What smartphone to buy if you're looking for a good camera

The only reason not to care about the camera in your smartphone is that you’re above the age of 50 and use smartphones only to send good morning texts on the family WhatsApp group. For everyone else, the camera is one of the more important features.

But do millennials really invest time into understanding what a good smartphone camera actually is? Or, do they just go - “Ooohhh 17 megapixels. Let’s buy!”?

Usually, it is the latter. Here is a definitive guide of the best smartphone cameras available right now, so that your Snapchats and Instagram #BreakfastPorn and #SkyPorn photos can be the best they ever can. Oh, and we are talking about the really good phones, so they may be expensive. But then again, aren’t those tiny hearts on Instagram totally worth it?

The Google Pixel (Rs 66,000)

The Pixel has been hailed as the best smartphone the world has seen so far. From hardware, to the Google assistant, it has so far been satisfactory in every way. But what makes this phone sit at the very top of this list is the fact that DxOMark, considered to be one of the more internationally recognised reference for image quality, has given the Pixel a score of 89, the highest ever for any smartphone camera.

The Pixel has a 12.3 MP primary camera that is paired with an f/2.0 lens. The Pixel can also record 4K video at 30fps, and 1080p video at up to 120fps.

HTC 10 (Rs 46,319)

According to DxOMark the HTC 10’s 12 MP 1/2.3-type sensor camera is excellent for autofocus and texture preservation, making it a great choice for shooting moving subjects, or capturing detailed landscape and architectural shots. The phone comes with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), something the Pixel lacks.

The HTC 10 can record videos in 4k.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (Rs 55,900)

The Galaxy S7 Edge has a 12 MP rear camera and a 2160p @ 30fps video module. The phone’s camera promises good exposure and white balance thanks to its 26mm f/1.7 lens. The S7 edge’s video results boast of good overall exposure, with strong colour, and high levels of detail preservation.

The camera’s image stabilisation feature is particularly excellent, as it offeres greater control over not just still, but video recording as well.

Sony Xperia X Performance (Rs 55,900)

The X Performance has a formidable 23 MP rear camera that offers a 1080p @30fps video module. The phone’s LED flash allows finer preservation of details and, especially indoor. The phone’s image stabilisation is decent enough.

For a phone that is priced as high as this, the lack of 4K recording is a little disappointing. Other than that, there isn’t much to complain about.

Moto Z Force Droid (Rs 59,300)

This Moto innovation comes with a 21 MP Camera and Dual Tone LED Flash. According to DxOMark, the Moto Z Force Droid offers good performance across both stills and video. With good exposures across a range of different lighting conditions, the camera's Auto HDR mode is a gret feature. The camera's high-resolution sensor enables smooth and detailed 4K video capture.

The Moto Z Force Droid’s f/1.8 lens aperture and OIS produce some very successful low-light results. Stabilisation, both in stills and video is what makes this phone quite the catch.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (Rs 34,900)

The S6 Edge's 16 MP camera. The device comes with auto-focus, an f/1.9 lens and Real-time HDR.The camera offers good detail preservation in good light. While it doesn't offer 4K recording, according to DxOMark, the device. has one of the best camcorder available on a smartphone.

Sony Xperia Z5 (Rs 45,000)

The Xperia Z5 packs a stunning 23 MP primary camera that captures high resolution (5520 x 4120 px) stills. It terms of videos, the phone offers 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60fps and 720p @ 120fps. Other camera features include phase-detection autofocus with touch focus, LED flash, geo-tagging, HDR, and panorama stitch.

According to DxOMark, the phone's autofocus is so impressive in all conditions that it the best they have tested to date. The phone also boasts very good white balance, good colour rendering in most situations, and good detail preservation in both good and low-light conditions.

Apple iPhone 7 (Rs 70,000)

The iPhone 7 has a 12MP camera with a 1/2.7”-type sensor, and a wide-angle lens. Yes, it is definitely a great phone camera. But it comes pretty low in the list. While the camera has good stabilisation, decent enough white balance, good colour rendering, and low levels of noise; the phone suffers from a few of Apple's ususal flaws.

Very fine details are often lost in outdoor and low-light conditions. Additionally, luminance noise is visible in low light. The phone's autofocus also fails it in repeated shots.

(Smartphone prices tend to vary)

Also read - If rumours are true, iPhone 8 will be a wet dream