How to choose a smartphone with the best camera. Smartphones with the best camera Phase detection autofocus: a fast and advanced alternative

The innovative laser autofocus system of smartphone cameras is extremely popular. This technology allows the camera to quickly and accurately focus on objects. To be fair, let’s say that the technology also has its shortcomings. The beam cannot return back over long distances. There are also problems with transparent and reflective objects. Therefore, let us understand some smartphone models with laser autofocus in 2016.

LG G3

The smartphone that was the first to get a laser autofocus system was the LG G3. The model can truly be called real tablet due to its large size. Although the body is plastic, it looks like it is nothing more than metal. The laser rangefinder and dual flash are located on the rear surface of the device.

LG G3 is equipped with an IPS touch matrix. The screen diagonal is 5.5 inches and the resolution is 2560x1440 pixels. Display brightness can be adjusted manually or using automatic adjustment. Using multi-touch technology, the gadget copes with 10 simultaneous touches.

The screen demonstrated excellent viewing angles, and there is no significant color shift at large viewing angles. We also cannot remain silent about good color tone of the white field and uniform brightness. Color rendition is natural, color saturation and clarity are present.

High-quality and loud sound is achieved using a powerful speaker connected to an amplifier. The device has two digital camera modules of 2.1 and 13 megapixels. The front camera does a great job with self-portraits. The rear, 13 megapixel main camera deserves special attention; it has improved optical image stabilization and laser focusing. That is, the model, like professional SLR cameras, uses this technology to determine the distance between the subject and the camera with a laser beam.

The gadget operates on the Google Android 4.4.2 KitKat software platform. The hardware platform is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 system. The amount of RAM is 2 GB, and the built-in memory is 16 GB, which can be expanded with a memory card up to 128 GB.

The introduced lithium-polymer battery is capable of providing battery life for the model for about two days in medium load mode.

LG G4

The successor to the LG G3 is the G4. The gadget undergoes changes in the camera, design, display and now has more advanced hardware. The back cover has elegant leather options. As for the materials of manufacture, there is genuine leather, and the body is all plastic. You can purchase a total of six different colors of leather trim: red, black, brown, yellow, beige and sky blue.

The model is complemented by an IPS touch matrix without an air gap, and also with protective glass. A new type of display is used here - LG IPS Quantum, which produces approximately 20% better color reproduction, more brightness and higher contrast. The screen diagonal is 5.5 inches, while the resolution is 2560x1440 pixels. You can use automatic brightness adjustment in the display settings. Plus, the user will receive a pleasant surprise in the form of multi-touch technologies, the device processes 10 simultaneous touches.

The screen will demonstrate excellent viewing angles without any significant color shifts, even with any deviations in gaze. The sound of the model is nothing special; it sounds a little better than its predecessor G3. The speaker is extremely loud and sounds clear and uninterrupted.

The front camera of the device has a good The 8-megapixel module produces fairly good quality pictures. The 16 MP main camera has an improved optical image stabilization system, as well as laser autofocus with lightning-fast response time. Moreover, the advanced camera has a color spectrum sensor, which is designed to improve color accuracy. We can definitely say that the camera shots are the best among smartphones today.

LG G4 is based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 platform, which is known for having many advanced and connectivity features. The hardware platform of the phone is Google Android 5.1 Lollipop. The model received a decent battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh.

Nexus 5X

The model is made of plastic. The design can be called simple rather than original. The front panel is complemented by tinted flat protective glass. LG Nexus 5X has an IPS touch screen, complemented by In-Cell Touch technology, along with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass. The screen diagonal is 5.2 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080. The light sensor automatically adjusts the display brightness.

Outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic coating, which protects against fingerprints. The gadget demonstrates a high maximum brightness, which means that, taking into account anti-glare properties, images will be clearly visible even on the sunniest day.

Color saturation is excellent, color rendition is good. As for the sound, its parameters are very modest, while the sound in headphones is much better and more pleasant. There are no distortions during a telephone conversation.

The gadget has two camera modules of 5 and 12.3 megapixels. The front camera is equipped with a 5-megapixel sensor, without autofocus and flash. The shooting quality of this camera is acceptable, the level is sufficient for selfies. The main camera has a Sony IMX377 sensor and an infrared laser rangefinder for focusing, which has dual multi-color flash, but there is no image stabilization function here.

In this model, the manufacturer has expanded support for the energy saving function. There is also a fingerprint scanner system, which is called Nexus Imprint here. Powerful and quite relevant 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC ensures the operation of the device. The phone, having such a powerful platform, demonstrates a very high level of performance.

Video playback testing results showed that the device is equipped with all the necessary decoders capable of playing most common multimedia files.

The built-in non-removable battery has a capacity of 2700 mAh. In general, the smartphone shows good battery life, although in video mode the tested phone lasted only 6 hours, and the rear panel was clearly overheating.

Oppo R7 Plus

Oppo is trying to establish itself as a manufacturer of quality products. OPPO R7 is equipped with a huge 6-inch display, it is made using AMOLED technology, resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. The model has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory.

The device contains a 4100 mAh battery. But, having such a large display and a powerful processor, it is not able to hold one charge for long enough.

The front camera is unremarkable, 8 megapixels, selfie quality is acceptable. The 13 MP main camera is complemented by image stabilization and laser autofocus.

The OPPO R7 smartphone has the Android 5.0 operating system. The advantage is that the dualSIM device supports the nano SIM format. The approximate cost of the model is $490.

Meizu MX5

One of the most anticipated gadgets is Meizu MX5. It has almost everything that users wanted: thin aluminum body, huge screen with small frames, excellent sound, fingerprint scanner, capacious battery and advanced camera.

The nice thing is the size of the phone. With a 5.5-inch screen, it is not large at all. The assembly can be considered high quality, but not very neat. The screen resolution is 1080x1920 pixels. The gadget screen uses an OLED matrix.

It is possible to manually adjust the color balance between cold and warm tones, but the factory color balance setting does not cause any complaints. The main camera of 20.7 megapixels has aperture and six lenses, there is laser focusing, as well as a dual flash. A 5 MP camera takes high-quality selfies. True, it does not have ultra-wide optics or flash, but this does not affect the result in any way.

In this smartphone, the manufacturer especially paid attention to the quality of music playback. The headphones also sound great, the sound is clear and loud.

Although the phone has two slots for nanoSIM, however, there is only one radio module, which means it is impossible to talk on both numbers at the same time. Inside there is a tightly sealed 3150 mAh battery. The autonomous operation of the device shows the ability to work the device until the evening. In video playback mode, the device also performed well in terms of autonomy.

Asus Zenfone 2

The front panel of the device is covered with durable Gorilla Glass 4. The back of the phone looks very interesting: in the center there is a large lens of the main camera, next to it is identical ovals of laser autofocus and LED flash.

The screen diagonal is 5 inches and the resolution is 1280x720 pixels. TFT IPS technology was used in the manufacture of the display, There is an oleophobic coating. The picture is very colorful, bright, and the viewing angles are maximum. The sensor is capable of processing up to 10 clicks simultaneously. The phone's response is very fast, the finger glides easily over the surface. The brightness is a little lacking on cloudy days or in the dark.

The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8916 quad-core processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. The size of RAM is 2 GB, and the internal memory is 16 GB. There is the possibility of expanding memory via memory cards up to 128 GB. The device easily copes with resource-intensive programs, loading them easily.

The user will note a 13-megapixel camera with laser autofocus as a pleasant bonus. The camera work is of very high quality, the pictures are bright and natural, and there are many modes and settings. Autofocus works instantly. The front camera, of course, is inferior in image quality, but it’s quite enough for selfies. The 2400 mAh battery copes with autonomous operation for two days.

Once upon a time, ambitious smartphone makers said they would soon drive compact cameras out of the market. This happened before our eyes. Today everyone knows that the camera even in an inexpensive smartphone takes pictures no worse than a point-and-shoot camera. Next stage - catch up with DSLR quality. While this does not sound entirely realistic, new smartphones prove that this goal will also be achieved sooner or later. There are a lot of decent models on the market that allow you to create very, very high quality photos. We analyzed the existing offer and selected smartphones with the best camera of 2018 for our readers. Looking ahead, we note that all these camera phones are very, very expensive, but the cameras in them are really luxurious.

When it comes to evaluating a camera, the question involuntarily arises: how can you understand that it is cool in one smartphone, and worse in another? First of all, you need to look at the specifications:

number of megapixels. Forget about the “more is better” rule. This has not been the case for a long time, but for some reason marketers and sellers continue to mislead users. When it comes to a tiny (compared to a DSLR) camera in a smartphone, a large number of megapixels can even cause harm. 12-13 megapixels is enough to create wonderful pictures. It’s good that many companies realized this and focused their attention on improving other parameters;
diaphragm. To take a good photo, the camera needs light. It hits the matrix and forms an image. Light passes through the aperture, and the wider the aperture blades are open, the greater the chance of getting a clear, beautiful photo, even in conditions that are far from ideal. In the specifications, the aperture is designated as f/2.0 or F2.0. The lower the number, the better. For example, a camera with f/2.2 and f/1.9 will shoot equally well during the day, but in the evening with a module with f/1.9 the pictures will be better. Today, the standard even for inexpensive smartphones is f/2.0, and they put it in flagships modules forf/1.8 and evenf/1.6. By the way, a wide aperture, even in the absence of a second module, will allow you to create macro photographs with a bokeh effect;
matrix diagonal. The bigger it is, the better. That's all the average user needs to know. There is no need to go into details. The diagonal of the matrix is indicated by a fractional number, and the smaller the number under the fraction, the better. For example, a 1/3” camera is normal for the budget class, 1/2.9” and 1/2.8” are for the mid-range, and 1/2.5” are for flagships, but there are often exceptions. Recently, manufacturers prefer not to indicate this characteristic at all;
pixel size. A lot of stupid pixels may not improve the quality of the photo, but, on the contrary, cause blurriness and noise. Therefore it’s better to have fewer larger pixels on the matrix than many small ones. Manufacturers usually indicate the pixel size. For budget and medium-sized smartphones, this figure should be 1.22 microns or more, in flagships - at least 1.25 microns, and better - 1.4 and even 1.5 microns;
autofocus type. Autofocus can be contrast (the most primitive, used in very cheap smartphones), phase(works quickly during the day, problems are possible at night) and laser. The latter is the most modern and accurate, always works quickly;
optical stabilization– the key to high-quality photographs of dynamic scenes. The ability is invaluable when shooting video and will come in handy for all those who often have shaky hands;
number of lenses. Many people believe that the more there are, the better. No. It is better when the lenses are of high quality, but this can only be judged by test shots;
camera sensor manufacturer. Modules from Sony, as well as from Samsung(the company makes better sensors for itself than those it sells externally). Slightly worse, but acceptable, sensors are removed from OmniVision. The most popular are Sony sensors, which in the camera characteristics are marked as IMX and a three-digit number, for example, IMX The first digit indicates the generation, the second indicates the class of the photosensor (the larger the better), the third indicates the version;
additional main camera performed in several versions. Option #1 is a black-and-white sensor, which captures light better and allows you to take better photos in low-light conditions. Option #2 – a camera with a wide viewing angle to squeeze as much of the landscape into the frame as possible. Option No. 3 – the second camera is used for zooming.

It also happens that a camera with seemingly ideal parameters takes, to put it mildly, not very good pictures. This means that the manufacturer did not pay enough attention automation, optics and software algorithms. It is advisable to personally evaluate examples of photos in different shooting conditions before purchasing. It often happens that with a fairly mediocre set of characteristics, a smartphone takes excellent pictures - this means that the developer was not too lazy to finish the software shell. But when a manufacturer takes a good sensor, but kills it with lenses or software problems, it’s very disappointing.

We move from theory to practice. We found the best camera phones, selected the best among them and prepared a rating for you. The analysis used sample images, as well as the opinion of an authoritative resourceDxOMark, which tests cameras using its own algorithm and gives them scores. Go!

Smartphones with the best camera 2018

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Just a few weeks ago, the new flagship from Samsung was presented atM.W.C. 2018. The model received a very cool camera and has already been called a smartphone with the best camera in the world. Both the Galaxy S9 Plus and the slightly more compact Galaxy S9 received main module with variable aperture. No one had done this before. Yes, they tried, but Samsung was the first to bring the idea to life. What does it give us? aperture with variable value fromf/2.4 to a/1.5? This feature brings the smartphone camera close to the DSLR and allows it to adapt to any shooting conditions. When it's bright, the aperture blades close to block out the frame and convey depth, which is especially important when shooting landscapes. When it is dark, the petals open as much as possible to let in light. Tests show that The device takes pictures at night, indeed, much better than all other smartphones, even better than the main competitor - the iPhone X. The resolution of the matrix is 12 megapixels, there is optical stabilization and phase detection autofocus.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, unlike the Galaxy S9, received additional main camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels and f/2.4 aperture. The second module is required for 2-card optical zoom. The pixel size of the main camera is 1.4 microns, in the additional one – 1 microns. The smartphone can shoot video in slow motion, got a portrait mode and copes superbly with all shooting scenarios. The front camera with 8 MP also has the ability to blur the background and takes great pictures (f / 1.7 aperture, 80-degree field of view).

We can talk about the Galaxy S9+ for a long time, because it one of the most advanced smartphones today. He received an 8-core Exynos 9810 processor with a frequency of 2.7 GHz: very powerful, but such resource-intensive applications, where this “stone” would show itself 100%, have not yet been invented. The screen received a diagonal of 6.2 inches, made using Super AMOLED technology, a resolution of 2960 * 1440. RAM in stock 6 GB, the main - 64/128/256 GB, there is a slot for memory cards up to 400 GB. The model received protection against moisture and dust according to the IP68 class, is equipped with a face and retina scanner, and can make AR Emoji - an analogue of Animoji in the iPhone. Add stereo speakers, fast charging (battery capacity 3500 mAh) and a chic appearance, and we get, perhaps, the best smartphone for today. The 6/64 version costs about $1200.

Apple iPhone X

Apple smartphones always have good cameras. The anniversary and revolutionary iPhone X model only confirmed this rule. Before the release of the Galaxy S9+ (and even after it), the camera in the iPhone X will serve as an example for comparison. Apple traditionally pays attention to software optimization, but everything is fine with the hardware. Rear camera – dual, both modules received 12 megapixels each. One is f/1.8 wide-angle and the other is f/2.4 telephoto. Both modules have optical stabilization. There is a portrait mode, 2x optical zoom. The camera performs well in all shooting scenarios, but is inferior to the Galaxy S9 + at night. The front module has a resolution of 7 megapixels, an f/2.2 aperture, and can use the screen backlight as a flash.

The main feature of the new iPhone is the notch on top. The attitude towards it is ambiguous, so we will not comment on this chip. Let us only note that, following Apple, many Chinese companies have churned out clones of the iPhone X at very different prices. The AMOLED screen has a diagonal of 5.8 inches and a resolution of 2436 * 1125, the highest contrast and brightness. A fast processor, IP67 water and dust protection, face recognition technology and other more or less useful features make the gadget dream smartphone. The dream (64 GB version) costs about $1350.

Google Pixel 2

The flagship from Google is distinguished not only by its compact size, but also by its conservatism, and this is not a minus at all. The company did not use fashion trends such as a dual camera and an elongated screen. However, the smartphone takes excellent photos, and many experts are confident that this is the best camera phone at the moment. The main module has a resolution of 12.3 megapixels (f/1.8 aperture, pixel size 1.4 microns, matrix diagonal 1/2.6”), phase and laser autofocus, optical and electronic stabilization. On paper, everything is perfect, and in reality it is not worse. The camera is good at any scene., the pictures are really chic - amateur photographers should appreciate it.

The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, an aperture of f/ 2.4, a pixel size of 1.4 microns and a matrix diagonal of 1/3.2”. The characteristics, frankly, are not so hot, but the front camera shoots very well. In addition, background blur is also implemented here. In general, the pictures in any conditions are excellent. Video can be shot in 4K at 30fps, FullHD at up to 120fps, and HD at 240fps.

As for the main parameters, the smartphone received a 5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920*1080, protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5, fast Snapdragon 835 processor with a frequency of up to 2.45 GHz, IP67 water and dust protection. The battery capacity is small (obviously, for the sake of compactness) - 2700 mAh, but the fast charging function should save. The smartphone is equipped with 4 GB of RAM, main memory – 64 or 128 GB. The pluses also include the presence of stereo speakers, an active noise reduction system and a bunch of chips from the manufacturer. There is no 3.5mm jack. The device costs about $800: a lot, but better than its competitors.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Another confident contender for the title of smartphone with the best camera. The device has a glass body, a giant screen, a fast processor, enviable battery life and a dual camera, which becomes the object of our interest. The Leica main camera duo is positioned vertically. The color module has a resolution of 12 megapixels, the additional monochrome module has a resolution of 20 megapixels. Aperture for both camerasf/1,6 , contrast, phase and laser autofocus, optical stabilization, there is a 2x hybrid zoom. The smartphone is excellent at taking photos in low light conditions, not to mention simpler shooting scenarios such as landscapes, portraits and macro. The background is blurred perfectly, the pictures are clear and the colors are reproduced correctly. The front module has an 8 megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture and fixed focus. He copes with his tasks at a high level.

Huawei installed in its flagship an 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor with a frequency of up to 2.36 GHz and neural computing module. Thanks to this solution, the smartphone will cope much more quickly and efficiently with applications that use artificial intelligence technology. OLED screen with a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2160*1080, protective glass, 4000 mAh battery with fast charging function, IP67 waterproof – here everything is so perfect it's boring. The only downsides are the easily soiled body (glass, after all) and the price. There are versions with 4 and 6 GB RAM, main memory can be 64/128/256. The “simplest” phone with 4/64 GB costs $630, which compares favorably with its more expensive fellow camera phones.

HTC U11 and HTC U11 Plus

HTC U11 was released in the summer of 2017 and captivated fans of mobile photography with its excellent photography in the dark and excellent detail when photographing complex objects such as threads and hair. There were only questions about the design, so in the fall the company released the HTC U11 Plus. The camera module remains the same, but they worked on the appearance: whether it has become better is a big question, everything is subjective.

The main camera in both models received a resolution of 12 megapixels and aperturef/1.7 , pixel size – 1.4 microns, there is optical image stabilization. All this means that both day and night you will be able to get photos of excellent quality, with a spectacularly blurred background. Post-processing enthusiasts will love the fact that smartphone can shoot inRAW. Naturally, there is a manual mode - the user can configure all shooting parameters himself. The 16 megapixel front module with f/2.0 aperture and without autofocus allows you to create very decent selfies. In general, the device deserves to be included in the ranking of smartphones with the best camera.

HTC U11 received a body made of glass and metal, a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2560*1440, protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and a 3000 mAh battery. The 8-core Snapdragon 835 with a frequency of up to 2.45 GHz is responsible for performance; there are versions with 4 and 6 GB of RAM, and 64/128 GB of main memory. An under-screen fingerprint scanner, features include a body compression sensor and a physical activity tracking sensor. The price for version 4/64 is about $660.

HTC U11 Plus received, as is now commonly called, a full-screen 6-inch display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The changes also affected the battery: in the new version, its capacity is 3930 mAh. Version 4/64 costs $790.

Apple iPhone 8 and Apple iPhone 8 Plus

Yes, the eighth iPhones are criticized for their outdated design, but they still buy them, because in terms of technical characteristics they are almost ideal. The new iPhones differ from the iPhone 7s by having a glass body, a faster processor, and an increased amount of memory. The rest has not changed, and the cameras began to shoot even better. In the Plus version, the main camera is dual, in the younger version it remains single.

iPhone 8 Plus received two main camera modules 12 MP each. One of them is wide-angle with an f/1.8 aperture, the second is a telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture. Eat double optical zoom, portrait mode, stage lighting mode, and the wide-angle lens received optical stabilization. iPhone 8 equipped with only one 12 MP f/1.8 lens, there is no optical zoom. The cameras work quickly, produce images of decent quality, and they are not afraid of the dark. The 7MP f/2.2 front camera delivers decent results.

The eighth iPhones look solid. The younger version received a 4.7-inch screen (resolution 1334*750), the older version – 5.5 inches (1920*1080). Both versions are powered by a 6-core A11 Bionic processor, equipped with 3 GB of RAM, the main one can be 64 or 256 GB. Powerful and beautiful apples are traditionally not cheap - fashion gadgets, after all. iPhone 8 – from $790, iPhone 8 Plus – from $1060.

We also note that the year before last iPhone 7 andiPhone 7 Plus also shoot at the level, namely, the iPhone 7 Plus set the trend for dual main cameras.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Last year, the company’s line of phablets was replenished with the Galaxy Note 8 model. This year, obviously, an updated version will be released, but for now, the “eight” can confidently fight for the title of the best camera phone. However, the camera is not the only advantage of the gadget, but it is very, very significant. Both main cameras received 12 megapixel resolution and optical stabilization. This was the first smartphone in which both main modules are equipped with optical stabilization. One of the cameras is wide-angle with an f/1.7 aperture, the second is a tele-camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Their joint work allows you to create excellent photographs in any conditions and effectively blur the background. Thanks to the function dynamic focus You can change the focus object after shooting. The photos turn out spectacular. The good news is that video in 4K resolution turns out to be of really high quality. The front camera, with its 8 megapixels and f/1.7, performs quite well.

The giant 6.3-inch display amazes with high-quality images. The device comes to our market with a Samsung Exynos 8895 processor: in AnTuTu tests, the device scores more than 170 thousand points. This is power! RAM of 6 GB and built-in 64/128/256 GB is enough for the eyes. Separately worth noting sound quality and a multi-functional unsinkable stylus. By the way, the smartphone itself received protection from moisture and dust according to the IP68 standard. The battery capacity, however, is only 3300 mAh. Some may not like the dirty glass case, as well as the price, but it’s time to get used to the fact that flagships cost about a thousand “green” and are a fashion item. This model, for example, is perfect for business people who need to work a lot with documents and spreadsheets. For the 64 GB version they are now asking from $900 to $1050.

ASUS Zenfone 5Z and ASUS Zenfone 5

The recent MWC exhibition, held in Barcelona, introduced us to a lot of interesting new products. ASUS has introduced a whole series of new smartphones. If Zenfone 5 Lite just received an elongated screen, then 5 and 5Z are very strongly resembleiPhone Xwith his "bangs", but they are much cheaper. Zenfone 5Z and Zenfone 5 are slightly different in terms of hardware, but they have the same cameras. Rear module - double. The main camera received a Sony IMX363 sensor, 12 megapixel resolution, f/1.8 aperture, optical stabilization and phase detection autofocus. The 8-megapixel auxiliary module has a viewing angle of 120 degrees. In theory, the camera should cope well with different scenes and produce effective blur. The front module is more modest: 8 megapixels and the same viewing angle of 120 degrees.

Zenfone 5 received a 6.2-inch diagonal screen with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and a resolution of 2264 * 1080. On board is a fast Snapdragon 636 processor and 4 or 6 GB of RAM, 64 GB of main memory, it can be expanded. The developers say that the smartphone uses software with the makings of artificial intelligence, and its forces will be used to more economically consume energy and improve the quality of shooting.

Zenfone 5 Z externally it is exactly the same, but inside it hides a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 845. There are 4, or 6, or even 8 GB of RAM!! The latest version is absolutely impressive. Main memory capacity – 64/128/256 GB. The price will start at $590 (Zenfone 5 will obviously be cheaper), sales will begin in June.

LG V30+

Recently everyone praised the camera inLG V30 . We don’t argue that it’s really cool, but the new product, which was released just recently, promises even better shooting quality. As befits a flagship, it uses dual main camera. One of them has a resolution of 16 megapixels, aperturef/1.6 , the second is 13 megapixels, f/1.9 and a viewing angle of 120 degrees. As a result, excellent photo quality in any shooting conditions, the ability to create photos with maximum scene capture, and the presence of optical stabilization will allow you to achieve excellent results even when shooting in difficult conditions. Cameras received glass lenses CrystalClear, which minimize light scattering when transmitting it to the matrix. The front camera with its 5 MP and f/2.2 takes acceptable pictures.

The smartphone has top-end hardware. This is a powerful modern 8-core Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory (expandable up to 2 TB). The screen is made using OLED FullVision technology, has a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2880*1440 pixels. There is protection against water and dust IP 68 and a fast charging function, the battery capacity is minimally sufficient - 3300 mAh. The device looks futuristic and costs about $900.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

The new flagship from the famous Chinese company received the same pair of cameras as in the more expensive Xiaomi Mi 6. Both main cameras have a resolution of 12 megapixels, one of them has an f/1.8 aperture, and the second one has an f/2.6 aperture. the first is wide-angle, the second camera has a telephoto lens, so you can zoom in on the image without losing quality and create bokeh. In most shooting scenarios, the camera performs excellently, almost on par with its more expensive counterparts. The front module with a resolution of 16 megapixels will delight those who like to take selfies.

The beautiful glass case houses the fast Snapdragon 660 processor. The manufacturer decided to save money on the screen. Well, how to save. Not to say that the display is bad, but these days they are also installed in devices of the lower price segment. The screen is made using IPS technology, has a diagonal of 5.5 inches and a resolution of 1920*1080. The fingerprint scanner is conveniently located under the display. The 3500 mAh battery can charge quickly and provides acceptable battery life. The smartphone is sold in 6/64 and 6/128 GB versions. If you need a smartphone with a good camera under 20,000 rubles ($350), then take a closer look at version 6/64. A device with twice as much memory will cost 1.5 times more.

Vivo X20 Plus

The flagship from Vivo completes our top camera phones. Now everyone is actively discussing that the company's updated smartphone Vivo X20 Plus UD will be the first in the world in which The fingerprint scanner will be built into the screen and will be located at the bottom of the display. While everyone is just waiting for the new product to go on sale, it is known that the cameras in the new smartphone will be the same as those in the Vivo X20 Plus.

The model is equipped dual main camera: the first module has a resolution of 12 megapixels and an f/1.8 aperture, the second has a modest resolution of 5 megapixels. An additional module is needed to blur the background. The front module also has a resolution of 12 megapixels and f/2.0. The authoritative resource DxOMark rated the device’s camera at 90 points out of 100, which is a good result.

The device received a Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 6.43 inches and a resolution of 2160 * 1080, an 8-core Snapdragon 660 processor, a fairly capacious 3905 mAh battery and an acceptable memory reserve of 4/64 GB. The device costs about $540. There are also cheaper alternative – Vivo X20. This smartphone is equipped with the same cameras, but has a slightly smaller screen (6.01 inches, the same resolution) and a less capacious battery (3245 mAh), but the processor is the same, and the price is about $460.

Friends, it only remains to add that we need to keep our finger on the pulse and closely monitor the release of new products, because cameras are being improved literally before our eyes.

The evolution of mobile autofocus:
from contrast to Dual Pixel

When shooting with a smartphone, it is very important that the photos come out clear. To do this, the subject must be in focus before you click on the “Take Photo” button. Recently, a number of manufacturers have been working on improving autofocus technologies, and today we will look at how they differ from each other.

When choosing a camera phone, many pay attention to the number of megapixels - they say, whoever has more is cooler. However, it is often more important and useful to look at other factors that have an equally serious impact on the quality of photographs. Among them is the camera's autofocus type. Apple, Samsung, LG and other manufacturers are now actively rushing into this area, and many have actually managed to make significant progress.

What is autofocus and why do we need it?

The autofocus system adjusts the lens to focus directly on your subject, making the difference between a clear shot and a missed opportunity.

In a simplified way, the principle of operation of the camera is that rays of light are reflected from the objects being photographed and then hit the sensor, which converts the stream of photons into a stream of electrons. After this, the current is converted into a set of bits, the data is processed and recorded in the camera’s memory. CMOS sensors are now especially popular among smartphone manufacturers, which convert charge into voltage directly in the pixel, subsequently providing direct access to the contents of an arbitrary pixel.

In theory, it works like this: lenses focus light onto a sensor, which then creates a digital photo. In reality, everything is not so simple. The angle of the incoming light rays depends on the distance at which the photographed object is located. The diagram on the left shows lenses that focus light rays on a blue object: the green and red objects are out of focus and will be blurred in the final photo. If we want to focus on green or red objects, we need to change the distance between the lenses and the sensor.

At the dawn of camera phone manufacturing, most devices had a fixed focus. Modern smartphones provide the ability to adjust the distance between the lenses and the sensor. Therefore, you get high-quality detailed images. Currently, three methods are mainly used to implement autofocus in smartphones: contrast, phase and laser.

Contrast autofocus

Contrast autofocus is a passive type of autofocus. This solution is still used in most smartphones, largely because it is one of the simplest. Using the sensor, the amount of light on the object is measured, after which it moves the lens depending on the contrast. If the contrast is maximum, then the subject is in focus.

In general, contrast autofocus copes with its task quite well and has a significant advantage - it is quite simple and does not require any complex hardware.

But it also has several disadvantages. Contrast AF in particular is slower than others, typically taking about a second to focus on a subject. During this time, you may change your mind about taking a photo, or, for example, if you wanted to capture a fast-moving object, the moment will be missed. This is due to the fact that the lion's share of time is occupied by the process of “shifting the focus point/lens of the lens – contrast assessment – shift – contrast assessment.” In addition, contrast autofocus lacks tracking focusing capabilities, and in low-light conditions it is unlikely to impress you. Therefore, this type of autofocus today is used mainly in budget smartphones such as Lenovo A536, ASUS Zenfone Go and others.

Phase detection autofocus: a fast and advanced alternative

One of the pioneers here was Samsung, which borrowed technology from digital SLR cameras and equipped its Galaxy S5 smartphone with phase detection autofocus. The point is that in this case special sensors are used - they catch the passing light flux from different points of the image using lenses and mirrors. Inside the sensor, light is divided into two parts, each of which hits an ultra-sensitive sensor. The distance between the light streams is measured by the sensor, after which it determines how much the lens needs to be moved for accurate focusing. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S5 takes only 0.3 seconds to focus on an object.

The first and main advantage of phase detection autofocus is that it is much faster than contrast detection, it is simply a must have for shooting moving objects. In addition, the camera can evaluate the movement of an object using sensors, hence the possibility of tracking autofocus.

But there are also disadvantages. Phase detection autofocus, like contrast autofocus, doesn't do its job very well in low-light conditions. It also requires more powerful hardware, so it is usually available in high-end smartphones. Among them, for example, Huawei Honor 7, Sony Xperia M5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

Some manufacturers have gone further and decided to use laser autofocus in smartphones (more on this later), while others are actively engaged in improving phase detection autofocus technology. For example, Apple uses so-called “focal pixels” in its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus: the point is that the technology uses part of the pixels as a phase sensor, and shooting with Apple smartphones is really fast.

But the Dual Pixel technology that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones really differs from standard phase focusing. Although it is a type of phase detection autofocus, it still has some differences and subtleties. In smartphones, phase detection autofocus is somewhat limited in its capabilities - in order to assign a focal sensor to each pixel, you need to greatly reduce it, which results in noise and blurred photos. Typically, about 10% of light-sensitive points are equipped with sensors; some manufacturers, however, do not go beyond 5%.

In Dual Pixel, each pixel is equipped with a separate sensor due to the increase in pixel sizes. The processor processes the readings of each pixel, but does it so quickly that autofocus still takes tenths of a second. Samsung says that Dual Pixel technology is similar to focusing using the human eye, but this is more of a metaphor. Nevertheless, we must recognize the innovativeness of this approach to phase detection autofocus. Now this is a real exclusive for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.

Laser autofocus: the most active

Like phase detection, laser autofocus is an active type of autofocus. LG has been working in this area for a long time, which first implemented laser autofocus in its G3 smartphone. The technology is based on the principle of a laser rangefinder: a laser emitter illuminates an object, and a sensor measures the time of arrival of the reflected laser beam, determining the distance to the object.

One of the main advantages of this autofocus is time. According to LG, the entire laser autofocus process takes 0.276 seconds. Significantly faster than contrast autofocus and slightly faster than phase detection.

The obvious advantage of laser autofocus is that it is incredibly fast and does its job well in low light conditions. But it only works at a certain distance - the best effect is achieved if the distance from the smartphone to the object is less than 0.6 meters. And after five meters - hello, contrast autofocus.

The modern electronics market is filled with gadgets with the most incredible functions. But the majority of users choose mobile phones that have the most popular properties:

high-quality camera;
good battery;
clear sound;
contrast screen;
high performance.

Buying a smartphone with the best camera 2017 requires a thorough study of the available range to choose a reliable device.

Rating of smartphones with the best camera 2017

For your reference, we present the best models of mobile phones equipped with a good camera and a powerful battery.

The beginning of the rating and the tenth place go to the brand, known for its race for the leading developments of American and South Korean companies. Huawei and its sub-brand Honor have developed a real camera phone.
Unpretentious in appearance, equipped with a budget platform, the 6X impresses with the quality of its images - clear, rich, realistic. They are created using a dual lens of 12 and 2 megapixels. The 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 module is equipped with phase detection autofocus with a duration of 0.3 seconds.
The settings interface is quite simple, but varied; there are many modes, adjusting brightness, white balance, and contrast.

Characteristics:

Android 7.0;
12 MP camera, autofocus;
RAM: 3 or 4GB;
battery 3340 mAh;
weight 162 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

good display;
sufficient speed;
good nutrition optimization;
reasonable price/functionality ratio.

Flaws:

screen covering;
slippery;
Notifications are not visible when the screen is locked.

Ninth place is occupied by a model in the classic Sony design. For the price, the smartphone belongs to the flagships, and the quality of the gadget confirms this. It combines high-speed performance, a capacious battery and luxurious cameras.

The 21.5 megapixel main camera takes excellent photos - juicy, with successful calibration and precise detail. Hybrid auto focus allows you to capture shots in motion. The selfie camera has a beauty mode and also independently corrects the image.
A useful feature of the phone is the ability to shoot 4K video. There is also a slow motion video mode.

Characteristics:

Android 5.0;
screen 5″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 21.50 MP, autofocus;
RAM: 3GB;
battery 2600 mAh;
weight 142 g;
dimensions: 72x145x7.6 mm.

Advantages:

large and bright screen;
excellent front camera;
very comfortable;
moisture protection.

Flaws:

the processor turned out to be not the fastest;
software glitches;
warming up.

Eighth on the list of smartphones with the best camera of 2017 is the Chinese favorite of Xiaomi users. The stylish device, which looks like the well-known Galaxy, continues the line of camera phones.

The rear lens has 16 megapixels, optical stabilization, and phase detection autofocus. The pictures come out natural, with natural color rendition. Noise cancellation works great. The aperture remains stable at 2.0.
The front camera is designed for bright, colorful selfies with wide viewing angles. The output photos have clear outlines with no visible pixels. But the night mode leaves much to be desired.

Characteristics:

Android 6.0;
screen 5.15″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 16 MP, autofocus, F/2;
RAM: 3GB;
battery 3000 mAh;
weight 129 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

very powerful;
super camera;
battery lasts 24 hours, charges in 1.5 hours;
screen, materials, build quality.

Flaws:

The back panel is scratched.

The seventh position of the top is occupied by another Chinese representative. In terms of technical characteristics, the mobile phone is not inferior to many flagships from leading brands. The cameras deserve special attention.
The main 12 megapixel camera with a built-in Sony IMX386 module creates realistic photos with a deep effect and correct frame detail. The lack of laser and stabilization is saddening, but the shutter speed makes up for minor shortcomings.
The front one shows great results. The picture turns out balanced, bright, and contrasting. There is a flash.

Characteristics:

Android 6.0;
screen 5.5″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 12 MP, autofocus F/2;
RAM: 3 or 4 GB;
battery 3060 mAh;
weight 155 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

very stylish design;
The battery lasts a day and a half;
a screen with very good color rendering and a very high-quality touchscreen;
good sound.

Flaws:

sometimes not the first time reads a fingerprint;
no sd card slot.

The Chinese again gets into the top six. Le Eco Cool 1 is the result of the combined efforts of two brands. And the result is quite decent, especially the quality of photography.

A unique feature of the device is a dual camera with dual LED flash. Two cameras are equipped to increase image clarity. The effect of professional photographic equipment is used: one lens transmits color shades, the other – black and white.
The settings include HDR, ISO, contrast, sharpness, and exposure adjustments.
Photographing even in cloudy weather produces images that are detailed and accurate across the entire width.

Characteristics:

Android 6.0;
screen 5.5″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 13 MP, autofocus F/2;
RAM: 3 or 4 GB;
battery 4060 mAh;
weight 173 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

design and assembly;
excellent dual camera;
powerful processor;
holds a charge for a long time;
shell eui 5.8.

Flaws:

no memory card slot;
Not enough brightness in the sun.

In the central position of the ranking is a native of Taiwan, whom hardly anyone expected to see here. Previous copies did not impress with their characteristics in the photo. But HTC 10 surprised the public by releasing a high-quality smartphone with a good camera.

The camera is equipped with Ultra Pixel 2 technology, which is focused on macro photography. The frames are unusually voluminous, sharp, saturated.
To improve images, laser focus, optical stabilization, and dynamic range are used. There are no noises, viewing angles are perfectly visible.

Characteristics:

Android 6.0;
screen 5.2″, resolution 2560×1440;
RAM: 4 GB;
battery 3000 mAh;
weight 161 g;
WxHxD 71.90×145.90×9 mm.

Advantages:

very cool sound;
fast charging;
QuadHD screen;
overall performance;
data reception/transmission speed.

Flaws:

slippery;
no moisture protection.

The phone, which became an example of technological progress in mobile photography, fell slightly short of the top three. The device was created by the Chinese brand together with the famous German photo laboratory Leica. The device is designed using cutting-edge lenses.

One creates a color image with a resolution of 12 megapixels, the second - a monochrome image with 20 megapixels. This provides photographs with naturalness, detail, depth and volume. Sensors installed in a circle reproduce several types of focus:

deep;
laser;
phase;
contrasting.

A dual-LED flash transforms the frame, making viewing angles wide and clear.

Characteristics:

Android 7.0;
screen 5.1″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 20 MP, autofocus F/2.2;
RAM: 4 GB;
battery 3200 mAh;
weight 145 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

awesome design, very neat, excellent build;
very fast fingerprint scanner;
The camera takes great pictures, even in poor lighting;
stereo sound;
The shell works very quickly, there are many options for different settings.

Flaws:

weak vibration without adjustability;
Selfie mode is enabled by default with face enhancement.

Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE

The South Korean company, which produces some of the best smartphones with a good camera, has released a gadget that ranked third in the top. This is not surprising - frames taken on the Samsung Galaxy have always been of excellent quality.

By default, all settings and filters are located on the main screen. You can adjust the screen yourself by setting your own modes. Unique features of the Galaxy S7 also include:

focus selection - the ability to change it after saving the photo;
virtual shooting - capturing an object from all sides for a three-dimensional image.

Characteristics:

Android 6.0;
screen 5.5″, resolution 2560×1440;
camera 12 MP, autofocus F/1.7;
RAM: 4 GB;
battery 3600 mAh;
weight 157 g;
support for two SIM cards.

Advantages:

dust- and moisture-proof;
very cool camera;
practically does not heat up;
design view 5+;
metal case.

Flaws:

slippery;
the cost of the phone itself.

IPhone 7/ 7 Plus

The silver medalist of the rating is the object of admiration for most of the planet - the product from Apple, the iPhone 7. IPhone cameras have always been considered the highest quality and most accurate, but the latest version of the gadget has left its predecessors far behind.

A picture created in natural light looks natural and contrasty. The white balance is set comfortably, and convenient calibration helps reproduce rich footage.
The level of night photography deserves special attention. There is no grain in the finished images, details are clearly visible even at the edges.

Characteristics:

iOS 10;
screen 5.5″, resolution 1920×1080;
camera 12 MP, autofocus F/1.8;
RAM: 3 GB;
battery 2900 mAh;
weight 188 g;
dimensions: 77.9×158.2×7.3 mm.

Advantages:

excellent screen;
speed of work;
excellent screen;
protection from water;
excellent dual camera.

Flaws:

price;
battery for one day.

If you ask an experienced smartphone user which one is better in terms of photography and video shooting, 90% of them will say Google Pixel. It is this model that becomes the best smartphone of 2017 with a good camera.

The developers have introduced the latest innovations in the field of photography. Daylighting produces high-quality images with precise detail and wide spatial coverage. But it is difficult to surprise experienced amateur photographers with this.
Google has focused on night photography. Cloudy weather, poor lighting or night are no problem for Google Pixel. Each frame is full of life, realism, and depth. There is no noise, the picture is not blurred at all.

Top 5 smartphones that have optical camera stabilization

Availability OIS (optical stabilization) for a smartphone camera provides the opportunity to take higher quality photographs. When high-speed shooting is done in the sun, it helps to get rid of the effects of smartphone vibrations that occur when you press the shutter. When there is a lack of light, which forces you to set long shutter speeds, the benefits of OIS are even greater.

However, many manufacturers, for some reason, prefer EIS (electronic stabilization). It does not take into account that this function has increased sensitivity to software quality, and in addition, a certain place has to be allocated to the matrix for it. But in fairness, it must be said that you can still find a good smartphone whose camera has optical stability. These include the following models.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

The flagship of frameless models

Samsung has released a flagship frameless smartphone that is good in almost all respects. The diagonal of the screen, which has a customizable 3K resolution, is 6.2 inches. The memory can be 64.0 or 128.0 GB.

Performance is ensured by the top-end Exynos 8895 or Snapdrafgon 835 chipset. In addition, the gadget is packed with a variety of pleasant functions:

Fast charging.
Hi-Res audio supported.
Protection against penetration of moisture and dust particles at the IP68 level.

I'm pleased with the smartphone and its cameras. The main one has a 12.0 megapixel matrix with a size of 1:2.5″. It is complemented by DualPixe phase autofocus, as well as an optical stability system. This allows you to take perhaps the best photos when compared with all other smartphones. Both night and day shooting are carried out without problems, and videos are recorded in 4K. The front camera supports automatic focusing and video recording in QHD resolution.

If you are only interested in the quality of the camera, without taking into account such bells and whistles as top-end hardware and the absence of a frame, then you can opt for the S7 device. If you compare the cameras of these models, you can only notice the presence of cosmetic improvements.

For lovers of compactness

It hardly makes sense to talk much about this smartphone, because it has already been done many times by us and before us. The appearance of the iPhone 8, logically, should lead to a reduction in prices for last year's smartphones, which will not make them worse. After all, all new products (with the exception of the iPhone X) have acquired new cases that have undergone cosmetic reconstructions and the latest SoC technologies. However, the real benefit of all the bells and whistles can only be obtained from high-speed charging.

The camera on the iPhone 8 has not undergone any significant changes compared to the 7 (it will be possible to talk about the presence of actual improvements only after the first reviews). And both models use 1:3″ matrices with a resolution of 12.0 megapixels. The camera is equipped with an optical stability system, phase autofocus, a flash with four diodes, and supports 4K video recording. In addition, FullHD (120.0 FPS) as well as HD (240.0 FPS) resolution recording is supported. The front panel uses a 7.0 megapixel matrix.

Flagship with watering can

Huawei P10 is the name of the leader with a 5.1-inch screen, the brainchild of a giant from China. Its advanced hardware is developed by the company's specialists. Its performance is supported by the Kirin 960 chipset, which has Mali G71 graphics. This is its main difference from advanced smartphones produced by other companies.

On board there are:

Fast charging function.
Hi-Res music is supported.
Expandable memory 32.0 or 64.0 GB.
The RAM volume is 4.0 GB.

Huawei P10 has two cameras of 12 megapixels and 20 megapixels. The color main matrix is equipped with a system for ensuring optical stability. The second is monochrome and serves to increase the detail of pictures when there is a lack of light. The camera optics were developed with the participation of Leica (Germany), which is a recognized brand in the field of premium cameras. High-quality selfies are obtained thanks to the front-mounted 8.0 megapixel sensor.

For selfie lovers

The screen diagonal is six inches.
Quite a fresh MediaTek Helio P20 chipset.
The OP volume is 4 GB.
With a fairly small battery (2.7 thousand mAh), autonomy is optimized normally. This allows you to easily withstand the whole day under average loads.
Fast charging available.

The main feature of the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra is that the optical stability system is available not only for the main camera, but also for the front camera. The base is a 16-megapixel matrix with a size of 1:2.6″. There is an autofocus function and a flash. This smartphone is simply irreplaceable for those who are fans of selfies.

The rear camera specs are also pretty decent:

4K video recording is supported.
f/2 optics.
Phase auto focus available.
Sensitivity 23 MP.