28 November, 2019

Best camera phones 2019

Rakibul hasan Rony November 28, 2019 mobilereview , 0 Comments

The best camera phones are usually the best phones overall, and you'll mostly find flagships in this category - the likes of the latest Galaxies and iPhones typically deliver the best image quality of the time. Huawei's top dogs have also entered this race in the past couple of years, but as of mid-2019, they do come with caveats when it comes to their software future. Google's Pixel used to be an easy recommendation, but this 4th generation seems to be a letdown.

on the ultra wide cam

No AF on the selfie cam

The OnePlus 7T Pro addresses a couple of the quibbles we have with the hardware of the two big-name models - it's got a 3x telephoto, hence more reach and its ultra wide-angle cam has autofocus, adding close-ups to the list of things the OP can do and the Galaxy and the iPhone can't. The 7T Pro can't focus with its selfie cam, but that's because it's a thin elevating pop-up module that leaves the display notchless, so it's a worthy trade-off.

Huawei P30 Pro

SPECS

5x periscope tele is the longest around (zooms in a bit closer than the Mi Note 10)
AF on the ultra wide cam

Uncertain software future
No AF on the selfie cam
Video recording isn't competitive

On to one of the Spring offers that remains relevant even now - the Huawei P30 Pro. Packing a 5x periscope telephoto, it's one of the longest zooms on the market (slightly longer, in fact, than the Mi Note 10). Its ultra wide-angle cam has autofocus too, adding points for versatility.

CHINA SPECIAL

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

SPECS

3x tele offers more reach than the mainstream 2x
Extra large sensor and AF on the ultra wide cam
Superb selfie portraits thanks to the front facing ToF module

No Google Play Services
No AF on the selfie cam
Video recording leaves a little more to be desired

If we had to choose a Huawei phone for its camera alone, that would be the Mate 30 Pro. While its 3x telephoto isn't quite as far-reaching as the P30 Pro's, it's still longer than key rivals. On top of that, the Mate 30 Pro comes with a unique ultra-wide module with a huge sensor and autofocus. Then there are the outstanding selfie portraits with subject separation like no other, thanks to a front-facing ToF assembly.

NICHE CHOICE

Google Pixel 4 XL

SPECS

Photos have that 'pixel look'

Competitors have caught up with the computational photography
Telephoto is only sort of 2x
No ultra wide camera at all
No AF on the selfie cam
Expensive
Hardware issues for yet another generation

Then there's the Pixel 4. Usually, a straight-up recommendation when it comes to taking photos on the phone, this year's model comes underequipped - it's missing an ultra wide camera altogether, and its telephoto is sort of 2x, which is still less than what a P30 Pro or a OnePlus 7T Pro will get you.

NICHE CHOICE

Oppo Reno2

SPECS

A depth sensor on top of a regular triple cam setup
Cool shark-fin selfie cam
Ultra wide cam has AF
Lowest price of this bunch

Limited regional availability
Midrange chipset (pretty powerful still)
Video stabilization isn't great
Just 2x on the long end
No AF on the selfie cam

The Oppo Reno2 offers a compelling camera package, albeit only in some corners of the world. It features a standard triple cam with the usual wide, ultra-wide and tele (2x) focal lengths, augmented by a depth sensor.