Top Pick for
AI smarts
Top Pick for
Low light
Top Pick for
HDR video
Top Pick for
Previous gen
The camera on a phone is more than just the sum of its megapixels. For that reason, Finder's expert team of reviewers have extensively tested the cameras of every phone on this list. When we're reviewing a phone, we put a special focus on its camera capabilities because it's such a key value area for most smartphones.
Our editorial team chose the phones in this list based on a weighted balance of camera features, quality and our experiences when testing them, compared to other phones available in the market. The selection and order were not based on our overall phone review scores.
Note: Models released prior to 2023 are eligible for inclusion, provided the cameras still hold up and they remain available to purchase.
Read our full methodology below.
Compare the best camera phones of 2023
Google has taken the leap in terms of its camera system this year. Every camera on the Pixel 8 Pro has been upgraded, with wider apertures and upgraded imaging software.
The 50MP main camera also captures better photos in low-light settings compared to its predecessor. In addition, the 48MP ultra-wide lens has a larger sensor and higher resolution compared to the equivalent lens on the Pixel 7 Pro.
Other noteworthy features include improved Macro Focus, a 10x optical zoom and an ability to capture 56% more light with the telephoto lens.
In head-to-head low-light tests, it's equal to or better than the Apple and Samsung equivalents, while providing key AI features that novices will adore.
Indeed, where the camera system really shines is with its editing software, which uses generative AI to help you bring your photos to life.
There is something truly magical about the "Magic Eraser" feature that makes it simple to crop unwanted photobombers out of your shots, and likewise, its Motion features can add fun effects to your shots with ease.
If cost isn't a concern, consider the Apple iPhone 15 Pro (or Pro Max for a larger display). The camera has minor improvements from last year, but 2 standout upgrades are notable.
Low-light shots are sharp and vibrant, as evident in balcony plant, apartment view and street photos taken at night.
Additionally, you can now convert standard photos into portraits after capturing, thanks to depth-sensing technology.
Other enhancements include an ultra-wide lens for better low-light performance and reduced lens flare with a new coating.
For photography enthusiasts, the iPhone offers exceptional low-light capabilities, easy portrait modes and a plethora of camera apps. The 48MP sensor-shift optical image stabilisation and 100% focus pixels ensure high-resolution photos.
Selfie lovers can benefit from the 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view and 100% focus pixels.
$252 off Apple iPhone 15 Pro 1TB
If photography is important to you, it is hard to look past the S23 Ultra, Samsung's top-line model in the Galaxy S range.
It boasts a massive 200MP primary camera which far exceeds any of its competitors. This allows you to take crispy images even in low light. Rest assured, its performance in subpar lighting is at least equal to the very best in the market.
This is bolstered by a new Nightography mode which allows you to capture 30fps 8K video at night without compromise.
Portrait photography is particularly strong on this phone, with better hair detection and more realistic bokeh.
The colour saturation is arguably a little too vibrant, especially if you want absolute realism. But we think most users will like the way their images pop.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also comes with a 100x "Space Zoom". For nature photographers this level of zoom could prove very handy indeed, although you're going to need a tripod to get the most out of this feature.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent camera phone with an impressive suite of photographic features.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review
While it doesn't have as good a camera as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the S23+ still packs quite a punch courtesy of a triple camera array in the back. (Namely a 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto lens.)
There's also a 12MP front-facing camera that is great for taking selfies, especially if you prefer vibrant colours in your photos.
The S23+ features an advanced Nightography mode, supposedly powered by artificial intelligence. Regardless of AI's involvement, the results speak for themselves. Low-light photos are clear and full of colour whenever this mode is switched on, even in challenging conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ was released back in February 2023, so you should be able to find it below the RRP. The Good Guys is currently selling it for $250 off, for example.
30% off Samsung Galaxy S23 plus
26% off Samsung Galaxy S23 plus
The Oppo Find X5 Pro trades heavily on its camera capabilities, with the Chinese maker heavily hyping up its MariSilicon NPU for post-processing effects.
Within the premium space, it has a point because, in most aspects, the Find X5 Pro can shoot very well indeed, whether you're after portrait shots, low-light photography or ultra-wide landscape photos.
Its solid battery life also helps in this regard, allowing you to shoot more and for longer than on some comparable handsets. Like the cheaper Find X5 Lite, battery life is very good and it benefits from fast wired or wireless charging, although you'll need to pay extra for Oppo's astonishingly quick fast wireless charger.
The only reason that the Find X5 Pro doesn't feature higher in our lists is that its telephoto lens really doesn't stand out as much as it arguably should. At anything above 5x zoom, you quickly lose quality – something that competing flagships manage a little better.
It's also a harder sell for camera enthusiasts thanks to its slick rear casing, which can make it a little easier to drop. It's also Oppo's most expensive flagship by a fair margin – well within the price space of the slightly nicer iPhone 13 Pro or Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Read our full Oppo Find X5 Pro review
Most budget phones skimp on camera quality, especially at the lower price range. Even slightly pricier models can struggle in less-than-perfect conditions.
If you want to get great results under $500, one option is to go for an older premium model. (Note: We don't mean a refurbished model, but a pre-2023 phone that you can still buy brand new from select retailers.)
The Google Pixel 6 is our top choice in this category, with superb low-light photography. Plus, you'll enjoy Google's clean Android interface with guaranteed OS updates until the end of 2024.
Read our full Google Pixel 6 review
$130 off Google Pixel 6a
33% off Google Pixel 6
29% off Google Pixel 6
We're keenly awaiting the arrival of the Oppo Find X5 Pro into our test labs, but while we wait, we can take a close look at anything we like with the Oppo Find X3 Pro. That's because it's unique in the local market thanks to the inclusion of a 3MP microscope camera, capable of capturing the world up close. Really close, giving you a view of everything from sofas to pet hair (or sofas covered in pet hair) in a way that no other camera phone can replicate.
Is that a gimmick? Yes, it is, and you've got to be really sure it's one that you're going to use quite a lot. The rest of the Oppo Find X3 Pro's camera chops are quite good, although it does drop zoom quality relative to its predecessor and low-light quality is likewise not quite up there with the best that Samsung, Google or Apple can offer.
If you want to get in on the ground floor of iPhone photography, the iPhone SE 2022 is your best bet.
While you could buy a refurbished iPhone with a better camera for the same price, you’d be taking a big risk in terms of the battery quality and future compatibility. Stick to the new.
Equipped with a single 12MP camera, the iPhone SE relies on Apple's post-processing for quality. Fortunately, its A15 Bionic processor stands head and shoulders above similarly priced Androids.
A single lens isn't necessarily a drawback, particularly for people who just want to point and click. With only one option available, you don’t need to worry about choosing the right framing or zooming lens for the situation at hand.
What truly elevates the iPhone SE 2020 is the abundance of iOS camera apps, which can effortlessly enhance your photos. Powered by the A15 Bionic processor, it's like an iPhone 8 on steroids, but it does drain the battery quickly.
Read our full iPhone SE 2022 review
Oppo's Find X3 Neo was its 2021 entry into the more affordable camera space. It's the phone you might buy if you couldn't meet the asking price of the Oppo Find X3 Pro. That being said, we like it just a little more than the Pro in most respects. Instead of the microscope, you get both telephoto and macro lenses to play with. The 2MP macro lens isn't superb, because nobody's 2MP macro lens is superb, but it's a camera phone that delivers generally pleasing results.
However, it's worth noting that the Neo has been effectively replaced by the Find X5 Lite, a slightly less impressive camera phone. As such, the Neo is recommended only if you can find one at a good bargain price. Also keep it out of heavy rainfall, as there's no stated water resistance on board.
Motorola's more affordable Edge 20 handset benefits in camera terms a great deal by packing in a 108MP sensor, giving the same on-paper muscle as many of Samsung's premium flagship phones for around half the price.
The numbers aren't the whole story of course, but that primary sensor does give the Edge 20 a… wait for it… edge because it's not just about shooting massive pictures, but more about what it can do in terms of cropping, pixel binning and using that big sensor in combination with a 3x telephoto lens and 119-degree ultra-wide lens.
It's a combination that encourages photographic creativity and that's no bad thing. Motorola's not a known camera powerhouse, but the Edge 20 shows that it can make a fine camera phone at a very attractive price point. The caveats here for photography fans relate to the battery life, which could be better, and the lack of storage expansion, so if you do take a lot of photos, you'll need cloud or off-device storage to manage all of it. Finally, while it does have a very fast 144Hz display, very few apps – especially those that relate to photography – are going to make much use of it.
Read our full Motorola Edge 20 review
Compare the specs and purchasing options of each phone in the table below. (Click on "View details" for more product specifications.)
Otterbox
Up to 50% off selected products
Get up to 50% off selected phone cases at Otterbox. Valid while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Kogan
$50 off + free shipping on all iPhone 15 models, for Kogan First Members
Don't miss out on this limited-time offer at Kogan. T&Cs apply.
Apple Store
Get up to $950 in credit towards your next iPhone
Out with the old and in with the new iPhone 14! Upgrade and get up to $950 in credit when you trade in your old iPhone. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Amazon
$252 off Apple iPhone 15 Pro 1TB
Get $252 off Apple iPhone 15 Pro 1TB at Amazon from $2,749, now down to $2,497. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Up to 50% off sale
Save up to 50% on selected products at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Green Gadgets
iPhone 12 from just $439
Get a refurbished iPhone 12 for as low as $439 at Green Gadgets. Limited time offer. While stocks last. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Corecolour
20% off Corecolour iPhone cases
Apply promo code at checkout to avail of discounts. Valid for a limited time only. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Temu
Up to 90% off electronics
Save up to 90% on select speakers, headphones, keyboards, dashcams, smartwatches and other electronics at Temu. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Temu
Up to 50% off Mobile Phones
Discounts applied at checkout. Valid for a limited time only at Temu. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
Up to 35% off Otter + Pop Symmetry iPhone cases
Protect your new iPhone with the Otter + Pop Symmetry cases on sale for up to 35% off at OtterBox. Hurry while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Refurbished iPhones from $119
Buy fully working, Grade A refurbished Apple iPhones from Phonebot for as little as $119. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
$130 off + FREE shipping on Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe Charging Case
Save $130 and get FREE shipping when you order Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe Charging Case (refurbished, Grade B) at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
ESR
Up to 70% off iPhone cases and more
Save up to 70% on selected full-coverage protection combo for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and more. Hurry, while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Up to 50% off refurbished tech
Ends
Save up to 50% off refurbished tech only at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
THE ICONIC
Up to 55% off women's sports tech accessories
Enjoy huge savings on women's tech accessories including smartwatches, earbuds, headphones, and more. T&Cs apply.
Lenovo
Up to 27% off Tablets and Motorola phones
Get your hands on this limited-time offer at Lenovo. Apply promo code at checkout to avail of discounts. T&Cs apply.
Fruugo Australia
Over 50% off electronics & electrical
Shop mobile phones, gadgets, accessories and more at Fruugo and score big savings. Hurry while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
17% off VEEKTOMX Portable Charger for iWatch & iPhone
Get 17% off VEEKTOMX Portable Charger for iWatch & iPhone at Amazon. Hurry while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
20% off Apple iPhone 15 Pro (128 GB)
Get 20% off Apple iPhone 15 Pro 1TB at Amazon. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Mwave
Up to 25% off Razer gaming peripherals
Save up to 25% on selected Razer gaming mice, headsets, keyboards, and microphones at Mwave. Prices start at $29. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
MyDeal
Apple iPhone 14 from $749
Get the Apple iPhone 14 starting from $749 at MyDeal while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
HEYMIX 3 in 1 Wireless Charger from $29.99
Grab this 3 in 1 wireless charging station powered by only one cable that can wireless charge Apple watches, Airpods, and Phones at the same time for only $29.99 at Amazon. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Amazon
Up to 40% off iPhone 15 cases
Shop cases for your new iPhone 15 at Amazon and grab great savings. Hurry before stocks run out. T&Cs apply.
MyDeal
Up to $100 off selected mobile phones
Shop and save on selected mobile phones from Apple, Samung, Nokia, Google Phones, and more at MyDeal. T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
$17.99 off Magsafe Symmetry Series case for iPhone 14+
Save $17.99 on iPhone 14+ cases from Magsafe Symmetry Series at Otterbox. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Otterbox
20% off your second phone case
Offer applies to smartphone cases at OtterBox. Discount will apply to the cheaper of the two and applicable on the 2nd, 4th, 6th cases purchased, and so on. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
iPhones from $707
Shop for iPhones and other Apple products and accessories at Amazon. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Casetify
iPhone 15 cases starting at $93
Shop high quality, MagSafe compatible, cute prints iPhone 15 cases at Casetify. Hurry before stock run out. T&Cs apply.
Amazon
Up to 41% off mobile phones & smart phones
Shop up to $41% off mobile phones & smartphones like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
eBay Australia
$349 off Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Get $349 off the Apple iPhone 14 Plus at eBay from $2,049 and now for only $1,699.99 While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
Up to 36% off Apple iPhone 14 (refurbished)
Get up to 36% off Apple iPhone 14 (refurbished) at Phonebot while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Big W
Apple iPhone from $679
Get Apple iPhones starting from $679 at Big W while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
The Good Guys
Up to $50 off mobile phones & smart phones
Shop up to $50 off mobile phones & smartphones like Apple, Samsung, TCL, Motorola, and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Kogan
$200 off Apple iPhone 14 128GB
Get $200 off Apple iPhone 14 128GB at Kogan from $1,169 down to $969 for non-members and $939 for FIRST members. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
$100 off + FREE shipping on Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe Charging Case
Save $100 and get FREE shipping when you order Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe Charging Case (Grade A) at Phonebot. Limited time offer and while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Myer
Up to 33% off phone accessories
Shop up to 33% off phone accessories at Myer while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
CrazySales.com.au
Up to 80% off Apple iPhone accessories
Get up to 80% off Apple iPhone accessories at CrazySales.com.au while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Phonebot
$130 off Google Pixel 6a
Shop and get $130 off Google Pixel 6a at Phonebot while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Dick Smith
Up to 22% off Apple iPhones
Shop and get up to 22% off Apple iPhones at Dick Smith while stocks last. T&Cs apply.
150+
10,000+
10The camera is a key component of any smartphone, but in the premium space, it's often the key feature that manufacturers try to convince you is so much better than any other device you might buy. While we test every aspect of a phone in an exhaustive fashion to assess all of its strengths and weaknesses, for cameras, we've got to consider a wide array of shooting scenarios, skill levels and feature sets in a comparative sense.
Each phone's cameras are tested with hundreds and often thousands of photos taken from every available lens and in a variety of situations, taking into consideration both the more manual features that pro photographers desire as well as the more everyday needs of happy snappers who just want to point and click and get a pleasing result.
Comparing camera phones is much more than just balancing up the megapixel numbers and that's especially true given the growth in AI-led post-processing that many phones utilise to improve their imagery. Every camera phone's shots are taken off the phone in question because variable screen technologies, refresh rates and colour temperatures can make a huge difference in the effective "appearance" on a phone that may not play out on a properly calibrated display.
We also assess the real-world experience of using each phone's cameras, paying special attention to details such as comfort when shooting, especially for larger handsets, speed and accuracy in focusing and post-shot processing time depending on each camera mode.
While there are countless camera "apps" on the market for specific effects, we shoot with the manufacturer's supplied camera application in every instance because that's what most consumers will do and also because it's often the only place where specific camera modes are available to test.
For each phone review, we supply a library of images for you to examine as well as contextual information to help you judge whether a camera's capabilities are the right match for your needs.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some of the links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Here's a comprehensive run-down of the best iPhone deals you can get right now in Australia.
These are the best waterproof phones you can get right now in Australia.
If you’re looking to run multiple phone numbers from just one handset, we’ve got the best picks for every price bracket and need.
These are the 4 best flip phones you can buy right now in Australia.
If you're after premium power and the latest features at an affordable price, you'll want to give Xiaomi's smartphones a look.
Looking for an alternative to your iPhone? We've rounded up the best smartphone alternatives whether your passion is for better photography or more battery life.
We hit the streets of Paris and Sydney to find the low light camera king, with surprising results.
It's time to pit the flagship phones against each other to see who can deliver the most consistently pleasing low-light results.
Not sure what resolution you need on your phone's camera? This guide explains the features you really need to check on your smartphone.
We've ranked the top 10 smartphones you can buy in Australia right now based on hundreds of hours of hands-on testing.
