The best camera phone in Australia 2024: top mobiles for photography

Best camera phones: Quick list

While most modern smartphones can take pictures and shoot film, the best camera phones are a step above in helping you take the highest quality photos and videos. Pairing impressive camera hardware with premium software support the best camera phones offer possibilities for a handset that would have been unimaginable only a decade ago.

We were blown away by the camera skills of 2023's Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the follow-up Galaxy S24 Ultra appears to continue that train of thought, although the gap between it and the competition is now much narrower.

If you can't swing one of the best Samsung phones, there are still plenty of great bargain options that can take amazing photos. The least expensive phone on our list right now is the Pixel 7a. It lists for only $499 / £449 / AU$749, but you'll often find it on sale for much less (it's actually on sale for AU$649 as of this writing in the Australia).

Of course we're not forgetting about Apple and all of the best iPhones. We love the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max for its quality, and its main camera takes photos that rival the best you'll get from Samsung. Still, it can't quite match Samsung for versatility in lenses and photo modes. 

Whatever the case, we’ve tested the top smartphone cameras around to help you determine the best fit for your needs and below, you’ll find our picks for the best camera phones in Australia.

The quick list

Below you can find a roundup of our choices for the best camera phones in Australia. You can jump to a more detailed review of each pick, and check out the latest deals for each using our price comparison tool.

The best camera phone for 2024

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Below you'll find more in-depth reviews for each of the best camera phones in Australia, complete with links to the full reviews written by TechRadar's team of smartphone experts. 

The best camera phone overall

an image of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
The latest Galaxy Ultra continues a winning formula

Specifications

Release date: February 2024
Weight: 232g
Dimensions: 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6mm
OS: Android 14 / One UI 6
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: 3120 x 1440
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Rear camera: 200MP (wide) + 12MP (ultrawide) + 10MP (telephoto) + 50MP (periscope)
Front camera: 12MP

Reasons to buy

+
Cameras improve upon photo quality of previous model
+
Better performance and battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Big and heavy
-
Majority of new features hidden deep within menus

Despite the spec sheet indicating Samsung has dropped the camera specs of the Galaxy S24 Ultra – stepping down from a 10x zoom to 5x – what we have here is still the best camera phone overall. 

Samsung has made great strides in overall image quality in the S24 Ultra and we found in our review that photos exhibited a greater sense of depth, making those taken on the S23 Ultra look flat in comparison. There is now, however, a lack of outright detail, but the finished article is on the whole a much better affair. 

Colours look more natural this time around too, and we found there is now much less of an obvious difference between images taken on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and those taken on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, meaning customers may now have a tougher time deciding which phone to opt for, as this was once a defining differentiator. 

We do still think other phones fare much better in low-light, which is surprising. In the S24 Ultra, Samsung is also bigging up new AI smarts...just as long as you're prepared to delve through menu after menu in the settings to turn them on. Some of them are good, some of them are not so good. We'd definitely suggest you try them out if you do get your hands on this phone, just don't go expecting miracles. We'd argue the Google Pixel 8 Pro gets the better selection of AI photo editing tools, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra does have some clever tricks up its sleeve.

As an all round package, the S24 Ultra is certainly the camera phone to beat. 

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

The best Pixel camera

Google Pixel 8 Pro back in porcelain in front of animal print

(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
The best software support

Specifications

Release date: October 2023
Weight: 213g
Dimensions: 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm
OS: Android 14
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1344 x 2992
CPU: Google Tensor G3
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery: 5050mAh
Rear camera: 50MP main; 48MP 5x tele; 48MP ultrawide
Front camera: 10.5MP

Reasons to buy

+
Great materials and matte finish refresh the design
+
Call screening is useful
+
Seven-year commitment for software updates
+
Excellent overall software package for photography

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life and charging time could be better
-
Some AI features feel a bit creepy

When it comes to taking just photos with your smartphone, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is certainly up there with the best. Arriving with a big update over its Pixel 7 Pro predecessor in terms of hardware and software (notably the Tensor G3 chip) not only do the Pixel 8 Pro's cameras offer exceptionally detailed photos from the moment you hit click, but the AI-backed software that boosts the flagship Pixel's photos is second to none.

In fact, so powerful and capable are the Pixel 8 Pro's software offerings for photography that they boast the ability to even make photos you've taken with older phones look better overall. With the Pixel 8 Pro, Google has also introduced a slew of new AI features that enable you to make what we actually consider frightening levels of edits. 

Macro photography on the Pixel 8 Pro has improved since the 7 Pro, and we'd argue it's among the best examples in mobile photography right now. However, low light shots don't quite compete with the very best, such as the iPhone 15 Pro series.

Elsewhere, the Pixel 8 Pro shines just as bright - literally. We already thought the Pixel 7 Pro has a good screen, but Google has improved it in virtually every way possible. It gets what Google calls a Super Actua display, which brings with it peak brightness of 2,400 nits and 1,600 nits in direct sunlight, which on paper blows the iPhone 15 Pro Max out of the water. 

iPhone 15 Pro review back handheld angled camera 21:9

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The best iPhone cameras

The best iPhone camera yet

Specifications

Release date: September 2023
Weight: 221g
Dimensions: 159.9mm x 76.7mm x 8.25mm
OS: iOS 17
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 2796 x 1290
CPU: A17 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery: 4,422mAh
Rear camera: 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto w/ 5x optical zoom
Front camera: 12MP

Reasons to buy

+
Solid battery life
+
Excellent photography
+
Improved cameras overall since last year

Reasons to avoid

-
Charging should be faster
-
Pricier baseline 

This spot was once occupied by both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, since there was little to separate them. However, with the iPhone 15 Pro series, Apple has given its larger, top-of-the-range device a few extra niceties, which is why it's going solo this time round. 

Chief among the differences between the 15 Pro Max and the 15 Pro is that the former gets a 5x optical zoom, the first time such a zoom has been possible on an iPhone. The 15 Pro Max also benefits from a new 48MP sensor, that combined with Apple's own technical processing wizardry, results in some truly exceptional photos. 

It's all thanks to pixel binning. Once you take a photo, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will pixel bin to get the best possible 12 megapixel still, which is then combined with the full detail taken using the 48MP sensor. This leaves you with an image rendered at 24MP resolution and we are more than here for it. 

Photos are some of the most accurate we've come across on a smartphone, across colours and sharpness especially. Macro images are good too and a huge improvement over the 14 Pro Max it replaces. And, while the 5x optical zoom does provide something new for Apple loyalists, it is still beaten by the zoom capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review and iPhone 15 Pro Max review

The best budget camera phone

Google Pixel 7 lemongrass front and back

(Image credit: Google)
Top photography performance at less cost

Specifications

Release date: October 2022
Weight: 197g
Dimensions: 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
OS: Android 13
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3120
CPU: Google Tensor G2
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Battery: 4,355mAh
Rear camera: 50MP + 12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 10.8MP

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent main camera
+
IP68 water resistant
+
Brilliant value for price

Reasons to avoid

-
Ultra-wide lacks autofocus
-
Average battery life

The Google Pixel 7 wasn't technically a budget smartphone when it first launched, but now we have the Pixel 8 series, it means the 7 is on the receiving end of greater discounts. More importantly, it's still available from a number of retailers. With the base Pixel 7 including all of the exclusive software features offered by the 7 Pro, it still manages to stand out as a quality photography assistant especially at its price.

The Google Pixel 7 gets the same main camera and ultra-wide macro lens that you'll find on the Pixel 7 Pro, too, with it only missing the 48MP telephoto lens that you'll find on its premium sibling. Some improvements to battery life would have been welcome, with the Pixel 7's battery life being passable but not much better than this. 

And from a photography standpoint, the absence of the telephoto zoom found with the Pixel 7 Pro is keenly felt with the lack of autofocus for the macro lens also being a slight disappointment. But these are overall very minor complaints, with the Google Pixel 7 otherwise offering excellent value at its asking price.

Read our full Google Pixel 7 review

The best for iPhone fans on a budget

iPhone 13

(Image credit: TechRadar)
Older iPhones are still worthy

Specifications

Weight: 174g
Dimensions: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.7mm
OS: iOS 15
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 2531 x 1170
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 3,240mAh
Rear camera: 12MP (wide) + 12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 12MP (wide)

Reasons to buy

+
Great overall performance
+
Strong battery life
+
Good design

Reasons to avoid

-
No 120Hz screen
-
Digital zoom only

The iPhone 13 takes a spot on this list for offering a solid camera performance with a not-exceedingly-high price tag. It's still readily available too, which now that the iPhone 13 Pro series has been removed from Apple's website, makes it – in our opinion – the best iPhone camera phone for those on more of a budget. Yes, the iPhone SE (2022) is cheaper still, but the difference in capabilities of the cameras in the two are night and day. 

You get just a dual-lens camera array here, with a 12MP wide combining with a 12MP ultrawide. This does mean you lose out on optical zoom compared to its Pro siblings, but thanks to Apple's image processing tech, you're still able to take some astounding pictures. This is also helped by the inclusion of Apple's Sensor Shift OIS technology, which provides incredibly effect image stabilisation. 

The front-facing camera doesn't introduce too many changes over preceding models, but that's no bad things, as results are on the whole, impressive. Apple has also included the Cinematic Mode with the iPhone 13, which allows you to shoot video with a bokeh (blurred) effect in the background. 

Ultimately, the iPhone 13 has been far surpassed by the latest iPhone 14 generation, but as we said, if you're on a tighter budget but still want the Apple camera experience, the iPhone 13 is a far more accessible option. 

Of course, with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max expected in September, you might think it'll be worth waiting a few more months to grab yourself a discounted 14.

Read our full iPhone 13 review

The best camera for megapixel fans

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

(Image credit: Motorola)
Ultra powerful surprise package

Specifications

Release date: September 2022
Weight: 198.5g
Dimensions: 161.8 x 73.5 x 8.4 mm
OS: Android 12
Screen size: 6.67-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2400
CPU: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
RAM: 8-12GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 4,610mAh
Rear camera: 200MP (wide) + 50MP (ultrawide) + 12MP (telephone, 2x optical zoom)
Front camera: 60MP (wide)

Reasons to buy

+
Sharp design
+
Powerful camera sensors
+
Impressive processor
+
Fast charging

Reasons to avoid

-
200mp main camera is overkill
-
Photo zoom could be better
-
Display is OK, not excellent
-
Not on offer for plan packages with key providers at time of writing

If this list were a contest of which phones boast the cameras with the highest megapixel count, the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra would be a runaway winner. When putting the three rear cameras and front camera together, the Edge 30 Ultra boasts an enormous 322MP in total, with its 200MP main camera making it the first smartphone to boast a camera with this level of megapixels. As you might expect, the Edge 30 Ultra takes photos with fine, crisp details and colours, and also manages to include capabilities of shooting video for 4K at 60fps or the entirely unnecessary 8K at 30fps. But all that power does end up being overkill, and the Edge 30 Ultra to a certain extent recognises this.

Default photos taken with the main rear camera won't snap at 200MP, instead looping in pixel binning to snap at 12.6 for this default. Of course, you can take photos at 200MP (and RAW photos) with the Edge 30 Ultra, but the modest storage space of the phone will fill up awfully quickly if you do and the Edge 30 Ultra is also known to experience occasional overheating with heavy-duty tasks. The 2x optical zoom offered is also disappointingly modest given the power and attention given to the camera's performance in other areas.

Elsewhere, the Edge 30 Ultra benefits greatly from the wicked-fast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and decent battery life further elevated by fast charging. In terms of its display, there is much more of a mixed bag involved. Modestly sized at 6.67-inches and with a max resolution of 1080 x 2400 (FHD+), the Edge 30 Ultra does suffer from some dimness to picture in certain lights and overall the picture quality is OK but not excellent. What is excellent with the Edge 30 Ultra's display, however, is its 144Hz refresh rates making it an absolute powerhouse for use when playing games.

Unfortunately, getting your hands on the Edge 30 Ultra for yourself still relies on you buying it unlocked and at full cost, with none of the main telco providers (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) offering it on a plan. This was the case when this article was first published in early 2023 and is still the case now we're halfway through the year. That is a big enough obstacle to see it tumble a few spots down on this list, particularly when its full cost is almost identical to that of the Google Pixel 7 Pro at our number two spot.

Read our full Motorola Edge 30 Ultra review

The best foldable camera phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 mostly open

(Image credit: Samsung)
The Fold revolution meets photo prowess

Specifications

Release date: August 2023
Weight: 253g
Dimensions (unfolded): 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mm
Dimensions (folded): 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4 mm
OS: Android 13, One UI 4.1.1
Screen size: 7.6-inch
Resolution: 1812 x 2176
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Battery: 4,400mAh
Rear camera: 50MP (wide) + 10MP (telephoto) + 12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 4MP + 10MP

Reasons to buy

+
Generous screen size
+
1 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Reasons to avoid

-
Not cheap
-
Cameras less powerful than S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is known more for its folding design and resulting screen size than its photographic prowess, but don't let that fool you – the Fold 5's cameras are regardless both powerful and capable, with photos taken with the Fold 5 seeing their colours pop particularly on gorgeous AMOLED display, portrait mode being excellent and 3x optical zoom holding up well.

Low light photography is also impressive with the Fold 5 and its Expert RAW features are no less dazzling. Video recording for the Fold 5 is also top notch, capable of recording up to 8K @ 60fps, which sounds plenty fancy on paper but is a height that is somewhat unnecessary with 4K still firmly the norm for picture resolution everywhere you look.

But while the Fold 5's cameras do impress, they still lack the high megapixel count and zoom capabiities of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra higher up on this list, and the Fold 5 doesn't come cheaply. Battery life can also be quite spotty, which is perhaps understandable given the extra screen space the Fold 4 must power but nonetheless is a downside. 

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

The best camera phone of 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra hands on colors perspective

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The best camera phone overall

Specifications

Release date: February 2023
Weight: 234g
Dimensions: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm
OS: Android 13 w/ One UI 5.1
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3088
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Rear camera: 200MP (wide) + 10MP (telephoto, 3x optical) + 10MP (telephoto, 10x optical) + 12MP (ultrawide, 120-degree)
Front camera: 12MP

Reasons to buy

+
Giant 200MP sensor
+
Great 'Nightography' capabilities
+
Integrated Expert RAW shooting supports up to 50MP

Reasons to avoid

-
Smaller sensors aren't groundbreaking
-
Comes at a (very expensive) price

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is still a terrific buy, and was easily the best cameraphone we saw in 2023. It has so many lenses and photo modes that it can shoot anything. From food portraits to night photos to ultrazoom shots, the Galaxy S23 Ultra still manages to hold its own in the face of newer competition.

Let the camera do as much of the work as you please, you'll always appreciate the results. Whether it's food mode, portraits, night photography, or the Ultra's unmatched astrophotography modes, it's simply outstanding and only the S24 Ultra really beats it.

If you really want to see something impressive, set up a tripod and take some photos of the moon. Do it in a public place where iPhone owners can walk by. When they see what the moon looks like on your Samsung's camera, they'll be shocked. I promise, I've done this a few times myself. 

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review

How we test camera phones

We've fully reviewed every phone on this list and that includes extensively testing all of their cameras, so we know exactly how they perform. This allows us to look beyond specs and create a ranking based on how these camera phones are in practice. We've also considered price, value and features when deciding on a ranking.

What should I look for when buying a camera phone?

When choosing a camera phone you should consider the types of photos that you want to take. If you want to photograph wildlife or other things you can't easily get close to then a telephoto lens is essential, with zoom a key factor to consider, while for landscapes a good ultra-wide is your friend. 

But of course, still photography isn't the be all, end all. If your needs are more centred around video recording you will want to track assets like the resolution at which a camera phone shoots video, stabilisation features (for action video) and capture modes.

When you have at least a general idea of what you need from your phone's camera, you can get a better picture of which is the best camera phone for you, with the list above helping you to easily find which options tick the right boxes for what you might need.

Which phone has the best camera?

The best camera phone will depend on your needs, and the phone with the best camera will depend on how you measure what makes a camera powerful. In reality, the hardware of a camera isn't the only measure (or even the best) to determine how good a camera is for a smartphone.

That said, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra manages to offer the most compelling and impressive balance of almost everything you could want from a camera phone to take our spot as the best overall.

Which phone is best for making YouTube videos?

If you're looking for a phone that will be best for filming YouTube videos or vlogging, there isn't a better option than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra right now. Excelling at recording quality video in high resolutions and in a variety of settings, it's a truly impressive camera phone for shooting film.

Not far behind is the iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max, which maintains the video prowess that iPhone's flagship handsets have boasted for years now, with even the likes of Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh having shot entire films with the use of an iPhone. And the iPhones have improved even further with shooting video since then, with the 14 Pro and Pro Max offering features like Cinematic Mode, Action Mode and an ability to record in ProRes for professional quality video capture.

The latest updates to this camera phone guide...

June 22, 2023

Updated entire guide to a new format, including quick reviews and links at the top of the page to make information easier to digest. 

Removed one entry from the list and replaced another with a different model, to make it more succinct.

Max Langridge
Staff Writer

Max is a digital content writer for TechRadar, covering home entertainment and audio, phones, laptops, gaming and virtually anything else that falls under the consumer electronics umbrella. Hailing from the United Kingdom, Max spent a combined five years writing for What Hi-Fi? and Pocket-lint, before moving to Australia in 2018. After a brief stint writing for men’s lifestyle publications, Max is back to working on his first passion of technology.

With contributions from