Zero1 Awards are all about the embodiment of top-notch performance and this year has seen the smartphone camera really evolve into something people can truly rely on. But which one is the one camera smartphone to rule them all?
Every year, we at Digit review innumerable products and Zero1 awards are where we acknowledge and award the very best of the best. As many people turn to their smartphones to capture moments or create content if there is one thing we know is that smartphones cameras are one of the most hotly talked about features in today’s mobile market. In 2018, there were some pretty amazing leaps made in this particular area by several companies, spanning the gamut of both hardware and software. While almost everyone has talked about how amazing the camera on their smartphone is, a few devices have stood out, and are the nominees for our Zero1 Awards for the Best Camera Smartphone category.
Google Pixel 3 XL
From their very inception, the Google Pixel smartphones have shown off incredibly strong photography skills. The first-generation Pixel had the best HDR implementation while the second-generation Pixel amazed the world with its excellent Portrait Mode using just a single lens. With the Google Pixel 3 XL (Review), the Mountain View company has taken things even further when it comes to the camera. Our review did note extremely impressive all-around performance by the Pixel 3 XL’s camera, but is it good enough to make it the king of smartphone photography? Click here to buy.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung hasn’t let itself be forgotten when it comes to imaging. The cameras are always one of the main highlights of the S and Note series and this year’s Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (Review) is no different. The dual camera setup impressed us with its speed and quality of output, giving a general sense of reliability when it comes to using Note 9 as the primary imaging device. Detail retention was the strongest suit of Note 9’s cameras, but would it be enough to have the phone rise to the very top? Click here to buy.
Apple iPhone XS
There should be no surprise about the iPhone XS (Review) being a part of this list. Apple calls the iPhone the most popular camera in the world and has tried to show off its popularity with the Shot on iPhone campaign. This year, the iPhone XS brings better focusing at a hardware level (thanks to a higher number of phase detect pixels), but its real magic lies in the software. With the new SmartHDR feature, Apple has sought to improve the output of the iPhone XS’s camera in practically every kind of shooting condition. The camera did impress us in the review with its excellent dynamic range and impressive focusing speeds. However, we are yet to determine if the iPhone XS has a camera worthy of the Zero1 Award.Click here to buy.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
The last flagship launch of the year, Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro (First Impressions) rocks the same 40-megapixel sensor as the P20 Pro, but ditches the monochrome sensor in favour of a 16mm ultra-wide angle shooter with a resolution of 20 megapixels. The 80mm telephoto lens is still here, but what is missing are many of the software issues of the P20 Pro. With full RAW output enabled from all three lenses and improved Leica optics, the Mate 20 Pro looks increasingly like the ideal photo-video companion. But will it outperform the other contenders to win the coveted Zero1 Award
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Swapnil Mathur
Swapnil was Digit's resident camera nerd, (un)official product photographer and the Reviews Editor. Swapnil has moved-on to newer challenges. For any communication related to his stories, please mail us using the email id given here. View Full Profile
