The latest smartphones combine style, design, and technology to provide innovative solutions for communication, multimedia, and even photography. Focusing on the last feature, from Apple’s iconic iPhones to Samsung’s Galaxy series, most premium phones have set a standard for camera software and technology. Even some of the most expensive professional-grade cameras fall short of the specifications in smartphones. Here are the best ones that boast a superior camera setup for amateur and professional photography.

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone is one of the top picks among premium brands. Its 48MP pixel setup is configured to take breathtaking detailed pictures featuring true sharp color. Moreover, all images are processed with Apple’s flagship A16 Bionic chip, one of the fastest yet in Apple’s processor lineup. The camera setup also comes with features that justify the premium price. Key innovations include a dedicated photonic engine, deep fusion technology, smart HDR 4, and advanced image color saturation using the LiDAR scanner. In addition, the Apple ProRAW technology combines the standard RAW format for image processing. The iPhone 14 Pro base variant with 128GB storage retails for $999 and is available in four stunning colors, while the Pro Max base 128GB retails for $1,099.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been one of the bestselling smartphones in the high-end segment, and with every launch, the brand introduces new innovations and technology. With the S22, Samsung has focused on camera upgrades that will certainly challenge several professional-grade DSLRs. First off, the S22 gets a massive front camera upgrade with a 40MP sensor for the sharpest resolution selfies in poor lighting conditions. The back features an even more impressive quad lens setup with a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide angle, and two telephoto zoom lenses with 10MP 3X and 10X optical zoom. The S22 camera setup is primarily designed for night mode photography so you can click the sharpest images in low lighting conditions without grainy pixelation or saturation. The S22 Ultra 128GB base variant retails for $719.99 on their official website.

Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google’s Pixel series also boasts a decent camera for a really affordable price tag. If you are not too particular about the hardware and software specifications, the Pixel 7 Pro fares well compared to popular Apple and Android alternatives. The rear camera features three lenses, including the main 50MP wide lens, the 48MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor with autofocus. The selfie camera is a basic 10.8MP fixed focus setup. In addition to the hardware, the Pixel 7 Pro enhances images with additional sensors, including a laser detect autofocus, spectral, and flicker sensors. Optical image stabilization further reduces blur and shake while taking high-resolution images. The Pixel 7 Pro is currently selling for $899 and can be bought with Google Fi solutions to get the best coverage across major networks.

You can also check out the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Google Pixel 6a series for more affordable quality camera phones. Remember, some phones boast a multi-camera setup with a higher resolution to support high-quality images. Other branded phones feature a powerful processor to convert multiresolution lens captures into one quality final image. Both phone hardware and software are necessary to render the images and must be taken into consideration.