prologue
Here at GSMArena, it’s shutterbugs above all else. Camera upgrades are probably the single biggest reason to get excited about the release of new flagship phones, and we’ve definitely been spoiled in the last few years when it comes to them.
We’ve seen so many great mobile phones come out, each outperforming the next in hardware and software, and taking leaps and bounds in improving photography. So, we’ve seen a lot of heated debate about which phones have the best cameras. Frankly, we were all looking forward to coming up with a head-to-head comparison that could resolve this – at least for the time being.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra • Xiaomi 12S Ultra • Xiaomi 13 Pro • vivo X90 Pro
So we decided to pit some of the best Android camera phones against each other in a photo-only match. I took several pictures (hundreds of pictures) of the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Vivo X90 Pro, and Xiaomi 12S Ultra side by side. We intended to use the Pixel 7 Pro for this comparison, which wasn’t available at the time of testing, so we were able to include it in this head-to-head follow-up.
Three of these smartphones have 1 inch type sensors, one has 200 million pixels and all can capture 8k video. Some smartphones can zoom to the moon and back from the comfort of your pocket. Some might even say that you don’t even need to look at the moon to take a picture of it (too soon?). It’s crazy to think the phone has come this far. It’s even crazier to think what will be possible in just a few years.
But let’s focus on today and take a look at the phones that deserve to be called the best camera phones in 2023. Videos are something else entirely.
We also focus on the main, ultra-wide and mid-range zoom cameras of the Galaxy, Xiaomi and Vivo. We’re also looking at behind-the-lens performance so that selfies aren’t shown here.
Two Pros, two Ultras: vivo X90 Pro • Xiaomi 13 Pro • Galaxy S23 Ultra • Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Finally, we’re looking at the results right out of the camera. No post-processing or RAW editing. All phones in this lineup have the ability to shoot RAW and powerful built-in apps and features, giving budding photographers more ways to capture the moment.
Does it look fun? Let’s see some pictures.
