2017 is coming to an end, today we will present the top best camera phones with a price tag of up to $250. This TOP is based solely on our testing experience and may differ from the opinions of other sources.
5th place – Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
The price tag of the device is up to $170. The model, which appeared on the market at the beginning of the year, immediately became a hit in the budget line. The smartphone has a good battery, an interesting design for a budget employee, and well-chosen hardware. There have been a huge number of reviews of this model online, we didn’t stand aside either, you can read the detailed test .
We will not consider the model in detail, we will focus only on its main characteristics:
- processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 625.
- 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage is the most successful solution for this model.
- Screen diagonal 5 inches with Full HD resolution.
- battery capacity 4100 mAh.
- There is no fast charging.
- The main camera is 13 MP, with an aperture of f/2.0, and a pixel size of 1.12 microns.
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Price tag from 170-230 dollars. The characteristics are almost the same as the Note 4:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 625.
- Adreno 506 GPU.
- 5.5" Full HD screen. The quality of the screen leaves much to be desired - it is dim.
- 4000 mAh battery.
- Quick Charge: yes.
Main difference Meizu M6 Note- double camera. The first 12 megapixel module with a module from SONY IMX362, f/1.9 aperture. The second one is from SAMSUNG 2L7 at 5 MP, used to blur the background. Blurring the background is not always successful - the background behind the object can be filled with the same force. In conventional SLR cameras, filling occurs differently: near objects are filled less, distant objects - more. Perhaps this problem will go away with a firmware update.
Despite some shortcomings, the M6 Note's main camera is one of the best in its price range. It has fast optics, a good f/1.9 aperture, and a top-end camera module from SONY. The pictures come out good even in limited lighting. The camera can record 4K video without image stabilization, but with good sound quality.
The model has a 16MP front camera with software from ARCSOFT. In good lighting, the pictures come out excellent: clear and contrasty. For lovers of photo processing, the model has many software functions for improving and changing the image. In this price segment, this is perhaps the best selfie camera.
2nd and 3rd place – Xiaomi 5X, aka MI A1 only on pure Android.
http://nouno.ru/katalog/smartfony/smartfony_xiaomi/smartfon_xiaomi_mi_a1_4gb_64gb_3080mah_gold/" target="_blank">MI A1 two 12 MP each from OMNIVISION:
- the first has wide-angle optics with a focal length of 26 mm and an f/2.2 aperture.
- the second is equipped with a telephoto lens with a focal length of 50 mm, f/2.6. In low light conditions, the smartphone uses digital zoom instead of a telephoto lens. The quality of portrait mode and background elaboration is in no way inferior to Mi 6, video is recorded in 4K. The front camera in the model is the most common at 5 MP, f/2.0.
1st place – Xiaomi MI MAX 2
Price tag from 230-280 dollars. The smartphone will appeal to those who are not chasing a dual camera. According to characteristics:
- Snapdragon 625. The processor capabilities in this model are realized to the maximum, you can see the full review .
- screen 6.44", Full HD.
- Quick Charge: yes.
- battery capacity - 5300 mAh.
- camera from SONY IMX386, f/2.2, exactly the same module is in Meizu PRO 7, Xiaomi Mi 6, Mi NOTE 3.
Image quality slightly worse than the flagships. The image processing algorithms of the Snapdragon 625 are inferior to the flagship 835. At the same time, the camera takes excellent pictures in limited light from all the previously mentioned models. In good lighting, the pictures turn out great, it will be difficult to find fault with them. The only thing I would like to note is the muted color rendition in the pictures. The video is recorded in 4K format. The front camera is 5MP, f/2.0, the most common.
According to the test results - Xiaomi MI MAX 2- the best mid-budget camera phone of 2017.
Mobile photography has changed the world. Now everyone is a photographer, and you don’t have to have a bunch of expensive equipment to do it. Comparing photos from three years ago with today, you are amazed at how quickly cameras in smartphones are developing.
In this article I collected the best smartphones of 2017 for photography.
9. Honor 9
You have two cameras at your disposal. The first is color, with a resolution of 12 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture. The second is 20 megapixel monochrome with a similar aperture. According to the creators' idea, the black-and-white camera takes a photo with an expanded dynamic range and detail, after which colors from the second module are added to the photo.
In good lighting, the smartphone produces sharp images with the correct white balance. Laser autofocus is fast and there is a 2x optical zoom without loss of quality. At night the result is not so good - the picture becomes noisy and blurry.
Following the trends, Honor 9 can shoot with the bokeh effect. The background is blurred well, but far from perfect. Small details often get washed out, but more expensive smartphones also suffer from this.
Wide-angle front camera: 8 megapixels with f/2.0 aperture. The quality of the pictures is excellent, but again only during the day. I would like a larger aperture, but for now, in low light, it’s better to forget about selfies.
Honor 9 is a cool mid-budget smartphone for those who want to get more for their money.
The camera is practically no different from the more expensive P10. The only thing missing is the fashionable Leica nameplate and optical stabilization.
8. Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Sony's flagship has only one camera with a 19 MP wide-angle lens and f/2.0 aperture. Optical stabilization was not delivered again, so we have to settle for digital stabilization.
The camera is fast and takes nice pictures during the day. The picture is rich and sharp, but the impression is spoiled by the clumsy operation of the machine. During the day, it can easily illuminate the sky; under artificial lighting, the white balance can be set incorrectly.
At night, autofocus behaves nervously and constantly tries to refocus. Photos in automatic mode turn out noisy and soapy.
To experience the true capabilities of the XZ Premium, shoot in manual mode. In this case, you can enable HDR, adjust exposure, shutter speed, focus and get flagship-level pictures. The downside is that it kills the beauty of mobile photography. Few will tinker with manual settings when they need to shoot quickly here and now.
Predictive shooting does not work in manual mode. The camera takes 1-3 frames before you even press the shutter. As a result, you will get 3-4 pictures from which you can choose the best one. The idea is interesting, but the smartphone does this automatically and when it deems it necessary.
The XZ Premium has a good 13 MP widescreen front camera. Suitable for joint selfies, and the result is decent in any lighting conditions.
And the main highlight is the world's first smartphone that shoots super slow-motion video at 960 fps. It looks impressive, but, in my opinion, it takes a couple of times to play around with. Videos weigh a lot, it’s hard to get a smooth picture without optical stabilization. Only pieces of 0.18 seconds are recorded, which are stretched into 6-second videos.
With all the advantages, only true fans of the brand will choose XZ Premium.
7. LG G6
LG G6 has two cameras, each 13 megapixels. The first - with an f/1.8 aperture - received phase autofocus and optical stabilization. The second is a wide-angle lens of 125 degrees and an aperture of f/2.4.
A wide angle for the second camera seems more useful than the notorious bokeh. It is perfect for shooting architecture, landscapes, and taking photos with friends. On other smartphones, you will have to take a panorama to do this, which is not always convenient.
But for an ultra-wide angle you have to pay with distortion (barrel effect). In addition, the second camera does not have autofocus and optical stabilization. Because of this, pictures often turn out out of focus.
The main camera takes good photos. Optical stabilization works as it should, no movement. The picture comes out clear, with correct color reproduction. The LG G6 enables HDR in auto mode by default. This allows you to preserve more detail in the light and dark areas of the frame.
The front camera has only 5 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture. A strange decision for a flagship - the results are worse than many mid-budget smartphones. Even a wide-angle lens of 100 degrees does not help - the quality of the images leaves much to be desired.
The LG G6 is an interesting smartphone, but the camera is not its strong point. Therefore only 7th place.
6. Samsung Galaxy S8
The camera in the Galaxy S8 doesn't bring anything particularly new compared to its predecessor. But at the same time it remains one of the best on the market.
The smartphone has a single 12 megapixel module with optical stabilization and Dual Pixel technology for fast autofocus. The f/1.7 aperture allows you to take very cool photos in low light conditions. Night photos from top Samsung smartphones are standard.
However, don’t expect a realistic picture from the Galaxy S8 camera. It will be cool, juicy, but far from the gray reality. Camera algorithms aggressively distort the image to eliminate any imperfection. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of taste.
But what's really cool is the front camera. It has a resolution of 8 megapixels, intelligent autofocus and an f/1.7 aperture. Not all smartphones have such high-aperture optics, even in the main camera.
The result is stunning selfies at any time of the day and under any conditions. The lens has a fairly wide angle, so you can comfortably take pictures with a group.
Considering the price of the Galaxy S8 today, this is one of the best mobile cameras on the market.
4. iPhone 8 Plus
I used the plus version of the iPhone for three years because of its photo capabilities. There are no major changes in the iPhone 8 Plus compared to its predecessor. But the camera has gotten a little better in everything.
There are still two 12 megapixel modules. The first telephoto lens with ƒ/2.8 aperture. The second is wide-angle with an aperture of ƒ/1.8. Alas, the telephoto lens does not have optical stabilization, nor does it have a larger aperture. This is the prerogative of the iPhone X.
Changes in the iPhone 8 Plus affected the lens system and sensor matrix, and improved photo post-processing algorithms.
In fact, pictures taken with the figure eight are brighter, more contrasting and more saturated. The camera reproduces colors more accurately, and skin tones in portraits have become more realistic. In general, everything is good with white balance in the eight; in this regard, it has many competitors.
HDR performance has improved, it is now always in automatic mode. Previously, I had to constantly turn it on manually, which was sometimes infuriating.
Focus is more accurate and faster, resulting in sharper images. This is especially noticeable when enlarging the image.
In low light, the picture turns out to be more detailed, but in terms of quality and amount of noise it is inferior to the same HTC U11.
iPhone 8 Plus has new portrait lighting modes that don't just blur the background, but simulate different lighting patterns. It's a cool thing, but it doesn't work right now. For now, because this is not the final version yet and will work better over time.
The iPhone 8 Plus does regular portraits perfectly. The background blurs quite accurately and focuses on objects correctly. By the way, the lighting scheme can now be changed after you take a photo. So there is room for creativity.
And Live Photo also makes sense. You can now make a GIF from them or select the best frame. This is an analogue of burst shooting, which is useful for photographing moving objects.
The front camera has not changed compared to the 7 Plus. The same 7 megapixels with ƒ/2.2 aperture. The pictures come out normal, but in low light they are noisy. I would like the camera angle to be wider; the Galaxy S8 is more interesting in this regard.
What can I say, this is the most popular camera in the world, and deservedly so. The changes are not dramatic, but the pictures have become better.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
A huge flagship from Samsung that left positive emotions.
The smartphone has two 12 megapixel cameras. The first module is wide-angle with an f/1.7 aperture. The second is a “telephoto” with an f/2.4 aperture. Both have optical stabilization, so even photos at 2x zoom are sharp.
The camera blurs the background beautifully, and the degree of blur can be adjusted both before and after releasing the shutter. Pictures are saved from both cameras.
The bokeh itself seemed to me not as natural as on the iPhone. But perhaps this will be improved in software.
In daylight, the photographs delight with excellent detail and vibrant colors. Yes, the excessive saturation has not gone away, but the photos are still cool. There is also oversharpening, it is especially noticeable in low light, when the noise begins to actively work.
Automatic HDR works well, both in artificial and natural light.
Night shots, as always, are at their best; few can compete with them. The picture is contrasty and sharp even when viewed from a computer.
The front camera of the Galaxy Note 8 has the same aperture as the main one - f/1.7, resolution 8 megapixels. There is autofocus, the quality of the images is top-notch, everything is at the level of the Galaxy S8.
Overall, I was pleased with the camera and did not find any obvious shortcomings. Only the huge size of the smartphone can repel, but that’s another story.
2. iPhone X
The main camera of the iPhone X is almost like the iPhone 8 Plus. Optical stabilization is now in both modules, and the telephoto aperture has been increased from f2.8 to f2.4. What does this give?
Photos are always sharp when zoomed in. Previously, the picture used to be blurred at 2x zoom. Especially if your little hands are shaking, which is no wonder in such cold weather. It has become easier to shoot in portrait mode. No movement, I focused and got a cool portrait.
Thanks to the increased aperture of the telephoto, portraits are not so dependent on lighting. The picture became less noisy even in the evening under artificial lighting. Ten retains more details, small elements look sharper.
In terms of color and dynamic range, the iPhone X produces similar results to the iPhone 8 Plus. It’s true that viewing photos is more interesting with the iPhone X - the OLED screen makes already bright photos more vibrant and rich.
Changes also affected the front camera. Selfies can now be taken with the background blurred thanks to the True Depth depth sensor. There are different studio lighting modes available, but the results are not always successful.
In my opinion, the iPhone X and Galaxy Note 8 are about equal. The first one has better color reproduction and portrait mode. The second one performs well in night photography and selfies.
1. Google Pixel 2
The best mobile camera of 2017 is Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. They are identical.
The smartphones have one 12.2 megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture. Google decided that two modules were not needed for cool portraits. Background blur is achieved only with the help of software.
The background really blurs effectively, but certain conditions must be met. For example, get rid of small accessories like glasses, don’t shoot in windy weather with hair flying around. Otherwise the camera will erase them.
It is better to take close-up photographs. If you want to shoot from the waist up, you'll have to give up the bokeh. In this regard, the iPhone is less picky.
On the other hand, if done correctly, the photos turn out amazing. Oddly enough, the blur looks more natural than on the iPhone X. The main thing is that all this is the work of a neural network that is learning all the time. I think that in six months there will be fewer restrictions, and the quality of the pictures will be better.
The smartphones have optical stabilization and Dual Pixel phase detection autofocus. The camera has a wide dynamic range, and it doesn't matter whether you're shooting on a sunny day or at dusk. Autofocus is extremely fast, surpassing even that of Note 8 in speed.
Automation sets the correct white balance both outdoors and when visiting. The picture is juicy, bright, the colors are correct, without kinks.
The front camera is 8-megapixel and also takes excellent pictures. Portrait mode works here too, and no depth sensor is needed. The only thing is that they could have installed faster optics: the f/2.4 aperture is not enough in the evening.
As a result, Google managed to make a really cool smartphone for mobile photography. Although, to be honest, sometimes you have to strain to get a high-quality photo. This is especially true for portraits.
In this regard, I like the iPhone X better. Everything there is simple and clear, but the quality of the images is inferior, albeit slightly.
; the most expensive.
Characteristics: push-button; best camera; camera + battery; .
Trends: new products of the year; most anticipated.
10. Apple iPhone 8
The average price is 51,600 rubles.
Among the giants from Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei, the 4.7-inch Cupertino G8 looks small. But it fits into your pocket without any problems and lies comfortably in your hand. Inside it is the top-end “Apple” chip A11 Bionic, from 64 to 256 GB of memory for user data and a battery with a capacity of 1821 mAh.
Unlike the Plus version, the iPhone 8 has one 12 MP main camera. It has an f/ 1.8 aperture, 5x digital zoom, optical image stabilization and support for Live Photos. But all this was also in the iPhone 7. The key difference from the previous model is that the iPhone 8 can now shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, and also does slow-mo recording at 240 frames per second in 1080p mode (Full HD), not just 720p.
Pros:
- Convenient size.
- There is NFC.
- The camera takes excellent quality photos even in low light.
- The case is waterproof.
- Very loud stereo speakers.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
- Glass is prone to scratches, so don't carry your phone without a case.
The average cost is 56,990 rubles.
Everything about this phone is great: a frameless 6.3-inch AMOLED display, a huge amount of RAM of 6 GB, and from 64 to 256 GB of internal storage, one of the best processors at the moment, Snapdragon 835 (or Exynos 8898M - depends on the region).
However, what makes the Galaxy Note 8 stand out from the competition is the dual 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and optical Zoom 2x. It takes detailed, colorful photos, has bokeh (background blur) effects, and has an easy-to-use yet fully featured app. The Galaxy Note 8 has no shortage of photo modes: Auto, Pro, Panorama and Food, and the missing modes can be downloaded from the Galaxy app store. There's also a new Full View camera option that matches the size of Snapchat and Instagram Stories.
Pros:
- Futuristic frameless design.
- One of the best screens in terms of brightness and color reproduction on the mobile market.
- It is possible to add memory.
- There is NFC.
- There is fast and wireless charging.
- There is a stylus.
Minuses:
- Combined slot for nanoSIM and microSD.
Compared to the tenth place in the 2018 smartphone camera rating according to DxOMark, the “plus” model became 54 grams heavier, acquired a 5.5-inch screen and a dual 12/12 MP camera with a wide-angle and telephoto lens. The camera's autofocus is very fast, and you can shoot in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
The overall camera performance is an evolution from previous iPhone lenses. And sharpness in mixed conditions is impressive - you can see a lot of detail in both brighter and darker areas of the photo.
In general, the iPhone 8 Plus tends to overexpose every photo, making the image brighter than the subject or scene in real life.
Pros:
- Large screen with excellent color reproduction.
- Dual main camera that takes bright and very clear photos in any lighting condition.
- There is NFC.
- Very fast A11 Bionic processor.
- There is wireless and fast charging.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
- The battery lasts for a day of use with an average load.
- Heavy and slippery body.
7. Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S
The estimated price in Russia is 32,000 rubles.
At the end of March 2018, the presentation of a new 5.99-inch frameless smartphone from Xiaomi took place. The new Chinese phone with a good camera will receive the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 6/64 GB, 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB of memory, as well as a 3400 mAh battery.
Mi MIX 2S has a rear dual 12-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX363 sensor, a 4-axis optical stabilization system, phase detection autofocus and 2x optical zoom.
In addition, the camera uses artificial intelligence capabilities to automatically adjust to shooting conditions and blur the background in portrait photos.
Pros:
- There is fast charging.
- There is a slot for a memory card.
- The top model will be “enclosed” in an elegant ceramic case. Regular versions will have a glass back cover.
- Possibility of user identification by face.
- This is the most inexpensive smartphone with a good camera in our top 10.
- There is NFC.
Minuses:
- Most likely, like Mi Mix 2 - one of the, its “big brother” will be very slippery. And all its beauty will be hidden in the case.
6.Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Offered for 44,890 rubles.
Few Chinese smartphones can match the design and performance of this luxurious glass and metal gadget with a six-inch OLED screen and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The fast HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash memory allow the Mate 10 Pro to run heavy applications and games at maximum settings. And the 4000 mAh battery will last a day and a half under full load.
There are two camera modules on the back of the Mate 10 Pro: a 12-megapixel color sensor with optical image stabilization, and a 20-megapixel black and white sensor. Both cameras have an f/1.6 aperture. This solves the problem of poor image quality in low light.
The phone also supports the new AI zoom (intelligent digital zoom) function, and can evaluate the object in the video finder field to set the optimal shooting parameters.
Pros:
- Huge screen with rich colors and automatic brightness adjustment.
- Clear and loud sound from stereo speakers.
- There is NFC.
- Instant fingerprint sensor.
- There is fast charging.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
- No 3.5 connector.
The average cost in the maximum configuration is 70,400 rubles.
The frameless 5.8-inch smartphone was the most anticipated new product of 2017 from Apple. Losing the Home button and changing the design were dangerous but also necessary steps after years of similarity in most iPhone models. The result is a powerful and elegant device with a fast six-core A11 Bionic processor, 256 or 64 GB of internal storage and the ability to identify by face.
The pride of the iPhone X is its dual 12/12 MP rear camera. It has an f/1.8 aperture and can take pictures with natural color reproduction and minimal noise.
iPhone X uses a wide-angle lens and digital zoom to improve low-light photography. Therefore, an image taken in the dark will not appear dull or blurry.
"Standard" iPhone photos automatically have a good level of blur.
The 7MP TrueDepth front camera takes very bright and clear selfies. Not only can it blur the background, but you can also use the Portrait options to change the lighting of the scene or cut yourself out of the image altogether and place your image against a black background.
Pros:
- Top performance.
- Great cameras.
- User-friendly interface.
- Juicy and bright screen.
- There is NFC.
- Convenient Face ID option.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
- The body is slippery and heavy.
Can be purchased for 45,380 rubles.
Google Pixel 2 is a clear example that two rear cameras are not always better than one. This small 5-inch phone also features an extremely convenient way to call Google Assistant. Just squeeze the sides of the phone. It's much easier than accidentally pressing another button (Bixby) on the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
The latest games will run smoothly on the Pixel 2 thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 to 128 GB of storage for user data.
The 12.2 MP rear camera with F/1.8 aperture is the best part of the Pixel 2. The color reproduction is true to life and the photos look vibrant. Even photos taken in low light using the Pixel 2 look like we turned on the lights.
Both the 8MP front and rear cameras have a background portrait blur mode. This phone also has optical image stabilization and very fast laser autofocus.
Pros:
- Fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
- Has an NFC chip.
- Has moisture protection class IP67.
- It holds a charge for a long time, despite the seemingly modest battery capacity of 2700 mAh.
- Excellent stereo speakers.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
You can buy it for 54,000 rubles.
This is one of the largest Android phones, thanks to its 6.2-inch edge-to-edge screen. It's similar in many ways to last year's S8 Plus, but the updated model changes the location of the fingerprint sensor (it's now centered on the back) and adds stereo speakers.
The powerful Exynos 9810 chipset, the impressive size of RAM (6 GB) and from 64 to 256 GB of internal memory will allow you to use the smartphone for several years, when other flagships are already outdated.
The Galaxy S9 Plus (as well as the S9) has an excellent dual 12/12 megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture that automatically opens in bright light and expands to f/1.5 in the dark. This is the world's first mobile phone with such a wide aperture. Thanks to this, a photo taken in poor lighting will be extremely detailed and bright.
The main camera of the device can capture super slow-motion video at 960 frames per second. And the 8-megapixel front camera can be used to transform your face into an animated one using AR Emoji.
Pros:
- There is a slot for memory expansion.
- You can make contactless payments.
- Battery 3500 mAh.
- Fantastically beautiful appearance.
- The widest aperture of the main camera in the ranking of smartphones with the best camera of 2018.
- There is both wireless and fast charging.
- There is face unlocking.
Minuses:
- Fingerprints are clearly visible on the rear glass.
- AR Emoji is an over-hyped feature with few features.
The estimated cost is 46 thousand rubles.
Updates for the P20 compared to last year's Huawei P10 include a glass back, new body colors, a powerful eight-core Kirin 970 processor and an increased screen size - 5.8 inches versus 5.1 on the Huawei P10. In addition, the P20 model has acquired 128 GB of flash memory and has 4 GB of RAM. This should be more than enough for most tasks, although it's less than the 6GB inside the P20 Pro.
Huawei P20 has a dual main camera (12 MP f/1.8 color module and 20 MP f/1.6 monochrome module). Thanks to the wide aperture, the camera can capture more light, and even in low light, photos come out very clear and with minimal digital noise. The camera has built-in memory, thanks to which you can shoot super slow motion at 960 frames per second and in HD resolution. Until now, only smartphones with good cameras from Sony and Samsung could boast of this.
On the front, Huawei P20 has a 24-megapixel selfie camera that shows facial details in such detail that even the smallest blemishes are visible.
Pros:
- Premium design.
- Flagship processor.
- Great cameras.
- Capacious battery of 3400 mAh.
- There is fast charging.
- There is NFC.
Minuses:
- A memory card cannot be inserted.
- No headphone jack.
- Thick bottom frame.
Approximate price - 64,100 rubles.
The best camera phone of 2018, the Huawei P20 Pro, comes with a top-end design and a significant upgrade in internals. Compared to the Huawei P20, the new photo flagship boasts an increased OLED screen size of 6.1 inches with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a more capacious 4000 mAh battery, 6 GB of RAM (the regular model has 4 GB) and IP67 water resistance.
However, the most important difference is the unique triple camera, created in collaboration with the German company Leica. This is the best camera in a smartphone in 2018 at the moment.
The question arises: why does a smartphone need three cameras at once? Previously, Huawei equipped its gadgets with cameras with color and black-and-white sensors, which worked in tandem to produce photos with improved depth and sharpness. And thanks to the addition of a telephoto lens, you can shoot objects that you can’t get close to. It allows you to zoom in on an image without losing its quality.
The Huawei P20 Pro has a fantastic 40MP color lens and is paired with a 20MP monochrome sensor.
Above the RGB lens is an 8-megapixel sensor. It has 3x optical zoom and 5x software zoom.
Examples of photos on Huawei P20 Pro
In bright light
Portrait
Portrait with bokeh effect
In low light conditions
The camera also features software enhancements, including six-axis AIS image stabilization, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and without the need for a tripod. And the intelligent assistant Master AI will tell you how best to compose the frame when shooting landscapes and group portraits.
On the front of the phone, there is a 24-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, thanks to which your face will be visible in every detail in selfies.
Pros:
- The glass back panel shimmers beautifully, and, thanks to the rounded edges, the gadget fits comfortably in the hand.
- Powerful camera.
- Top-end Huawei Kirin 970 processor with NPU module for neural network computing.
- There is NFC.
- There is Huawei Super Charge fast charging technology.
- Very fast touch fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button below the screen.
Minuses:
- No headphone jack.
- Thick bottom frame.
- No memory card support. You will have to be content with the built-in memory of 128 GB.
The P20 Pro places such a heavy emphasis on camera improvements that other elements of the phone seem comparatively neglected in terms of updates. However, this is the most beautiful and powerful phone from Huawei. It, as well as P20, will appear in Russian stores in April.
Good cameras in smartphones are no longer rare. The quality of shooting is not the last factor that people pay attention to when choosing a model. Our selection is dedicated to smartphones that will successfully replace the point-and-shoot in your pocket!
The long-awaited phablet of the Samsung brand and a pioneer with two cameras (12 + 12 MP) and a fast lens - f / 1.7, portrait - f / 2.4. The front camera is 8 MP autofocus and f/1.7 aperture. Both main camera modules have optical stabilization, which has a positive effect on the quality of videos and photos, especially in low light. When it comes to low-light photography, the Note 8 simply blows away the competition; you won’t find a better smartphone for this task. Thanks to the second lens, you can take a photo with a blurred background (bokeh effect).
The operating principle of the camera is similar to its predecessor. The first camera is widescreen, the other is portrait. Aperture f/1.8 and f/2.8. The smartphone is equipped with a dual 12-megapixel camera, optical stabilization, and AutoHDR function. Among the camera's features is the Portrait Lightning mode, which allows you to complement the background with studio lighting effects in portrait mode.
The spring flagship has identical data to last year's S7: 12MP, 1.4 micron pixel size, a similar lens with f/1.7 aperture, optical stabilization and Dual Pixel technology. However, thanks to software improvements, the company has taken the camera to a new level: instant focusing, faster continuous shooting, speed and, most importantly, improved camera performance in low light conditions.
Huawei P10
The Huawei P10 smartphone has all the modern trends - dual camera, hybrid autofocus, optical stabilization. However, the purpose of the second module is different; it is monochrome and acts as an assistant to the first. Thanks to the monochrome lens, images receive a wide dynamic range, greater detail and accurate color reproduction. The inscription “Leica” proudly displays next to the cameras, because a well-known German company that produces premium cameras and optics participated in the creation of the camera.
The LG G6 also boasts dual cameras, but they take a different approach from what others offer. It is a dual 13 MP camera with f/1.8 and f/2.4 aperture respectively. The viewing angle of the first module is 71°, while the second is 125°, which allows you to capture more details in the frame. If you like to shoot landscapes, architectural shots and large groups of friends, the LG G6 will certainly become your faithful assistant.
HTC U11
The Taiwanese company HTC has always been famous for the quality of its products. HTC U11 was no exception. The smartphone has many strengths that allowed it to take pride of place among the top camera phones. The HTC camera uses a 12 MP module with a pixel size of 1.4 microns. The aperture is f/1.7, there is optical stabilization and a Profi mode that allows you to manually set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Photos taken with the HTC U11 camera differ from competitors in high resolution and low noise level. In addition to all the listed advantages, the smartphone can record 4K video with 3D sound.
Samsung Galaxy S7
Although the smartphone was announced more than a year ago, do not rush to write off the “grandfather”! Now this is one of the most balanced and affordable flagship camera phones. Familiar to us in the S8 is 12MP with a pixel size of 1.4 microns. you will be surprised again. In constant updates, Samsung engineers present us with improved algorithms, which significantly improves the shooting quality of last year’s flagship and compares it with the new products of 2017.
The market leader is the iPhone 7 Plus. A smartphone that can give even the newly announced flagships a head start in video quality. The remarkable performance of the optical stabilizer, combined with its software implementation, makes it a benchmark in the Video category. Portrait mode with good bokeh and 2x zoom without loss of quality have become the main features of the iPhone 7 Plus. If you want to get a smartphone with top specifications at a lower price (compared to current flagships), the iPhone 7 is your choice.
Asus Zenfone 4
The brainchild of Asus, Zenfone 4, was announced with the slogan “We love photos.” One cannot but agree, because the smartphone is equipped with a 12 MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture and fast phase detection autofocus, and a special RGB sensor is used to correct the white balance. The additional module is an 8 MP wide-angle with an angle of 120°. The operating principle is similar to that of the LG G6. The smartphone is equipped with a high-quality optical stabilizer, which makes the pictures clear and the video smooth. Pro mode has a rich set of options: focus, shutter speed, ISO, exposure and white balance parameters. You can change white parameters, ISO value and focus directly while shooting video, which was previously only available in professional cameras.
The Huawei Nova 2 is one of the most affordable camera phones. Equipped with a dual camera system, the first one is 12 MP with f/1.8 aperture, and the secondary camera is 8 MP with f/2.4 aperture. In almost all usage scenarios, the smartphone shoots on par with the flagship P10, however, in low light conditions the P10 takes over due to its fast lens. Among the features of the smartphone, it is worth highlighting the possibility of 2x zoom without loss of quality. Huawei Nova 2 has gained fame as a balanced and productive smartphone with an affordable price tag.
Mobile photography is now increasingly difficult to distinguish in quality from a picture taken with a DSLR camera, especially if these are standard frames, without the use of ultrazoom, fisheye and other specific lenses. At the beginning of March, the MWC 2017 exhibition was held in Barcelona, which is dedicated to mobile devices, but practically does not touch upon the topic of photography. In any case, this was the case before, but now that the smartphone has become the most popular photographic equipment, we simply cannot ignore the new achievements of the industry. So, today we will look at five new products on the mobile market that can save you from the need to buy a compact camera. Or maybe even an entry-level DSLR.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs
It seems that Sony is tired of participating in the megapixel race and has finally begun to use common sense. The new flagship handset has a camera with a resolution of 19 megapixels instead of the previous 23, and this should have a very good effect on the quality of pictures. In addition, the module has learned super-high-speed shooting - up to 960 frames per second. When recording video in a special mode, you can capture several seconds of slow motion. True, all this is only possible in a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels.
Well, in general, such a leap in video recording capabilities became possible thanks to the new hardware base. Sony Xperia XZ Premium will be the world's first smartphone based on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. The central processor contains 8 cores, four of them operate at a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz, and the remaining four - up to 1.9 GHz. There is also 4 gigabytes of RAM.
Sony's new flagship looks strict, and in the hand it feels like a very massive and extremely stylish thing. The 5.5-inch display has “double” resolution: either Full HD (1080 × 1920) or the coveted 4K. Top resolution is only available when watching video; It’s not entirely clear why the company took such half-measures, but that’s how it happened. The screen has changed: compared to the Xperia Z5 Premium, the color gamut exceeds the sRGB space by 35%. It is not yet known how much this model will cost in Russia, but you will be able to buy it in May 2017.
For those who can't afford the XZ Premium, Sony will also have a cheaper model, the Xperia XZs. This is an updated version of last year's Xperia XZ. No external differences, just a new camera, exactly the same as the Xperia XZ Premium.
Huawei P10 and P10 Plus
Huawei continues to develop smartphones with dual cameras. This year the flagship handset will be released in two modifications. The first, P10, will be relatively compact, with a screen diagonal of 5.1 inches, and the second, P10 Plus, will be larger due to its 5.5-inch screen. In the first case, the screen resolution will be Full HD (1080 × 1920 pixels), and in the second - Quad HD (1440 × 2560).
Both versions use an 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 960 processor and have 4 gigabytes of RAM. However, if you wish, you can order the P10 Plus with 6 gigabytes of RAM. But the main thing is that there are no differences between smartphones in terms of cameras.
Leica took part in the development of the new photo module, which last year signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Huawei. So, both new smartphones use dual modules, and the sensor in each of them has a resolution of 12 megapixels. True, one shoots in normal mode, and the other in black and white. In theory, this should give a wider dynamic range and improve the quality of shooting in low light. Previous Huawei smartphones (P9, Mate 9 and Honor 8) shot simply stunning, so expectations are very high for the P10. The most affordable model will cost 35 thousand rubles, and you can buy it literally within a month.
LG G6
LG also prefers to use dual cameras, at least in high-end smartphones. The new LG G6 also received two “eyes” with a resolution of 13 megapixels. True, the very principle by which the dual camera works in LG mobile phones is slightly different from what Huawei offers. Here the approach is rather closer to the one that Apple uses. The lenses on the cameras are different, one has a viewing angle of 71 degrees, the other has 125, and switching between them gives a 2x optical zoom. True, the G6 does not have a full-fledged portrait mode; its camera is more useful for shooting landscapes - such a wide viewing angle is not yet available to competitors.
Another interesting feature is the non-standard display aspect ratio, 18:9 (or 2:1) instead of the popular 16:9. As the company explains, it is more convenient to hold a smartphone with a large diagonal, and the screen in horizontal mode can be divided into two squares, which will allow you to refresh your look at the interface of familiar applications.
The company didn’t play tricks with the hardware - instead of the latest Snapdragon 835, there is last year’s Snapdragon 821. And although this processor is formally not the newest, its performance is still sufficient for all tasks with a margin of a couple of years. The LG G6 should appear in Russia in April-May, but the approximate retail price is not yet known.
Oppo 5x
But this is not yet a finished smartphone, but only a concept that has every chance of entering the market this year. The development of the Chinese company Oppo is notable for its five-fold optical zoom. The camera is located perpendicular to the usual layout - horizontally, and its height is only 5.7 mm, that is, hypothetically it will fit into any smartphone without any inconvenience.
The light flux is reflected in the optically stabilized lens, which is shifted by 90 degrees. It allows for 3x optical zoom. Fivefold is achieved using software processing of images obtained from two lenses.
Thanks to this development, the quality of images at maximum zoom should significantly improve. In addition, Oppo 5x uses an advanced optical stabilization mechanism to reduce shake. It is not reported which smartphones the new product will appear in, but some sources claim that Oppo will release a smartphone with such a camera on the market in the summer. We will definitely keep you updated.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Well, the real king-phone on Android has not yet been officially announced. Samsung promises to reveal all its cards on March 29, which we will definitely talk about separately. However, something about the Galaxy S8 is already known. It will be released in two form factors: with a screen diagonal of 5.7 and 6.2 inches. The larger model will be called Galaxy S8+. But the camera resolution will remain the same - 12 megapixels. The main news so far has been the ability to shoot HD video at up to 1000 frames per second. And purely technically, this is more than the Xperia XZ Premium.
The front camera will receive a sensor with a resolution of 8 megapixels, as well as a sensor for scanning the iris of the eye. For Samsung, such a solution is no longer new; the same scanner was in the infamous Galaxy Note 7. But all this is needed for additional security - it is believed that there are people in the world with matching fingerprints, but the iris of the eye is unique in all cases .
In general, the Galaxy S8 will be the only smartphone that can compete on equal terms with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in terms of sales and distribution. And the Koreans will surely find something to surprise again, so we will return to the topic of the new flagship Galaxy.
