Best Camera Phones 2026
The phones with the best cameras right now, ranked by our camera score. It rewards what makes photos better in real life: a big main sensor, real optical zoom, stabilization and strong video.
Updated Top 10 of 239 phones that qualify How we picked
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Top pick
OPPO Find X9 Ultra
Best value
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Lowest price
Apple iPhone 18 Pro
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1. OPPO Find X9 Ultra
Overall9.4Camera9.0- 200 MP main camera
- 10× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 7,050 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: Two 200MP rear cameras, including a 3x telephoto
- Pro: 50MP periscope camera with 10x optical zoom
- Con: No charger in the box of the global version
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2. Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Overall9.1Camera8.9- 50 MP main camera
- 4.3× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 6,000 mAh, 90 W
- Pro: 50MP 1-inch main camera with Leica optics
- Pro: 200MP periscope telephoto with 75-100mm optical zoom
- Con: Starts at €1,499 in Europe
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3. Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Overall8.8Camera8.9- 50 MP main camera
- 4.3× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 5,410 mAh, 90 W
- Pro: 1-inch 50 MP main sensor and 200 MP periscope telephoto
- Pro: Four rear cameras covering 14 mm to 100 mm
- Con: Not officially sold in the US
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4. Huawei Pura 80 Ultra
Overall7.8Camera8.9- 50 MP main camera
- 9.4× optical zoom
- Kirin 9020
- 5,170 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: 50MP 1-inch main camera with a variable aperture
- Pro: Dual telephoto with 3.7x and 9.4x optical zoom
- Con: No 5G on the global version
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5. POCO F9 Ultra
Overall9.3Camera8.7- 200 MP main camera
- 5× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 8,050 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: 8,050mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Pro: 6.9-inch AMOLED display with up to 185Hz refresh rate
- Con: Heavy at 235 g
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6. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Overall9.2Camera8.7- 48 MP main camera
- 4× optical zoom
- Apple A20 Pro
- 5,567 mAh
- Pro: 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED with 3,000 nits outdoor peak brightness
- Pro: Variable-aperture 48MP main camera and 4x tetraprism telephoto
- Con: Starts at $1,299, $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max
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7. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Overall8.9Camera8.7- 200 MP main camera
- 5× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 5,000 mAh, 60 W
- Pro: Built-in Privacy Display limits side viewing
- Pro: Built-in S Pen stylus
- Con: Battery capacity unchanged at 5,000 mAh
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8. Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Overall8.8Camera8.7- 48 MP main camera
- 4× optical zoom
- Apple A20 Pro
- 4,288 mAh
- Pro: First iPhone main camera with variable aperture (f/1.48 to f/4.0)
- Pro: Three 48MP rear cameras, including a 4x tetraprism telephoto
- Con: Starts $100 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro
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9. Huawei Pura 80 Pro
Overall7.7Camera8.7- 50 MP main camera
- 4× optical zoom
- Kirin 9020
- 5,170 mAh, 100 W
- Pro: 50MP 1-inch main camera with a variable aperture
- Pro: 48MP 4x telephoto with macro support
- Con: No 5G on the global version
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10. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Overall8.6Camera8.6- 200 MP main camera
- 5× optical zoom
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 5,000 mAh, 45 W
- Pro: 6.9-inch QHD+ LTPO display with 1–120 Hz refresh rate
- Pro: Built-in S Pen
- Con: High starting price of $1,299.99
How we picked
We rank every phone that is on sale and was announced in the last two years by its camera score. The score looks at main sensor size, optical zoom, the ultrawide camera, stabilization, video modes and the front camera. Only phones officially sold in the US or Europe are included. Scores are calculated from specs, so every phone is judged by the same rules. Learn more about how we rate phones.
What to look for
Sensor size beats megapixels
A larger main sensor collects more light, which means cleaner night shots and more natural background blur. A 50 MP camera with a big sensor usually beats a 200 MP camera with a small one.
Zoom needs a telephoto lens
Digital zoom only crops the photo. For sharp shots of faraway subjects, look for a telephoto or periscope lens with 3× to 5× optical zoom.
Don't forget video
4K at 60 fps with optical stabilization is the baseline for smooth video today. If you film a lot, also check the front camera, which is often weaker.
FAQ
What is the best camera phone right now?
Right now it's the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, with a PhoneRanked score of 9.4 out of 10 and a camera score of 9.0. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra round out the top three.
How do you score cameras without taking photos?
Our camera score comes from hardware specs: sensor size, lenses, stabilization and video modes. Specs don't capture image processing, so check sample photos in reviews before you pick one of the top phones.
How often is this list updated?
Automatically. When we add a phone or update its specs, the list is rebuilt within a few minutes. The date at the top of the page shows the last update.