Mobile photography is developing at a rapid pace. It is closer than ever to eliminating the need for more professional-grade equipment after already cannibalising the sales of point-and-shoot cameras. According to Statista, the digital camera market is expected to grow by -0.52 percent – which is a decline in overall sales. This is expected to continue owing to the growing potential of smartphone photography. We’ve seen developments in several key areas such as the introduction of more and more 1-inch sensors, custom imaging chips, improving computational photography, and more. While the megapixel count isn’t as important as larger sensors in phones, many devices sporting 48 MP cameras in 2023 have displayed reliable photography performance. Some 48 MP smartphone cameras on the market right now include the Sony IMX803, Sony IMX581, Sony IMX789, Samsung ISOCELL GM1, and others. We’ve got phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro. So, for some of the best optics on your smartphone, look no further than these 48 MP phones.
- 1.
- Impressive camera performance
- Stellar battery life
- Smooth, powerful performance
- Slim bezels
- Excellent video performance
- Camera Control button seems gimmicky
- No Apple Intelligence out of the box
- Pixel density (PPI): 460
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 1328 x 2878
- Display technology: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 12
- Charging type port: USB-C
- Storage: 256 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 1 year warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.3
- Whats inside the box: Handset, USB C Charge Cable (1m), Documentation
- Processor: Apple A18 Pro
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a refined triple-camera system, further enhancing Apple’s computational photography. The 48 MP main sensor now supports a larger sensor size, improving low-light performance and dynamic range. The ultra-wide camera is now upgraded to 48 MP resolution, delivering sharper, distortion-free wide shots. The tetraprism telephoto lens, offers 5x optical zoom, extending its versatility. Apple’s Photonic Engine and Smart HDR 5 refine colour accuracy, skin tones, and detail in varying lighting conditions. The new AI-powered image processing enhances portrait mode with real-time depth sensing. Video recording benefits from improved ProRes capabilities, offering 4K at 60fps with external recording support. The Action mode and Cinematic mode continue to impress, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max a top-tier choice for mobile photographers and videographers seeking pro-level control in a compact device.
- 2.
- Excellent camera performance
- Robust build and great in-hand feel
- iOS 18 brings a host of much-needed improvements to the phone
- 60Hz display is way behind its time
- The phone heated up when indulging in tasks that stress the processor
- Pixel density (PPI): 461
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 2556 x 1179
- Display technology: OLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 13
- Charging type port: USB-C
- Storage: 256 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Colors: Black, White, Ultramarine, Pink, Teal
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 1 year warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.4
- Whats inside the box: Handset, USB C Charge Cable (1m), Documentation
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
The iPhone 16 features a dual-camera system, refining Apple’s already impressive imaging capabilities. The 48 MP main sensor brings improved low-light performance, enhanced dynamic range, and sensor-shift stabilization for sharper shots. It also supports super-high-resolution 24 MP default images, ensuring detailed photos in various lighting conditions. The 12 MP ultra-wide camera continues to offer expansive field-of-view shots with minimal distortion. Apple’s Photonic Engine and Smart HDR 5 optimize textures, shadows, and highlights, delivering more lifelike images. The next-gen AI-powered processing enhances Portrait mode, allowing users to adjust focus after capturing an image. For video, the iPhone 16 supports 4K recording with Dolby Vision HDR, delivering crisp, cinematic results. Action Mode ensures smooth stabilization for dynamic shots, while Cinematic Mode refines depth-of-field transitions. While it lacks the Pro-exclusive telephoto lens, the iPhone 16 remains a powerful option for casual photographers and content creators.
- 3.
- Pixel density (PPI): 460
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 2556 x 1179
- Display technology: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 12
- Charging type port: USB-C
- Storage: 256 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 1 year warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.3
- Whats inside the box: Handset, USB C Charge Cable (1m), Documentation
- Processor: Apple A17 Pro
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is widely recognized for its exceptional camera system, which sets new benchmarks in the industry. The camera system is a powerful combination of a 48MP main camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera. This trio provides 5x optical zoom and 2x in-sensor zoom, offering a broad optical range that is one of the most potent ever seen in an iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x zoom has delivered much better-looking shots than many of its competitors, with more natural-looking colors and exposure. This is a testament to the phone’s powerful camera system and the software enhancements it employs, including Apple’s Photonic Engine and Smart HDR 5. Despite some limitations, such as occasional noise-handling issues and a weak zoom between 2.5-4.9x, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera is considered one of the best around.
- 4.
- Smooth Dynamic Island animations, Excellent performance, Reliable and versatile camera system, Good battery life, Bright display
- Still an incremental upgrade, No USB-C charging, Quite heavy, Only 20 W charging
- Pixel density (PPI): 460
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 2556 x 1179
- Display technology: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 12
- Charging type port: USB-C
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 6 GB
- Colors: Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 1 year warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.5
- Whats inside the box: Handset, USB C Charge Cable (1m), Documentation
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes equipped with a triad of rear cameras including a brand new 48 MP primary camera with quad pixel binning. The 48 MP lens can also be used for near optical level 2x zooming. You can also shoot full 48 MP photos by enabling ProRAW. Photonic Engine, introduced by Apple this year, promises to offer brighter and more colourful pictures using all the phone’s lenses. Images taken from this camera are sharp, detailed, and vibrant. The colours aren’t very oversatured and have quite a natural look. Shots taken at night also look stellar with good colour and detail. Portrait shots are fantastic during the day, but in low light, it is a hit and miss when it comes to edge detection. Overall, this is a capable and versatile camera that you can own if price is no bar for you.
- 5.
- Pixel density (PPI): 460
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 2556 x 1179
- Display technology: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 12
- Charging type port: USB-C
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 6 GB
- Colors: Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 1 year warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.6
- Whats inside the box: Handset, USB C Charge Cable (1m), Documentation
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
The iPhone 14 Pro also comes packing the all new 48 MP sensor like its more expensive sibling. It comes with quad pixel binning as well that outputs 12 MP binned photos and the detail in photos clicked by the 14 Pro are quite exquisite in most scenarios. Its other cameras complement the primary sensor well with similar colour tone across the board. According to Apple, the 48 MP sensor on the iPhone 14 Pro is 65 per cent larger than the main sensor present on the iPhone 13 Pro. Again, the main sensor can be used to click 2x optical-quality Telephoto images that look fantastic in the day time. The phone can also shoot Cinematic mode in 4K HDR at 24 fps. Overall, this is a fantastic camera system with a 48 MP primary lens.
- 6.
- Pixel density (PPI): 526
- Screen resolution (in pixels): 3216×1440
- Display technology: AMOLED
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Front camera megapixel: 32
- Charging type port: Type-C
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Colors: Titan Black, Eternal Green, Jupiter Rock
- Warranty: 1 year warranty for phone and 6 months warranty for in Box Accessories
- User rating: 4.3
- Whats inside the box: Data cable, Quick Guide, SIM ejector tool, Protective case,Charger, user guide & phone
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Fast charging: Yes
- 5G: Yes
While the OnePlus 11’s primary camera is 50 MP, the phone does have a secondary 48 MP lens. This is the Sony IMX581 ultrawide shooter with a 115-degree field of view and autofocus. The lens should be able to provide good quality photos in daylight. The main camera is a 50 MP Sony IMX890 shooter with OIS, EIS, and autofocus. This is a tried-and-tested lens that has proven to be capable in multiple scenarios low as daylight, low light, portrait, and more. The phone also comes packing a third 32 MP telephoto camera from the house of Sony, yet again. This is a good camera setup that should be able to take decent shots despite the conditions.
Rating and Price of the Best 48MP Camera Mobile Phones
| Product Name | Price | Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | ₹ 1,35,900 | 4.3 |
| Apple iPhone 16 | ₹ 72,400 | 4.4 |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | ₹ 1,28,900 | 4.3 |
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | ₹ 1,19,900 | 4.5 |
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro | ₹ 1,19,900 | 4.6 |
| OnePlus 11 | ₹ 36,990 | 4.3 |
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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
