These days, when you think of a phone, the majority check for the camera features first, since the only camera many of us own is our smartphones. For these reasons, it has become more important to have one of the best camera phones in Nigeria.
Smartphone manufacturers are making more improvements on their smartphones’ cameras ranging from more mega-pixels to more lenses, better night mode pictures, stable dynamic range, better zoom, better portrait, greater low light performance, and a lot more.
The most high-end smartphone has something to shout loud about related to their cameras. But there are a lot of smartphones out there with a massive list of specs sheets and cameras features, and some are better and impressive while some are worse than what their specs sheet suggests.
Vic’s Guide is here to help you decide. We have compiled a list of the best camera phones you could get right now.
Often, people go for cameras with higher megapixels and more cameras like quad cameras. But more pixels at times does not guaranty better photographic performance. Yeah, the more pixels you get, the better the pictures, but things are slightly more complicated than this.
For example; the Google pixel 4A spots a single 12.2MP camera while the Vivo S6 spots Quad camera with 48MP primary. You might start thinking of the Google pixel 4a as an inferior phone, but that not the case.
A phone with a small mega-pixel could have better optimization and more features than a phone with huge mega-pixels. That is why iPhones and Google Pixels phones with little mega-pixels defeat many other phones with large mega-pixels cameras.
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Our list is based on preference, and you can check them out and decide which you prefer.
Best Camera Phones of 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Released date: January 2021 | Display: 6.81 inches AMOLED display, 1440 x 3200 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 | RAM: 12GB/16GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Rear Cameras: 108MP + 10MP + 12MP + 10MP | Front Camera: 40MP | OS: Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Battery: 5,000mAh
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best camera phone you could get on the market right now. Samsung did a great job with the camera of this smartphone. Actually, this pick is just a matter of choice giving that the iPhone 12 Pro max is also a great camera phone.
Taking a look at the features you get from this device, you’ve got portrait mode video, super steady recording, slow mode, better zoom, multiple-camera mode shooting, 8K video, and possibly the best pro videos.
Videos taking on the Samsung Galaxy aren’t the best, but it has great video stabilization, especially when shooting videos and running simultaneously. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra slow mode can go very slow and does not comprise the clarity and stability of the video.
If you want the best Camera phone right now, you can go for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if your budget permits.
2. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Released date: November 2020 | Display: 6.7 inches Super Retina XDR OLED display, 1284 x 2778 pixels | Processor: Apple A14 Bionic| RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Rear Cameras: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front Camera: 12MP | OS: iOS 14.1 | Battery: 3,687mAh
Unlike most Android phones, Apple constantly likes keeping things simple and adding little extra features to the camera of their next iPhone. This smartphone does not have all the big features the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts of, but when it comes to core image quality, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro max shines.
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max has the best portrait mode camera. The portrait camera looks very real. This smartphone has a good texture and details when taking at night using the Night mode. This smartphone has a new LiDAR scanner feature, which enables faster focusing in a low light situation.
The videos taking on the Apple iPhone 12 Pro max are impressive both at night and in daylight. This, for some people, is the best camera phone, especially those who focus on video stabilization and core image quality.
3. Google Pixel 5
Released date: October 2020 | Display: 6.0 inches OLED display, 1080 x 2340 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 765G | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Rear Cameras: 12.2MP + 16MP | Front Camera: 8MP | OS: Android 11 | Battery: 4080mAh
Google Pixel phones are very well known to be great camera phones. The Google Pixel 5 is no exemption from this. This smartphone sports a 12.2MP main shooter and a 16MP ultra-wide lens. The Google Pixel 5 takes amazing pictures, and the ultra-wide camera is great but not as wide as the top competitors of this phone.
The Google Pixel 5 takes better pictures in the day; pictures taking in the day are crisp, clear, and vibrant. Pictures taking in low light are also impressive as well. It would be best if you considered this smartphone when shopping for the best camera phones in Nigeria.
4. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
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Released date: October 2020 | Display: 6.76 inches OLED display, 1344 x 2772 pixels | Processor: Kirin 9000 5G | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB | Rear Cameras: 50MP + 12MP + 20MP | Front Camera: 13MP | OS: Android 10, EMUI 11 | Battery: 4,400mAh
Although Huawei phones no longer receive google supports, their phones’ quality and good features cannot be left undiscussed. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro’s cameras are really professional when I say professional, not the same as high-end cameras.
The Huawei mate 40 Pro spots Triple cameras with 50MP primary, 12MP periscope telephoto, and 20MP ultrawide. Pictures taken with both the primary and ultrawide cameras are really impressive. The selfie cameras feature 13MP ultrawide and a depth/bionic sensor. This makes the portrait and normal selfies great.
This smartphone should be one of your choices when selecting the best camera phones.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
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Released date: August 2020 | Display: 6.9 inches Dynamic AMOLED display, 1440 x 3088 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 865+ / Exynos 990 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Rear Cameras: 108MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front Camera: 10MP | OS: Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Battery: 4,500mAh
This Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is one of the best camera phones you could get right now. This device has a fantastic camera that proves more than a number of plays.
The cameras on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 takes outstanding photos in all kind of conditions. In daylight, in harsh weather, shooting at the sun, in low light, at night, shooting indoors and outdoors, the pictures and videos come out great.
This smartphone has a good ultrawide, almost as sharp as the main cameras, massive zoom capability (50X), which is not the same as 100X zoom, but it is far more than what you probably need.
The 10MP selfie camera is fairly average but perfect. The video taken with the selfie cameras is impressive thanks to the super steady mode, 8K option, and faster autofocus. The pictures taken on this smartphone will rival a majority of the smartphone out there.
The big issue with this smartphone is the price. Starting at $1300 (N495,3000), it’s very expensive, but if you are concerned with price, check out our list of the best cheap camera phones.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Released date: October 2020 | Display: 6.1 inches Retina XDR OLED display, 1170 x 2532 pixels | Processor: Apple A14 Bionic | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Rear Cameras: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front Camera: 12MP | OS: iOS 14.1 | Battery: 2815mAh
You cannot go wrong with the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, starting with the ability to use Apple’s new ProRaw file format, which enables users able to combine Apple’s great computational photographic effects with the power of RAW files.
The device sports a 12MP sensor in the front-facing TrueDepth camera for taking better selfie cameras and portrait mode. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is just the right phone for you if you want better image quality.
Google Pixel 4a
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Released date: August 2020 | Display: 5.81 inches OLED display, 1080 x 2340 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 730G | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Rear Cameras: 12MP | Front Camera: 8MP | OS: Android 10 | Battery: 5,000mAh
The Google Pixel 4a is not just a budget killer but also one of the best camera phones out there. This is a great phone to consider when you are after a great phone with amazing cameras. It spots a single 12.2MP primary camera and an 8MP selfie camera.
You might want more cameras like triple or quad, but the single camera on this phone is actually impressive and great.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
Released date: January 2021 | Display: 6.7 inches OLED display, 1080 x 2340 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Rear Cameras: 64MP + 12MP + 10MP | Front Camera: 10MP | OS: Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Battery: 4,800mAh
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus does not have the 108MP camera in the ultra, but the 64MP camera on this smartphone is still very fascinating and impressive. The main camera, ultrawide, and telephoto on this phone are impressive.
Pictures taken on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus are well detailed, have vibrant colors, overexposure, radioactive saturation, great portrait mode, and are impressive.
Xiaomi Mi 11
Released date: April 2020 | Display: 6.78 inches AMOLED display, 1440 x 3168 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Rear Cameras: 108MP + 13MP + 5MP | Front Camera: 20MP | OS: Android 11, MIUI 12 | Battery: 4,600mAh
The Xiaomi Mi 11 gives you the best camera experience you might have ever come across. This smartphone camera app has a well-organized user interface, making it more fun when taking pictures or shooting videos.
It sports a triple camera set-up with a massive 108MP primary camera. This smartphone camera has a lot of features and a lot of video modes. Xiaomi used AI to create everything, from the Al dolly zoom effect to freeze-frame, pause a video, and have a slower shutter speed.
Cameras taking on this smartphone are not lacking so much. Even the 5MP macro camera is quite impressive. The macro camera takes decent pictures that you won’t know you are taking with a macro camera. If you want a great camera phone with better app optimization and many features, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a good choice.
Read Our full review of the Xiaomi Mi 11
OnePlus 8 Pro
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Released date: January 2021 | Display: 6.81 inches AMOLED display, 1440 x 3200 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Rear Cameras: 48MP + 8MP + 48MP + 5MP | Front Camera: 16MP | OS: Android 10, Oxygen OS 11 | Battery: 4,515mAh
The OnePlus 8 Pro is a no-compromise phone when it comes to the camera. This smartphone is one of the best camera phones you can get right now. This smartphone features a Quad camera system with a 48MP primary camera. The phone has standard ultrawide and telephoto lenses.
OnePlus also include a new feature they called the “color filter camera.” In terms of videos, The OnePlus 8 Pro shoots 4K videos at 30fps and 60 fps while it shoots 1080p videos at 30, 60, or 240fps. This smartphone is a great phone when it comes to taking pictures.
