In May 2023, we evaluated the perfect smartphones for his or her final digital camera efficiency for Q1 2023. Since then, we’ve got been capable of consider extra cameras from flagship telephones that launched at MWC and after: the Xiaomi 13 Pro (02/27/2023), the Honor Magic5 Pro (02/27/2023), and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra (06/12/2023).
Here is our number of the 5 Best Camera Smartphones for Q3 2023. We haven’t bought our fingers on the iPhone 15 Pro Max but, and we are going to replace this text after the launch of the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
The costs of the 5 smartphones go from €1,499.99 (~$1570) to $1099 (launch costs that will not replicate the present costs). To choose the perfect gadgets for cellular pictures, we use a number of standards. We test in precedence the digital camera prowess, and by order or significance, the show high quality, the system’s pace, the commercial design, and the battery life.
We evaluated the digital camera potential utilizing our proprietary Ubergizmo CAMERA HW rating*, and for this comparative evaluation, we shot photographs with every lens of every smartphone’s important digital camera system. You can study extra by going to the benchmark web page.
Our present choice contains smartphones that we had time to play with and evaluation. However, new cell phones with nice pictures capabilities are continuously being launched, and we are going to replace this choice within the coming months.
*Our CAMERA HW rating solely contains the primary rear digital camera system and doesn’t contemplate the entrance selfie digital camera. It is generated by algorithms primarily based on the technical specs of the digital camera {hardware}
1/ Xiaomi 13 Ultra
High
- Ultimate important digital camera system with 4 lenses, together with 1” important sensor and a 5X optical zoom
- Excellent SoC efficiency
- Excellent giant show with 2600 Nits theoretical peak brightness
- IP68
- Fast 90W charger within the field (~$40 worth) – about 40 min for a full cost
Low
- The most costly of the choice
- No 4K video recording for the selfie digital camera
- No U.S. availability
Global launch on June twelfth, 2023 – launch value €1499.90 (~ $1,570)
Camera specs highlights:
- Wide angle (principal) 23mm 50MP f/1.9-4.0 variable aperture, OIS
- Ultrawide angle 12mm 50MP f/1.8
- Telephoto 75mm 50MP f/1.8, OIS optical zoom 3.2X
- Telephoto 120mm 50MP f/3.0, OIS, optical zoom 5X
- Selfie Front Camera, 21 mm 32 MP, f/2
The Xiaomi has a quad 50 Megapixel rear digital camera system, which is kind of distinctive Xiaomi got here up with a design that’s highly effective and really well-balanced. The main 23mm digital camera makes use of a Sony IMX989 50MP sensor with sizeable 1.5-micron sensing pixels. The sensor is about 57% bigger than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the lens is optically stabilized to maximise the photographs’ sharpness.
The 75mm and 120mm zoom cameras even have optical stabilization, and each are powered by a Sony IMX858 sensor, which is a high-end selection since this chip may also be present in main cameras of different contenders. 120mm just isn’t absolutely the strongest zoom on a telephone, but it surely ought to produce terrific zoom photographs.
Even the 12mm Ultrawide digital camera is supplied with the identical Sony IMX858 sensor, which makes it probably the most potent ultrawide digital camera on this group. This one doesn’t have OIS however would possibly outperform lesser stabilized sensors.
Like all Android smartphones in our prime digital camera telephones Q3 2023 choice, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra options Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship System-on-Chip (SoC), probably the most highly effective cellular processors available on the market. For the worldwide market, Xiaomi affords a single model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Xiaomi 13 extremely delivers probably the greatest performances of this choice, each on the CPU and the GPU sides. (Check the efficiency comparability graphic on the finish of the article).
The attractive 6.73” AMOLED show with 1-120Hz adaptive refresh and a QHD+ decision of 3200 x 1440 delivers glorious picture high quality and a powerful 2600 NITs theoretical peak brightness.
2/ Honor Magic 5 Pro
Ubergizmo Camera HW rating: 213
High
- Great important digital camera system with 3 lenses
- Very Good SoC efficiency
- Very good giant show
- IP68
- 66W charger within the field (~$40 worth) – about 45 min for a full cost
- The largest battery of this choice (5450 mAH)
Low
No U.S. availability
Global launch on February twenty sixth, 2023 – launch value €1199 (~ $1,255)
Camera specs highlights:
- Wide angle (principal) 27mm 50MP f/1.6, OIS
- Ultrawide angle 13mm 50MP f/2
- Telephoto 95mm 50MP f/3, OIS, optical zoom 3.5X
- ToF Sensor 0.3MP
- Selfie Front Camera, 12 MP, f/2.4
The Honor Magic 5 Pro comes with triple 50 Megapixel digital camera sensors, augmented by a ToF (time of flight) sensor, for computing bokeh (background blur). The most crucial cameras, the 27mm main (OIS) and the 95mm zoom (OIS), have optical stabilization that reduces the chance of blurry photographs.
Both these cameras function the Sony IMX858 sensor, which could be very in style on the excessive finish this 12 months. The IMX989 is about 12% bigger, so not all 50 MP sensors are equal, however Honor’s large-aperture f/1.6 lens maximizes the sensor floor utilization, and general, the Magic 5 Pro has probably the greatest main digital camera {hardware}.
Its 95mm zoom is good however much less excessive than the 230mm zoom that different cameras might need. Likewise, the 13mm Ultrawide digital camera could be very first rate however barely under common when in comparison with the opposite contenders on this listing.
In essence, the Magic 5 Pro emphasizes its sources and funds utilization within the main 27mm digital camera. That’s not a foul technique, however the efficiency between its inside cameras just isn’t probably the most balanced,
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, just like the three different Android telephones in our choice, the Honor Magic 5 Pro delivers excellent efficiency. In the Geekbench 5 multi-core benchmark that evaluates the CPU efficiency, the Magic 5 Pro that includes 12GB of RAM is barely above the Galaxy S23 Ultra however beneath the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, and the Xiaomi 13 Pro.
Check the efficiency comparability graphic on the finish of the article.
The lovely quad-curve 6.81” OLED show affords the bottom decision of the 4 Android telephones in our listing however barely larger than the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 2796×1290 decision. The LTPO panel has a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh charge and delivers 1800 NITs theoretical peak brightness, which is barely above the one discovered within the Galaxy S23 Ultra however under the iPhone 14 professional max (2000 NITs), the Xiaomi 13 Pro (1900 NITs) and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra (2600 NITs).
3/ Xiaomi 13 Pro
Ubergizmo Camera HW rating: 205
High
- Great important digital camera system with 3 lenses
- Great design with ceramic again
- At 219g, the lightest of the choice
- Great SoC efficiency
- Excellent giant show with a excessive 522 PPI
- IP68
- Uber-fast 120W HyperCharge charger within the field (~$40 worth)
- 0 to 98% in 20 minutes, the quickest charging pace right here
Low
- Expensive in comparison with the competitors in the identical Camera HW rating vary
- No 4K video recording for the selfie digital camera
- No U.S. availability
Global launch on February twenty sixth, 2023 – launch value 1299 € (~ $1,360)
Camera specs highlights:
- Wide angle (principal) 23mm 50-MP f/1.9, OIS
- Ultrawide angle 14mm 50-MP f/2.
- Telephoto 75mm 50-MP f/2, OIS
- Selfie Front Camera, 32 MP, f/2
The Xiaomi 13 Pro additionally incorporates a triple 50MP digital camera setup within the rear, with a 23mm main (OIS) digital camera, a 75mm zoom (OIS), and a 14mm ultrawide digital camera. There’s no bokeh sensor, however we don’t contemplate this to be a crucial ingredient as telephones such because the iPhone, Galaxy S, and Pixel have confirmed that it’s doable to realize glorious Bokeh, with out a devoted sensor.
The main digital camera is backed by a Sony IMX989 sensor, which explains why its {hardware} is so well-ranked. However, its lens doesn’t appear to be as high-performing because the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, which is designed to rank on the prime.
The 75mm zoom digital camera could be akin to the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s and is extra constructed for portrait pictures than excessive zoom. The Ultrawide digital camera could be very first rate however could be the weakest of the telephones current on this listing, so there’s nothing particular to brag about.
Featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mixed with 12GB of RAM, the Xiaomi 13 Pro delivers glorious efficiency, particularly for gaming.
The 6.73” LTPO AMOLED show affords WQHD+ 3200×1440 decision, with the best 552 PPI of all of the telephones right here, adaptive 1-120 Hz refresh charge, and 1900 NITs peak brightness.
4/ Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Ubergizmo Camera HW rating: 201
High
- Main digital camera system with 4 lenses, together with 200 MP sensor within the main module
- Two high-quality telephoto modules, one is a un 10X optical zoom
- Beautiful design, IP68
- Excellent SoC efficiency
- Excellent giant show with the S-Pen
Low
- Expensive
- “Fast” charger (45W) just isn’t offered, and prices about $50
- At that value, the charging pace might have been quicker
Announced on February 1st, 2023, out there since February seventeenth, 2023 – launch value $1,199.99.
Camera specs highlights:
- Wide angle (principal) 24 mm, 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS,
- Ultrawide angle 13 mm, 12 MP, f/2.2, OIS
- Telephoto 69 mm, 10 MP, f/2.4, OIS, optical zoom 3X,
- Telephoto 230 mm, 10 MP, f/4.9, OIS, optical zoom 10X
- Selfie Front Camera 26 mm, 12 MP, f/2.2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wants no introduction and has been a digital camera reference for a few years. The 2023 S23 Ultra version stays probably the greatest digital camera methods available on the market, however it’s truthful to say that Samsung has not invested as a lot within the elements as a few of its rivals.
Instead, it’s sticking to its technique of providing an especially excessive 200MP sensor (OIS) on its main digital camera, paired with an excessive 230mm zoom that has been universally applauded by customers. In long-distance zoom contest, the S23 Ultra is the perfect of all, and this has been confirmed time and time once more.
It will get a CAMERA HW rating of 201, which is superb however just about equal to the S22 Ultra.
If you like portrait pictures, there’s additionally a 69mm zoom, which is OK, however its 10MP sensor is noticeably weaker than the S23 Ultra main digital camera, whether or not measured by degree of particulars or colour accuracy.
Finally, the 12MP ultrawide (HW) digital camera is nice however has but to see a lot evolution. However, it stays one of many higher ultrawide cameras on this group as a result of different OEMs typically neglect this perform, although ultrawide photographs are highly regarded. While 12MP might sound small, 50MP ultrawide sensors typically have tiny pixels (all the way down to 0.65-micron). This UW digital camera has 1.4-micron pixels as an alternative.
Equipped with Qualcomm’s newest System-on-Chip (SoC), the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the S23 Ultra affords excellent efficiency particularly for gaming (test the efficiency comparability graphic on the finish of the article).
The 6.8” 1440p AMOLED show with an adaptive refresh charge 1-120 Hz delivers a powerful picture high quality and affords 1750 NITs theoretical peak brightness that we measured at 1045 NITs. The show just isn’t the best decision or the best brightness of this choice, the Xiaomi 13 Pro delivers 552 PPI (vs 501 for the S23 Ultra), and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra delivers a powerful 2600 NITS peak brightness.
5/ iPhone 14 Pro Max
(*5*)
Ubergizmo CAMERA HW rating: 200 (similar because the iPhone 14 Pro with an equivalent digital camera system)
High
- High-quality digital camera sensors and lenses
- Excellent SoC efficiency
- Beautiful show
IP68
Low
- At 240g, the heaviest smartphone on this choice
- Slow charging (30W)
- Charger not included
Announced September 14, 2022, out there since September 24, 2022– launch value $1,099.
Camera options highlights**
- Wide angle (principal) 24 mm, 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS,
- Ultrawide 13 mm, 12 MP, f/2.2,
- Telephoto 77 mm, 12 MP, f/2.8, 3X optical zoom,
- Selfie 23 mm, 12 MP, f/1.9
Among all of the smartphones we chosen right here, the iPhone 14 Pro Max possesses the weakest technical specs, apart from its digital camera system. However, at $1099, it’s now the most cost effective of our choice.
The Apple gadget show delivers the bottom pixel density, its battery has the smallest battery capability (4352 mAh vs. 5000 mAh for the others and 5450 mAh for the Honor Magic 5 Pro) alongside the slowest charging pace.
On the graphics efficiency facet, the iPhone 14 Po Max just isn’t nearly as good in some frequent benchmarks (which replicate many of the present video games) as its Android friends with an analogous measurement and outfitted with the perfect Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. With more moderen benchmarks, it does an excellent job. However, it delivers the perfect CPU efficiency of all of the gadgets we chosen. (See graphics efficiency charts on the finish of this text).
That mentioned, the 6.7” OLED show is superb, and the sound high quality the stereo audio system ship is without doubt one of the finest, simply behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max reveals Apple’s effort to shut the hole in terms of digital camera {hardware}. In the previous couple of iterations, Apple has caught up with Samsung in general digital camera {hardware} power, and also you not hear folks speak a lot about giant photograph variations between the 2 rivals, besides in terms of long-zoom efficiency, the place Samsung stays the definitive chief.
The similarity in rating just isn’t fully stunning. Despite the 48MP vs. 200MP, the first sensor measurement is equivalent to the S23 Ultra. We discovered the 14 Pro’s 77mm zoom to be a bit higher than Samsung’s 69mm zoom, however the Ultrawide cameras are tied and the perfect on this group.
We selected to evaluation the iPhone 14 Pro Max for this choice, even supposing the iPhone 14 Pro options the identical digital camera at a cheaper price level ($999 launch value). One of the primary variations is its smaller display measurement, at 6.1”. On one hand, we want giant shows, and alternatively, it was logical to think about an iOS smartphone with an analogous measurement to the remainder of our listing.
The lately launched iPhone 15 Pro Max options an upgraded important digital camera system, and we are going to replace this text within the upcoming weeks.
Conclusion
The arms race within the cellular digital camera house has resumed, and producers equivalent to Xiaomi and Honor are doubling down by investing in spectacular sensors which are nearly 50% bigger than main established opponents. Over time, this funding can repay not solely in picture high quality but in addition in fame and branding.
Using our rating, we’ve beforehand demonstrated that Samsung constructed its digital camera fame by investing in higher digital camera {hardware}. Huawei used an analogous technique.
Obviously, there’s extra to a telephone expertise than how highly effective the digital camera {hardware} is, however additionally it is clear that digital camera efficiency is much more necessary than battery life, in accordance with current buyer surveys.
Filed in . Read extra about Android, Camera Benchmarks, Editor’s Choice, iOS, Qualcomm, Smartphone Reviews and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.