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    Best Phone Cameras

    There are lots of great phones on the market, but these are tops for photos and videos

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    A person's hands holding a smartphone, taking a photo of two colorful building facades.
    The phones that perform best in our camera tests take crisp, high-resolution photos with true-to-life color and low image noise.
    Photo: Getty Images

    Many of us rely heavily on a phone camera to capture key moments in our lives, both big and small—from summer vacations and birthday celebrations to this morning’s breakfast. That means we care a good deal about camera quality when looking to invest in a new smartphone. 

    It can be tricky, though, to decipher camera specs—from resolution to optical zoom range—and accurately predict whether a phone will produce shots worthy of sharing.

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    More on Smartphones

    To help with that, Consumer Reports tests the camera quality of every smartphone that comes through our labs, dutifully snapping photos and recording video in a studio environment under controlled lighting conditions, and then evaluating the results on a high-quality LCD display. Our expert testers review not only the rear cameras but also the front-facing (selfie) camera. To come out on top, each must take photos and videos with very good color quality, color accuracy, sharpness, and exposure level, as well as low image noise. 

    If you’d like a little guidance as you shop, the lists below spotlight the smartphones that have aced our tests for the best camera systems, the best rear image quality, and the best rear video quality. 

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    Courtney Lindwall

    Courtney Lindwall is a writer at Consumer Reports. Since joining CR in 2023, she’s covered the latest on cell phones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers as part of the tech team. Previously, Courtney reported on environmental and climate issues for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.