Best smartphone camera: The 6 top phones for frequent clippers
Photography is your passion and you want to know what the best smartphone camera is? Then only a flagship is suitable for you. We present the six cell phones that the photo experts from DxOMark have named as the best camera smartphones.
Huawei P40 Pro: new photo miracle without Google
© Huawei 2020
The Huawei P40 Pro is the current camera king.
The Huawei P40 Pro follows in the footsteps of its predecessor as a photo miracle. In fact, the high-end cell phone is the smartphone with the currently best cameras, as DxOMark found in the test. The main cameras are just as much ahead of the competition as the two selfie cameras.
The four main cameras of the P40 Pro:
- 50 megapixels: wide-angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 40 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 12 megapixels: telephoto lens, OIS
- 3D sensor: depth of field
The P40 Pro's two selfie cameras :
- 32 megapixels: with autofocus
- 3D sensor for depth of field
The 50 megapixel camera uses a Quad Bayer sensor. This means that several pixels are combined during the recording in order to increase the contrast range and to improve the image quality in low light. In the end, photos come out with a resolution of 12 megapixels. The ultra wide-angle camera has a resolution of 40 megapixels and a large sensor for better light output, but the angle is not as wide as some of its competitors.
The telephoto lens uses periscope technology, thus enabling a 5x optical zoom. In the case of periscope cameras, several lenses are accommodated in the housing and not, as is usual, on the outside. The 3D sensor supports the 50-megapixel main camera in capturing the subject – so people in portrait shots are more precisely separated from the background. Another 3D sensor is attached at the front, which takes on the same task for selfies with the 32 megapixel camera.
The rest of the technology in the Huawei P40 Pro is also worthy of a flagship.
| Huawei P40 Pro: the technology | |
| Display | 6.58 inch AMOLED, 2.40 x 1.200 pixel, HDR10 +, 90 Hertz |
| Processor & memory | HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, 8 GB |
| Internal memory | 256 GB, NM card slot (proprietary) |
| Cameras | Rear: 50 MP + 40 MP ultra wide angle + 12 MP telephoto + 3D sensor; Front: 32 MP + 3D sensor |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, infrared port |
| battery pack | 4,200 mAh, 40 watt quick charge, 27 watt wireless quick charge |
Thanks to IP68 certification, the P40 Pro withstands a rain shower. But there is a problem – and for many users it is no small thing: The Huawei P40 Pro is delivered without Google apps and services . So there is no access to the Play Store and apps like Google Maps, these cannot be installed afterwards. As an alternative, Huawei offers its own app store.
DxOMark rating : 128 points (main cameras), 103 points (selfie cameras)
More about the Huawei P40 Pro at SATURN
Oppo Find X2 Pro: The Great Unknown
© Oppo 2020
The Oppo Find X2 Pro comes with an advanced camera system.
Oppo is still relatively unknown in Germany, but a size in the smartphone market in China. At DxOMark, Oppo made itself popular with one of the best camera phones: the Oppo Find X2 Pro.
The three main cameras of the Oppo Find X2 Pro
- 48 megapixels: wide-angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 48 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 13 megapixels: telephoto lens, OIS
The selfie camera of the Oppo Find X2 Pro: 32 megapixels
The 48-megapixel main camera uses a Quad Bayer sensor. So several pixels are merged to finally create a 12-megapixel image. This convinces with low noise and a large contrast range. The ultra wide-angle camera also resolves with 48 megapixels and reduces distortion to a minimum. The telephoto lens with periscope technology enables an optical 5x zoom, the 32-megapixel selfie camera has not been tested by DxOMark.
Beyond the cameras, there is also high-end technology and high-quality workmanship made of metal and a ceramic back.
| Oppo Find X2 Pro: the technology | |
| Display | 6.7 inch AMOLED, 3,168 x 1,440 pixels, HDR10 +, 120 Hertz |
| Processor & memory | Snapdragon 865 5G, 12 GB |
| Internal memory | 512 GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 48 MP + 48 MP ultra wide angle + 13 MP telephoto; Front: 32 MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
| battery pack | 4,200 mAh, 65 watt quick charge, 27 watt wireless quick charge |
The Oppo Find X2 is waterproof to IP68 and offers stereo speakers.
DxOMark rating : 124 points (main cameras )
More about the Oppo Find X2 Pro at SATURN
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: No price hit, but top photos
© Xiaomi 2020
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is one of the strongest mobile phones.
Xiaomi has long been known for very cheap flagship phones. Since the cost of the fast 5G Snapdragon 865 chip is very high for the manufacturers, there can be no question of it with the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro. Like other high-end cell phones, it costs around 1,000 euros. At least it offers a lot of technology, including some of the best cameras.
The four main cameras of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
- 108 megapixels: wide-angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 20 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 12 megapixels: depth of field
- 8 megapixels: telephoto lens, OIS
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro's selfie camera : 20 megapixels
Technically, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is on a similarly high level to the competition.
| Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: the technology | |
| Display | 6.67 inch AMOLED, 2,348 x 1,080 pixels, HDR10 +, 90 Hertz |
| Processor & memory | Snapdragon 865 5G, 8 GB |
| Internal memory | 265 GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 108 MP + 20 MP ultra wide angle + 12 MP depth of field, 8 MP telephoto lens; Front: 20 MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, infrared port |
| battery pack | 4,500 mAh, 50 watt quick charge, 30 watt wireless quick charge |
Stereo speakers are also on board, but the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is not waterproof.
DxOMark rating : 124 points (main cameras )
More about the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro at SATURN
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: brilliant zoom
© 2020
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra offers a 100x zoom.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra offers very good camera performance, which our test also confirmed. But not in the areas that Samsung particularly emphasizes: 8K videos and 100x zoom disappoint qualitatively, photos in full 108-megapixel resolution offer no added value. There are also difficulties with autofocus when taking portraits.
And yet: up to a 10x zoom, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is one of the best zoom phones on the market, 4K videos are superbly stabilized, the main and ultra-wide-angle camera convince with pretty photos.
The four main cameras of the Galaxy S20 Ultra
- 108 megapixels: wide-angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 48 megapixels: telephoto lens, OIS
- 12 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 3D sensor: depth of field
The selfie camera of the Galaxy S20 Ultra: 40 megapixels
Samsung has the latest technology in its flagship, but the in-house Exynos 990 processor cannot keep up with the Snapdragon 865.
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: the technology | |
| Display | 6.9 inch AMOLED, 3,200 x 1,440 pixels, HDR10 +, 120 Hertz |
| Processor & memory | Samsung Exynos 990 with 5G modem, 12 GB |
| Internal memory | 128 GB / 512 GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 108 MP + 48 MP telephoto lens + 12 MP ultra wide angle, 3D sensor; Front: 40 MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
| battery pack | 5,000 mAh, 45 watt quick charge, 15 watt wireless quick charge |
On top of that, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is waterproof to IP68 and offers very good stereo speakers.
DxOMark rating : 122 points (main cameras ), 100 points (selfie camera)
To our test of the Galaxy S20 Ultra
More about the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra at SATURN
Samsung Galaxy S20 +: Overall better than the Ultra
© 2020
The Samsung Galaxy S20 + was more convincing in our test than the Ultra model.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 + is not as big and heavy as the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It is not exactly small with its 6.7-inch display, but the difference is noticeable in the better handling, as our test has shown. The Plus model cannot keep up with the Galaxy S20 Ultra when zooming, otherwise the camera performance is at a similar level.
The four main cameras of the Galaxy S20 +
- 12 megapixels: wide angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 64 megapixels: Telefoto, OIS
- 12 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 3D sensor: depth of field
The selfie camera of the Galaxy S20 +: 10 megapixels
The technical equipment has a high level. However, the Samsung Exynos 990 chip is not as fast as the Snapdragon 865 in other flagships.
| Samsung Galaxy S20 +: the technology | |
| Display | 6.7 inch AMOLED, 3,200 x 1,440 pixel, HDR10 +, 120 Hertz |
| Processor & memory | Samsung Exynos 990 with 5G modem, 8 GB |
| Internal memory | 128 GB / 512 GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 12 MP + 64 MP telephoto lens + 12 MP ultra wide angle, 3D sensor; Front: 10 MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
| battery pack | 4,500 mAh, 25 watt quick charge, 15 watt wireless quick charge |
The Galaxy S20 + is waterproof thanks to IP68 certification and offers loud stereo speakers.
DxOMark rating : 118 points (main cameras )
To our test of the Galaxy S20 +
More about the Samsung Galaxy S20 + at SATURN
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max: Apple is also at the forefront
© 2019
In the test, the iPhone 11 Pro Max convinced with its creative possibilities thanks to the triple camera.
DxOMark rated the cameras of the iPhone 11 Pro Max about as well as those of the Galaxy S20 +. We really liked the triple camera in our own test ; telephoto and ultra-wide-angle lenses offer additional creative possibilities.
The three main cameras of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
- 12 megapixels: wide angle, optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 12 megapixels: ultra wide angle
- 12 megapixels: telephoto lens, OIS
The selfie camera of the iPhone 11 Pro Max: 12 megapixels
Apple flagships traditionally have less RAM and a smaller battery than their Android counterparts. Due to the good RAM and battery management, they also manage with less. Like other iPhones, the iPhone 11 Pro Max benefits from the closed iOS operating system, which Apple adapts specifically to its devices. Together with the high-end Apple A13 Bionic chip, this ensures reliable high performance. Apple does not yet have a 5G modem – but the benefits are questionable anyway.
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max: the technology | |
| Display | 6.5 inch AMOLED, 2,688 x 1,242 pixels, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Processor & memory | Samsung Exynos 990 with 5G modem, 4 GB |
| Internal memory | 64 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 12 MP + 12 MP telephoto lens + 12 MP ultra wide angle; Front: 12 MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
| battery pack | 3,969 mAh, 18-watt quick charge, wireless charging |
Stereo speakers and IP68 certification for trips into the rain are also included with the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
DxOMark rating : 117 points (main cameras ), 92 points (selfie camera)
To our test of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
More about the iPhone 11 Pro Max at SATURN
More cell phones with a good camera