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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 108MP wide (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP telephoto (f/4.9) with 10x optical zoom, 10MP telephoto (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom. Front Camera: 40MP (f/2.2) Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1440 x 3088 pixels Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a remarkable camera unit, making it the best camera phone released in 2022 so far. While we’re still waiting for the iPhone 14 Pro Max to decide on the best camera phone of 2022, so far the S22 Ultra is comfortably head and shoulders above any other smartphone. The main 108MP camera on S22 Ultra has a large sensor which lets in more light, making it perfect for low-light photography. Flare correction on the S22 Ultra is also remarkable, with pictures coming out clear and sharp under any lighting conditions, be it overcast or bright. The 40MP front camera produces fantastic results in portrait mode and offers noise reduction for selfies taken in night mode. It is also capable of 8k video capture at 24fps. To top it off, the 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels produces vivid colours and smooth motion.
OnePlus 10 Pro
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 48MP main (f/1.8), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 8MP telephoto (f/2.4) Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.2) Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED Resolution: 3216 x 1440 pixels With one of the better-looking rear camera units on this list, the camera quality of the OnePlus 10 Pro isn’t too far behind either. Many long-time OnePlus users consider this to be the best camera phone the company has released so far, but the real test would be how it fares against the S22 and iPhone 14. The ultrawide camera records excellent details and vibrant colours with high HDR resolution in daylight photography. Capturing photos in low light is also a pleasant experience with the OnePlus Pro 10, but it is still not quite on the level of the S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The telephoto lens can capture detailed and crisp images with up to 10x zoom. The 32MP front camera takes excellent selfies and can record videos in 4k resolution. The OnePlus 10 Pro will definitely feature in a lot of year-end lists of the best camera phones in 2022.
iPhone SE
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 12MP (f/1.8) Front Camera: 7MP (f/2.2) Display: 4.7-inch LCD Resolution: 1334 x 750 pixels The iPhone SE may not be a flagship iPhone, but it still carries forward the legacy of the incredible iPhone cameras through the years. Apple went for a single camera design for the iPhone SE, with a 12MP rear camera. While it may not seem impressive on paper, the A15 Bionic chipset accentuates the quality of images with Smart HDR4 and Deep Fusion. The iPhone SE certainly punches above its weight, being priced at only Rs 43,900. The only significant drawback in iPhone SE’s camera is the lack of Night Mode. It comes as a surprise since the iPhone SE is more than capable of supporting a Night Mode, but it seems that Apple wants to reserve that feature for its flagship iPhones.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 50MP wide (f/1.9), 50MP telephoto (f/1.9), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.2) Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.5) Display: 6.73-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1440 x 3200 pixels Xiaomi continues to deliver high-performance cameras, with the Xiaomi 12 Pro being the latest in line to receive an outstanding camera unit that can deliver high-quality images in any surroundings. The Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with a 50MP + 50MP + 50MP triple camera unit along with a 32MP selfie camera. The rear camera provides six zoom modes: 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, 20x. The image quality remains intact up to 5x zoom, which is quite impressive. What’s more impressive is that the zoom modes also function in Night Mode. It can also record 8k videos at 24fps and 4k videos at 30 and 60fps. The front camera can record 1080p videos at a frame rate of 30fps and 60fps. Xiaomi 12 Pro also does a great job of colour adjustment in daylight mode, resulting in vivid images. Overall, Xiaomi 12 Pro is one of the best camera phones you can buy in 2022.
iQOO 9 Pro
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 50MP wide (f/1.8), 16MP telephoto (f/2.2), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.3) Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.5) Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1400 x 3200 pixels This pick may surprise some, but the iQOO 9 Pro, with its brilliant camera performance, is definitely worthy of being on this list. Often written off as a gaming smartphone, the exceptional camera unit of the iQOO 9 Pro flies under the radar. The Samsung ISOCELL GN5 main sensor paired with the ‘Gimbal’ tech and optical image stabilisation produces excellent images even when the camera is in motion, something not many smartphones can boast about. The five-axis video image stabilisation produces the same results for videos captured by the iQOO 9 Pro. The rear camera can record videos in 8k resolution at 30fps, while the front camera can record in 1080p at 30fps. The HDR enables the front camera to produce excellent, detailed selfies. If your main priority is a gaming smartphone, the additional high-performance camera of the iQOO 9 Pro will certainly set it apart from the rest.
Samsung A73 5G
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 108MP wide (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 5MP macro (f/2.4), 5MP depth (f/2.4) Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.2) Display: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels The camera unit Samsung Galaxy A73 is equipped to handle whatever you throw at it. The primary camera supports optical image stabilisation and comes with features like Object Eraser, AI Photo Remaster, Portrait Mode and more. What impressed us the most about Galaxy A73 was its macro mode. With a 5MP macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture, the A73 delivers excellent photos of an up-close subject. The selfie camera takes detailed images in daylight but low-light pictures could be a little better. But at a price of just over Rs 40,000, the Samsung Galaxy A73 provides the best bang for the buck.
Vivo T1 Pro
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 64MP wide (f/1.8), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4) Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.0) Display: 6.4-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1080 x 2404 pixels The Vivo T1 Pro provides a 64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear camera along with a 16MP selfie camera. The zoom modes are only available for the rear camera. Images taken from the rear camera remain intact till 3x zoom after which they start degrading slightly. The rear camera can record videos in 4k resolution at a frame rate of 30fps, while the front camera records 1080p videos at 30fps. The Vivo T1 Pro stands out in offering greater camera accessibility to its users. Most tools are available right away on the camera window, without needing to open any further settings. It also offers a Level Tool, which lets you level your pictures in case the camera was tilted or unstable while taking the photograph. The main 64MP camera captures beautiful vivid pictures with incredible details. The portrait mode in the front camera is also impressive, producing just the right tones for selfies. Overall, the Vivo T1 Pro is an excellent camera phone in its category.
Redmi Note 11S
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 108MP wide (f/1.9), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4), 2MP depth (f/2.4) Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.5) Display: 6.4-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels For a smartphone at Rs 16,499, Redmi Note 11S certainly provides one of the best cameras in its category. The 108MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP quad camera setup provides 7 zoom modes. The quality of images remains intact till 4x zoom, after which a slight pixelation is noticeable. The 108MP main camera does most of the heavy lifting, with the ultra HD mode capturing incredible, detailed images registering all the fine details and producing an excellent end product. The images taken with this camera strike a good balance between balance and contrast. The AI mode does well to detect in-frame scenarios and optimise camera settings. For example, the AI mode adjusts the brightness depending on whether the picture is being taken indoors or outdoors. The Night Mode works pretty well too but is not available for the front camera. Overall, the Redmi Note 11S is an excellent camera phone in its category, something we’ve come to expect from Xiaomi.
Poco M4 Pro
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 64MP wide (f/1.8), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4) Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.5) Display: 6.4-inch AMOLED Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels The Poco M4 Pro sports a 64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear camera unit along with a 16MP front camera. The rear camera can record videos up to 1080p at 60fps, with the front camera recording the same resolution at 30fps. There are three zoom modes on offer: 0.6x, 1x, and 2x. The rear camera unit has a diverse colour range and is well equipped to capture good images in different surroundings. The front camera is quite impressive, and possibly the best in this category. The selfies captured with the front camera are vivid with a nice balance of colours. The AI camera does well to adjust according to the scene and enhance the image output. All in all, for Rs 12, 449, the Poco M4 is one of the best options for consumers looking for a good camera phone on a budget.
Samsung F23
Camera Specifications Rear Camera: 50MP wide (f/1.8), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4) Front Camera: 8MP (f/2.2) Display: 6.6-inch LCD Resolution: 1080 x 2408 pixels Closing out this list is the Samsung F23 with its 50MP + 8MP + 2MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. The F23 provides one of the best camera configurations in its price range. The image signal processor and colour optimisation elevate the pictures taken with the F23 camera to another level. The auto HDR works brilliantly, producing consistent results for the primary and ultrawide lenses. The portrait mode does a good job of background separation and focussing on the subject. If you’re looking for a good camera phone under Rs 15k, the Samsung F23 should be your first pick. Read Also: Mid-year: Best Tablets seen so far in 2022
