GuidesBest Phones for Photography in 2026
SmartphonesFebruary 27, 2026

Best Phones for Photography in 2026

Our top picks for mobile photographers who want the best camera experience

Whether you are a professional photographer looking for a capable secondary camera or a social media creator who needs stunning shots on the go, the right smartphone camera can make all the difference.\n\nWe have tested dozens of phones this year and these are our top picks for photography enthusiasts. From computational photography wizardry to impressive optical zoom capabilities, these phones push the boundaries of what is possible with mobile photography.\n\nOur picks consider image quality, low-light performance, video capabilities, and overall camera versatility.

Our Top Picks (4)

🏆 #1 Top Pick
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple
4.8/5

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple's largest iPhone with A18 Pro chip, 5x tetraprism camera, and titanium design.

A18 Pro chip performance18-hour battery life4K120fps video
#2 Pick
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung
4.7/5

Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung's flagship with Snapdragon 8 Elite, titanium frame, and 200MP camera system.

Titanium frame designBest-in-class 200MP camera7 years of software updates
#3 Pick
15 Ultra
Xiaomi
4.6/5

15 Ultra

Xiaomi's photography flagship with 1-inch sensor and 200MP telephoto.

1-inch main sensor200MP telephoto90W fast charging
#4 Pick
Pixel 9 Pro
Google
4.5/5

Pixel 9 Pro

Google's flagship with Tensor G4, 7 years updates, and best-in-class computational photography.

7 years of updatesBest computational photographyGoogle AI features