Best Android camera: shot for shots, who’s the king? [Gallery]

The best camera in any situation is the camera you have with you, and it’s mostly the camera on your smartphone. That’s why mobile photography has been a major part of smartphones for the past few years, and the results are incredible. But who has the best smartphone camera on Android? In “Shot for Shot” we let your eyes be the judge …

What are the best Android cameras?

Before we dive into the monsters, who are the participants? In this comparison, we want to look at the smartphones that are generally considered to be the best overall (rear) cameras when it comes to versatility, consistency, experience and quality. Currently the list contains the following:

• Google Pixel 5
• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
• Oppo Find X3

These phones offer a lot of different hardware to achieve their final results, and at the bottom there is the Pixel 5. Google’s formula for a good camera has not changed much in the course of five generations. Just like the original Pixel, the latest generation has a 12MP camera at its core – albeit with a newer sensor – which is now backed by a 16MP ultra-wide sensor. The Pixel is widely regarded for its simple and consistent shooting experience, with results enhanced by excellent software processing.

With the introduction of Samsung, the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra both offer a very similar package. The headliner is a 108MP primary camera with laser autofocus. In addition, the two differ slightly. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best option at the hardware level, with a 12MP ultra-wide camera and two 10MP telephoto shooters. One is a 3x optical zoom shooter, while the other hits 10x optical zoom. With software, the phone manages up to 100x ‘Space Zoom’. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is limited to 50x zoom because it has only one telephoto camera, a 12MP camera with 5x optical zoom. There is also a 12MP ultra-wide.

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As for the Oppo Find X3 Pro, the focus is not so much on zoom, but rather on macro and microscope shots. The main camera is a 50MP sensor, backed by a 13MP telephoto camera that manages 5x optical zoom. However, the third sensor is another 50MP shooter with an ultra-wide lens that can also be used for high-macro shots. It even offers a special LED ring that can take photos of subjects, just millimeters from the lens in focus and detail.

How do the best Android cameras compare?

We can go on to talk about camera features, resolution, colors and more, but honestly the best reviewer of a smartphone camera is in your own eyes. Below you will find test samples of each of our candidates in a few scenarios. After watching them, vote in the poll below to let us know what you think is the best Android camera.

For each gallery below you can click to enlarge each photo, or click on “view full size” below to see the uncompressed photos on Google Drive.

Primary camera, natural light

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View full size | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

In terms of natural daylight, it is honestly difficult to chase up a contemporary smartphone. Here everyone is basically on the same playing field and comparisons come down to colors, sharpness, bokeh and really just personal preference. Nevertheless, HDR is an important tool to balance the bright light of the sun with your subject to get the most detail.

Primary camera, indoor

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View full size | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

Even in the middle of the day and with all the lights in a room on, any smartphone can fall apart if brought indoors. In our tests, we are in a room with a good amount of natural light supported by various lights.

Ultrawide camera, natural light

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View full size | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

Ultimate cameras will not make or break your shooting experience, but all too often the quality can deteriorate rapidly compared to the main sensor. Often, distortion can ruin even the best ultra-widescreen camera on an Android phone.

Zoom camera 2x and 10x (or maximum)

View full size (10x) | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

After countless years of digital zoom that gives the illusion of cutting into your subject, the best Android cameras add additional focal length to enhance the results remotely, and in some cases can even literally capture the moon. However, the results here are very different. We decided on 2x and 10x zoom to both show what happens with comfortable use and what you can expect when you push these systems to the extreme.

Primary camera, indoor light

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View full size | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

Perhaps one of the most difficult scenarios for a smartphone camera is indoors with low light, which means there is no natural light and mediocre overhead or localized lighting. It really comes down to HDR and sensor size to achieve the victory here.

Night mode

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View full size | From left to right – Pixel 5, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 Pro

Smartphones can now capture the stars if you use them properly, but night mode photography is usually best used to capture a scene without the need for a flash, and it’s part of smartphone photography that goes from quality to device varies and varies greatly.

What do you think is the best Android camera?

After looking at the examples above, what do you think is the best option? Personally, I am very impressed with what the Oppo Find X3 Pro has released, but the Pixel 5 still looks more consistent and Galaxy S21 Ultra does offer some of its own benefits. This is a difficult call!

This article is regularly updated as new entrants enter the market. Sometimes older devices will be removed if successors are released.

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