Are you looking for the best camera smartphones today?
Over the years, our phones have improved to the point that you can use them to take great pictures and replace cameras.
Here are the best camera smartphones in the Philippines today:
Disclaimer: Prices were as of the day of writing and may change — and were taken from official online mall stores.
1. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Despite being one of the most expensive brands in the world, Apple still manages to sell iPhones to a lot of users worldwide.
In fact, they were able to sell 56.6 million units in the first quarter of 2022 alone, with the iPhone 13 taking 62% of this quarter’s global market share for devices.
Over the years, they’ve been known to produce the highest quality of photos and videos on a smartphone, and here’s why:
iPhone 13 Pro Max specifications:
| CPU | Hexa-core (2×3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4×1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Screen | 6.7 inches super retina XDR OLED display, with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and 1200 nits peak brightness |
| Operating System | iOS 15, up to iOS 15.6, planned upgrade to iOS 16 |
| Storage | 1TB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 4325 mAh with 27W fast charging, 15W MagSafe wireless charging, and 7.5W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging |
| Front Camera | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″, with SL 3D, HDR, and up to 4K@24/25/30/60fps video recording with gyro-EIS |
| Rear Camera | 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom, and 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF with TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth), Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama), and up to 4K@24/30/60fps video recording with 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, cinematic mode, and stereo sound rec. |
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, and ultra-wideband (UWB) support |
Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max gives its users real-life-looking photos and videos to keep, this top-notch phone still has a few minor setbacks.
First off, at such an expensive price, the phone does not come with a charger on the box, with only a 4325 mAh battery inside.
Second, though it offers four different choices in terms of memory, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has no microSD card slot.
It’s always been like that, but most phones at this price point have expandable memory. Lastly, it does not support 8k video recording.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the iPhone 13 Pro Max:
| Pros | Cons |
| Dust and scratch-resistant; water resistant up to 6m | No micro SD card slot or expandable memory |
| Great display with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR 10 support, super retina XDR OLED screen, and Dolby vision | No charger on the box despite having a 4325 mAh battery only |
| Improved camera experience with 3x optical zoom and low-light performance | No 8k video recording support |
Best prices:
2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung has always been one of Apple’s major rivals in the smartphone industry, and for good reason…
This South Korean brand creates android smartphones that are not only customizable but are also recognized for their jaw-dropping design, specs, and display.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has an outstanding 5000 mAh battery with an awesome 1440 px display, loud stereo speakers, 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and S-pen support.
It also operates with the fastest android chipset and is supporting 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and ultra-wideband connectivity.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra specifications:
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) (International) Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) (USA/China) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 (International) Adreno 660 (USA/China) |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Screen | 6.8 inches dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1500 nits peak brightness, 1440 x 3200 pixels resolution, and corning gorilla glass victus for protection |
| Operating System | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Storage | 512GB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 5000 mAh, with 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging |
| Front Camera | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.7µm, PDAF, with dual video call, auto-HDR, and up to 4K@30/60fps |
| Rear Camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS, 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom, 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom, and 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video, with LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama, and up to 8K@24fps video recording |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support), Bixby natural language commands and dictation, and Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified), Ultra Wideband (UWB) support |
However, despite being a powerful android phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is not only bulky but also slippery.
It also has no microSD slot, and no chargers or headphones come upon purchase.
It also needs to work more on its image processing if it wants to catch up with the iPhone’s quality as some of the photos can end up overprocessed.
Some users also report the phone heating up quickly. Plus, the phone is being shipped with more than 45 preloaded apps and 3rd party bloatware.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful and long-lasting 5000 mAh battery | No micro SD card slot or expandable memory |
| Beautiful viewing and gaming display with the best OLED screen, loud stereo speakers, 1300 nits peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support | Daylight images tend to be overprocessed sometimes |
| Improved camera experience with 3x optical zoom and low-light performance | No charger or headphones upon purchase |
Best prices:
3. Xiaomi Mi 11
The first smartphone with the Snapdragon 888 processor to be made available worldwide is the Xiaomi Mi 11.
With the brand gaining popularity in the Philippines, the Xiaomi Mi 11 presents itself with an enticing curved shape made from high-quality craftsmanship.
It has a huge 6.81 OLED display that gives off bright and accurate colors, along with a 1440-pixel resolution that makes every movie and video a treat.
Not to mention, the Mi 11’s battery is also long-lasting, and the phone itself charges really fast.
Xiaomi Mi 11 specifications:
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| GPU | Adreno 660 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Screen | 6.81 inches AMOLED display, with 1B colors, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1500 nits peak brightness, 1440 x 3200 pixels resolution, and corning gorilla glass victus for protection |
| Operating System | Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 4600 mAh, with 55W fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging |
| Front Camera | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4″, 0.8µm with HDR and up to 1080p@30/60fps video recording |
| Rear Camera | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06″, 1.12µm, and 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro), 1/5.0″, 1.12µm with dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, and up to 8K@24/30fps video recording |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, and virtual proximity sensing |
However, the Xiaomi Mi 11 has some drawbacks.
It lacks in some aspects, particularly water and dust resistance, as it has no official IP rating to boast. It comes with no telephoto camera either.
Moreover, it also has no expandable memory. Specs aside, this phone uses the slow and outdated USB type C 2.0.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the Xiaomi Mi 11:
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge, vibrant display with 6.81 OLED display and 1500 nits peak brightness | No water and dust resistance rating |
| 50W fast wireless charging | No expandable memory |
| Amazing camera performance with 108 MP wide camera, 13 MP ultrawide lens, 5 MP macro lens, and up to 8k video recording | No telephoto lens for increased focal length |
Best prices:
4. Huawei Nova 8i
Despite the US banning Huawei for its alleged security holes, this brand has been making waves in the Philippines for producing quality smartphones.
The Huawei Nova 8i in particular has been attracting customers for its 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with FHD resolution.
Plus, its 64MP quad camera has HDR saturation and decent performance, even in low light.
It also sports a 66W super fast charging speed, a Snapdragon 662 chipset, and a 1080 video recording option.
Huawei Nova 8i specifications:
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Screen | 6.67 inches IPS LCD display, with 1080 x 2376 pixels resolution |
| Operating System | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 4300 mAh, 66W fast charging |
| Front Camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), with HDR and 1080p@30fps video recording |
| Rear Camera | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF, 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro), and 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) with LED flash, Panorama, HDR and up to 1080p@30fps video recording |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
The Huawei Nova 8i, however, has no gorilla glass protection.
It does not have a secondary storage slot, nor Google Play services to enjoy some common Android apps with. Some users have also reported a heating problem with heavy use.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the Huawei Nova 8i:
| Pros | Cons |
| Large display with 6.67 inch IPS LCD panel with FHD resolution | No gorilla glass protection |
| Fast charging speed with 66W | Heating problems may arise with heavy usage |
| 64 quad camera setup with decent low-light performance | No Google Play services |
Best prices:
5. Asus Zenfone 8
The Asus Zenfone 8 is a compact smartphone that’s water-resistant.
It has a 120 Hz refresh rate and an AMOLED screen with high brightness. The phone also comes with great quality speakers and video experience.
In addition, the Asus Zenfone 8 has a dual sim slot, an excellent Snapdragon 888 performance, and other awesome specs as listed below:
Asus Zenfone 8 specifications:
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Screen | 5.9 inches super AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1100 nits peak brightness |
| Operating System | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUI |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 4000 mAh, 30W fast charging |
| Front Camera | 12 MP, f/2.5, 28mm (standard), 1/2.93″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, with up to 4K@30fps video recording |
| Rear Camera | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, and 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, with LED flash, HDR, panorama, and up to 8K@24fps video recording |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
But there are some things that are unlikeable about this smartphone.
First of all, the Asus Zenfone 8 only comes with two major OS updates. It also has no telephoto lens and wireless charging.
Plus, even if it comes with 16GB ram and 256GB of storage, it has no expandable memory.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the Asus Zenfone 8:
| Pros | Cons |
| 120Hz refresh rate | Only two major OS updates |
| IP68 water resistance | No telephoto lens and wireless charging |
| Great chipset, speakers, and video quality | No expandable memory |
Best prices:
Bonus: OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro has a sleek build with a premium finish.
It has a 5000 mAh battery that lasts all day. The phone comes with 80W fast charging, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
This phone is recognized for its wonderful camera performance. It can record up to 8k videos on top of producing good-quality photos.
It also comes with HDR 10+ support and a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes it great for games and movies.
OnePlus 10 Pro specifications:
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Screen | 6.7 inches LTPO2 Fluid AMOLED display, 1B colors, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1300 nits peak brightness |
| Operating System | Android 12, OxygenOS 12.1 (International), ColorOS 12.1 (China) |
| Storage | 512GB |
| Battery and Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 5000 mAh, 80W fast, 50W fast wireless charging |
| Front Camera | 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm, with Auto-HDR and up to 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS video recording |
| Rear Camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43″, 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS, 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom, 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, with Hasselblad Color Calibration, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, and up to 8K@24fps video recording |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum, barometer |
However, the OnePlus10 Pro lacks water and dust resistance.
It also does not support secondary storage, so users have to make do with only 512GB, which might not be enough for heavy photo and video takers.
It also lacks a macro lens and its 80W fast charger is not available in the US. Only the 65W version of this charger is sold in the said area.
Here’s a summary of the specific pros and cons of the OnePlus 10 Pro:
| Pros | Cons |
| Long-lasting battery life with 5000 mAh | No official IP rating |
| 80W fast charging speed | No microSD slot for secondary storage |
| Great camera performance with 8k video recording capacity | Refresh rate may be 120Hz, but some games, when played with the phone, limit the refresh rate to 60Hz |
Best prices:
