Best Android Camera Phones for 2021: take the best photos

Upgrade, 3/9/21: We have reviewed our recommendations and replaced the Google Pixel 4a 5G with the manufacturer's updated smartphone., the Google Pixel 5a.

What to look for on an Android camera phone at 2021

If you are looking for a smartphone with a great camera, there are many factors to consider when making the purchase. Many companies try to distract customers with fancy features and specifications that look good on paper., but they don't tell the whole story.

Take the megapixels, as an example. Although they can increase the resolution of your photos, unless features like post-processing and color reproduction are good, wonder what went wrong with the unimpressive image or video you just captured.

Companies like Google have taken the software route with their cameras. The search giant's line of smartphones relies on advanced algorithms to produce flagship-quality photos, and Pixel phones are well known for their high quality images.

On the other hand, the actual camera hardware is also essential. You can have the best smartphone camera software on the market, but if the sensor is not capable enough, hit the roof in terms of versatility and quality sooner than expected.

Samsung is a notable player in the hardware field. Some of its newer flagship phones have 108MP sensors and periscope telephoto lenses, adding a wide variety of shooting alternatives to your camera app arsenal that competitors just don't have.

With so many different ways to implement a smartphone camera, our job is to break them down and highlight the best. Next, we list some phones that are highlighted in their respective categories and offer the best balance of hardware and software.

Warning: Due to the continuing shortage of chips, Google is halting Pixel production 5 and 4a 5G. These phones may still be available for sale, but they are effectively discontinued and will not be restocked. Check back soon for our update when the new Pixel line is released! 6!

Best Android Camera Phone Overall: Google Pixel 5

Our pick for a great versatile camera on an Android device is the Google Pixel 5. Over the years, Google has done nothing but offer amazing cameras on their phones, and the Pixel 5 is no exception.

What makes the Pixel line so unique is its ability to use continuously improving software to create great looking photos.. The Pixel 5 has the the best version of this software what have we seen so far, despite using the same 12.2MP main camera as years ago Pixel 3.

Virtually every photo you take will look great. From sunrise to sunset, your images will be well balanced, they will have superb color reproduction and will have a contrasting appearance that will be very pleasing to the eye. At the same time, The 16MP wide-angle camera adds versatility to the mix and enables you to capture wide landscapes thanks to its wide-angle lens. 107 degrees, while the 12MP camera takes crisp, sharp selfies.

The video quality is also good. There is support for up to 4K a 60 frames per second, and you get a bunch of new stabilization tools like Cinematic bread to keep everything smooth. Portrait mode shots and night photography also look great on this device.

Of course, considering there are only three different cameras on the Pixel 5, you don't get as versatile an experience as you get with other more expensive phones. Having said this, Google's post-processing magic makes up for it considering how good it is.

Plus you get a good spec list with the Pixel 5, which includes a 90Hz display of 6 inches, a Snapdragon 765G processor, 8GB of RAM and a long-lasting 4,080mAh battery. Despite this, storage is limited to 128 GB, so if you take a lot of photos and videos, you will want to invest in cloud storage like Google One.

Best budget Android camera phone: Google Pixel 5a

What if you could get the same cameras as the Pixel 5 for up to $ 350 less? That is exactly what you can get with the Pixel 5a.

The Pixel 5a has the same 12.2MP main camera along with the same 16MP wide-angle camera as the Pixel. 5. The 8MP front camera is also the same. Of course, Plus you get the same camera software benefits.

Then, Which is responsible for the cheapest price? A couple things. The screen of 6,34 inches of the Pixel 5a features a refresh rate of 60 Hz versus 90 Hz del Pixel 5. The 5th has 6GB of RAM, Meanwhile he 5 has 8GB. Despite this, both have the Snapdragon 765G processor.

Usually, is a good deal if the Pixel 5 it's a bit expensive for you. You miss out on little things like wireless charging, but the camera performance will be perfect. And it only costs you around $ 350.

Maybe you're the type of person who wants everything you can get on a smartphone camera.. Maybe you want intense zoom capabilities, high megapixel counts, 8K video recording and all the software tricks you could dream of. For these people, we suggest the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

This phone has four (count them, four) different cameras on the rear. There is a 108MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a twin 10MP telephoto lens set. Main shooter captures brilliant photos in virtually any lighting condition, while the ultra wide can capture stunning landscapes.

But it's the telephoto lenses that really stand out. Using a periscope style construction, S21 Ultra's telephoto cameras are capable of lossless zoom up to 10x. After, use Samsung's super resolution zoom to zoom up to 100x, giving you an incredibly accurate shot on whatever subject you are trying to capture.

AND, decidedly, the S21 Ultra has all the bindings in tow. You'll find 8K video recording with improved stabilization, studio-quality selfies thanks to the 40MP selfie camera, portrait mode, AI scene detection and more.

The two areas where users will find the most flaws are the ultra-wide camera and Samsung's color alternatives.. The resolution and light consumption of the ultra-wide lens are not as good as that of the main camera, since it has fewer megapixels to work with and a smaller aperture. In the meantime, the way Samsung designs its photos won't please those who don't like the added saturation.

Having said this, if you can live with these two peculiarities, you will be happy with the great versatility and dexterity of the S21 Ultra camera system. At the same time, you will get a great smartphone with a large Dynamiced AMOLED display from 6.8 inches, a Snapdragon processor 888, until 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, a battery of 5,000 mah and an in-screen fingerprint reader.

The best Android camera phone in low light conditions: Google Pixel 5

When it comes to selecting a phone that works best at night, we have to give the reins back to Google Pixel 5. The reason? Night vision.

Google's Night Sight feature on the latest Pixel lineup is perhaps the most impressive setup ever sent to a smartphone.. Once you enable it and it sits still for a moment, you can capture some truly stunning images at night of practically anything. The system relies on long exposure and lots of post-processing magic to snap shots you would never expect to come from a smartphone..

The company also has a function together with Night Sight called Astrophotography. This feature specifically searches for a starry sky to highlight the miniature lights above and create photos that will leave you speechless. Other phones are not capable of taking this type of photography, thanks to how well Google software works.

The only real downside here is that you are limited to the variety of camera sensors that the Pixel lacks a bit. 5. There is no additional telephoto or periscope zoom here, so you'll have to be fine with a dual setup on the back and a standard selfie shooter up front. The LED flash is nothing special either, so don't expect it to improve what Night Sight is already capable of.

At the end of the day, night view and Google astrophotography are why the Pixel 5 it should be the phone you think about if you are going to take a lot of photos at night. It's just that good.

The best Android camera phone for selfies: Asus Zenfone 8 Flip

This is undoubtedly a stranger, but if you want to take the best selfies, you must check the Asus Zenfone 8 Flip.

The reason this device is on our list is because of the hardware that gives it its name: the rear camera rotates physically 180 degrees so it's in front of you when you want to take a selfie. That means you can use the 64MP main sensor, the ultra wide angle lens 112 12MP degree and 8MP telephoto camera to capture great selfies. You will also get much higher quality images, since the sensors are intended for main photography, not just the occasional Instagram or Snapchat selfies.

At the same time, your selfie video will be much better. Asus equipped the cameras with 8K video capture to 30 frames per second, at the same time advanced stabilization, so your vlogs will be sharper.

Asus also includes flagship-level specs on the Zenfone 8 Flip so you don't have to sacrifice performance. There is a Snapdragon 888, 8 GB of RAM, 128 O 256 GB UFS storage 3.1 and a battery of 5,000 mAh. You also get a Super AMOLED 90Hz screen of 6.67 inches, stereo speakers, fast charging and an in-display fingerprint reader.

The disadvantages of the Zenfone 8 Flip include lack of wireless charging and CDMA carrier support, which means that those on Verizon will not be able to use the device. Software support is also historically spotty from Asus., so it is feasible that it will get stuck on Android 11 for a while.

Beyond that, if all you want is the best Android device for taking selfies, should not skip the Flip.

Those who are serious about capturing video on their phones will love the Sony Xperia 1 III. It's one of the most premium phones you can get with a list of impressive specs like a 4K OLED screen., Snapdragon 888, 12 GB of RAM and loud stereo speakers. Despite this, it is the camera department that truly stands out thanks to the additional capabilities of Sony software.

The Xperia 1 III includes a number of professional controls that allow you to adjust virtually every aspect of the video you want to capture. From ISO to white balance and color gradation, you will find all the controls a professional could want to create the memories and achieve the level of production you want. Plus you get Sony’s Who Pro camera app for even deeper control over your video, along with advanced audio controls to capture sound capture to perfection.

At the same time of all this, the Xperia 1 III comes with a standard 12MP f lens / 1.7, a 12MP f ultra-wide lens / 2.2 and a 12MP periscope-style telephoto f / 2.3. It's hardware, combined with innovative Sony camera controls, means you can create some truly awesome videos. You can capture everything in up to 4K at 120 fps, as well as in a cinematic-looking bonding of 21: 9.

The biggest downside to the Xperia 1 III is its lack of consumer friendly features. There are plenty of controls and features here that will appeal to a more experienced market, not those who just want to point and record videos. Don't expect auto mode for videos to impress you or a simple click of the shutter button to capture your next masterpiece without any editing..

Priced at $ 1,299, the Xperia 1 III is by no means cheap, but if you really intend to capture videos with your phone, Sony's latest offering certainly worth noting consider.