Best Smartphone for Photography in 2020: Phones with the DSLR Quality Cameras

For many, the photographic part is very important when it comes to choosing a new phone. Samsung Galaxy S or Note, Huawei P or Mate, Google Pixel … there is a wide range of smartphones with a very good camera to consider for purchase. Here is our selection of the best photophones of the market in 2020.

This is often mathematical: the more expensive your phone is and the better its performance in photography. If you are not limited by a budget, you can go directly to the flagship side.

Huawei P30 Pro: the best mode Portrait of the moment

The Huawei P30 Pro is the ultimate version of the new flagship. With its triple sensor module 40 + 20 + 8 megapixels, accompanied by a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor to assess the depth and distance, the new flagship of the Chinese manufacturer is able to perfect the already very good solution of its predecessor. Whatever the context (day / night / indoor / outdoor), the pictures are always very pretty with beautiful bright colors. It also offers a very effective ultra-wide angle mode, an impressive x10 zoom and the best portrait mode of the moment.

Why move towards the Huawei P30 Pro?

• Its photo quality always improved (zoom x10, ultra-wide angle, etc.)
• High performance thanks to Kirin 980
• Its autonomy clearly above the lot

Specifications: Huawei P30 Pro

Samsung Galaxy S10: the versatile triple sensor

With the Galaxy S10, Samsung has also made the choice to integrate a triple sensor module for its new flagship. It includes a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel x2 zoom, and a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera. Very versatile, this configuration can adapt to all situations, thanks to its main sensor excellent in all conditions (indoor, outdoor, low light, against the light, on a moving target, etc.). Its ultra wide-angle mode is also very significant, even if the few distortions and cliches at night spoil the experience a little.

For selfies, he can count on a 10-megapixel front camera hidden at the bubble in the screen. With the right light conditions or the flash, the result is correct, but the low light affects strongly the loss of depth, with textures smoothing too obvious.

Why we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S10/S10 Plus?

• Its very versatile photo module
• Its beautiful Super AMOLED screen
• Excellent performance

Specifications: Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus: the most stylish

It’s time for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus to supplant the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus. The new flagship Samsung goes even further than the S-series. If it inherits the versatile triple sensor arrangement, it wins in addition a fourth sensor ” Time of Flight  ” (or ToF). It will improve the portrait mode and allows jokes like 3D modeling of objects and face (even if it is a little wobbly for the moment). The presence of the S-Pen Bluetooth pen also allows remote triggering of the device. It will also draw on your photos to amuse the gallery.

We then find the 12 megapixel triplets at f / 1.5 or 2.4 (main) + 12 mp (2x zoom) + 16 mp ultra-wide-angle. If they are technically identical, Samsung has revised its software to offer a more natural rendering, including the wide-angle sensor. In short, the S10 set the bar very high, the Note 10 Plus goes up a notch. It is undeniably the best photophone of Samsung.

In addition to the photo part, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus offers the best on the market today. We recall that the terminal offers an excellent 6.8-inch AMOLED display displaying 3040 x 1440. Even if the screen is borderless, it is obviously a large smartphone, but the playing surface for the stylus n ‘ is more fun. The object is also beautiful, Samsung’s design teams have done wonders again. His performances are finally superior to those of Huawei’s flagship. In the end, it is probably a more balanced choice than the P30 Pro. Certainly a little worse in the photo, but better on other points. It all depends on your priorities.

Why choose the Galaxy Note 10 Plus?

• Its full photo module and very good quality
• Its beautiful Super AMOLED screen
• An impeccable design

The alternative: the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

The  Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus includes a 12 megapixel dual sensor module, one of whose cameras has the particularity of being able to pass physically from an opening in f / 1.5 to an opening in f / 2.4. Overall, the camera is quite impressive:  it performs with precision in all conditions, including effective HDR processing. Its 8 megapixel front sensor allows you to take detailed shots and offers a portrait mode with bokeh effect.

The old flagship Korean has no blush of its other features, namely a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED screen, an Exynos 9810 SoC, 6 GB of RAM and a 3500 mAh battery.

Why choose the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus?

• Its photo sensors (dorsal / frontal) are very good
• Image processing revised upwards
• Its AMOLED screen is excellent
• His performances are doing very well in 2019

Google Pixel 3: the AI ​​at the service of photography

Among all his good points collected, it is the photography that deserves the most to be put forward. Google has been content with a 12-megapixel mono sensor (f / 1.8) on its Pixel 3 rear, with optical stabilization and Dual Pixel autofocus. False problem, because artificial intelligence is wreaking havoc, to the point of equaling or even surpassing the competition.

Google has put all its know-how to work on the photo part. The single sensor is constantly supported by a computerized assistance. The pictures are detailed, even in low light. Special mention in portrait mode very well detaching the hair of our editors. All explanations on the operation of the mono sensor.

The dual front module is composed of an 8 megapixel sensor coupled to a normal field of view (f / 1.8 and 75 ° field of view) and a second 8 megapixel lens with a wide-angle lens (f / 2.2 and 97 ° field of view). It will delight users who often change their profile picture. With a 5.5 inch screen (no notch) and a charming design, the Pixel 3 has a real sympathy in a market where the devices are always larger and sometimes true copies.

Why choose Google Pixel 3?

• The photo, for sure!
• Android Stock, the base
• A design that does not leave you indifferent

The alternative: the Google Pixel 3 XL

The alternative to Pixel 3 is naturally its big brother in XL version. Once again we find the 12 megapixel (1.4 μm and f / 1.8) mono sensor module at the rear and a dual 8 megapixel sensor at the front: one with a normal f / 1.8 lens of 75 ° and one with f / 2.2 wide angle of 97 °.

Let’s not dwell too much on the repetitions: the Pixel 3 XL enjoys the same quality in terms of photo as the Pixel 3. It should be ready for all situations and allows to make beautiful selfies. We also note the presence of Google Lens and the Playground mode. If our sympathy capital is given priority to Pixel 3, the big model is just as well drawn. It nevertheless accuses a big black point in terms of its autonomy.

Why choose the Google Pixel 3 XL?

• The camera, as for the “normal” model
• Ready for selfies
• The Android experience

Google Pixel 3a / 3a XL: the best photophones at less than $500

At the Google I / O 2019 conference, the Mountain View firm unveiled the two affordable versions of its flagships. Called Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL , these new smartphones promise one thing (apart from their attractive price): a photo experience worthy of the most premium smartphones. For that, they keep the same sensor of 12.2 megapixels as their elders and integrate even the technology Dual Pixel to propose a better autofocus and an effective portrait mode. So yes, they do not take advantage of the power of Snapdragon 845 or Pixel Visual Core – a chip dedicated to image processing – but it is clear that the pictures are impressive. In short, the pixel quality is there.

Regarding the rest of the features, we find an OLED screen (5.6 inches for the 3a and 6 inches for the 3a XL), a SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 670, 4 GB of RAM, compatibility with the fast charge, a jack 3.5 mm and a storage capacity of 64 GB. Finally, the main difference comes mainly from autonomy. The classic model has a battery of 2 915 mAh while the XL version is equipped with a battery of 3700 mAh.

Why choose the Google Pixel 3a or 3a XL?

• Value for money
• The design without notch (in both cases)
• Unmatched photo performance for this price range
• And of course, pure Android!

Huawei Mate 20 Pro: the trio in the square shape

After the P20 Pro, it is the turn of the Mate 20 Pro to integrate a triple photo sensor on the back side of Huawei. And like his elder, we find the same precision in the details of the photos and a good dive, whether on subjects near or far from you. A pleasure to use every day. Artificial intelligence is once again in the limelight (just see our pictures taken in portrait mode in the test) thanks to the Dual NPU. Other modes, less common, are also part as the filter “Sin City” that leaves the subject in color and passes his environment in black and white.

But what are these three sensors? Well to a 40 megapixel main sensor with lens opening in f / 1.8, a 20-megapixel sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens opening in f / 2.2, and finally there an 8 megapixel telephoto sensor with lens opening in f / 2.4 . At the front, we find a sensor 24 megapixels (f / 2.0) to make detailed photos and full of color (beware of noise in the middle of the night).

Why choose the Huawei Mate 20 Pro?

• Presence of a triple photo sensor
• Perfect for all situations
• A powerful smartphone

The alternative: Huawei Mate 20

This model is more modest than the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, but does not demerit. Three photo sensors are positioned at the rear (12 megapixel main lens with f / 1.8 lens, 16 megapixel f / 2.2 wide-angle lens, and 8-megapixel x2 zoom lens with f / 2.4 lens).

Artificial Intelligence tends to beautify photos when activated. A choice that allows Huawei to differentiate itself from other manufacturers. The selfies will be successful in perfect conditions, provided you do not dwell too much on the sharpness of the results.

The Huawei Mate 20 has a drop-shaped notch making its screen even more borderless. A bias that avoids blow facial recognition in 3D, present in the Pro version. For the rest, it is a smartphone with high-end features. Big up to its autonomy around 2 days.

Why choose the Huawei Mate 20?

• For its triple photo sensor
• A great autonomy
• A design with a minimalist notch

The Second alternative: Huawei P20 Pro

Now, the Huawei P20 Pro  is another alternative to the Mate 20 Pro. He has upset the established standards for photography by integrating 3 backbone sensors that work wonders. These 3 sensors of 20, 40 and 8 megapixels with lenses opening respectively to f / 1.6, f / 1.8 and f / 2.4 merge to take the best shot possible, all with a HDR treatment in premium. Its 24 megapixel front sensor with a lens opening at f / 2.0 is not left behind and offers good shots.

As for its other features, the smartphone is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a definition of 2240 x 1080 pixels, a SoC Kirin 970 clocked at 2.36 GHz supported by 6 GB of memory bright, 128 GB of storage and a 4000 mAh battery.

Why choose the Huawei P20 Pro?

• The integration of a triple photo sensor
• HDR treatment
• Its OLED screen is excellent

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: The S Pen to take pictures from afar

For the photo, the Galaxy Note 9 takes the same module as the Galaxy S9 +. We are therefore in the presence of a dual 12 megapixel sensor coupled to a lens with variable aperture on the one hand (f / 1.5-2.4) and fixed aperture on the other (f / 2.4). However, all the software part of image processing has been improved and the gain is felt for a result of better quality with beautiful colors. Its 8-megapixel front camera for selfies is correct, although it struggles to handle high brightness.

As for its features, the Galaxy Note 9 comes with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 2.7 GHz Exynos 9810 SoC, 6 GB of RAM and a 4000 mAh battery.

Why opt for the Galaxy Note 9?

• The same double sensor as the S9 +
• But with better image processing than the S9 +
• Design without notch
• A beautiful Super AMOLED screen
• The S Pen, obviously

The alternative: the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

With this former flagship, Samsung integrated for the first time two sensors on a smartphone. It therefore embeds two 12-megapixel sensors coupled to 26 mm aperture lenses opening at f / 1.7 and 52 mm aperture at f / 2.4. The whole is optically stabilized to avoid too much motion blur. The Galaxy Note 8 offers shots with beautiful contrasts and faithful colors. As for the selfies part, the front camera of 8 megapixels is not to be neglected. It offers good image quality even in dimly lit environments.

Note 8 also features a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 8895 2.3GHz SoC, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 3300 mAh battery.

Why opt for the Galaxy Note 8?

• Its very good photo sensors
• The quality of selfies, even in low light
• Its screen is excellent
• The S Pen, always …

FAQ

Which smartphone brands are recognized in the photo?

Over the years, several brands have distinguished themselves in the photo. The first is Huawei and for several years each new high-end model brings a striking innovation in photography. Samsung, which designs its own sensors, is generally a reference in photography as well. Finally, we must not forget Apple and Google who offer excellent photos thanks to, among other things, particularly careful software treatments.

Can we find photo smartphones at a low price?

In general, this is not the case. Quality photo blocks are expensive, it is difficult to find good photophones at low prices. If this is a crucial criterion for you, you will have to turn to high-end smartphones, even save longer. On the same scale, however, entry-level terminals may arrive at the correct results. 

Opening and megapixels, what does it mean?

Smartphone photo sensors are generally defined by two main elements: megapixels (mp) and aperture, expressed in f-stop and written as f / n. The first express the number of pixels that make up the matrix that receives the light. The more megapixels there are, the bigger the image. However the high megapixel number is not always a guarantee of quality.

Aperture is a ratio between the focal length and the diameter of the diaphragm (or the input lens if there is none). The lower the number, the larger the aperture, and more of the amount of light captured is important. This is usually a low-light performance indicator, but it is not self-sufficient, other parameters come into play.