Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is big, it's expensive but it's also a fantastic smartphone. The built-in camera technology is really great and hardly disappoints, even the images captured with the full zoom range have to be applauded. Yes, there are still some refinements that could be made to make it the ultimate camera phone but all-in-all, it's really easy to 'Highly Recommend' the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

OnePlus 11 5G

OnePlus has produced yet another smartphone with some of the best cameras we've seen on a camera phone at this price point.  In fact, it's hard to find fault with the images we captured while testing the OnePlus 11 both indoors and outside. Colours are natural, white balance is generally accurate, images have decent dynamic range and where bokeh appears, it's actually very impressive and looks great. As for design, the evolution of the camera module is very cool and the green colour option we have on test is a very modern colour choice that looks great with the shiny finish. The display is excellent, the battery lasts ages and the OnePlus 11 is also comfortable to hold. 

Google Pixel 6

With the Google Pixel 5 launch, we were a little underwhelmed as the Pixel 5 didn't really offer enough to make it stand out from the busy flagship market. However, with the Google Pixel 6, it's a whole different game! With a design overall that's interesting and very different to other smartphones coupled with a brilliant camera and a standout price, we reckon Google is onto a winner with the Google Pixel 6. It's great at capturing true-to-life images no matter the light level and its portrait mode is brilliant, introducing out of focus backgrounds with just the right level of bokeh. There's no telephoto zoom and the built-in zoom is a bit poor so if you do want to capture images of subjects far away without moving your feet, you should look at the Pixel 6 Pro instead. It's also a pretty big smartphone with a great 6.4-inch screen so if you prefer smaller handsets, you might want to look at another Android smartphone or even the iPhone 13 mini. 

Overall, we really do like the Google Pixel 6. In fact, it'll be our go-to smartphone for capturing photos until something comes along that can beat it - 'Highly Recommended'. 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers not only a 3x telephoto lens, but also a 10x telephoto lens. As long as you don't use the additional digital zoom, then results can be very good. It has a great 12mp ultra-wide camera, and an excellent 12/108mp main wide-angle camera. Images can look a little over-saturated on the phone's screen, but look good when viewed on a computer, and have a slight lean towards warm (rather than cool) colour reproduction, which will be preferred by many. We were impressed by the results, and apart from the Night mode which can have some issues, we'd say that the S21 Ultra produces some of the best looking photos we've seen on a smartphone. The added 10x telephoto zoom is the added icing on the cake.

One thing to be aware of, is the price, which is definitely high, and you'll most likely need to buy the more expensive version with 256/512GB storage if you want to record 8K/4K video, as there is no MicroSD slot, so no cheap way to expand your memory when you end up filling up the phone. If you do use the smartphone for video, then the Director's view, as well as the ability to record 4K 60fps video with any of the cameras, makes the S21 Ultra a great choice.

Samsung Galaxy S21

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a premium smartphone without such a premium price that's also more compact than some of the other big smartphone names have to offer. Image/video quality is great with some cool camera features built-in that are fun to use and make capturing excellent images a doddle and the camera app is really easy to use. Single Take is fun and creative, as is the Director's View option even though it's questionable who'll use it apart from bloggers and up to 3X zoom captures pleasing images. It's a shame anything after this point loses detail but you can purchase the more expensive Galaxy S21 Ultra should you want a smartphone camera with a more impressive and useable zoom. We've mentioned the screen quality isn't as good as the Galaxy S20 but we also believe most won't notice a drop in quality, especially as the price is better, too. 

If you're a Galaxy S20 smartphone owner, you probably won't see too many drastic reasons to swap to the Galaxy S21, you'd be better going for the Plus or Ultra if you want a serious upgrade but that does mean you have to splash more cash. However, if you're switching from another brand and want to try a Samsung device, the Galaxy S21 is a good starting point. It's also a good choice for anyone who doesn't want a massive smartphone but still wants a reasonably sized screen. 

If you're looking for a new smartphone that has a reasonable price, looks great but isn't as big as other flagship smartphones are and has some great premium features, the Galaxy S21 would be a good choice.  

Sony Xperia 1 III

The Sony Xperia 1 III isn't a smartphone that will be a crowd-pleaser but for those who like the quirky shape, or have purchased Sony smartphones previously, it's a great choice as we have to say, we think it's the best Sony smartphone we've reviewed to date. The Sony Xperia 1 III offers a lot of premium smartphone features, it has a great screen, excellent battery life and a camera that's much improved when compared with past Sony Xperia smartphones and can stand its own against other premium smartphones. One slight snag is the price as it is expensive but it could be a great smartphone for someone who likes a smartphone that stands out from the crowd and has the cash to splash. 

The Sony Xperia 1 III is the best Sony smartphone we've reviewed to date with it offering great image quality, a lovely display and a decent battery. In fact, Sony bill it as the 'next level of Xperia' and we have to say, we most certainly agree. 

Sony Xperia 5 IV

The Sony Xperia 5 IV gives the Sony smartphone experience in a smaller, easier-to-hold body that also has a slightly better price tag (although, we're not saying it's cheap by any means) than other Sony smartphones. There's a line-up of great features, including a that captures true-to-life photos, that will please most smartphoneographers.

OnePlus 10 Pro

Well, OnePlus, you've properly impressed us with this smartphone release by, once again, producing one of the best cameras we've seen on a smartphone at this price point. In fact, it's hard to find fault with the images we captured while testing the OnePlus 10 Pro but photos captured with digital zoom could still be better. It's not a budget smartphone by any means but it's more reasonably priced than other premium smartphones currently available and it looks just as good as any more expensive smartphone you can purchase. Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro is easy to 'Highly Recommend'. 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max

There are lots to like about the Apple iPhone 12 Pro / Max smartphones including how simple they are to use, 5G connectivity, 4K video and excellent image quality. 

Whether you want to go for the larger model or the smaller one is almost entirely down to personal preference. There will be plenty who opt for the smaller one as it fits more neatly in your pocket (and your hand), while those who want the best viewing experience (or perhaps have larger hands) have the option of plumping for the bigger model.

Although there are some on-paper differences between the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s cameras, in reality, the results are very hard to distinguish between - so the decision will almost certainly come down to which screen size you prefer, how much you want to spend - and perhaps if you crave that (slightly) longer telephoto lens.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

If you don't want to pay the asking price for the newer Google Pixel 6 range then the Google Pixel 4a 5G could be a good choice for you as it's definitely less expensive and it's even chapter than the Pixel 5 which is shares the same cameras and other technology with while offering 5G connection. It also has a larger display than you find on the Pixel 5, it looks great and has a brilliant price point. In fact, you could say it's premium without the price tag. 

Most of the images we captured showed accurate colours, good exposure levels and weren't oversaturated which was great to see and Google's Portrait mode technology as it does a brilliant job at introducing bokeh to images that looks realistic.

We're a fan of the Google Pixel 4a 5G and we think you will be too. 

Vivo X51 5G 

The Vivo X51 5G is a mid-range smartphone with plenty of punch and in an ever-growing popular part of the smartphone market, this is exactly what a manufacturer needs to do to stand out from the crowd. The 'gimbal' camera is certainly a talking point and even though image quality could be better, on occasion, shots are steady, low light performance is good and so is the quality of video captured. Is it the best camera found in a smartphone? No, it's not, but at under £800, you wouldn't really expect it to be but it does have a great display, lots of storage and a smart-looking design. Vivo has also brought something new to the table in terms of its 'gimbal' camera which makes a refreshing change as, for a while now, the mid-range smartphone market has all looked a bit samey. 

It's rare that you find a smartphone where all of the built-in cameras are actually useful but on the Vivo X51 5G they are. Yes, there are some focusing issues and colour accuracy could be better but this isn't the case for every shot so it's something you can live with. Low light performance is also good and the choice of zoom options makes it a more usable smartphone. 

OnePlus Nord 2 5G 

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is OnePlus' flagship smartphone without the flagship price and that's what we love about OnePlus - they're always wanting to keep the premium smartphone manufacturers with their big prices on their toes. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G looks great, it has a lovely screen and there are some interesting features built in that make the camera capable of capturing great photos. The problem is, though, the photos weren't spot-on every time as AI/HDR seems to enjoy overcooking and over-processing images. Having said that, this didn't happen every time we hit the shutter button and we did like the slightly exaggerated look HDR gives shots when capturing neon shop signs, for example, so sometimes the overcooking did work. When the AI worked well, it did help balance scenes giving good dynamic range and allowing detail to stand out. 

2X and 5X zoom aren't that great but the wide and ultra-wide lenses do produce decent shots and panorama mode is great. There are plenty of digital filters built-in and the bokeh captured in images shot with the portrait mode is lovely. You only have to look at the night shots of the lights to see just how beautiful the bokeh can be and talking of night mode, it's impressive, giving more detail and stopping shake-spoiling shots. The autofocus works impressively well, too

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is back on track and what we mean by this is that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus surprised us as it didn't impress us in the way Samsung Galaxy smartphones usually do but the Galaxy S23 Plus is a good smartphone, if a little pricey. If you don't mind the price, you get a really great camera that's capable of capturing quality images and the compact size makes the Galaxy S23+ easier to fit into a coat pocket. The battery is decent and so is the display, plus, we love the improved design.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google Pixel 6a is a great alternative to other Pixel smartphones it shares some specs with as its compact size and design will just suit some people better. The camera technology is great, with really lovely photos easily captured and now the price has dropped, it also offers better value for money. If you want a compact Google Pixel then the 6a could be for you.

Sony Xperia 10 IV

There's a lot to like about the Sony Xperia 10 IV with its compact design, reasonable price and a really great battery that won't need charging after one day's use. But, on the other hand, the plastic construction does make it feel less expensive and the camera can be a bit hit-and-miss in its performance. However, when the light works, you can capture some cracking images and you do get a lot of interesting Sony camera features built-in.

The price will be enough on its own to attract some attention but do remember to look around before making a final decision as there are a lot of other handsets offering similar value for money currently. 

OPPO Find X5 Pro

The OPPO Find X5 Pro is actually a great smartphone that has plenty going for it but when you start to compare things like the poor camera zoom and high price with other smartphones on the market, it does become a lot less appealing. We're not saying you won't want to purchase the OPPO Find X5 Pro because some will but we can't justify the high cost when you get better camera performance from other high-end, flagship devices. In fact, there are so many really great mid-range smartphones available with great cameras that the majority of people won't need to spend this type of money on a smartphone. That said, the wide and ultra-wide cameras are excellent and we like the Hasselblad touches that aren't available on other smartphones. The display is also great, as is the battery/fast-charging and it looks great. Overall, it's an attractive flagship smartphone but it's not perfect and the price is a tad high. 

Xiaomi 11T

The Xiaomi 11T is a good mid-range smartphone that can produce decent images (the bokeh is superb!), has a great battery and looks great. In fact, if we had to use one word to describe the Xiaomi 11T it would be 'reliable' but this might not be exciting enough to make some people part with their cash.

We were generally impressed with the camera built into the Xiaomi 11T with good dynamic range, colour balance and sharpness in most images. However, there was the odd occasion where greens were overcooked and if light levels weren't quite right, the smartphone had a tendency to over sharpen shots. The built-in night mode performed well, adding more detail to images captured in low light and the portrait mode (which we used on a variety of subjects when wanting to introduce bokeh) is simply excellent. Bokeh looks natural and there's no clipping insight. The close-up mode works well, too.

If you're looking for a reasonably priced smartphone that will capture good images, not lose power after a few hours of use and is built well then the Xiaomi 11T should be on your list. 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Xiaomi bills the Redmi Note 10 Pro as a 'mid-range king in mobile photography' and we can see why as image quality is generally good with all of the cameras performing well under most conditions. Colours are accurate, detail is sharp and there are some clever tools built in that help make your images better, too, including HDR and AI.

It's one of the most accurate when it comes to true colour reproduction which has to be applauded. Some might say they're a little on the dull side but we don't think so; we just think we've all got used to seeing overcooked images so when something is more true to life, it doesn't look accurate when actually it is. Plus, you can always brighten your shots in post if you really want to. 

If 'value for money' is key when you're purchasing a smartphone then the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro should be on your list as you get a lot of features for your cash.

Google Pixel 4a 

The Google Pixel 4a is an inexpensive smartphone with a camera that's ideal for 'point-and-click' photographers who aren't too fussed about multiple cameras and lots of options. However, if you're going to be doing more than just sharing images on social media, you might want to see what else Google, or another brand, has to offer as detail does fall off quickly when you start adjusting the zoom (even just a little bit). The low light mode is pretty good, though, and colour accuracy is pretty much spot on. 

Those looking for a basic, compact smartphone with a modern clean design that has a camera they can simply press the shutter button on to produce a decent photo for sharing on social media will find the Google Pixel 4a appealing. In conclusion, if you're into affordable prices and no-frills, the Google Pixel 4a could be for you.