All mobile phones are subjected to hundreds of individual tests in our mobile phone test conducted at a top European test lab, where camera and video tests comprise 25% of the total test score. In a separate test conducted in the top global imaging lab, we test compact cameras, bridge cameras, mirrorless system cameras and digital SLRs. In order to determine which is the best camera phone, we took six of leading flagships currently on the market:
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Google Pixel 3XL
- iPhone XS
- Huawei P20 Pro
On video resolution, the Samsung S10 and iPhone Xs stand out with both offering 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) at 60 frames per second compared to 30 frames for second on the other models.
For selfies, the Google Pixel 3 XL has gone with the unusual configuration of 2 selfie camera lens, yet only a single main camera lens.
All of the phones are equipped with some premium camera features including HDR and Raw recording mode. The Samsung and Huawei models also include manual focus option, a feature not available on either the Apple or Google models.
One commonly seen feature on most premium smartphones which we were surprised to see absent from the Google Pixel 3 XL was facial recognition.
Let’s see how they performed in the lab tests:
Outdoor- daylight
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- Tie: Google Pixel 3 XL and Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Huawei P20 Pro
- Huawei P30 Pro
Compare below the close-up of the two colored bulbs resting on the strainer of the top smartphone image taken by the iPhone Xs, against the bottom smartphone image taken by the P30 Pro. Notice the clarity and extra detail of the iPhone photo; while the wire mesh of the strainer and the magenta colored bulb in the image taken by the P30 Pro is slightly blurred.
Indoor – portrait
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Tie: Huawei P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10
- Tie: Google Pixel 3 XL and Huawei P30 Pro
Our portrait test is conducted in an indoor living room setting without flash.
Lowlight
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- Huawei P20 Pro
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Google Pixel 3 XL
For lowlight performance, evaluate performance in three different settings: outdoor, portrait, as well as a test chart to assess image noise. In the outdoor lowlight environment moving objects were simulated with a rotating color pattern on the spinning wheel. The image was assessed for motion blur, image noise as well as overall image quality.
The difference in color accuracy is clearly visible comparing the skin tone of the mannequin and the side of the church between the two images. The color noise and artefacts of the P30 Pro image can be seen in the flecks of purple in the eye and on the lips of the mannequin, on the spires of the church, and in the leaves of the trees.
Image Stabilization
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Google Pixel 3 XL
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Huawei P20 Pro
Image stabilization is evaluated by fixing the camera phones onto a vibrating rig that simulates shaky hands. All of the flagship smartphones in this test are equipped with optical image stabilization, however they are not all equally effective as can be seen in the steady top image taken with the S10 vs the slightly blurry image taken with the P20 Pro.
Movie Quality
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Google Pixel 3 XL
- Huawei P20 Pro
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S10
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes out on top in the movie test with the best video and sound quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S10, despite 4K resolution, is noticeably behind in video image quality, although its sound quality is very good. The unconventional RYB main image sensor on the Huawei P30 Pro negatively impacts movie image quality, especially in lowlight, with a color shift to orange, over saturation, artefacts and texture loss.
Distortion
- Apple iPhone Xs
- Google Pixel 3 XL
- Huawei P20 Pro
- Tie: Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S10 – severe distortion with ultrawide angle lens
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro was the first smartphone to add a third 16mm ultrawide angle lens, which is also used on the latest Huawei P30 Pro. Samsung has taken this route as well with the inclusion of a 12mm third ultrawide angle lens on the Galaxy S10.
The benefit of an ultrawide angle lens is the wider field of vision, able to capture a panoramic display with a single shot, without the usual pan-and-scan image stitching. However, they are not without a tradeoff, as any photographer who has used a fisheye lens is well aware: image distortion. In order to fit a wider field of vision onto the image sensor, the sides of the image become increasingly distorted. Consider if you were taking pictures of high buildings; with an ultrawide angle lens, the sides of the buildings are no longer straight, but rather start to curve the further away from the center of the image. In order to address the distortion issues, many DSLRs and mirrorless system cameras have a distortion correction feature that can be switched on when using a wideangle lens to correct the issue.
However, the ultrawide lens on the Huawei P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S10 all lack any distortion correction feature, resulting in extremely distorted images. The edges of a proper undistorted image should be straight and line up with the edges of the frame. This is the case with the image taken with the standard wide-angle lens of the iPhone XS. However, observe the four corners of the chart in the images taken by the ultrawide lens of the Galaxy S10, P30 Pro and Mate 20 Pro, noticing how they curve in, revealing two reference arrows in each corner, only the tips of which are visible in the undistorted top image taken with the iPhone Xs standard wide-angle lens. This distortion is increasingly severe going further away from the center of the image.
Which camera phone is right for you?
1. Apple iPhone Xs(Camera score 83)
Pros
- Very good overall image quality
- Accurate colors
Cons
- Only a few settings can be controlled by the user
- Limited dynamic range
If you are looking for a camera phone that can take very good detailed photos in all lighting conditions with accurate colors, the iPhone Xs is the best overall choice at the moment.
2. Google Pixel 3 XL (Camera score 83)
Pros
- Excellent movie quality
- Focus point by default in the middle
- Intuitive focus tracking function available
Cons
- Satisfactory lowlight performance without engaging Night Sight feature
- No facial recognition feature
The Google Pixel 3XL has impressive overall image quality from the single camera lens and excellent movie quality.
3. Huawei P20 Pro (Camera Score 82)
Pros
- Ai blurs background to mimic bokeh look of a system camera
Cons
- Satisfactory lowlight detail
- At 40MP resolution, zoom not available
- Portrait and night modes limited to maximum 10MP resolution
The P20 Pro has satisfactory overall image quality, but fails to live up to the hype of a 40 MP main camera and 4 cameras overall.
4. Huawai Mate 20 Pro (Camera score 65)
Pros
- Excellent movie quality
- Accurate colors
- Ai blurs background to mimic bokeh look of a system camera
Cons
- Extreme image distortion with ultrawide lens
- Satisfactory lowlight performance
- At 40MP resolution, zoom not available
- Portrait and night modes limited to maximum 10MP resolution
The ultrawide third lens of the Mate 20 Pro is unfortunately the Achilles heal of what is otherwise the best movie camera of the flagship smartphones with accurate colors and detailed images from the other camera lens.
5. Samsung Galaxy S10 (Camera score 65)
Pros
- Excellent image stabilization
- Micro SD slot available
Con
- Extreme image distortion with ultrawide lens
The ultrawide lens also proved to be the Achilles heal of the Galaxy S10, which is otherwise a great overall camera phone capturing very good image quality with excellent image stabilization and the highest dynamic range of tested smartphones. If you are looking for a Samsung camera phone with excellent overall image quality, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S9+
5. Huawei P30 Pro (Camera score 61)
Pros
- Excellent Telephoto lens
- Excellent image stabilization
Cons
- Extreme image distortion with ultrawide lens
- Color shift, luminance noise and color noise on images with main RYB sensor
Note: evaluating the top flagship smartphones as dedicated cameras and subjecting them to a complete image and photography evaluation, we reach a different verdict for the best camera phone vs. our results in the mobile phone test. If you are looking for a top performing smartphone where the camera and video capabilities are important, but not the primary consideration, take a look at our ratings in the smartphone test
Are camera phones replacements for a dedicated compact camera?
The top flagship smartphones have demonstrated that the camera functionality of a smartphone has come a long way and can capture great images on a device that is always close at hand. Which begs the question, are dedicated compact cameras headed the way of the dinosaur?
