Smartphones have long replaced cameras, and social networks have replaced personal diaries. A huge number of people save part of the life that happens in the world in the form of photos and videos on personal blogs. But, in addition to capturing memorable events, high-quality photographs are needed. In today's rating, we will consider the best budget camera phones of 2021 with a decent level of shooting and technical parameters.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8
main camera – 48+8+2+2 MP, front – 13 MP;- battery 4000 mAh;
- screen 6.3”, resolution 2340*1080;
- 8-core Snapdragon 665 processor (up to 2 GHz);
- RAM – 3/4 GB, main – 32/64/128 GB;
- dimensions 158*75*8.5 mm, weight 190 g;
- price – from $202 (version 3/32), from $223 (version 4/64).
The smartphone just recently came off the production line. It will be simpler than its older brother Redmi Note 8 Pro, but it’s also very good. It has 4 main cameras! 4! The basis is a 48 MP Samsung GM1 module with an f/1.8 aperture, along with an 8 MP wide-angle lens (f/2.2), a 2 MP macro lens and a 2 MP module responsible for determining the depth of the scene. The smartphone allows you to take clear, detailed photos in almost any conditions. The 4000 mAh battery is enough for a couple of days of work. There is 18 W fast charging - in 30 minutes you can charge the battery up to 45%.
The model turned out to be nice: glass is used on both sides (though the frame is plastic), the screen occupies 90.4% of the front panel . The brand name now appears under the display – this is a controversial decision. You can’t fault the large screen and its resolution, as well as the about 170,000 points in AnTuTu , which also pleases with its energy efficiency. By the way, in the model with the Pro prefix, the company for some reason used a chip from Mediatek, which not all users accepted with pleasure. So the cheaper Redmi Note 8 doesn’t look bad compared to it.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
The disadvantages include protruding cameras and the lack of NFC. For now, you can only buy the model when ordering from China, but soon, we hope, sales will start in stores.
Also pay attention to the model that came out this spring - Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 . It has the same screen and battery, a slightly weaker processor (Snapdragon 660) and a dual main camera - along with a 48 megapixel Samsung GM1 module (like the Note, a 5 megapixel sensor is used. The front camera is exactly the same. The device costs less: version 3/32 – from $140, version 4/64 – from $155, and for $170-185 you can afford the version 4/128.The camera and battery here are very decent.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
Price: from 73,000 rubles
You may not like Apple, but it’s extremely difficult not to admit that the iPhone 11 Pro and its older version Pro Max have a cool camera. The brand has done serious work on the photo capabilities of its devices. And even though the optical zoom here is only twofold, and the digital zoom is tenfold, the photos are quite competitive. At the same time, the device shoots excellent video, has optical stabilization and has a high-quality night mode, which Apple did not have before in principle.
Meizu Note 9
main camera – 48+5 MP, front – 20 MP;- battery 4000 mAh;
- screen 6.2”, resolution 2244*1080;
- 8-core Snapdragon 675 processor (up to 2 GHz);
- RAM – 4/6 GB, main – 64/128 GB;
- dimensions 153*74*8.6 mm, weight 170 g;
- price – from $170 (version 4/64)
Meizu has long proven that it can make high-quality and inexpensive smartphones. Note 9 boasts not only a capacious battery and a good set of cameras, but also fairly high performance (fresh processor, 175,000 points in AnTuTu ), as well as design - the company proudly declares that it managed to make perhaps the smallest notch on the screen. The 4000 mAh battery is enough to last until the evening under sufficient load. If you are not a particularly active user, then the battery will last for 2 days. Fast charging from the supplied device is supported A full battery can be “filled” in 1.5 hours.
The main camera is equipped with a 48 megapixel module with an f/1.7 aperture and takes good pictures, especially during the day. A second 5 MP camera is needed to blur the background. Photos are taken in 12 megapixel resolution through pixel merging. Maximum video resolution is 4K at 30 fps. The selfie camera deserves special praise. Among the minuses, we note the plastic body and the lack of NFC, but, in general, this is a very good solution if you are looking for a budget smartphone with a good camera and battery.
Honor 20 Pro
Price: from 26,500 rubles
Honor 20 Pro is one of the most inexpensive smartphones with optical stabilization and zoom. The optical zoom here is 3x, and the electronic zoom is 30x. For its price tag, the model takes excellent photos, and in other respects the device is up-to-date and quite competitive.
In addition, the Honor 30 Pro is already available for sale, which offers almost the same camera as the Huawei P40 Pro, but it costs twice as much as its predecessor and slightly less than the P40 Pro, so the logical question arises about the advisability of purchasing it.
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Xiaomi Mi A3
main camera – 48+8+2 MP, front – 32 MP;- battery 4030 mAh;
- screen 6.09”, resolution 1560*720;
- 8-core Snapdragon 665 processor (up to 2 GHz);
- RAM – 4 GB, main – 64/128 GB;
- dimensions mm, weight 190 g;
- price – from $150 (version 4/64) and from $170 (version 4/128).
The smartphone received a triple main camera, an AMOLED screen , a good processor, a loud speaker and the Android One operating system , all for relatively little money. The gadget itself is made in a glass case , protected on both sides by Gorilla Glass 5, and looks very decent. One of the key advantages of the model is a good main camera. It is based on a 48 megapixel module with f/1.8 aperture and 1/2” matrix size. The size of each pixel is 0.8 microns, but under difficult conditions they are combined into groups of 4 pixels, and as a result, the size of such a “cluster” reaches 1.6 microns. The second module is wide-angle with a resolution of 8 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture, the third sensor (2 megapixels, f/2.4) is necessary for blurring the background. The photo quality is at a very high level. The front camera with its 32 megapixels and f/2.0 aperture is also worth praising – the results will impress you.
Considering the low screen resolution and the use of an energy-efficient processor, the smartphone’s battery lasts a long time, but, of course, you can’t expect miracles. There is fast charging, but not from the included charger. In addition to the low screen resolution, you can find fault with the lack of NFC. Like many Xiaomi devices, there is an infrared port.
TOP 10 best camera phones of 2022
Photos are the best souvenirs, and now you can always take them with your smartphone. Optical zoom is something that camera phones can already do! Camera phones storming store shelves - this is a new obsession from manufacturers. If you're looking for a smartphone with the best camera, you have many candidates, from the iPhone 12 series to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and beyond, as photography is an area that camera phone makers have taken to incredible heights. So, check out the TOP 10 best camera phones in 2022.
Lenovo Z6 Youth
main camera – 16+8+5 MP, front – 16 MP;- battery 4050 mAh;
- screen 6.3”, resolution 2340*1080;
- 8-core Snapdragon 710 processor (up to 2.2 GHz);
- RAM – 4/6 GB, main – 64/128 GB;
- dimensions 157*74*8 mm, weight 164 g;
- price – from $160 (version 4/64)
Judging by the stated characteristics, we have before us a simply gorgeous smartphone. Thin, in a glass case, with a powerful processor, a capacious battery and an excellent set of cameras. The main module of the rear camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels and an aperture of f/1.8, additional modules are 8 megapixels with f/2.4 and 5 megapixels with f/2.2. The manufacturer has provided a night mode, photo enhancement using AI, as well as noise reduction technology by combining several photos into one.
Among the advantages of the model, we note the implementation of HDR10 technology, thanks to which the picture on the screen will be bright and saturated. In addition, the model received Dolby surround sound technology and a USB-C connector. The downside is that the gadget is not officially sold in our stores, so you will have to wait for it from China. Let's add here some problems with the firmware.
Huawei P40 Pro
Price: from 57,000 rubles
Huawei, despite problems with Google, continues to successfully make smartphones. The brand has been offering the best mobile cameras for several years now and 2022 is no exception. P40 Pro received a camera with three sensors and a depth sensor. Optional lenses offer wide-angle shooting, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and 50x digital zoom. The photos traditionally turn out cool, but while users are arguing about who is better – Samsung or Huawei, the DxOMark rating gives preference to the manufacturer from China.
The P40 Pro model is an expensive device. If you want to save money, but still have optical zoom and stabilization, then it makes sense to consider older devices - P30 Pro or Mate 30 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy A20
- main camera – 13+5 MP, front – 8 MP;
- battery 4000 mAh;
- screen 6.4”, resolution 1560*720;
- 8-core Exynos 7884 processor (up to 1.6 GHz);
- RAM – 3 GB, main memory – 32 GB;
- dimensions 158.4*74.7*7.8 mm, weight 169 g;
- price – from $160 (version 3/32), from $180 (version 3/64).
In general, the entire 2022 A series from Samsung turned out to be very good - the company has finally learned how to make decent budget smartphones. If you add a little, you can buy the A30, A40, or the recently released A30s, but only the A20 model fits into the framework we have established. The camera in the phone is not enough stars from the sky, but if we compare the model with competitors from A-brands, the device is clearly a winner. Paired with the main module (13 MP, f/1.9) is a wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 123 degrees. On a sunny day the photos will be great. The selfie camera is ordinary.
A 4000 mAh battery will last for 82 hours of music playback or 21 hours of video playback at maximum brightness - a very good result. You can safely count on 2 days of battery life, unless, of course, you belong to the category of people who never leave their gadget. The screen turned out to be ambiguous: it is made using AMOLED , but with a low resolution. The processor is average - it scores just over 84,000 points in AnTuTu. This is enough to run the most popular applications and most games, but it is better not to use demanding gaming applications. The model received NFC module and a USB-C port. In a number of parameters, the gadget is inferior to its Chinese counterparts, but if you want to buy a smartphone with a good camera and battery from a famous Korean brand, then this model is a good option.
OnePlus 7T Pro
Price: from 45,000 rubles
The 7T Pro is considered by many to be the best smartphone of 2022. To a greater extent, it attracted users due to its combination of characteristics - powerful, beautiful, excellent display, good camera, stereo sound. But still, the quality of photos is often inferior to competitors’ flagships. However, this is a great device with optical stabilization and 3x zoom.
Also worth mentioning is the new OnePlus 8 Pro. This is a phone that has everything that was missing in previous models. However, it is expensive, and users' opinions about its camera vary greatly - some say that it is cool, while others strongly criticize it.
Oppo Realme R5
main camera – 12+8+2+2 MP, front – 13 MP;- battery 5000 mAh;
- screen 6.5”, resolution 1600*720;
- 8-core Snapdragon 665 processor (up to 2 GHz);
- RAM – 3/4GB, main – 32/64/128 GB;
- dimensions 164*75.6*9.3 mm, weight 164 g;
- price – from $160 (version 3/32), from $180 (version 3/64).
The smartphone just went on sale. Judging by the stated characteristics, a very good device awaits us. Yes, it only HD screen resolution, but there are already 4 cameras – not two, or even three, but 4 at once. The main one is 12 megapixels with f/1.8 aperture, and it is supported by an 8 megapixel f wide-angle lens /2.2 with a viewing angle of 119 degrees, as well as a macro lens (allows you to take pictures at a distance of only 4 cm) and a sensor that provides spectacular background blur. 10x optical zoom is claimed . A good and promising set, but the model is low in our rating, since there are still few real tests. The video is recorded in 4K, there is a slow motion function, the front camera has an f/2.0 aperture.
With a low screen resolution, the battery should last a long time. The manufacturer claims 718 hours of standby time, 30.8 hours of music listening and 46.7 hours of calls. Fast charging available. Among the features, we also note the presence of protective glass Gorilla Glass 5 and NFC . The processor is not the most powerful, but it can confidently handle the vast majority of tasks.
That's all for now. Share your findings and discoveries - in case we missed something.
The best smartphones with optical zoom
Any modern smartphone can take close-up photographs, but inexpensive devices have digital zoom, while more expensive ones have optical zoom. In the second case, special lenses are used that can bring the image closer without losing quality.
At the same time, in recent years, smartphones with optical zoom have begun to appear, which more than doubles the zoom. The function is definitely interesting, so more and more users are choosing devices with it, and manufacturers are increasingly focusing on it. Another useful option is an optical stabilizer. For some buyers, its presence on the camera is a necessary criterion, especially when it comes to flagships. We will talk about the best models with optical zoom and stabilization in 2019-2020 in this text.
What should you pay attention to when buying a camera phone?
- Matrix size. The higher the inch, the larger the matrix and the better the photos will be.
- Permission. This is the most popular characteristic by which most evaluate a device's camera. Don’t rush to abandon smartphones with a small number of megapixels without understanding the other decisive characteristics. Remember that even 12-megapixel cameras can cope with their tasks no worse than 100-megapixel ones.
- Diaphragm. A parameter that is especially important when shooting in poor lighting. The lower the value, the better. Ideally, a value of 2.0 or lower.
- The number of cameras and their “usefulness”.
- Display. For comfortable shooting, it must be bright, have high resolution and correct color rendition.
A nice addition will be the presence of autofocus, image stabilization, the ability to shoot in RAW format, the presence of an HDR mode and zooming.
