We take pictures of ourselves and our friends a lot, try to capture all the memorable moments, catch interesting scenes in nature and photograph food... To create quality personnel non-stop required appropriate equipment. In our case, a smartphone with a first-class photo component.

Of course, you can get by with budget solutions (especially since the cameras of available devices have now noticeably improved in terms of characteristics), but for the highest possible quality and fast operation, flagship smartphones are preferable. Our fresh selection of the most interesting devices with an eye to photo capabilities will help you determine which gadget is right for you.

Apple iPhone X

Apple smartphones have always been famous for their decent approach to photo and video shooting, because it’s not for nothing that the iPhone is still considered the most popular tool for mobile photography. Famous film directors Zack Snyder and Steven Soderbergh have already proven to us that the iPhone can easily replace a full-fledged camera on the set!

The most advanced iPhone on this moment is the anniversary flagship iPhone X (the model was released to mark the tenth anniversary of the line). The main photo module of the “tens” consists of two 12-megapixel sensors, but compared to the iPhone 8 Plus, the light sensitivity is increased, and there is also optical stabilization on both the main and additional “eye”. The camera has a lot of capabilities, and everyone will find something they like: the main features include excellent portrait mode, stage lighting function, video recording in 4K / 60 FPS and 1080p / 240 FPS, 2x physical zoom without loss of quality. The 7-megapixel front camera can also take photographs with background blur, and the advanced artificial intelligence system that appeared in the new six-core A11 Bionic chip helps it with this.

iPhone X is notable for its frameless 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display (1125x2436 pixels) with a notch at the top, Face ID technology for face unlocking, glass body, large amount of memory (256 GB in the top version) and wireless charging .

Very soon (July 31), a new super-flagship of the Japanese company Sony will go on sale in Russia - Xperia XZ2 Premium, a real technological monster equipped with last word technology.

Like the first Xperia XZ Premium, the new product has a display with ultra-high resolution for smartphones 4K (density 760 ppi), which supports HDR10 technology. Its ratio remained standard (16:9), but the diagonal increased to 5.8″. The device is based on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, complemented by 6 GB of RAM. It uses a 3540 mAh battery with fast wireless charging, S-Force Front Surround stereo speakers, a 64 GB drive, NFC, and a unique DVS (Dynamic Vibration System). The latter provides vibration and response and allows you to watch movies, play games and listen to music in a new way, since the DVS acts as a kind of subwoofer.

However, the main innovation is the two-module Motion Eye Dual main camera with color and black-and-white sensors of 19 and 12 megapixels, respectively. It has a light sensitivity of ISO 12800 for video and ISO 51200 for photos, which allows you to shoot in very low light at the level of a professional camera. Also, the Motion Eye Dual unit is capable of recording 4K HDR video and super slow-motion videos at a speed of 960 frames per second (HD and Full HD), and in the near future the camera’s functionality will be expanded with a shooting mode with background blur and a monochrome shooting mode.

Huawei P20 Pro

The most striking camera phone of this season is the P20 Pro from Huawei, which received the main three-module Leica Triple Camera. The solution, to put it mildly, is unusual, but very useful: the main 40-megapixel sensor with record physical dimensions of 1/1.7″ (7.76×5.82 mm) is distinguished by optical stabilization, F1.8 aperture and stacked memory for recording super slow motion video at 960 FPS, the second (at 20 megapixels) is monochrome, with a higher aperture of F1.6 - serves to give deep shades and increased light capture in the dark, and the third (at 8 megapixels) has an equivalent focal length of about 80 mm and required for 3x optical zoom (or 5x hybrid). The camera unit also contains a color temperature sensor, phase detection autofocus, a laser rangefinder and an LED flash.

The Huawei P20 Pro is based on the manufacturer's proprietary top-end chip HiSilicon Kirin 970, which means that the device supports neural networks: artificial intelligence helps when shooting photos and videos, automatically setting the necessary parameters depending on the conditions and the scene. In total, the smartphone recognizes over 500 scenarios in 19 categories. Artificial intelligence also helps when taking selfies with the 24-megapixel front camera, removing all imperfections from the user’s face if desired.

Let's move on to the remaining parameters. The device has 6 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB drive is provided for storing content (unfortunately, not expandable). The 6.1-inch screen is made using OLED technology and has a protrusion on top that can be hidden in the OS settings. The display ratio is 18.7:9 and the resolution is 1080x2240 pixels. Other advantages include a 4000 mAh battery (supported by SuperCharge), full support for RAW format and Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and IP67 certification (protection from water and dust).

In the recent past, the South Korean company Samsung crossed a phone with a digital camera, resulting in the Galaxy Camera - a “point-and-shoot” with the inside of a smartphone and all the ensuing nuances. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the experiment was not so successful, and now the manufacturer is releasing camera phones that are more familiar to the eye, like the Galaxy S9+.

You can call the Galaxy S9+ a camera phone without any doubt, because the previous models of the line were strong in terms of shooting photos/videos, and now the capabilities of the main camera have gone even further. So, compared to the standard Galaxy S9, the older version has an additional module (12+12 megapixels), necessary for double optical zoom. For the first time, the manufacturer has implemented in a smartphone a variable aperture for one of the sensors (from F1.5 to F2.4), which helps avoid overexposure and helps out in low-light conditions. Other important photographic features of the smartphone are the ability to record super slow-motion videos at 960 FPS and a powerful portrait mode.

You can’t go far with one camera: here you have an “unlimited” 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440×2960 pixels and HDR10 support, the flagship eight-core Exynos 9810 chipset with a clock frequency of 2.7 GHz, 6 GB of RAM and 64 256 GB of permanent memory, expandable microSD card, NFC for payment Samsung service Pay and synchronization with other gadgets, wireless charging, fingerprint scanner (face and iris unlocking is present), audio preparation from AKG (stereo speakers, headset), and resistance to moisture and dust according to the IP68 standard.

Flagship HTC smartphones They are not as wildly popular as Samsung or Apple devices, which is a shame, because in the ranking of the well-known resource DxOMark, the top devices of the Taiwanese company traditionally show decent results. U12+, HTC's new flagship with one of the best cameras on the market, also took a high position in DxOMark (106 points and second place in the overall list of mobile devices).

The main camera of the HTC U12+ is excellent. This is a fourth-generation dual Ultra Pixel module with a pair of 12 and 16 megapixel sensors (F1.75 and F2.6 aperture, respectively), characterized by the presence of an optical stabilization system, fast system Ultra Speed ​​2 autofocus, as well as 2x physical zoom. Of course, there is 4K video recording and Bokeh mode. The front camera is also dual-module (8+8 megapixels) and supports portrait photography. It is possible to unlock using the user's face. Second important detail U12+ are Edge Sense touch sides. They were present in last year’s U11+, but in the new product they were updated and supplemented with new functionality (for example, Edge Sense replaced all the mechanical keys on the case).

The hardware of the smartphone includes an eight-core Snapdragon 845 chip, 6 GB of RAM, 64 or 256 GB storage, a 3500 mAh battery and a 6-inch Super LCD display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 (1440 × 2880 pixels) and HDR10 support. The audio part of the HTC U12+ is good, especially with regard to the external sound source - the BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition stereo speakers produce clear and surround sound. You can listen to music through the included USonic headphones with active noise reduction, which have a USB Type-C plug instead of a mini-jack (there is no 3.5 mm jack on the case).

Honor 10

Honor 10 is a youth flagship smartphone that combines an affordable price, high performance, stylish appearance (especially in the Shimmering Blue and Shimmering Green colors), as well as a high-quality dual-module camera.

The main camera in Honor 10 is represented by two sensors of 16 and 24 megapixels (aperture F1.8), the first of which is color, and the second is monochrome. We have seen a similar scheme more than once in the brand’s devices, so you probably know that both sensors can work either individually or in pairs to achieve increased detail. At the same time, hybrid 2x zoom, Portrait mode and wide aperture mode are supported. There is an AI Camera logo next to the camera. When this feature is enabled, the artificial intelligence algorithms of the Kirin 970 processor come into play, helping you to automatically adjust the picture.

Other nice characteristics of Honor 10 include a 5.84-inch Full HD+ display with a 19:9 ratio and a fashionable “eyebrow”, 64 or 128 GB of permanent memory, NFC sensor, USB Type-C port, 3400 mAh battery h with support for SuperCharge, as well as the AK4376A music chip from Asahi Kasei. The amount of RAM, however, is not a record - only 4 GB, but this should not cause any problems.

Many smartphones with dual cameras have either an optical zoom function or a system of color and monochrome sensors, but if you are a fan of wide-angle shooting, then one of the most notable devices with this capability is the LG G7 ThinQ.

The LG G7 has a paired rear camera unit with sensors with a resolution of 16 megapixels each. The main one has an aperture of F1.6, is equipped with phase detection autofocus, a laser rangefinder and optical stabilization, and the additional one, which is used when shooting with a wide angle, has a 107° lens (its aperture is F1.9). Other camera innovations are related to the emerging AI system: like the first smartphone in the ThinQ line (LG V30S), this device is able to recognize many objects and scenarios for self-correction of settings, offering one of 19 preset options (“Human”, “Animals”, “ Food”, “Sunrise”, “City”, “Sky” and others). Additionally, we highlight the improved Portrait Mode and the new Super Bright Camera option, which will be useful when shooting in the dark - with its help, the picture becomes 4 times brighter.

Other characteristics of the smartphone are represented by a frameless 6.1-inch IPS display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, a resolution of 1440 × 3120 pixels and a notch, a Snapdragon 845 chip, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage (can be expanded up to 2 TB with a microSD card ), a 3000 mAh battery with support for wireless charging, NFC, and a case protected to IP68 and MIL-STD 810G standards. In addition to the installed Hi-Fi Quad digital-to-analog converter, the device offers DTS:X 3D Surround Sound for 7.1-channel playback on headphones.

ASUS Zenfone 5Z

The entire line of fifth-generation Zenfone smartphones from ASUS is united by the slogan “We love photos,” and the company didn’t lie one bit about this: every Zenfone 5, including the original and Lite versions, received a photo component worthy of its category. And the strongest of the newcomers turned out to be Zenfone 5Z - in addition to an excellent camera, it is equipped with advanced hardware: the top-end Snapdragon 845 chip, a 256 GB drive, 8 GB of RAM in the maximum configuration.

Let's return to the main camera. Zenfone 5Z received a dual-module rear camera with a flagship Sony IMX363 sensor of 12 megapixels with an F1.8 aperture, 1.4 microns in size, an optical image stabilization system, high-speed phase detection autofocus (0.03 s), as well as an additional 8-megapixel sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens. The camera of the device can learn thanks to the support of artificial intelligence. The presence of the latter also means that you have automatic identification of the type of object in the frame (16 options available in total) and independent substitution of the appropriate image parameters to achieve the best result. Portrait shooting, 4K video recording and RAW support are also in place.

As for the rest of the specifications, they include a frameless 6.2-inch Super IPS+ display with a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels, a 3300 mAh battery with fast charging, two speakers with NXP smart amplifiers, a gigabit LTE modem, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, dual SIM card slots, a fast fingerprint scanner, a facial recognition system, a USB Type-C connector and support for DTS Headphone:X technology for virtual 7.1 surround sound when using headphones.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S

The original Mi MIX could hardly be recommended as a photographic tool: its 16-megapixel main camera without optical stabilization produced images of average quality and was only suitable for unpretentious amateur photography. Things are completely different with the new Mi MIX 2S, the camera in which is two heads higher than that of Xiaomi’s first fashion “full-screen”.

The rear camera unit of Mi MIX 2S is based on a 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 sensor with physical size 1/2.55″, F1.8 aperture, four-axis OIS system and support for Dual Pixel AF technology. Next to it is a second additional sensor, Samsung S5K3M3 (F2.0), also 12 megapixels. This combination provides not only portrait photography, but also the possibility of double zoom. It could not do without the support of artificial intelligence: in 2018, AI functionality became one of the leading trends in smartphone manufacturing, so Xiaomi endowed the Mi MIX 2S with the ability to identify more than 200 scenes in various categories.

The design and technical part of the smartphone are very high level: the ceramic coating of the body with a gold camera rim looks expensive, and inner space filled with a decent level of filling (Snapdragon 845 chip, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage). From the front, the device also looks impressive due to the large 5.99-inch Full HD+ IPS display, which has an aspect ratio of 18:9 and occupies the lion's share of the front side.

By the way, we recently released .

Oppo Find X

Oppo Find X is one of the most unusual and stylish devices of this summer. What's impressive here is the Panoramic Arc Screen, a side-curved 6.42-inch OLED screen with a 19.5:9 ratio and Full HD+ resolution, occupying 93.8% of the front side! The Find X has practically no frames, and only the bottom edge has a slight thickening, so there is no hint of the earpiece, sensors or front camera from the front...

The Oppo Find X body has a retractable module at the top, which hides all this, as well as a main dual-module camera unit (16+20 megapixels). It “wakes up” only when the photo application is activated. Also, the body expands when the user’s face is recognized, and this happens quite often, since there is no conventional fingerprint scanner here. Note that the manufacturer provides a five-year warranty on the mechanism. As for the camera, the main 16-megapixel sensor is equipped with phase detection autofocus and optical image stabilization, and the lens has an aperture of F2.0. The second 20-megapixel sensor has a lens with an F2.2 aperture and is necessary for shooting with a shallow depth of field. Oppo Find X is a purebred flagship and its filling is appropriate: a top-end Snapdragon 845 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB drive.

DxOMark studio conducts a detailed analysis of the quality of images taken on different smartphones. Some accuse her of bias, but in fact, the smartphones that the studio puts in the TOP later turn out to be truly the best in terms of shooting. Next are five cool models with revolutionary cameras.

1st place – Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

On April 16, 2019, the DxOmark studio updated its rating - the new flagship of Samsung, the Galaxy S10 5G, took first place. The phone is unique in that it has an Exynos 9820 processor with a 5G modem, which is not found in the regular S10+ or ​​S10.

Unlike other S10 series smartphones, it has a 3D ToF camera on the front and back. However, the main camera remains the same - it is a 12th sensor with a variable aperture of f/1.8-2.4, plus wide-angle and telephoto cameras.

Characteristics of all four sensors:

• Main – 12 MP, 1.4 µm, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel autofocus, optical stabilization.
• Wide-angle – 16 MP, 1 µm, f/2.2.
• Telephoto – 12 MP, 1 µm, f/2.4 aperture, optical stabilization.
• 3D ToF sensor.
• You can shoot 4K video at 60 FPS.

During testing, DxOMark experts gave high marks for video (100 points) and photography (117 points). For photography, the Huawei P30 Pro received the same rating, but for video, the Samsung S10 5G outperforms the Chinese flagship. In addition, Samsung now records video in 4K resolution by default, which even when shooting handheld looks cool - with details and minimal noise even in low light. Plus, the 3D ToF sensor implements the function of shooting video with background defocusing.

DxOmark notes accurate color reproduction and exposure when taking photos in natural daylight. Complex scenes are also easy for the smartphone - details are preserved in bright and light areas of the scene.

Complex scenes

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4K video recording example

As for the shortcomings, first of all, the weak zoom. When scaling, loss of detail is guaranteed. In this regard, the Huawei P30 Pro has no equal yet and, most likely, competitors will not appear in the near future.

Still, Samsung S10 5G becomes the best camera phone in 2019. Plus, along with this flagship comes the world's best Amoled screen with HDR10+ support, reverse charging and other flagship features.

2nd place – Nokia 9 Pure View

A dark horse among top-class phones, which has not yet been tested, so it is not included in the DxOMark rating. However, the photos taken with the Nokia 9 Pure View are simply stunning.

The fact is that the manufacturer HMD, which owns the Nokia brand, approached the implementation of mobile cameras in a completely different way. There is no wide-angle or telephoto camera, or even a depth sensor. Instead, 5 cameras are used:

• 3 monochrome sensors with a resolution of 12 megapixels, f/1.8, size 1/2.9”, 1.25 microns
• 2 RGB color sensors, 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.9”, 1.25 µm
• 3D ToF camera

All cameras have the same and fixed focal length - 28 mm; there are no unusual lenses or shooting modes, which was a discovery for many users, as they expected to see objects of different lengths. Instead, we see two RGB cameras and three monochrome cameras taking photos at the same time. Images from the heels of the cameras are superimposed on each other (sometimes several times), which allows the output to get a single photo with the widest dynamic range that we usually see on SLR cameras with full-size matrices.

Particularly important here are monochrome sensors, which add 2.8 times more light due to the absence of Bayer filters, while providing true monochrome shooting rather than simply discoloring the color image. Nokia 9 is ideal for people who have at least a little experience in photography - the phone saves images in RAW format and allows you to customize them - pull out shadows, return bright areas and achieve the desired level of sharpness in finished photographs.

This gives the following result - examples of photos on the Nokia 9 Pure View - processed and not only:

To uncover

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Here are examples of photos with a defocused background on the iPhone XS and Nokia 9.

Obviously, pictures on the iPhone look flat, but Nokia 9, due to its 3D sensor, more accurately determines and conveys depth. For the first time we see full-fledged Bokeh.

As for the other characteristics, they are less important, since this device is positioned primarily as a camera phone. It was planned to be released in mid-to-late 2018, but it came out late. Therefore, the flagship processor of the previous generation is installed here - the 10nm Snapdragon 845, although new top-class phones are equipped with more advanced 7nm chips, including Snapdragon 855.

Display – O-OLED with Gorilla Glass 5 and HDR10 support. And yes, like all Nokias, the model is also a participant Android programs One that is a big plus. Nokia 9, after testing by DxOmark studio, will score the most points - the likelihood of this is high. The only thing is that in terms of hardware it is inferior to all the flagships of 2019.

3rd place – Huawei P30 Pro

The new flagship of the Chinese manufacturer Huawei received 1st place in the DxOMark camera phone rating, and deservedly so. The studio notes that the phone has perfect autofocus, exposure, high color accuracy and white balance. There is very little noise even in low light, but the main thing is Zoom, which is worth talking about in more detail.

Camera Specifications:

• Main – 40 MP, f/1.6, size 1/1.7”, optical stabilization
• Wide-angle – 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.7”
• Telephoto camera – with telescopic lens, 8 MP, f/3.4, optical stabilization
• 3D ToF camera

The main sensor from Sony here is called SuperSensing - it is equipped with a Quad-Bayer filter, with the help of which 4 pixels on the matrix are connected and form one large pixel. The result is a 10MP image when shooting, but with minimal noise and wide dynamic range.

There is nothing new with the wide-angle camera - it was also on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, but the telephoto lens is very interesting - it provides an optical 5x zoom. Plus, 10x hybrid zoom and even 50x digital zoom are possible. The Huawei P30 Pro has no analogues yet in terms of the quality of close-up photos – it’s great for shooting from afar.

Here are examples of photos using zoom on different smartphones:

More photos of Huawei P30 Pro:

To uncover

Wide angle camera

Wide angle camera

Wide angle camera

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to compare the photo quality of the Huawei P30 Pro and Nokia 9 Pure View, since there are no identical frames. And it’s somehow incorrect to compare pictures, since the approach to photo implementation is different - Nokia 9 is valuable because it offers extensive post-processing capabilities, which the Huawei P30 Pro does not. But it should also be given its due - the phone produces an amazing level of detail and a wide dynamic range.

Advantages of Huawei P30 Pro Nokia9 Pure View:

• 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor
• Water protection according to IP68 standard (Nokia 9 has IP67)
• Headphone output + 32-bit audio chip, Dolby Atmos support + Bluetooth with aptX HD support.
• 4200 mAh battery, very fast charging with compatible 40W adapter (70% in 30 minutes).
• Reverse wireless charging function.

In terms of hardware and functionality, Huawei P30 Pro is better than Nokia 9 Pure View, but it can hardly beat Nokia in terms of photo quality.

4th place – Huawei Mate 20 Pro

This model was released in October 2018 and immediately gained popularity not only due to its cool camera, but also because of its functionality. Here, for the first time, the new 7-nm Kirin 980 processor and reverse wireless charging technology were used. Plus, the device itself turned out to be cool - with amazing cameras and an OLED screen, which subsequently began to turn green (massive defect).

Camera characteristics:

• Wide-angle: 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.7”
• Telephoto: 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4″, optical 5x zoom, optical stabilization

The main module here is the same as that found on the Huawei P20 Pro, which explains why the Mate 20 Pro scores the same DxOMark score as the P20 Pro. Experts highlight the wide dynamic range in frames, targeted exposure, fast autofocus, and excellent zoom.

Examples of photos:

To uncover

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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As for the shortcomings, first of all it is worth highlighting the loss of small details on people’s faces when shooting in “Portrait” mode, the lack of a 4K video shooting mode at 60 FPS. By the way, this function is not even present in the Huawei P30 Pro. Otherwise, the camera on the Mate 20 Pro is great.

Comparison of the shooting quality of Huawei Mate 20 Pro and P30 Pro using cropped photos taken under equal lighting conditions.

Strong light:

Weak light:

Please note: this model may be defective with LG screens. Most LG OLED panels on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro turn green within 2-3 months of use, which requires replacement. When choosing, be sure to look at the screen manufacturers - it must be BOE, otherwise do not buy the phone.

5th place – Huawei P20 Pro

The P20 Pro is a relatively old phone, introduced in April 2018. It even runs Android 8.1 out of the box, although it is upgradable to 9 Pie. Plus, the phone is equipped with an OLED matrix and an “untrend” 10nm HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, although new advanced and expensive flagships like the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S10+ still cannot beat it in terms of photography.

Huawei P20 Pro is a cheap camera phone, which, given such a cool camera, should sell for a lot of money.

Camera characteristics:

• Main: 40 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7”
• Additional: with monochrome sensor without Bayer filter, 20 MP, f/1.6, 1/2.7”, optical stabilization
• With telephoto lens: 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/2.7”, optical stabilization

The smartphone produces cool, detailed shots even at 3x zoom; there is also a good blur effect and minimal amount noise, accurate exposure, wide dynamic range and cool flash. However, similar advantages apply to almost all TOP-class phones.

There are also disadvantages - experts note the occasional appearance of an orange or pink tint in the image when shooting in bright light or indoors. Artifacts and ghosting are also possible when the HDR mode is activated, and when zooming, unstable exposure and white balance occur. But all these minor flaws will only be noticed by a professional upon careful study of the image. Ordinary users like you and me will not see any difference in photo quality on the P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro and P20 Pro cameras. So you don't have to spend big money on the latest flagship - go for the P20 Pro.

6th place – Samsung Galaxy S10+

South Korean manufacturer Samsung created the world's best OLED display, but it failed to beat its competitors in terms of cameras. The S10+ model received the same rating as the Huawei P20 Pro, but since it is much more expensive, it is appropriate to put it in 5th place in the rating.

The smartphone is equipped with an 8nm Exynos 9820 processor with powerful Mongoose M4 cores, made in a glass case with water protection according to IP68 standard, and the latest Gorilla Glass 6 is used here. But the main thing is the “leaky” Dynamic Amoled display - the first mobile screen with HDR10+ support. This standard is used on Samsung TVs, but the manufacturer managed to implement it on a mobile display. True, there is very little content in the world with an HDR10+ component, so most images and videos will not look better here than on a regular Amoled matrix with infinite contrast.

The camera is represented by three sensors:

• Main: 12 MP, variable aperture f/1.5-2.4, size 1/2.55”, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel, optical stabilization.
• Telephoto, 16 MP, f/2.4, stabilization, 2x-zoom.
• Wide-angle, f/2.2, 1 µm.

The phone received the same set of cameras as the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Note 9, plus the new model added a wide-angle lens, which expands the shooting functionality. And although the sensors are the same, the S10+ takes slightly better photographs due to the improved processor and image processing algorithms. Unlike Huawei phones, the South Korean flagship can record 4K video at 60 FPS, which is a big plus in its favor. HD video recording at 960 FPS is also available.

Examples of photos on Samsung S10+:

To uncover

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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DXO professionals deliver stunning exposure and color reproduction in most scenarios, including low light. When shooting indoors or in the evening, there is little noise in the image, and the dynamic range remains wide; when the image is enlarged, there is good detail.

Disadvantages: the phone is inferior to all those mentioned above in the quality of shooting with optical zoom. There are also problems with the portrait mode working on the street - artifacts and ghosting are possible, which is not typical for flagships.

It should be noted that Sony is a blunder in optimizing smartphones for MediaTek chipsets, so the Xperia M5 for a long time annoyed customers with various “glitches”; by today’s standards, the Helio X10 processor is slow, and it does not work at its maximum capabilities in the M5. The case heats up with or without reason, autonomy leaves much to be desired. But the proprietary shell is comfortable, the cameras are high-quality, the display is bright and clear, and the prestige of such a smartphone in “glamorous” circles is much higher than that of any Huawei or Xiaomi. Official distributors have gone crazy and are asking a completely ridiculous 25 thousand rubles for the old Sony, but “gray” sellers estimate the Xperia M5 Dual at 15-16 thousand - a completely fair price for such a model.

ZTE Nubia Z11 mini S

ZTE has a luxury division, Nubia, and it, in turn, has the flagship Z11 series, which has a simplified version of the Z11 mini, which recently underwent an update in the house that Jack built. We should pay tribute to the Chinese - the Z11 mini S differs from the Z11 mini radically and only for the better.

A very agile smartphone with a brutal body and red accents. You can’t really find fault with the characteristics: fast Snapdragon 625, 4 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of internal storage. It’s also nice that ZTE (whose “hands are sharpened” more to adjust the audio path than camera algorithms) made a broad gesture and equipped the Z11 mini S with a 22-megapixel rear camera based on the Sony IMX318 sensor. The much more expensive ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe and Xiaomi Mi Note 2 are equipped with the same sensor, if you are not aware.

DxOMark studio conducts a detailed analysis of the quality of images taken on different smartphones. Some accuse her of bias, but in fact, the smartphones that the studio puts in the TOP later turn out to be truly the best in terms of shooting. Next are five cool models with revolutionary cameras.

1st place – Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

On April 16, 2019, the DxOmark studio updated its rating - the new flagship of Samsung, the Galaxy S10 5G, took first place. The phone is unique in that it has an Exynos 9820 processor with a 5G modem, which is not found in the regular S10+ or ​​S10.

Unlike other S10 series smartphones, it has a 3D ToF camera on the front and back. However, the main camera remains the same - it is a 12th sensor with a variable aperture of f/1.8-2.4, plus wide-angle and telephoto cameras.

Characteristics of all four sensors:

• Main – 12 MP, 1.4 µm, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel autofocus, optical stabilization.
• Wide-angle – 16 MP, 1 µm, f/2.2.
• Telephoto – 12 MP, 1 µm, f/2.4 aperture, optical stabilization.
• 3D ToF sensor.
• You can shoot 4K video at 60 FPS.

During testing, DxOMark experts gave high marks for video (100 points) and photography (117 points). For photography, the Huawei P30 Pro received the same rating, but for video, the Samsung S10 5G outperforms the Chinese flagship. In addition, Samsung now records video in 4K resolution by default, which even when shooting handheld looks cool - with details and minimal noise even in low light. Plus, the 3D ToF sensor implements the function of shooting video with background defocusing.

DxOmark notes accurate color reproduction and exposure when taking photos in natural daylight. Complex scenes are also easy for the smartphone - details are preserved in bright and light areas of the scene.

Complex scenes

[collapse]

4K video recording example

As for the shortcomings, first of all, the weak zoom. When scaling, loss of detail is guaranteed. In this regard, the Huawei P30 Pro has no equal yet and, most likely, competitors will not appear in the near future.

Still, Samsung S10 5G becomes the best camera phone in 2019. Plus, along with this flagship comes the world's best Amoled screen with HDR10+ support, reverse charging and other flagship features.

2nd place – Nokia 9 Pure View

A dark horse among top-class phones, which has not yet been tested, so it is not included in the DxOMark rating. However, the photos taken with the Nokia 9 Pure View are simply stunning.

The fact is that the manufacturer HMD, which owns the Nokia brand, approached the implementation of mobile cameras in a completely different way. There is no wide-angle or telephoto camera, or even a depth sensor. Instead, 5 cameras are used:

• 3 monochrome sensors with a resolution of 12 megapixels, f/1.8, size 1/2.9”, 1.25 microns
• 2 RGB color sensors, 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.9”, 1.25 µm
• 3D ToF camera

All cameras have the same and fixed focal length - 28 mm; there are no unusual lenses or shooting modes, which was a discovery for many users, as they expected to see objects of different lengths. Instead, we see two RGB cameras and three monochrome cameras taking photos at the same time. Images from the heels of the cameras are superimposed on each other (sometimes several times), which allows the output to get a single photo with the widest dynamic range that we usually see on SLR cameras with full-size matrices.

Particularly important here are monochrome sensors, which add 2.8 times more light due to the absence of Bayer filters, while providing true monochrome shooting rather than simply discoloring the color image. Nokia 9 is ideal for people who have at least a little experience in photography - the phone saves images in RAW format and allows you to customize them - pull out shadows, return bright areas and achieve the desired level of sharpness in finished photographs.

This gives the following result - examples of photos on the Nokia 9 Pure View - processed and not only:

To uncover

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Here are examples of photos with a defocused background on the iPhone XS and Nokia 9.

Obviously, pictures on the iPhone look flat, but Nokia 9, due to its 3D sensor, more accurately determines and conveys depth. For the first time we see full-fledged Bokeh.

As for the other characteristics, they are less important, since this device is positioned primarily as a camera phone. It was planned to be released in mid-to-late 2018, but it came out late. Therefore, the flagship processor of the previous generation is installed here - the 10nm Snapdragon 845, although new top-class phones are equipped with more advanced 7nm chips, including Snapdragon 855.

Display – O-OLED with Gorilla Glass 5 and HDR10 support. And yes, like all Nokias, the model is also a member of the Android One program, which is a big plus. Nokia 9, after testing by DxOmark studio, will score the most points - the likelihood of this is high. The only thing is that in terms of hardware it is inferior to all the flagships of 2019.

3rd place – Huawei P30 Pro

The new flagship of the Chinese manufacturer Huawei received 1st place in the DxOMark camera phone rating, and deservedly so. The studio notes that the phone has perfect autofocus, exposure, high color accuracy and white balance. There is very little noise even in low light, but the main thing is Zoom, which is worth talking about in more detail.

Camera Specifications:

• Main – 40 MP, f/1.6, size 1/1.7”, optical stabilization
• Wide-angle – 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.7”
• Telephoto camera – with telescopic lens, 8 MP, f/3.4, optical stabilization
• 3D ToF camera

The main sensor from Sony here is called SuperSensing - it is equipped with a Quad-Bayer filter, with the help of which 4 pixels on the matrix are connected and form one large pixel. The result is a 10MP image when shooting, but with minimal noise and wide dynamic range.

There is nothing new with the wide-angle camera - it was also on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, but the telephoto lens is very interesting - it provides an optical 5x zoom. Plus, 10x hybrid zoom and even 50x digital zoom are possible. The Huawei P30 Pro has no analogues yet in terms of the quality of close-up photos – it’s great for shooting from afar.

Here are examples of photos using zoom on different smartphones:

More photos of Huawei P30 Pro:

To uncover

Wide angle camera

Wide angle camera

Wide angle camera

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to compare the photo quality of the Huawei P30 Pro and Nokia 9 Pure View, since there are no identical frames. And it’s somehow incorrect to compare pictures, since the approach to photo implementation is different - Nokia 9 is valuable because it offers extensive post-processing capabilities, which the Huawei P30 Pro does not. But it should also be given its due - the phone produces an amazing level of detail and a wide dynamic range.

Advantages of Huawei P30 Pro Nokia9 Pure View:

• 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor
• Water protection according to IP68 standard (Nokia 9 has IP67)
• Headphone output + 32-bit audio chip, Dolby Atmos support + Bluetooth with aptX HD support.
• 4200 mAh battery, very fast charging with compatible 40W adapter (70% in 30 minutes).
• Reverse wireless charging function.

In terms of hardware and functionality, Huawei P30 Pro is better than Nokia 9 Pure View, but it can hardly beat Nokia in terms of photo quality.

4th place – Huawei Mate 20 Pro

This model was released in October 2018 and immediately gained popularity not only due to its cool camera, but also because of its functionality. Here, for the first time, the new 7-nm Kirin 980 processor and reverse wireless charging technology were used. Plus, the device itself turned out to be cool - with amazing cameras and an OLED screen, which subsequently began to turn green (massive defect).

Camera characteristics:

• Wide-angle: 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.7”
• Telephoto: 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4″, optical 5x zoom, optical stabilization

The main module here is the same as that found on the Huawei P20 Pro, which explains why the Mate 20 Pro scores the same DxOMark score as the P20 Pro. Experts highlight the wide dynamic range in frames, targeted exposure, fast autofocus, and excellent zoom.

Examples of photos:

To uncover

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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As for the shortcomings, first of all it is worth highlighting the loss of small details on people’s faces when shooting in “Portrait” mode, the lack of a 4K video shooting mode at 60 FPS. By the way, this function is not even present in the Huawei P30 Pro. Otherwise, the camera on the Mate 20 Pro is great.

Comparison of the shooting quality of Huawei Mate 20 Pro and P30 Pro using cropped photos taken under equal lighting conditions.

Strong light:

Weak light:

Please note: this model may be defective with LG screens. Most LG OLED panels on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro turn green within 2-3 months of use, which requires replacement. When choosing, be sure to look at the screen manufacturers - it must be BOE, otherwise do not buy the phone.

5th place – Huawei P20 Pro

The P20 Pro is a relatively old phone, introduced in April 2018. It even runs Android 8.1 out of the box, although it is upgradable to 9 Pie. Plus, the phone is equipped with an OLED matrix and an “untrend” 10nm HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, although new advanced and expensive flagships like the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S10+ still cannot beat it in terms of photography.

Huawei P20 Pro is a cheap camera phone, which, given such a cool camera, should sell for a lot of money.

Camera characteristics:

• Main: 40 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7”
• Additional: with monochrome sensor without Bayer filter, 20 MP, f/1.6, 1/2.7”, optical stabilization
• With telephoto lens: 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/2.7”, optical stabilization

The smartphone produces cool, detailed shots even at 3x zoom, there is also a good blur effect and minimal noise, accurate exposure, wide dynamic range and a cool flash. However, similar advantages apply to almost all TOP-class phones.

There are also disadvantages - experts note the occasional appearance of an orange or pink tint in the image when shooting in bright light or indoors. Artifacts and ghosting are also possible when the HDR mode is activated, and when zooming, unstable exposure and white balance occur. But all these minor flaws will only be noticed by a professional upon careful study of the image. Ordinary users like you and me will not see any difference in photo quality on the P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro and P20 Pro cameras. So you don't have to spend big money on the latest flagship - go for the P20 Pro.

6th place – Samsung Galaxy S10+

South Korean manufacturer Samsung created the world's best OLED display, but it failed to beat its competitors in terms of cameras. The S10+ model received the same rating as the Huawei P20 Pro, but since it is much more expensive, it is appropriate to put it in 5th place in the rating.

The smartphone is equipped with an 8nm Exynos 9820 processor with powerful Mongoose M4 cores, made in a glass case with water protection according to IP68 standard, and the latest Gorilla Glass 6 is used here. But the main thing is the “leaky” Dynamic Amoled display - the first mobile screen with HDR10+ support. This standard is used on Samsung TVs, but the manufacturer managed to implement it on a mobile display. True, there is very little content in the world with an HDR10+ component, so most images and videos will not look better here than on a regular Amoled matrix with infinite contrast.

The camera is represented by three sensors:

• Main: 12 MP, variable aperture f/1.5-2.4, size 1/2.55”, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel, optical stabilization.
• Telephoto, 16 MP, f/2.4, stabilization, 2x-zoom.
• Wide-angle, f/2.2, 1 µm.

The phone received the same set of cameras as the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Note 9, plus the new model added a wide-angle lens, which expands the shooting functionality. And although the sensors are the same, the S10+ takes slightly better photographs due to the improved processor and image processing algorithms. Unlike Huawei phones, the South Korean flagship can record 4K video at 60 FPS, which is a big plus in its favor. HD video recording at 960 FPS is also available.

Examples of photos on Samsung S10+:

To uncover

Original permission in the source, at the end of the article

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DXO professionals deliver stunning exposure and color reproduction in most scenarios, including low light. When shooting indoors or in the evening, there is little noise in the image, and the dynamic range remains wide; when the image is enlarged, there is good detail.

Disadvantages: the phone is inferior to all those mentioned above in the quality of shooting with optical zoom. There are also problems with the portrait mode working on the street - artifacts and ghosting are possible, which is not typical for flagships.

Many users demand that a phone with a good camera can not only take high-quality pictures, but also be able to pleasantly please the user with its performance in games or something else. There are plenty of such offers on the market, but it’s quite easy to get confused in them. To protect you from this, we have created our own rating, which contains the most successful solutions with a good camera. Each of them has its own bonuses in the form of powerful hardware, a large display or excellent battery life.

No. 10 – Meizu M6T

Price: 7,990 rubles

Meizu M6T is equipped with a pair of sensors with a resolution of 13 and 2 MP, including a Sony IMX276 RGBW sensor, its main task is to improve the camera’s light sensitivity in order to take high-quality photos in low light. The Chinese smartphone is worth recommending to all lovers of macro photography; in this mode, the camera does an excellent job of identifying small details and also boasts realistic colors.

The gadget is also suitable for lovers of autonomy. The battery with a capacity of 3300 mAh can last a whole day under active load. The model is disappointing because it runs on Android 7.1 OS. In all other respects, this is an interesting solution in terms of price and quality.

#9 – Xiaomi Redmi S2

Price: 9,990 rubles

If you are looking for an excellent phone with a good camera, but at the same time have a modest budget, then the popular model from the budget segment Xiaomi Redmi S2 is what you need. Of the two cameras, the 16-megapixel front camera turned out to be the most successful. It shows a rich image with decent detail, plus it has stabilization that works during video shooting.

The presence of Snapdragon 625 in a smartphone at this price is simply amazing. The productive chipset is complemented by 3 or 4 GB of RAM. This set will easily run PUBG and World Of Tanks, even at maximum settings. The gadget does not have NFC and dual-band Wi-Fi, which are its main disadvantages.

#8 – Vivo Y85

Price: 15,000 rubles

Vivo Y85 will appeal to all aesthetic lovers with its design. The device is available in two color solutions– black and red, that is, for both boys and girls. The 6.22-inch display with minimal frames and a resolution of 1520 by 720 pixels also looks attractive. The screen does not suffer from pixelation and produces a cool image, replete with rich colors.

The main camera consists of a pair of 13 and 2 MP sensors. The results of their work are distinguished by a wide dynamic range and correct sharpness across the entire field of the frame. For advanced users, the camera interface has a variety of shooting modes, including a Pro mode that allows you to manually adjust exposure and ISO. The main disadvantage of the model is the plastic body, as well as the lack of NFC.

No. 7 – Honor 8X

Price: 16,990 rubles

We cannot call the Honor 8X the best in terms of photo capabilities, but from a design point of view it is one of the most attractive solutions for its price. Glass panels shimmer effectively in the light and make the gadget look more expensive than its price. The same can be said about the display with a resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels and a diagonal of 6.5 inches. These screen characteristics make it easy to watch movies on it or use your smartphone as an e-reader.

The main camera received the most positive feedback and praise in reviews. A pair of modules with a resolution of 20 and 2 MP, combined with advanced AI, allows the user to achieve detailed results with the correct color balance at a minimum cost. The thing is that Honor 8X independently determines the optimal settings based on the scene. The model uses a MicroUSB connector, which can be attributed to its main disadvantages.

No. 6 – Xiaomi Mi8 Lite

Price: 16,000 rubles

If you are looking for a smartphone with a good camera, then you will definitely be interested in the Xiaomi Mi8 Lite. The combination of 12 and 5 MP modules makes great photos with a decent level of sharpness across the entire field of the frame. The list of strengths of the gadget also includes the ability to edit the blur parameters of a photograph taken in portrait mode, as well as apply various effects to all pictures.

The smartphone's inclusion in our rating is due not only to its very good camera, but also to its powerful hardware platform. The Snapdragon 660 processor can easily handle any giant in the gaming industry, and together with the optimized Android 8.1, dressed in the proprietary MIUI interface, you will be pleasantly surprised by the smooth operation of the phone when solving everyday tasks. There was no place in the case for a Jack connector, which can be considered the main mistake of the engineers. Despite this, the model is one of the best Xiaomi phones.

No. 5 – AGM A9

Price: 27,000 rubles

AGM A9 is one of the most ergonomic rugged smartphones on the market. This is most clearly manifested in the thinness indicator - only 12.6 mm, which is simply amazing considering that the case is protected according to the IP68 standard. The autonomy for which the AGM A9 brothers are famous is also at a high level - a 5400 mAh battery is enough for two days of battery life for a smartphone.

The Sony IMX486 sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels serves as the main camera. Despite the fact that it has only one, and a modest number of megapixels, it manages to take detailed and rich pictures, however, at night the situation deteriorates due to the presence of noise in the photographs. The main disadvantage of the model is the Snapdragon 450 processor, which does not allow us to recommend the gadget to users who like to run in PUBG.

No. 4 – Honor 10

Price: 24,000 rubles

Honor 10 is one of the best Huawei phones in terms of design. It's all about the glass case, which has already become a signature feature of the manufacturer's top solutions. The 5.84-inch display goes well with it. Its resolution of 2280 by 1080 pixels allows the picture not to suffer from pixelation, and also comfortably use the smartphone in any scenario, from surfing the Internet to top games. Fortunately, Kirin 970 allows this.

For selfie lovers, Honor 10 is equipped with a 24-megapixel front camera with F/2.0 aperture. These characteristics allow the sensor to capture a huge amount of detail. I would also like to mention the built-in manual background blur mode and beautifier. If the latter makes the photos a little unnatural, then the former only improves them. It is almost impossible to find fault with the model; the only thing that raises doubts is the practicality of the glass case.

#3 – OnePlus 6

Price: 30,000 rubles

OnePlus 6 is definitely one of the first ones that comes to mind when you hear the question “which phone has the best camera in 2019?” This is possible thanks to two sensors with a resolution of 16 and 20 MP. They are successfully complemented by optical stabilization, allowing the captured video to be smooth and clear. As for the photo capabilities, everything is fine here too - the dynamic range is wide, and color rendition is close to ideal.

The model is famous for its autonomy - the 3300 mAh battery lasts for two days in most usage scenarios. During this entire time, your smartphone will be protected using a fingerprint scanner that clearly recognizes your fingerprint. Like most flagships, the main disadvantage of the OnePlus 6 is the price.

#2 – iPhone XS Max

Price: 92,000 rubles

Even if the 4-inch iPhone 5S is valued for its photographic capabilities, the iPhone XS Max takes this to a professional level. The combination of two 12-megapixel sensors allows photos to be detailed and have the right color balance. The advantages definitely include the Apple A12 Bionic processor, which so far has no equal in performance on the market.

The 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 2688 by 1242 pixels is also worthy of special mention. The dimensions, as well as the manufacturing technology of the AMOLED matrix, allow the gadget to successfully replace a tablet, and in some scenarios, an e-reader. Fortunately, ideal color rendition, a powerful reserve of brightness, as well as maximum viewing angles contribute to this. As for the minuses, it is the price.

No. 1 – Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Price: 77,800 rubles

With its curved edges, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the top-end camera phone on the market. Many publications recognized it as such in 2018, and so far there are no models on the horizon that can remove it from the throne. Three modules with a resolution of 40, 20 and 8 MP are responsible for the quality of photographs. A detailed description of what function each of them is responsible for is worth looking for in the review. We note that the set allows Huawei Mate 20 Pro to have the widest range of focal lengths (from 16 to 88 mm) among smartphones. In terms of detail and color rendition of images, the solution of Chinese engineers surpasses even Apple flagships.

The 6.39-inch display with a resolution of 3120 by 1440 pixels is also worthy of praise. It is perfectly calibrated - the colors are rich and rich, the viewing angles are maximum, and the image contrast is exactly what it should be. All of the above will be an advantage when you run PUBG on maximum graphics settings thanks to the Kirin 980 and 6GB of RAM. There is no need to worry about the duration of sessions, since the 4200 mAh battery can provide up to two days of autonomy with active use of the smartphone. The main drawback, as you might guess, is the price, as well as the size. If you are looking for a small phone, then the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is definitely not for you.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

We also have a similar one, which has now dropped significantly in price.

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