For anyone looking to capture high-quality photos, there’s a good chance you’ll consider a smartphone from Samsung, Google, OnePlus, or Apple. These brands consistently offer some of the best camera options on the market. Here’s a rundown of the best phone cameras of 2024, based on tests in New York City that included zoom capabilities, food photography, and selfies. Let’s dive into the results to help you decide which phone camera best suits your needs.
Top Choices for Smartphone Cameras in 2024
When it comes to the best smartphone cameras, four options lead the pack in the U.S.:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – known for its 10x optical zoom.
- Google Pixel 9 Pro – excels with its triple-camera setup.
- OnePlus 12 – offers a solid camera experience at a lower price.
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro – provides a great 5x zoom, previously exclusive to the Pro Max.
These smartphones are all designed for top-tier photography, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s look at how each one performs in specific areas.
Food Photography: Capturing the Perfect Meal
Many people use their phones to photograph meals before diving in. With this in mind, the phones were tested to see how well they captured the look and feel of a delicious dish.
- Winner: iPhone 16 Pro – Among all the phones, the iPhone 16 Pro stood out with the most accurate colors, making dishes look natural and appetizing.
- Runner-Up: Pixel 9 Pro – The Pixel also delivered realistic color reproduction, making food look appealing.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – While generally capable, this phone sometimes produced a dull image, making food look less vibrant.
- OnePlus 12 – It had accurate colors, but it struggled to maintain focus, which may impact the overall image quality.
Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro performed best in food photography, making them ideal for foodies and social media users.
Zoom Capabilities: Capturing the NYC Skyline
Zoom tests reveal how phones perform in different zoom settings, especially when photographing landmarks or distant scenery. In New York City, the phones were put to the test using six zoom lengths: 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, and 30x.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – The standout performer, it offers impressive 10x optical zoom and even zooms up to 100x, providing clear and detailed shots at a distance.
- iPhone 16 Pro – With a maximum zoom of 25x, the iPhone performed well, though it sometimes produced a slight hue that wasn’t ideal for all shots.
- Pixel 9 Pro – Although it only has 5x optical zoom, Google’s software helped it achieve good results at multiple zoom levels.
- OnePlus 12 – It performed adequately, offering up to 6x hybrid zoom, though its zoom isn’t as extensive as Samsung’s or Apple’s.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra leads the pack in zoom quality, thanks to its telephoto capabilities. For those who need top-tier zoom, Samsung’s device is the best choice, although the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro are solid alternatives.
Portrait and Selfie Performance: Capturing People in Any Light
Selfie and portrait modes are crucial for users who frequently capture photos with friends and family or post on social media. These modes were tested in different lighting situations to see which phone could capture people’s features and surroundings best.
- Winner: Pixel 9 Pro – For regular selfies, the Pixel captured details without excessive smoothing, keeping faces natural.
- Backlit Photos: iPhone 16 Pro – When the light was behind the subject, the iPhone handled this well, keeping the background and the subject clear.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – It performed decently but struggled with overly bright backgrounds in selfies.
- OnePlus 12 – Good overall but didn’t manage backlighting as well as the Pixel or iPhone.
In terms of selfies and portrait mode, the Pixel 9 Pro excels at capturing natural-looking faces. The iPhone 16 Pro is also excellent, especially when there’s backlighting.
Testing in Real-World Situations: The Traveler’s Zoom Test
When traveling, you might find yourself in situations where you need to zoom in on flight information screens or distant signs without getting up from your seat. In these scenarios, how do these phones perform?
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Its 10x zoom and 30x capabilities make it ideal for spotting distant details.
- Pixel 9 Pro – While not as powerful in terms of zoom, it offers decent quality up to 5x and is often legible even at higher levels.
- OnePlus 12 – Provides clear images at 5x but struggles at 30x.
- iPhone 16 Pro – Offers reliable performance with great clarity, especially up to 10x zoom.
For travelers, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is unbeatable, capturing clear images at a distance. The iPhone and Pixel are also good choices, particularly if you won’t need zoom beyond 10x.
Additional Tests: Capturing Indoor and Outdoor Scenes
Phones were also tested at LaGuardia Airport, where they captured both indoor and outdoor scenes with greenery and backlighting.
- Best Outdoor Color Balance: OnePlus 12 – It managed to balance harsh backlighting with foreground details well.
- Overall Indoor Shots: Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro – Both captured natural color and detail inside the terminal.
- iPhone 16 Pro – Performed well but occasionally struggled with color accuracy.
For indoor and outdoor shots, the OnePlus 12 was impressive in balancing contrasting light, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro did a good job indoors.
The Verdict: Which Camera Is Right for You?
Each of these four phones excels in different areas, so it really comes down to personal preferences and how you’ll use the camera. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Best for users who prioritize zoom and distance shots. The 10x optical zoom is the strongest on the market, making it perfect for travelers or anyone who needs exceptional zoom capabilities.
- iPhone 16 Pro – The most reliable all-rounder, especially for food and backlit photos. Its color accuracy and performance in various lighting conditions make it great for everyday use and social media.
- Pixel 9 Pro – Ideal for selfie lovers and those who prefer natural, realistic images. Google’s software helps deliver sharp selfies and balanced colors, especially in close-up shots.
- OnePlus 12 – For those on a budget, the OnePlus 12 is a fantastic choice. It performs well in most conditions and offers flexibility with an adjustable aperture.
Overall, if zoom is your priority, go with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. If you want a dependable all-rounder, the iPhone 16 Pro is an excellent choice. Selfie enthusiasts should consider the Pixel 9 Pro, while the OnePlus 12 is a solid option if affordability is a factor.
Whichever camera you choose, each of these phones brings powerful features to help capture moments with ease.