Best Camera Mobile Phones in India (Sep 2024)

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra`s AI features take centre stage, and some of them are quite useful as well. Leave those out, and you`re left with a premium smartphone that comes across as an incremental upgrade but delivers in all aspects — performance, battery life, cameras & more. The S Pen & other productivity features make it a powerhouse that should be apt for professionals, creative folks, & power users in general. As long as they can digest the pricing.

Verdict: Whatever the Xiaomi 14 does well, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does it better. With its Leica partnership, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts one of the most versatile camera systems in the Android space. Moreover, it excels in other areas as well, such as display, battery life, and performance. While native generative features are yet to be seen onboard, the day may not be far off, especially with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 unlocking these capabilities.

Verdict: The Vivo X100 Pro is quite easily one of the best camera phones in the market right now, offering a versatile triple rear camera system backed by ZEISS. In addition to a reliable camera system, the Vivo X100 Pro also delivers a stunning display, fast and smooth performance with the Dimensity 9300 chipset, and blazing-fast charging, among other things.

Verdict: The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes as one of the most significant upgrades in recent years, and not just because of the Type-C port. It shines in the performance and display departments, and boasts capable cameras that shoot excellent stills and videos. On the other hand, charging is still slow, and you need to shell out quite a bit to acquire one.

Verdict: The Vivo X100 delivers on its promises. The cameras are outstanding, the performance feels smooth, and the battery life is excellent, topped up by an impressive fast-charging solution. Additionally, the display offers an impeccable viewing experience. While the phone can be a bit slippery, the design is catchy and provides a good in-hand feel.

Verdict: The Google Pixel 8 Pro looks more polished than its predecessor, brings a bright and rich display, and tons of AI camera features that are yet to drop. But beyond everything else, Google promises a whopping 7 years of software updates. This essentially means the phone will stay relevant until 2030, but its performance might not hold up well until then due to an underwhelming Tensor G3 chipset.

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the perfect middle child and a solid upgrade from its predecessor. It gets a bigger and brighter display as well as a solid battery life. Moreover, Samsung promises 7 years of software support, keeping it in line with Pixel phones, and excellent performance. The only drawbacks seem to be hit-and-miss AI features and okay-ish cameras.

Verdict: Vivo has made a solid foldable debut in India with the X Fold3 Pro. This flagship device brings a host of firsts, including being the lightest and slimmest foldable in the market. The X Fold3 Pro also has powerful hardware backed by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, terrific battery life, and impressive ZEISS-branded cameras. However, foldables like the OnePlus Open and Galaxy Z Fold5 are priced lower and can be seen as offering more value for money.

Verdict: The OnePlus 12 continues to embody OnePlus` flagship-killer mantra. It may not focus heavily on generative AI features yet, but it provides a reliable performance, which most regular customers value. For upcoming content creators, some versatile editing tools should help you up your Instagram game. For professional content creators, OnePlus 12 can be a good choice. However, the iPhone 15 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro offer more versatile cameras.

Verdict: While the Pixel 8 is a commendable smartphone in its own right, the handset may fall short in comparison to other smartphones in its price range when it comes to performance, viewing experience, and battery life. That being said, the Pixel 8 can be an outstanding choice for camera enthusiasts. It excels in capturing stunning photos, which are further enhanced by AI editing tools that will continue to improve with software updates for years to come.

Verdict: The Pixel 8a ticks almost all the boxes you`d expect from a smartphone in this range. It offers a snappy performance with a new chipset onboard. Cameras are reliable as always. The battery backup is also respectable, though the charging speed needs a big upgrade. And there`s the magic of AI and soon-to-get Gen AI features. However, Google needs to be considerate of the Indian smartphone market and price its devices more thoughtfully to gain an edge.

Verdict: The Xiaomi 14 is a loaded smartphone that scores high on most aspects. Purists might not like the bunch of pre-installed apps it comes with, and there are some small issues in terms of how the cameras handle light flares. Those apart, the device shines in terms of performance, fast charging, and above all, the versatility of its Leica cameras. The smartphone`s size is perfect for one-handed usage as well.

Verdict: The Honor 200 Pro proves to be a reliable smartphone be it performance, cameras, and display. Its battery performance is also decent if not the best. Users may particularly enjoy taking portrait shots as the Harcourt partnership produces some stunning portrait shots in both bright and dim conditions. However, pricing could`ve been more aggressive to gain an edge over rivals.

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a must-have for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful smartphone with some smart features. This premium flagship boasts a vibrant screen, advanced camera setup, reliable performance, and several AI features, which are available for free use until at least the end of 2025 to enhance your productivity.

Verdict: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra proves to be a highly capable device for its price. The handset stands out with its sleek design and excellent display. This is complemented by reliable performance, a versatile camera setup, optimised battery life, rapid charging speeds, and a clean OS with AI features.

Verdict: The Vivo V30 Pro is a great choice for camera enthusiasts. Not only do the rear cameras capture great details, but the partnership with Zeiss unlocks new filters and modes that make the overall photography experience fun. The Smart Aura light also proves to be versatile in tricky lighting conditions. While its cameras are great, the Vivo V30 Pro lacks key features, including NFC and stereo speakers. Its three-year Android update promise is decent, if not the best.

Verdict: The iQOO 12 stands out as the fastest Android smartphone currently available. It also earns high marks for its exceptional viewing experience, loud speakers, incredible cameras, great battery life, and blazing-fast charging speeds. That said, there is wireless charging support yet, and the software, which has been refined, still leaves room for improvement. 

Verdict: Phantom V Flip is a great affordable option for anyone who wants to try out this form factor before investing heavily in a premium flip phone. It offers a surprisingly good build quality, a foldable display with a rather subtle crease, and decent cameras. For its price, the novelty factor of this phone`s design definitely makes it easy to recommend but the phone`s underwhelming battery life could prove to be an issue for those who travel frequently.

Verdict: The Motorola Edge 50 is a capable device despite its shorter software support, so-so battery life, and not-so-impressive chipset. Be that as it may, the handset should appeal to anyone seeking a stylish yet durable design, versatile cameras, lovely display, fast charging speeds, and reliable performance for everyday use.

Verdict: The Realme 13 Pro+ is a compelling choice in the mid-range smartphone category, particularly for its camera capabilities. It boasts a versatile camera setup enhanced by AI features that elevate photography. Although its performance could have been better, the handset`s design, display, and battery life are commendable.

Verdict: The Honor 200 is one of the best camera phones available at its price, especially if you`re fond of taking portrait shots. It features an attractive design, delivers reliable everyday performance, and recharges quickly. The lack of an IP rating and the omission of a charger in the retail box might be drawbacks for some potential buyers.

Verdict: The Xiaomi 14 Civi stands out with its lightweight and premium glass and leather design language, making it easily one of the best-looking phones in the sub-Rs 50,000 segment. On top of that, you get a stunning display and Leica cameras for those looking for professional-level photography without spending a lot of money. However, the battery life and performance throttling leave you wanting more.

Verdict: The POCO F6 feels like a modest upgrade to the F5, maintaining the current trends. The smartphone`s performance is among the best, and the display quality is impressive, though I wish it featured an LTPO panel. Despite this, the cameras are good for a gaming-focused device, and both battery life and charging speeds are respectable.

Verdict: The iQOO Z9s Pro is a solid option for its price, outperforming many competitors in performance, design, display, battery life, and daylight camera performance. However, it could benefit from improvements in the selfie camera and software.

Verdict: The Realme 13 Pro is worthy of your attention if a camera-centric smartphone is what you are after with a tight budget. The handset excels with its primary and selfie cameras, which offer images with good colour accuracy. The handset`s design and display are also noteworthy, though its performance and software experience may fall short of expectations. 

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy M55 5G might serve as a good smartphone for multimedia users. The handset provides a terrific viewing experience, along with its stereo speakers output. The phone also delivers an enjoyable camera performance in daylight and decent battery support. While the performance might not be best in class, the phone is capable enough for everyday use.

Verdict: The OnePlus Nord CE4 features many thoughtful upgrades, making it a much more compelling option than last year`s Nord CE3. The phone also checks many boxes for everyday users, whether it is the display, battery, or performance. Its cameras are also good, if not the best. While the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC promises cutting-edge AI features, we are still awaiting the availability of those features from OnePlus.

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is a great choice for those who prioritise reliable performance, crisp display, loud speakers, and all-day battery backup. The phone also exhibits good camera performance in daylight, though low-light performance needs improvement. The Galaxy A35 even sets itself apart from most competitors by promising four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates. When it comes to fast charging, Samsung could benefit from closely observing its competitors in China.

Verdict: The itel Color Pro 5G delivers impressive value for its price. It provides excellent performance output, comes with 5G support, has versatile cameras that offer good results even in low-light environments, and has a long battery life. If you`re looking to purchase a well-rounded 5G smartphone under Rs 10,000, the itel Color Pro 5G is an easy recommendation.

Verdict: The Infinix Note 40X competes in a heavily contested price point. While it may not lead in every category, it offers a good mix of features. It delivers reliable performance for day-to-day use, has excellent battery life, and provides ample storage capacity. The phone also performs well in low-light conditions, capturing night shots that are better than many of its competitors.

Verdict: The Redmi 13 5G is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to buy an affordable 5G smartphone. It delivers on all key essentials, including a high-resolution 120Hz display, swift performance for day-to-day use, good battery life and a striking design. It is not without its flaws, however, as the device could benefit from a brighter display and better low-light camera performance.

Verdict: The iQOO Z9x is an ideal performance-focused smartphone for users on a budget. In addition to its impressive performance, it features a massive 6,000mAh battery that easily lasts an entire day, even for power users. The smartphone also offers a bright display and a good stereo speaker setup that elevates the multimedia experience. The cameras, however, may not meet everyone`s expectations. 

Verdict: With the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, the Narzo 70 can handle even demanding tasks efficiently. In its price range, the phone offers one of the best displays and a decent camera performance. However, it does struggle with capturing skin tones accurately and the selfie camera performance in low-light situations has room for improvement. Overall, this phone is a good buy for the price if your priority is performance.