2025 has redefined smartphone photography, pushing the boundaries of what pocket-sized devices can achieve. From massive sensors that rival dedicated cameras to improved periscope systems enabling incredible zoom capabilities, the best camera phones are a photographer’s dream. Telephoto systems have seen significant innovation, delivering sharper details even at extreme distances, while Pro Modes now cater to enthusiasts with manual controls, RAW image capture, and even support for LOG video for advanced colour grading.
Flagship devices like the Vivo X200 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Ultra showcase the pinnacle of this evolution, offering cutting-edge hardware and software enhancements. Meanwhile, the OPPO Find X8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deliver versatile setups for both casual and professional use. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL adds computational photography magic, ensuring flawless shots in any scenario. These phones prove that 2025 is the year smartphones truly transformed into portable professional cameras. Here are the top camera phones in 2025 that will impress any photography enthusiast.
Vivo X200 Pro
The Vivo X200 Pro sets a new benchmark for smartphone photography in 2025. Its cameras steal the spotlight with a 200 MP periscope telephoto lens featuring a larger sensor, offering unmatched sharpness and dynamic range. Portrait photography is where the X200 Pro truly shines, delivering warm, lifelike skin tones with improved edge detection and versatile 35mm and 50mm focal lengths. Indoor close-ups are brighter and sharper, while ultrawide and macro shots benefit from Vivo’s upgraded V3+ Imaging Chip, ensuring natural colours and enhanced detail.
Though the primary sensor is slightly smaller than its predecessor’s, the X200 Pro compensates with an improved ISP for vibrant colours and dynamic range in low light. Video capabilities are top-notch, with support for 8K recording and LOG video for pro-level editing. Whether it’s portraits, macros, or videos, the Vivo X200 Pro stands out as the ultimate choice for photography enthusiasts.
Xiaomi 14
The Xiaomi 14 cements its place among the best camera phones of 2025, thanks to its advanced Leica-tuned camera system. Building on its Leica partnership, the device boasts a triple 50 MP rear camera setup, including a primary shooter with Leica Summilux certification and a wide f/1.6 aperture, an ultrawide lens, and a 3.2x optical zoom telephoto shooter. The Leica Authentic and Vibrant colour profiles ensure that photos are aesthetically tuned, delivering sharp, detailed images with excellent dynamic range.
Portrait photography is a standout feature, with five Leica-tuned presets ranging from 35mm to 90mm, offering versatility and creative effects. Low-light performance is equally impressive, with the large sensor capturing remarkable detail even in challenging conditions. The ultrawide camera maintains consistent quality with the primary shooter, making the setup highly reliable.
While minor tuning improvements could enhance an already stellar experience, the Xiaomi 14 remains a top choice for photography enthusiasts.
OPPO Find X8 Pro
The OPPO Find X8 Pro brings a fresh perspective to smartphone photography in 2025 with its innovative quad-camera system. Featuring four 50 MP sensors, including the Sony LYT808 primary sensor and a unique dual periscope setup, the Find X8 Pro offers impressive versatility. The 6x periscope lens delivers remarkable clarity and detail even at extreme zoom levels, while the innovative HyperTone Image Engine uses AI to merge nine RAW frames, boosting dynamic range and sharpness. Its zoom abilities beat out even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra which was known to be one of the best at zoom.
Portraits, refined through OPPO’s collaboration with Hasselblad, showcase vibrant yet natural colours, lifelike skin tones, and impressive dynamic range. The low-light performance of the primary sensor stands out, capturing sharp, detailed images with minimal noise. The ultrawide lens complements the setup, though edges may lose sharpness in challenging conditions.
With 4K video at 60 fps and Master Mode for professional-level results, the Find X8 Pro is a powerhouse for photography and videography, solidifying its place as a top choice for enthusiasts.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to impress with its versatile camera system, featuring a 200 MP primary camera, a 12 MP ultrawide lens, and two telephoto cameras including a 10 MP 3x telephoto lens and a new 50 MP 5x telephoto shooter. This updated telephoto system provides high-quality optical zoom between 0.6x and 10x, and even further, with wider optical stabilisation for sharp, detailed shots.
The primary sensor, carried over from the Galaxy S23 Ultra, excels in dynamic range and vibrant colour reproduction, making it reliable in various lighting conditions. Night mode enhances low-light photography with smooth textures and reduced noise, maintaining strong performance after dark.
On the video front, the S24 Ultra supports 8K recording at 30 fps and 4K at up to 120 fps for slow motion, along with HDR10+ capabilities for enhanced colour grading. Stabilisation ensures smooth footage, even when on the move, and the new Instant Slow-mo feature powered by AI is a creative bonus.
With its comprehensive suite of tools and AI-powered enhancements, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sets a high bar for flagship smartphone cameras.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a masterclass in computational photography, combining refined hardware with Google’s cutting-edge AI capabilities. While its camera hardware—headlined by a 50 MP main sensor, 48 MP ultrawide, and 48 MP 5x telephoto lens—doesn’t match the larger sensors of some competitors, it remains highly competitive thanks to Google’s software innovations. The new 42 MP selfie camera further enhances the phone’s appeal, offering vibrant colours, lifelike skin tones, and excellent dynamic range.
Daylight photography showcases sharp detail, vibrant yet natural colours, and an expansive dynamic range, while AI tools like Unblur and Magic Editor elevate creative possibilities. Low-light performance is reliable, with solid detail and effective shadow handling, though rivals like the Galaxy S24 Ultra edge ahead in sharpness.
Video capabilities include 8K recording with cloud-based enhancements and advanced stabilisation options, though the output occasionally falls short in sharpness. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro XL delivers a versatile and intelligent imaging experience.
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Dhriti Datta
Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile
