Buying the right smartphone with the right camera system becomes extremely critical if you’re a professional content creator. Generally, the perception is Android phones are better for still photography and iPhones for videos. But which one is the ultimate smartphone for both? At this year’s Indian Gadget Awards (IGA) 2023, over 35 jury members voted across 200+ nominees in 35+ categories, including the Best Camera Phone of 2023. Take a look at the winner in this coveted category.
Best Camera Phone of 2023 (Premium)
Winner: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Not surprisingly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the Best Camera Phone of 2023 award. The flagship features several hardware tweaks to improve performance and camera performance. Don’t go by the megapixels, but look at the underlying tech. For instance, the telephoto camera (in sync with other sensors) substantially improves optical zoom for crisper portrait shots. There’s also a change in the lens structuring to ensure reduced flare and colour preservation. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now has improved video capabilities, including the ability to record spatial videos that can be played on Apple Vision Pro. There’s also support for ACES — Academy Colour Encoding System, a global colour standard for major movie productions and spatial videos.
Take a look at the rest of the nominees for the Best Camera Phone of 2023 (Premium).
Best Camera Phone of 2023 (Premium) nominees
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra carries a flagship-grade 200MP camera sensor. It also carries three more camera sensors on the back, which provide great versatility in different conditions.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
What sets Google Pixel 8 Pro apart from its rivals are the AI-backed features to improve photos and videos. Magic Eraser and Audio Magic Eraser are some of our favourite tools.
Vivo X90 Pro
The Vivo X90 Pro uses a 50MP 1-inch Sony IMX988 sensor tuned by ZEISS. If you’re a fan of natural light and colours, the ZEISS Natural Color tab in the camera app can be highly useful.
OnePlus 11 5G
The OnePlus 11 5G also utilises a 50MP Sony IMX890 camera sensor. The rear camera module includes a 48MP ultra-wide camera and a 32MP Portrait camera. The OnePlus 11 5G continues its partnership with Hasselblad for camera tuning.
iQOO 11 5G
The iQOO 11 5G does not only focus heavily on gaming, but it also includes a reliable camera system. The rear camera module includes a 50MP IMX709 sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 13MP 2x telephoto sensor.
OPPO Reno10 Pro+ 5G
The OPPO Reno10 Pro+ 5G comes equipped with a triple rear camera setup, headlined by a 50MP Sony IMX890 OIS primary sensor. For selfies, there’s a 32MP selfie camera.
Xiaomi 13 Pro 5G
The Xiaomi 13 Pro 5G includes three 50MP cameras on the back, taking care of wide, ultra-wide, and portrait shots in the highest quality. Legendary camera maker Leica tunes the cameras.
Vivo V29 Pro
The Vivo V29 Pro is the only phone on the list to include a native ring light, called Smart Aura. It can substantially help with portrait shots in low-light settings.
Honor 90
Honor made a comeback in India with the Honor 90. Apart from offering a sleek and stylish design, the phone also includes a 200MP primary camera.
OPPO Find N3 Flip
The OPPO Find N3 Flip strength lies in selfies with rear cameras. That’s because the outer display of this flip phone doubles as a viewfinder.
OnePlus Open
OnePlus’s debut foldable phone creates a fantastic impression with its cameras. The OnePlus Open also the only phone of this year to feature a new Sony LYTIA sensor to capture crisp photos without occupying too much space on the smartphone.
