For the price range of $1,000, you could probably purchase a bare bones mid-range DSLR camera, but those things are heavy and bulky. Not to mention you’d still need to fork out more cash for the lens. Thankfully, phone cameras are achieving some incredible advancements. The best camera phone models can even rival DLSR photography.
That’s good news for those of you who want to travel light. Having a good camera phone in your pocket beats hauling around an unsightly mass of metal and plastic which also doubles as a thief magnet.
If you’re looking to fully ditch those bulky and dedicated cameras, take a look at and consider these following best camera phone models in 2023.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
PROS
- 200 MP camera is just exquisite
- High-speed video recording even at FHD
- Impressive low-light capabilities
- Maginally more affordable than its iPhone equivalent
- More flexible Android OS
- Comes with the S Pen stylus
CONS
- Expensive
- Stylus adds bulk
- Samsung bloatware
Specs:
- Android 13.0
- 6.8 inches
- 960 FPS slow-motion / 240 FPS Full-HD
- 200 megapixels
Normally you’d expect Apple to pull slightly ahead of its fiercest competitor in the mobile phone segment, but not this time. Numerous reviews and direct comparisons have favored the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially in low-light photography.
Moreover, it spotrts the highest camera resolution (upon release) with a whopping 200 MP camera, meaning you can zoom and crop to your heart’s content without losing much clarity. That’s just impressive. This year, Samsung takes the win for cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
PROS
- Impressive video capture
- Smooth zoom
- Good battery life
- Vivid screen
- Realistic photos
- Simpler to use
CONS
- Expensive
- Slower charging
- Lower RAM
Specs:
- Apple iOS 16
- 6.7 inches
- 240 FPS Full-HD
- 48 megapixels
Still, you can’t go wrong with an iPhone 14 Pro. And while it lags behind in low-light photography compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it still puts out some of the most realistic and most “raw” photos that best represent what your eyes can see.
You might end up editing more of the photos– particularly the exposure, but even that’s easy enough with the slew of iOS apps to help. For videos, you get a marginally better quality here as you can shoot a movie using an iPhone with quality that’s close enough to actual video cameras.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Google Pixel 7 Pro
PROS
- Good camera that can keep up with the heavy hitters
- Flexible Android installation
- Reliable software support from Google
- Good battery
- Aggressive and competent pricing
- IP68 water resistance
- Powerful Google photo editing tools
- Impressive zoom
CONS
- Still expensive
- Intrusive Google photo processing
Specs:
- Android 13.0
- 6.7 inches
- 240 FPS Full-HD
- 50 megapixels
The Google Pixel 7 Pro actually has a decent camera or good if you ignore the fact that Google will sometimes automatically apply post-processing to your captured images. Where it can excel is in its price point and software support.
You can actually find the Pixel 7 Pro at the same price point as the regular Apple iPhone 14 (non-Pro) which is quite a clever way to undercut your rivals. Because the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera competes well enough against Apple and Samsung’s flagship devices.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
OnePlus 11 Pro 5G
PROS
- Reasonably-priced
- Good post processing
- Flexible Android installation
- Decent camera
- Good battery
CONS
- Weak zoom
- Lacks wireless charging
Specs:
- Android 13.0
- 6.7 inches
- 240 FPS Full-HD
- 50 megapixels
Thank goodness for brands like OnePlus, otherwise, budget oriented photography buffs who prefer camera phones will be left out. OnePlus is quite the underdog when it comes to recognition and features, but the camera and its post processing capabilities are decent.
It has some drawbacks such as the weak zoom or telephoto lens, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. It’s significantly more affordable compared to the regular Apple iPhone 14 (non-Pro) and it competes well with that model– at times, even beating it out when it comes to photography.
Just don’t expect it to be ultimately better than the $1000-camera phones.
OnePlus 11 Pro 5G
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do camera phones beat DLSR cameras?
No. DLSR cameras will still be superior when it comes to image quality, customization, and many other aspects except portability and weight. -
Why are camera phones so expensive?
Because the research that goes into developing this kind of nanotechnology is expensive and is also being used by the military.