portrait shots than it is for taking distant subjects. The latter is more valuable.

Night Mode is vastly improved here than it has been in the past. The ability to record video in 4K 60FPS, as well as Apple's ProRAW image format, will be included in the package. The Apple A15 Bionic chip, a 3x optical zoom, and Cinematic Mode for video recording are all missing from the iPhone 13 Pro.