On this page we have listed, in no particular order, our current favorite smartphone cameras for those who are looking to buy their first smartphone or upgrade their current device. Add large high-resolution screens for image framing and viewing along with the ability to add special features and new shooting modes by installing apps to the mix, and it's no surprise that for many the smartphone camera has become an important piece of photographic equipment.
The cameras of the latter don't usually have zoom lenses or xenon flashes but image sensor technology has been rapidly improving and clever software processing helps rival, and in some cases even surpass, image quality of dedicated cameras. In many users' pockets consumer-level digital compact cameras have been replaced by smartphones. What you don’t get for the affordability, is extreme wide angle camera pictures, no 4K video and more plastic on the body.DPReview recommends: Best smartphone cameras
It’s weather resistant (it can’t fall into water) and it had the best auto focus in standard full HD 30 FPS mode and second best colour to Samsung. The optional TurboPower 15 charger (free at TELUS) makes up for the sealed large 2-day lasting battery. But its narrower wide view front and rear camera lenses come with the lower price. It was second fastest on shutter lag, with a slight overall edge on picture quality at 21 megapixels in 4:3 screen ratio and slightly below the others in 16 megapixel in wide 16:9 mode.
It edged the Samsung models in outdoor bright sunlight viewing. Although it “just” has a Full HD screen compared to the LG and Samsung Quad HD screens, it looks as sharp as any and no screen pixels viewable by the naked eye. Its thinner when on flat surfaces with a recessed camera lens and waterproof and can be kept under 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
They showed faster processing in Samsung photo apps but were not faster on common Android apps, especially when multitasking (note: the Acer Zenfone 2 with an Intel Atom processor and 4 GB RAM has better multitasking performance, but with an average camera.) These two Samsung phones showed the fastest responding camera, meaning shortest shutter lag, averaging.
The Samsung S6 Edge + $950, and Note 5 $850 have the same chip upgrade with Samsung’s Exinos processor and that extra RAM, totalling four.Samsung Note 5 QUAD HD video capture excels Samsung Note 5 truly multi-angle veiw screen lets get great photos in tight corners
Despite the marketing talk, it rates average in maximum screen brightness outside.
Although you will need a PC or RAW capable mobile editing program to edit pictures in RAW format (it shoots a JPEG copy as well).