• Which phone to buy is thin and has a good camera. Smartphones with good cameras

    The only explanation more banal than this axiom is “the iPhone, it turns out, does not have a slot for a memory card.” But newbies continue to make mistakes when they fall for the number of megapixels in the camera, which means they have to repeat themselves.

    Imagine a window - an ordinary window in a residential building or apartment. The number of megapixels is, roughly speaking, the number of glasses inside the window frame. If we continue to draw parallels with smartphones, in ancient times window glasses were the same size and were considered a scarce commodity. Therefore, when the so-called “Tolyan” said that he had 5 glasses (megapixels) in his window unit, everyone understood that Anatoly was a serious and wealthy person. And the characteristics of the window were also immediately clear - a good view to the outside of the house, a large glazing area.

    A few years later, windows (megapixels) were no longer in short supply, so their number just needed to be increased to the required level, and that was it. Just adjust it to the area (a window for ventilation and a loggia, for the sake of strength, require a different number of windows) so that the camera produces a slightly denser picture than 4K monitors and TVs produce. And finally deal with other characteristics - for example, combat clouding of glass and image distortion. Teach cameras to focus correctly and paint available megapixels efficiently, if you want specifics.

    On the right there are more “megapixels”, but they do not provide anything other than “obstacles” with the same “sensor” area

    But people are already accustomed to measuring the quality of cameras in megapixels, and sellers happily indulged this. Therefore, the circus with a huge amount of glass (megapixels) in the same frame dimensions (camera matrix dimensions) continued. As a result, today the pixels in smartphone cameras, although they are not “packed” with the density of a mosquito net, the “deglazing” has become too dense, and over 15 megapixels in smartphones almost always spoil rather than improve photographs. This has never happened before, and again it turned out that it is not size that is important, but skill.

    At the same time, the “evil”, as you understand, is not the megapixels themselves - if tons of megapixels were spread out on a fairly large camera, they would benefit the smartphone. When a camera is able to unleash the potential of all megapixels on board, and not “smear” them in large quantities when shooting, the photo can be enlarged, cropped, and it will remain of high quality. That is, no one will understand that this is just a fragment of a larger picture. But now such miracles are found only in “correct” SLR and mirrorless cameras, in which the matrix alone (a microcircuit with photo sensors, onto which the image flies through the “glasses” of the camera) is much larger than the assembled smartphone camera.

    “Evil” is the tradition of putting a clip of megapixels into tiny cell phone cameras. This tradition brought nothing but a blurry picture and an excess of digital noise (“peas” in the frame).

    Sony piled 23 megapixels where competitors put 12-15 megapixels, and paid for it with a decrease in picture clarity. (photo - manilashaker.com)

    For reference: in the best camera phones of 2017, the main rear cameras (not to be confused with the b/w additional ones) all operate with a “pathetic” 12-13 megapixels. In photo resolution it is approximately 4032x3024 pixels - enough for a Full HD (1920x1080) monitor, and for a 4K (3840x2160) monitor too, albeit back to back. Roughly speaking, if a smartphone camera has more than 10 megapixels, their number is no longer important. Other things are important.

    How to determine that a camera is of high quality before looking at photos and videos from it

    Aperture - how wide the smartphone “opened its eyes”

    The squirrel eats nuts, deputies eat people’s money, and cameras eat light. The more light, the higher the quality of the photo and the more details. But you can’t get enough sunny weather and studio-style bright lighting for any occasion. Therefore, for good photos indoors or outdoors in cloudy weather/at night, cameras are designed in such a way that they produce a lot of light even in unfavorable conditions.

    The easiest way to get more light to reach the camera sensor is to make the hole in the lens larger. The indicator of how wide the “eyes” of the camera are open is called aperture, aperture, or aperture ratio - these are the same parameter. And the words are different so that reviewers in articles can show off incomprehensible terms for as long as possible. Because, if you don’t show off, the aperture can simply be called, excuse me, a “hole,” as is customary among photographers.

    The aperture is indicated by a fraction with an f, a slash and a number (or with a capital F and no fraction: for example, F2.2). Why

    So it’s a long story, but that’s not the point, as Rotaru sings. The point is this: the smaller the number after the letter F and the slash, the better the camera in the smartphone. For example, f/2.2 in smartphones is good, but f/1.9 is better! The wider the aperture, the more light enters the matrix and the better the smartphone “sees” (takes better photos and videos) at night. The bonus of a wide aperture comes with beautiful background blur when you photograph flowers up close, even if your smartphone does not have a dual camera.

    Melania Trump explains what different apertures look like in smartphone cameras

    Before buying a smartphone, don’t be lazy to check how capable the rear camera is. If you have your eye on the Samsung Galaxy J3 2017, search for “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture”, “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture” or “Galaxy J3 2017 aperture” to find out the exact number. If the smartphone you have your eye on doesn’t know anything about the aperture, there are two options:

    • The camera is so bad that the manufacturer decided to remain silent about its characteristics. Marketers engage in approximately the same rudeness when, in response to “what processor is in the smartphone?” they answer “quad-core” and do their best to avoid disclosing the specific model.
    • The smartphone has just gone on sale and no specifications other than those in the advertising announcement have been released yet. Wait a couple of weeks - usually during this time the details will be released.

    What should be the aperture in the camera of a new smartphone?

    In 2017-2018 Even for a budget model, the rear camera should produce at least f/2.2. If the number in the denominator of this fraction is larger, get ready for the camera to see the picture as if through darkened glasses. And in the evening and at night she will be “low-blind” and will be able to see almost nothing even at a distance of several meters from the smartphone. And don’t rely on brightness adjustments - in a smartphone with f/2.4 or f/2.6, an evening photograph with a programmatically “tightened” exposure will turn out to be a “rough mess,” while a camera with f/2.2 or f/2.0 will take a higher-quality photo without tricks.

    The wider the aperture, the higher the quality of shooting on a smartphone camera

    The coolest smartphones today have cameras with an aperture of f/1.8, f/1.7 or even f/1.6. The aperture itself does not guarantee the maximum quality of images (the quality of the sensor and the “glass” has not been canceled) - this, to quote photographers, is just a “hole” through which the camera looks at the world. But all other things being equal, it is better to choose smartphones in which the camera does not “squint”, but receives an image with “eyes” wide open.

    Matrix (sensor) diagonal: the larger the better

    The matrix in a smartphone is not the matrix where people with complex muzzles in black cloaks dodge bullets. In mobile phones, this word means a photocell... in other words, a plate on which a picture flies through the “glasses” of the optics. In old cameras, the picture flew to the film and was saved there, and the matrix instead accumulates information about the photograph and sends it to the smartphone processor. The processor forms all this into the final photo and stores the files in internal memory or on microSD.

    There is only one thing you need to know about the matrix - it should be as large as possible. If the optics is a water hose, and the diaphragm is the neck of a container, then the matrix is ​​the same reservoir for water, of which there is never enough.

    The dimensions of the matrix are usually measured in inhuman, from the bell tower of ordinary buyers, Vidicon inches. One such inch is equal to 17 mm, but cameras in smartphones have not yet grown to such dimensions, so the diagonal of the matrix is ​​denoted by a fraction, as is the case with the aperture. The smaller the second digit in the fraction (divisor), the larger the matrix -> the cooler the camera.

    Is it clear that nothing is clear? Then just remember these numbers:

    A budget smartphone will take good photographs if its matrix size is at least 1/3" and the camera resolution is no higher than 12 megapixels. More megapixels means lower quality in practice. And if there are less than ten megapixels, the photo will be visible on good large monitors and TVs look loose, simply because they have fewer dots than the height and width of your monitor screen.

    In mid-class smartphones, a good matrix size is 1/2.9” or 1/2.8”. If you find a larger one (1/2.6” or 1/2.5”, for example), consider yourself very lucky. In flagship smartphones, a good tone is a matrix measuring at least 1/2.8”, and better – 1/2.5”.

    Smartphones with large sensors take better pictures than models with small photocells

    Can it get any cooler? It happens - look at 1/2.3” in Sony Xperia XZ Premium and XZ1. Why then don’t these smartphones set records for photo quality? Because the camera’s “automation” constantly makes mistakes in selecting settings for shooting, and the camera’s reserve of “clarity and vigilance” is spoiled by the number of megapixels - in these models they piled up 19 instead of the standard 12-13 megapixels for new flagships, and the fly in the ointment crossed out the advantages of the huge matrix.

    Are there smartphones in nature with a good camera and less harsh characteristics? Yes - look at the Apple iPhone 7 with its 1/3" at 12 megapixels. On the Honor 8, which has 1/2.9" with the same number of megapixels. Magic? No - just good optics and perfectly “polished” automation, which takes into account the potential of the camera as well as tailored trousers take into account the amount of cellulite on the thighs.

    But there is a problem - manufacturers almost never indicate the size of the sensor in the specifications, because these are not megapixels, and you can embarrass yourself if the sensor is cheap. And in reviews or descriptions of smartphones in online stores, such camera characteristics are even less common. Even if you choose a smartphone with an adequate number of megapixels and a promising aperture value, there is a chance you will never know the size of the rear photosensor. In this case, pay attention to the latest characteristic of smartphone cameras, which directly affects the quality.

    Better few large pixels than many small ones

    Imagine a sandwich with red caviar, or take a look at it if you don’t remember what such delicacies look like. Just as the eggs in a sandwich are distributed over a piece of loaf, the area of ​​the camera sensor (camera matrix) in a smartphone is occupied by light-sensitive elements - pixels. There are, to put it mildly, not a dozen, or even a dozen, of these pixels in smartphones. One megapixel is 1 million pixels; typical smartphone cameras from 2015-2017 have 12-20 megapixels.

    As we have already figured out, containing an excessive number of “blanks” on a smartphone’s matrix is ​​detrimental to photographs. The efficiency of such a crowd is similar to that of specialized teams of people replacing a light bulb. Therefore, it is better to observe a smaller number of smart pixels in a camera than a larger number of stupid ones. The larger each of the pixels in the camera, the less “dirty” the photos are, and the less “jumpy” the video recording becomes.

    Large pixels in the camera (photo below) make evening and night shots better quality

    The ideal smartphone camera consists of a large “foundation” (matrix/sensor) with large pixels on it. But no one is going to make smartphones thicker or dedicate half of the body at the back for the camera. Therefore, the “development” will be such that the camera does not stick out from the body and does not take up much space, the megapixels are large, even if there are only 12-13 of them, and the matrix is ​​as large as possible to accommodate them all.

    The size of a pixel in a camera is measured in micrometers and is designated as µm in Russian or µm in Latin. Before you buy a smartphone, make sure that the pixels in it are large enough - this is an indirect sign that the camera takes good pictures. You type into the search, for example, “Xiaomi Mi 5S µm” or “Xiaomi Mi 5S µm” - and you are pleased with the camera characteristics of the smartphone that you have noticed. Or you get upset - it depends on the numbers you see as a result.

    How big should a pixel be in a good camera phone?

    In recent times, it has become especially famous for its pixel sizes... Google Pixel is a smartphone that was released in 2016 and “showed Kuzkin’s mother” to competitors due to the combination of a huge (1/2.3”) matrix and very large pixels of the order of 1.55 microns. With this set, he almost always produced detailed photographs even in cloudy weather or at night.

    Why don’t manufacturers “cut” the megapixels in the camera to a minimum and place a minimum of pixels on the matrix? Such an experiment has already happened - HTC in the flagship One M8 (2014) made the pixels so huge that the rear camera could fit... four of them on a 1/3” matrix! Thus, One M8 received pixels measuring as much as 2 microns! As a result, the smartphone “torn” almost all competitors in terms of the quality of images in the dark. Yes, and photographs in a resolution of 2688x1520 pixels were enough for Full HD monitors of that time. But the HTC camera did not become an all-round champion, because the Taiwanese were let down by HTC’s color accuracy and “stupid” shooting algorithms that did not know how to “correctly prepare” the settings for a sensor with unusual potential.

    Today, all manufacturers have gone crazy with the race for the largest pixels, so:

    • In good budget camera phones, the pixel size should be 1.22 microns or more
    • In flagships, pixels ranging in size from 1.25 microns to 1.4 or 1.5 microns are considered good form. More is better.

    There are few smartphones with a good camera and relatively small pixels, but they exist in nature. This, of course, is the Apple iPhone 7 with its 1.22 microns and OnePlus 5 with 1.12 microns - they “come out” due to very high-quality sensors, very good optics and “smart” automation.

    Without these components, small pixels ruin the photo quality in flagship smartphones. For example, in the LG G6, the algorithms create obscenities when shooting at night, and the sensor, although ennobled with good “glasses,” is cheap in itself. IN

    As a result, 1.12 microns always spoil night shots, except when you enter into battle with “manual mode” instead of stupid automation and correct its flaws yourself. The same picture prevails when shooting on a Sony Xperia XZ Premium or XZ1. And in the masterpiece, “on paper”, the Xiaomi Mi 5S camera is hampered from competing with the flagships of the iPhone and Samsung by the lack of optical stabilization and the same “crooked hands” of the algorithm developers, which is why the smartphone copes well with shooting only during the day, but not at night very impressive.

    To make it clear how much to weigh in grams, take a look at the characteristics of the cameras in some of the best camera phones of our time.

    Smartphone Number of megapixels of the “main” rear camera Matrix diagonal Pixel size
    Google Pixel 2 XL 12.2 MP1/2.6" 1.4 µm
    Sony Xperia XZ Premium 19 MP1/2.3" 1.22 µm
    OnePlus 5 16 MP1/2.8" 1.12 µm
    Apple iPhone 7 12 MP1/3" 1.22 µm
    Samsung Galaxy S8 12 MP1/2.5" 1.4 µm
    LG G6 13 MP1/3" 1.12 µm
    Samsung Galaxy Note 8 12 MP1/2.55" 1.4 µm
    Huawei P10 Lite/Honor 8 Lite 12 MP1/2.8" 1.25 µm
    Apple iPhone SE 12 MP1/3" 1.22 µm
    Xiaomi Mi 5S 12 MP1/2.3" 1.55 µm
    Honor 8 12 MP1/2.9" 1.25 µm
    Apple iPhone 6 8 MP1/3" 1.5 µm
    Huawei nova 12 MP1/2.9" 1.25 µm

    What type of autofocus is best?

    Autofocus is when a mobile phone “focuses” on its own while taking photos and videos. It is needed so as not to change the settings “for every sneeze”, like a gunner in a tank.

    In old smartphones and modern Chinese "state-priced" phones, manufacturers use contrast autofocus. This is the most primitive method of focusing, which focuses on how light or dark it is “straight ahead” in front of the camera, like a half-blind person. That’s why cheap smartphones need about a couple of seconds to focus, during which it’s easy to “miss” a moving object, or to stop wanting to shoot what you were going to do because “the train has left.”

    Phase autofocus “catches light” across the entire area of ​​the camera sensor, calculates at what angle the rays enter the camera and draws conclusions about what is “in front of the smartphone’s nose” or a little further away. Due to its “intelligence” and calculations, it works very quickly during the day and does not annoy you at all. Common in all modern smartphones, except very budget ones. The only drawback is working at night, when the light enters into the narrow hole of the mobile phone’s aperture in such small portions that the smartphone “breaks the roof” and it constantly fidgets with focusing due to a sudden change in information.

    Laser autofocus is the most chic! Laser rangefinders have always been used to “throw” a beam over a long distance and calculate the distance to an object. LG in the G3 smartphone (2014) taught this “scanning” to help the camera quickly focus.

    Laser autofocus is amazingly fast even in indoor or dim environments

    Take a look at your wristwatch... although, what am I talking about... okay, turn on the stopwatch on your smartphone and appreciate how quickly one second passes. Now mentally divide it by 3.5 - in 0.276 seconds, the smartphone receives information about the distance to the subject and reports this to the camera. Moreover, it does not lose speed either in the dark or in bad weather. If you plan to shoot photos and videos up close or at a short distance in low light, a smartphone with laser autofocus will be a big help.

    But keep in mind that cell phones are not Star Wars weapons, so the range of the laser in the camera barely jumps a couple of meters. Everything that is further away is viewed by the mobile phone using the same phase autofocus. In other words, to photograph objects from afar, it is not necessary to look for a smartphone with “laser guidance” in the camera - you will not get much use from such a function in general shots of photos and videos.

    Optical stabilization. Why is it needed and how does it work

    Have you ever driven a car with leaf spring suspension? On army UAZs, for example, or ambulances with the same design? In addition to the fact that in such cars you can “beat off the butt,” they shake incredibly - the suspension is as rigid as possible so as not to fall apart on the roads, and therefore it tells passengers everything that it thinks about the road surface, frankly and not “spring” (because that there is nothing to spring with).

    Now you know how a smartphone camera without optical stabilization feels when you try to take a photo.

    The problem with shooting with a smartphone is this:

    • The camera needs a lot of light to take good photos. Not direct rays of the sun into the “face”, but diffuse, ubiquitous light around.
    • The longer the camera “examines” the image during the photo, the more light it captures = the higher the quality of the picture.
    • At the time of shooting and these camera “peeps”, the smartphone must be motionless so that the picture does not get “smeared”. If it moves even a fraction of a millimeter, the frame will be ruined.

    And human hands are shaking. This is clearly noticeable if you lift with outstretched arms and try to hold a barbell, and less noticeable when you hold a cell phone in front of you to take a photo or video. The difference is that the barbell can “float” in your hands within wide limits - as long as you don’t touch it against a wall, a neighbor, or drop it on your feet. And the smartphone needs to have time to “grab” the light for the photo to come out successful, and to do this before it deviates a fraction of a millimeter in your hands.

    Therefore, the algorithms try to please the camera and not put increased demands on your hands. That is, they tell the camera, for example, “so, 1/250th of a second you can shoot, this is enough for the photo to be more or less successful, and taking a shot before the camera moves to the side is also enough.” This thing is called endurance.

    How optical stabilization works

    What does optostab have to do with it? So, after all, he is the “depreciation” with which the camera does not shake like the body of army trucks, but “floats” within small boundaries. In the case of smartphones, it does not float in water, but is held by magnets and “fidgets” at a short distance from them.

    That is, if the smartphone moves a little or trembles during shooting, the camera will shake much less. With such insurance, a smartphone will be able to:

    • Increase the shutter speed (the guaranteed time “to see the picture before the photo is ready”) for the camera. The camera receives more light, sees more image details = the quality of the photo during the day is even higher.
    • Take clear photos on the move. Not during an off-road sprint, but while walking or from the window of a shaking bus, for example.
    • Compensate for shaking in video recordings. Even if you stomp your feet very sharply or sway slightly under the weight of the bag in your second hand, this will not be as noticeable in the video as in smartphones without an optical stabilizer.

    Therefore, optostab (OIS, as it is called in English) is an extremely useful thing in a smartphone camera. It’s also possible without it, but it’s sad - the camera must be of high quality “with a margin”, and the automation will have to shorten (worse) the shutter speed, because there is no insurance against shaking in a smartphone. When shooting video, you have to “move” the image on the fly so that the shaking is not visible. This is akin to how in old movies they simulated the speed of a moving car when it was actually standing still. The only difference is that in films these scenes were filmed in one take, and smartphones have to calculate the shaking and deal with it on the fly.

    There are vanishingly few smartphones with a good camera, which without stabilization takes pictures no worse than competitors with stabilization - these are, for example, Apple iPhone 6s, the first generation of Google Pixel, OnePlus 5, Xiaomi Mi 5s and, with some stretch, Honor 8/ Honor 9.

    What not to pay attention to

    • Flash. Useful only when shooting in pitch darkness, when you need to take a photo at any cost. As a result, you see the pale faces of people in the frame (all of them, because the flash is low-power), eyes squinted from the bright light, or a very strange color of buildings/trees - photographs with a smartphone flash definitely do not carry any artistic value. As a flashlight, the LED near the camera is much more useful.
    • Number of lenses in the camera. “Before, when I had 5 Mbps internet, I wrote an essay in a day, but now, when I have 100 Mbps, I write it in 4 seconds.” No, guys, it doesn't work like that. It doesn’t matter how many lenses there are in a smartphone, it doesn’t matter who released them (Carl Zeiss, judging by the quality of the new Nokia cameras, too). Lenses are either high quality or not, and this can only be verified with real photographs.

    The quality of the “glass” (lenses) affects the quality of the camera. But the quantity is not

    • Shooting in RAW. If you don’t know what RAW is, I’ll explain:

    JPEG is the standard format in which smartphones record photos; it is a “ready-to-use” photo. Like the Olivier salad on a holiday table, you can take it apart “into its components” in order to transform it into another salad, but it won’t turn out to be of very high quality.

    RAW is a hefty file on a flash drive, in which, in its pure form, in separate “lines”, all the brightness, clarity and color options for a photograph are sewn in. That is, the photo will not be “covered with small dots” (digital noise) if you decide to make it not as dark as it turned out to be in JPEG, but a little brighter, as if you had set the brightness correctly at the time of shooting.

    In short, RAW allows you to “Photoshop” a frame much more conveniently than JPEG. But the catch is that flagship smartphones almost always select the settings correctly, so apart from the smartphone’s RAW memory being polluted with “heavy” photos, there will be little benefit from “Photoshopped” files. And in cheap smartphones, the camera quality is so bad that you will see poor quality in JPEG, and equally poor quality in RAW. Don't bother.

    • Camera sensor name. They were once super important because they were a “quality seal” for a camera. The size of the matrix, the number of megapixels and pixel size, and minor “family characteristics” of shooting algorithms depend on the model of the camera sensor (module).

    Of the “big three” manufacturers of camera modules for smartphones, the highest quality modules are produced by Sony (we do not take into account individual examples, we are talking about the average temperature in a hospital), followed by Samsung (Samsung sensors in Samsung Galaxy smartphones are even better than the coolest Sony sensors, but the Koreans are selling something absurd “on the side,” and finally, the list is completed by OmniVision, which produces “consumer goods, but tolerable.” Intolerant consumer goods are produced by all other basement Chinese companies, the name of which even the manufacturers themselves are ashamed to mention in the characteristics of smartphones.

    8 - execution option. Do you know how this happens in cars? The minimum configuration is with “cloth” on the seats and a “wooden” interior, the maximum is with artificial suede seats and a leather dashboard. For buyers, the difference in this figure means little.

    Why, after all this, should you not pay attention to the sensor model? Because with them the situation is the same as with megapixels - Chinese “alternatively gifted” manufacturers are actively purchasing expensive Sony sensors, trumpeting at every corner “our smartphone has a super-high-quality camera!”... and the camera is disgusting.

    Because the “glass” (lenses) in such mobile phones is of appalling quality and transmits light a little better than a plastic soda bottle. Because of these same bastard “glasses,” the camera aperture is far from ideal (f/2.2 or even higher), and no one is tuning the sensor so that the camera selects the colors correctly, works well with the processor, and doesn’t spoil the pictures. Here is a clear example that the sensor model has little effect:

    As you can see, smartphones with the same camera sensor can shoot completely differently. So don't think that the cheap Moto G5 Plus with IMX362 module will shoot as well as the HTC U11 with its amazingly cool camera.

    What’s even more annoying is the bullshit that Xiaomi puts on customers’ ears when it says that “the camera in Mi Max 2 is very similar to the camera in the flagship Mi 6 - they have the same IMX386 sensors! They are the same, only the smartphones shoot very differently, the aperture (and therefore the ability to shoot in low light) is different, and the Mi Max 2 cannot compete with the flagship Mi6.

    1. The additional camera “helps” take photos at night with the main one and can take black and white photos. The most famous smartphones with such camera implementations are Huawei P9, Honor 8, Honor 9, Huawei P10.
    2. The secondary camera allows you to “shove in the impossible,” that is, it takes pictures with an almost panoramic viewing angle. The only proponent of this type of camera was and remains LG - starting with the LG G5, continuing with the V20, G6, X Cam and now the V30.
    3. Two cameras are needed for optical zoom (zooming in without losing quality). Most often, this effect is achieved by simultaneous operation of two cameras at once (Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8), although there are models that, when zoomed in, simply switch to a separate “long-range” camera - ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, for example.

    How to choose a high-quality selfie camera in a smartphone?

    Best of all - based on examples of real photographs. Moreover, both during the day and at night. During the day, almost all selfie cameras take good photos, but only high-quality front-facing cameras are capable of shooting something legible in the dark.

    It is not necessary to study the vocabulary of photographers and go deeper into what this or that characteristic is responsible for - you can simply memorize the numbers “this much is good, but if the number is higher, it is bad” and choose a smartphone much faster. For an explanation of terms, welcome to the beginning of the article, and here we will try to derive the formula for a high-quality camera in smartphones.

    Megapixels No less than 10, no more than 15. Optimal - 12-13 MP
    Diaphragm(aka aperture, aperture) for budget smartphones- f/2.2 or f/2.0 for flagships: minimum f/2.0 (with rare exceptions - f/2.2) optimal - f/1.9, f/1.8 ideal - f/1.7, f/1.6
    Pixel size (µm, µm) the higher the number, the better for budget smartphones- 1.2 microns and above for flagships: minimum - 1.22 microns (with rare exceptions - 1.1 microns) optimal - 1.4 microns ideal - 1.5 microns and above
    Sensor (matrix) size the smaller the number in the fraction divisor, the better for budget smartphones - 1/3” for flagships: minimum - 1/3” optimal - 1/2.8” ideal - 1/2.5”, 1/2.3”
    Autofocus contrast - so-so phase - good phase and laser - excellent
    Optical stabilization very useful for shooting on the go and night photography
    Dual camera one good camera is better than two bad ones, two average quality cameras are better than one average one (brilliant wording!)
    Sensor (module) manufacturer not specified = most likely there is some junk inside OmniVision - so-so Samsung in non-Samsung smartphones - ok Samsung in Samsung smartphones - excellent Sony - good or excellent (depending on the integrity of the manufacturer)
    Sensor model a cool module does not guarantee high quality shooting, but in the case of Sony, pay attention to sensors IMX250 and higher, or IMX362 and higher

    I don't want to understand the characteristics! Which smartphone to buy with good cameras?

    Manufacturers produce countless smartphones, but among them there are very few models that can take good photographs and shoot videos.

    Many users demand that a phone with a good camera can not only take high-quality pictures, but also be able to pleasantly please the user with its performance in games or something else. There are plenty of such offers on the market, but it’s quite easy to get confused in them. To protect you from this, we have created our own rating, which contains the most successful solutions with a good camera. Each of them has its own bonuses in the form of powerful hardware, a large display or excellent battery life.

    No. 10 – Meizu M6T

    Price: 7,990 rubles

    Meizu M6T is equipped with a pair of sensors with a resolution of 13 and 2 MP, including a Sony IMX276 RGBW sensor, its main task is to improve the camera’s light sensitivity in order to take high-quality photos in low light. The Chinese smartphone is worth recommending to all lovers of macro photography; in this mode, the camera does an excellent job of identifying small details and also boasts realistic colors.

    The gadget is also suitable for lovers of autonomy. The battery with a capacity of 3300 mAh can last a whole day under active load. The model is disappointing because it runs on Android 7.1 OS. In all other respects, this is an interesting solution in terms of price and quality.

    #9 – Xiaomi Redmi S2

    Price: 9,990 rubles

    If you are looking for an excellent phone with a good camera, but at the same time have a modest budget, then the popular model from the budget segment Xiaomi Redmi S2 is what you need. Of the two cameras, the 16-megapixel front camera turned out to be the most successful. It shows a rich image with decent detail, plus it has stabilization that works during video shooting.

    The presence of Snapdragon 625 in a smartphone at this price is simply amazing. The productive chipset is complemented by 3 or 4 GB of RAM. This set will easily run PUBG and World Of Tanks, even at maximum settings. The gadget does not have NFC and dual-band Wi-Fi, which are its main disadvantages.

    #8 – Vivo Y85

    Price: 15,000 rubles

    Vivo Y85 will appeal to all aesthetic lovers with its design. The device is available in two colors – black and red, that is, for both boys and girls. The 6.22-inch display with minimal frames and a resolution of 1520 by 720 pixels also looks attractive. The screen does not suffer from pixelation and produces a cool image, replete with rich colors.

    The main camera consists of a pair of 13 and 2 MP sensors. The results of their work are distinguished by a wide dynamic range and correct sharpness across the entire field of the frame. For advanced users, the camera interface has a variety of shooting modes, including a Pro mode that allows you to manually adjust exposure and ISO. The main disadvantage of the model is the plastic body, as well as the lack of NFC.

    No. 7 – Honor 8X

    Price: 16,990 rubles

    We cannot call the Honor 8X the best in terms of photo capabilities, but from a design point of view it is one of the most attractive solutions for its price. Glass panels shimmer effectively in the light and make the gadget look more expensive than its price. The same can be said about the display with a resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels and a diagonal of 6.5 inches. These screen characteristics make it easy to watch movies on it or use your smartphone as an e-reader.

    The main camera received the most positive feedback and praise in reviews. A pair of modules with a resolution of 20 and 2 MP, combined with advanced AI, allows the user to achieve detailed results with the correct color balance at a minimum cost. The thing is that Honor 8X independently determines the optimal settings based on the scene. The model uses a MicroUSB connector, which can be attributed to its main disadvantages.

    No. 6 – Xiaomi Mi8 Lite

    Price: 16,000 rubles

    If you are looking for a smartphone with a good camera, then you will definitely be interested in the Xiaomi Mi8 Lite. The combination of 12 and 5 MP modules takes excellent photos with a decent level of sharpness across the entire field of the frame. The list of strengths of the gadget also includes the ability to edit the blur parameters of a photograph taken in portrait mode, as well as apply various effects to all pictures.

    The smartphone's inclusion in our rating is due not only to its very good camera, but also to its powerful hardware platform. The Snapdragon 660 processor can easily handle any giant in the gaming industry, and together with the optimized Android 8.1, dressed in the proprietary MIUI interface, you will be pleasantly surprised by the smooth operation of the phone when solving everyday tasks. There was no place in the case for a Jack connector, which can be considered the main mistake of the engineers. Despite this, the model is one of the best Xiaomi phones.

    No. 5 – AGM A9

    Price: 27,000 rubles

    AGM A9 is one of the most ergonomic rugged smartphones on the market. This is most clearly manifested in the thinness indicator - only 12.6 mm, which is simply amazing considering that the case is protected according to the IP68 standard. The autonomy for which the AGM A9 brothers are famous is also at a high level - a 5400 mAh battery is enough for two days of battery life for a smartphone.

    The Sony IMX486 sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels serves as the main camera. Despite the fact that it has only one, and a modest number of megapixels, it manages to take detailed and rich pictures, however, at night the situation deteriorates due to the presence of noise in the photographs. The main disadvantage of the model is the Snapdragon 450 processor, which does not allow us to recommend the gadget to users who like to run in PUBG.

    No. 4 – Honor 10

    Price: 24,000 rubles

    Honor 10 is one of the best Huawei phones in terms of design. It's all about the glass case, which has already become a signature feature of the manufacturer's top solutions. The 5.84-inch display goes well with it. Its resolution of 2280 by 1080 pixels allows the picture not to suffer from pixelation, and also comfortably use the smartphone in any scenario, from surfing the Internet to top games. Fortunately, Kirin 970 allows this.

    For selfie lovers, Honor 10 is equipped with a 24-megapixel front camera with F/2.0 aperture. These characteristics allow the sensor to capture a huge amount of detail. I would also like to mention the built-in manual background blur mode and beautifier. If the latter makes the photos a little unnatural, then the former only improves them. It is almost impossible to find fault with the model; the only thing that raises doubts is the practicality of the glass case.

    #3 – OnePlus 6

    Price: 30,000 rubles

    OnePlus 6 is definitely one of the first ones that comes to mind when you hear the question “which phone has the best camera in 2019?” This is possible thanks to two sensors with a resolution of 16 and 20 MP. They are successfully complemented by optical stabilization, allowing the captured video to be smooth and clear. As for the photo capabilities, everything is fine here too - the dynamic range is wide, and color rendition is close to ideal.

    The model is famous for its autonomy - the 3300 mAh battery lasts for two days in most usage scenarios. During this entire time, your smartphone will be protected using a fingerprint scanner that clearly recognizes your fingerprint. Like most flagships, the main disadvantage of the OnePlus 6 is the price.

    #2 – iPhone XS Max

    Price: 92,000 rubles

    Even if the 4-inch iPhone 5S is valued for its photographic capabilities, the iPhone XS Max takes this to a professional level. The combination of two 12-megapixel sensors allows photos to be detailed and have the right color balance. The advantages definitely include the Apple A12 Bionic processor, which has no equal in performance on the market yet.

    The 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 2688 by 1242 pixels is also worthy of special mention. The dimensions, as well as the manufacturing technology of the AMOLED matrix, allow the gadget to successfully replace a tablet, and in some scenarios, an e-reader. Fortunately, ideal color rendition, a powerful reserve of brightness, as well as maximum viewing angles contribute to this. As for the minuses, it is the price.

    No. 1 – Huawei Mate 20 Pro

    Price: 77,800 rubles

    With its curved edges, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the top-end camera phone on the market. Many publications recognized it as such in 2018, and so far there are no models on the horizon that can remove it from the throne. Three modules with a resolution of 40, 20 and 8 MP are responsible for the quality of photographs. A detailed description of what function each of them is responsible for is worth looking for in the review. We note that the set allows Huawei Mate 20 Pro to have the widest range of focal lengths (from 16 to 88 mm) among smartphones. In terms of detail and color rendition of images, the solution of Chinese engineers surpasses even Apple flagships.

    The 6.39-inch display with a resolution of 3120 by 1440 pixels is also worthy of praise. It is perfectly calibrated - the colors are rich and rich, the viewing angles are maximum, and the image contrast is exactly what it should be. All of the above will be an advantage when you run PUBG on maximum graphics settings thanks to the Kirin 980 and 6GB of RAM. There is no need to worry about the duration of sessions, since the 4200 mAh battery can provide up to two days of autonomy with active use of the smartphone. The main drawback, as you might guess, is the price, as well as the size. If you are looking for a small phone, then the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is definitely not for you.

    Huawei Mate 20 Pro

    We also have a similar one, which has now dropped significantly in price.

    .
    Availability: inexpensive; the most expensive.
    Characteristics: push-button; best camera; camera + battery; .
    Trends: new products of the year; most anticipated.

    The average price is 51,600 rubles.

    Among the giants from Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei, the 4.7-inch Cupertino G8 looks small. But it fits into your pocket without any problems and lies comfortably in your hand. Inside it is the top-end “Apple” A11 Bionic chip, from 64 to 256 GB of memory for user data and a battery with a capacity of 1821 mAh.

    Unlike the Plus version, the iPhone 8 has one 12 MP main camera. It has an f/ 1.8 aperture, 5x digital zoom, optical image stabilization and support for Live Photos. But all this was also in the iPhone 7. The key difference from the previous model is that the iPhone 8 can now shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, and also does slow-mo recording at 240 frames per second in 1080p mode (Full HD), not just 720p.

    Pros:

    • Convenient size.
    • There is NFC.
    • The camera takes excellent quality photos even in low light.
    • The case is waterproof.
    • Very loud stereo speakers.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.
    • Glass is prone to scratches, so don't carry your phone without a case.

    The average cost is 56,990 rubles.

    Everything about this phone is great: a frameless 6.3-inch AMOLED display, a huge amount of RAM of 6 GB, and from 64 to 256 GB of internal storage, one of the best processors at the moment, Snapdragon 835 (or Exynos 8898M - depends on the region).

    However, what makes the Galaxy Note 8 stand out from the competition is the dual 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and optical Zoom 2x. It takes detailed, colorful photos, has bokeh (background blur) effects, and has an easy-to-use yet fully featured app. The Galaxy Note 8 has no shortage of photo modes: Auto, Pro, Panorama and Food, and the missing modes can be downloaded from the Galaxy app store. There's also a new Full View camera option that matches the size of Snapchat and Instagram Stories.

    Pros:

    • Futuristic frameless design.
    • One of the best screens in terms of brightness and color reproduction on the mobile market.
    • It is possible to add memory.
    • There is NFC.
    • There is fast and wireless charging.
    • There is a stylus.

    Cons:

    • Combined slot for nanoSIM and microSD.

    Compared to the tenth place in the 2018 smartphone camera rating according to DxOMark, the “plus” model became 54 grams heavier, acquired a 5.5-inch screen and a dual 12/12 MP camera with a wide-angle and telephoto lens. The camera's autofocus is very fast, and you can shoot in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.

    The overall camera performance is an evolution from previous iPhone lenses. And sharpness in mixed conditions is impressive - you can see a lot of detail in both brighter and darker areas of the photo.

    In general, the iPhone 8 Plus tends to overexpose every photo, making the image brighter than the subject or scene in real life.

    Pros:

    • Large screen with excellent color reproduction.
    • Dual main camera that takes bright and very clear photos in any lighting condition.
    • There is NFC.
    • Very fast A11 Bionic processor.
    • There is wireless and fast charging.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.
    • The battery lasts for a day of use with an average load.
    • Heavy and slippery body.

    7. Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S

    The estimated price in Russia is 32,000 rubles.

    At the end of March 2018, the presentation of a new 5.99-inch frameless smartphone from Xiaomi took place. The new Chinese phone with a good camera will receive the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 6/64 GB, 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB of memory, as well as a 3400 mAh battery.

    Mi MIX 2S has a rear dual 12-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX363 sensor, a 4-axis optical stabilization system, phase detection autofocus and 2x optical zoom.

    In addition, the camera uses artificial intelligence capabilities to automatically adjust to shooting conditions and blur the background in portrait photos.

    Pros:

    • There is fast charging.
    • There is a slot for a memory card.
    • The top model will be “enclosed” in an elegant ceramic case. Regular versions will have a glass back cover.
    • Possibility of user identification by face.
    • This is the most inexpensive smartphone with a good camera in our top 10.
    • There is NFC.

    Cons:

    • Most likely, like Mi Mix 2 - one of the, its “big brother” will be very slippery. And all its beauty will be hidden in the case.

    6.Huawei Mate 10 Pro

    Offered for 44,890 rubles.

    Few Chinese smartphones can match the design and performance of this luxurious glass and metal gadget with a six-inch OLED screen and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The fast HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash memory allow the Mate 10 Pro to run heavy applications and games at maximum settings. And the 4000 mAh battery will last a day and a half under full load.

    There are two camera modules on the back of the Mate 10 Pro: a 12-megapixel color sensor with optical image stabilization, and a 20-megapixel black and white sensor. Both cameras have an f/1.6 aperture. This solves the problem of poor image quality in low light.

    The phone also supports the new AI zoom (intelligent digital zoom) function, and can evaluate the object in the video finder field to set the optimal shooting parameters.

    Pros:

    • Huge screen with rich colors and automatic brightness adjustment.
    • Clear and loud sound from stereo speakers.
    • There is NFC.
    • Instant fingerprint sensor.
    • There is fast charging.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.
    • No 3.5 connector.

    The average cost in the maximum configuration is 70,400 rubles.

    The frameless 5.8-inch smartphone was the most anticipated new product of 2017 from Apple. Losing the Home button and changing the design were dangerous but also necessary steps after years of similarity in most iPhone models. The result is a powerful and elegant device with a fast six-core A11 Bionic processor, 256 or 64 GB of internal storage and the ability to identify by face.

    The pride of the iPhone X is its dual 12/12 MP rear camera. It has an f/1.8 aperture and can take pictures with natural color reproduction and minimal noise.

    iPhone X uses a wide-angle lens and digital zoom to improve low-light photography. Therefore, an image taken in the dark will not appear dull or blurry.

    "Standard" iPhone photos automatically have a good level of blur.

    The 7MP TrueDepth front camera takes very bright and clear selfies. Not only can it blur the background, but you can also use the Portrait options to change the lighting of a scene or cut yourself out of the image altogether and place your image against a black background.

    Pros:

    • Top performance.
    • Great cameras.
    • User-friendly interface.
    • Juicy and bright screen.
    • There is NFC.
    • Convenient Face ID option.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.
    • The body is slippery and heavy.

    Can be purchased for 45,380 rubles.

    Google Pixel 2 is a clear example that two rear cameras are not always better than one. This small 5-inch phone also features an extremely convenient way to call Google Assistant. Just squeeze the sides of the phone. This is much easier than accidentally pressing another button (Bixby) on the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.

    The latest games will run smoothly on the Pixel 2 thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 to 128 GB of storage for user data.

    The 12.2 MP rear camera with F/1.8 aperture is the best part of the Pixel 2. The color reproduction is true to life and the photos look vibrant. Even photos taken in low light using the Pixel 2 look like we turned on the lights.

    Both the 8MP front and rear cameras have a background portrait blur mode. This phone also has optical image stabilization and very fast laser autofocus.

    Pros:

    • Fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
    • Has an NFC chip.
    • Has moisture protection class IP67.
    • It holds a charge for a long time, despite the seemingly modest battery capacity of 2700 mAh.
    • Excellent stereo speakers.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.

    You can buy it for 54,000 rubles.

    This is one of the largest Android phones, thanks to its 6.2-inch edge-to-edge screen. It's similar in many ways to last year's S8 Plus, but the updated model has changed the location of the fingerprint sensor (it's now centered on the back) and adds stereo speakers.

    The powerful Exynos 9810 chipset, the impressive size of RAM (6 GB) and from 64 to 256 GB of internal memory will allow you to use the smartphone for several years, when other flagships are already outdated.

    The Galaxy S9 Plus (as well as the S9) has an excellent dual 12/12 megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture that automatically opens in bright light and expands to f/1.5 in the dark. This is the world's first mobile phone with such a wide aperture. Thanks to this, a photo taken in poor lighting will be extremely detailed and bright.

    The main camera of the device can capture super slow-motion video at 960 frames per second. And the 8-megapixel front camera can be used to transform your face into an animated one using AR Emoji.

    Pros:

    • There is a slot for memory expansion.
    • You can make contactless payments.
    • Battery 3500 mAh.
    • Fantastically beautiful appearance.
    • The widest aperture of the main camera in the ranking of smartphones with the best camera of 2018.
    • There is both wireless and fast charging.
    • There is face unlocking.

    Cons:

    • Fingerprints are clearly visible on the rear glass.
    • AR Emoji is an over-hyped feature with few features.

    The estimated cost is 46 thousand rubles.

    Updates for the P20 compared to last year's Huawei P10 include a glass back, new body colors, a powerful eight-core Kirin 970 processor and an increased screen size - 5.8 inches versus 5.1 for the Huawei P10. In addition, the P20 model has acquired 128 GB of flash memory and has 4 GB of RAM. This should be more than enough for most tasks, although it's less than the 6GB inside the P20 Pro.

    Huawei P20 has a dual main camera (12 MP f/1.8 color module and 20 MP f/1.6 monochrome module). Thanks to the wide aperture, the camera can capture more light, and even in low light, photos come out very clear and with minimal digital noise. The camera has built-in memory, thanks to which you can shoot super slow motion at 960 frames per second and in HD resolution. Until now, only smartphones with good cameras from Sony and Samsung could boast of this.

    On the front, Huawei P20 has a 24-megapixel selfie camera that shows facial details in such detail that even the smallest blemishes are visible.

    Pros:

    • Premium design.
    • Flagship processor.
    • Great cameras.
    • Capacious battery of 3400 mAh.
    • There is fast charging.
    • There is NFC.

    Cons:

    • A memory card cannot be inserted.
    • No headphone jack.
    • Thick bottom frame.

    Approximate price - 64,100 rubles.

    The best camera phone of 2018, the Huawei P20 Pro, comes with a top-end design and a significant upgrade in internals. Compared to the Huawei P20, the new photo flagship boasts an increased OLED screen size of 6.1 inches with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a more capacious 4000 mAh battery, 6 GB of RAM (the regular model has 4 GB) and IP67 water resistance.

    However, the most important difference is the unique triple camera, created in collaboration with the German company Leica. This is the best camera in a smartphone in 2018 at the moment.

    The question arises: why does a smartphone need three cameras at once? Previously, Huawei equipped its gadgets with cameras with color and black-and-white sensors, which worked in tandem to produce photos with improved depth and sharpness. And thanks to the addition of a telephoto lens, you can shoot objects that you can’t get close to. It allows you to zoom in on an image without losing its quality.

    The Huawei P20 Pro has a fantastic 40MP color lens and is paired with a 20MP monochrome sensor.

    Above the RGB lens is an 8-megapixel sensor. It has 3x optical zoom and 5x software zoom.

    Examples of photos on Huawei P20 Pro

    In bright light

    Portrait

    Portrait with bokeh effect

    In low light conditions

    The camera also features software enhancements, including six-axis AIS image stabilization, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and without the need for a tripod. And the intelligent assistant Master AI will tell you how best to compose the frame when shooting landscapes and group portraits.

    On the front of the phone, there is a 24-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, thanks to which your face will be visible in every detail in selfies.

    Pros:

    • The glass back panel shimmers beautifully, and thanks to the rounded edges, the gadget fits comfortably in the hand.
    • Powerful camera.
    • Top-end Huawei Kirin 970 processor with NPU module for neural network computing.
    • There is NFC.
    • There is Huawei Super Charge fast charging technology.
    • Very fast touch fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button below the screen.

    Cons:

    • No headphone jack.
    • Thick bottom frame.
    • No memory card support. You will have to be content with the built-in memory of 128 GB.

    The P20 Pro places such a heavy emphasis on camera improvements that other elements of the phone seem comparatively neglected in terms of updates. However, this is the most beautiful and powerful phone from Huawei. It, as well as P20, will appear in Russian stores in April.

    In 2017, many new inexpensive devices with a good camera appeared on the market: among these smartphones there are both premium-segment models and very simple ones.

    The latter are especially interesting: the combination of low price and excellent shooting quality is a real killer feature that gives the device a huge advantage over its competitors.

    Naturally, other characteristics are also important, but when it comes to camera phones, they fade into the background.

    Advice: You shouldn’t focus only on sensor size and megapixels. The numbers are important, but what is more important is the actual image quality the camera produces.

    You should definitely look at examples of photographs and videos, preferably taken in different conditions - at home and on the street, day and night, without and with flash.

    It’s also worth looking for reviews of phones with the same camera module that were released earlier: they will help you figure out what you can expect from this smartphone.

    Moto G4 - the king is back

    Motorola introduced this year the next line of its Moto G4, which have already gained fame as very good smartphones at an extremely low price.

    The new line is true to these ideals - the manufacturer managed to keep the price of the devices at the upper limit of our price bracket.

    For a G4 Plus with 32 gigabytes of memory you will have to pay an average of 19-20 thousand rubles.

    In some stores, however, the price goes beyond a thousand rubles - but you can always find a cheaper option.

    There is also a much cheaper G4 Play in the line, but it is not suitable for our selection - its main camera is only 8 megapixels, while the G4 has 13 megapixels, and the G4 Plus has 16 megapixels.

    Characteristics:

    • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
    • Display: 5.5-inch diagonal, 1920 x 1080 pixels, IPS matrix, Gorilla Glass 3.
    • Camera: G4 - 13 MP, G4 Plus - 16 MP, autofocus, panoramic shooting, HDR, Full HD video with a frame rate of 30 fps.
    • Memory - 2 GB RAM/16-32 GB ROM in G4 and 2/16, 3/32 and 4/64 in G4 Plus.
    • The processor is an eight-core Qualcomm MSM8952 Snapdragon 617. All cores are Cortex-A53, four operate at 1.5 GHz, the rest at 1.2 GHz.
    • Battery: non-removable, Li-Ion, 3000 mAh.
    • Availability of LTE.
    • Fingerprint scanner and TurboPower fast charging in the Plus version.

    Xiaomi Mi 5 is the best Xiaomi flagship

    The new Mi from Xiaomi has become a qualitative step forward in the history of the development of the company's flagship devices.

    The combination of amazing characteristics, modern design and a very attractive price has ensured the new Mi5 huge popularity.

    You can love it at least for the main camera: 16 megapixels, IMX298 sensor from Sony, sapphire crystal.

    It is worth noting the diagonal of the smartphone screen: a 5.15-inch screen gives a little more space than a five-inch one, but it is still relatively comfortable to hold with one hand, which can hardly be said about 5.5” devices.

    The range of prices for different versions of this device is wide - you can find Mi5 for 17 thousand rubles, and for 40.

    They differ in the amount of RAM and built-in memory and the central processor.

    Characteristics:

    • Android 6.0 Marshmallow, MIUI 7 shell from Xiaomi.
    • Display: 5.15 inches, 1920x1080 px, 428 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4.
    • Main camera: 16 megapixels, f/2.0, OIS, IMX298 sensor, flash, autofocus, sapphire crystal.
    • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 cores, 1.8 GHz/2.15 GHz.
    • RAM: 3 GB 1333 MHz LPDDR4, 3/4 GB 1866 MHz LPDDR4 (depending on version).
    • ROM: 32/64/128 gigabytes.
    • Battery: non-removable, 3000 mAh, fast charging.
    • NFC, fingerprint scanner, GLONASS and GPS, LTE, two nano-SIM slots, no memory card slot.

    LeEco Le 2 is a sales record holder

    The LeEco company was not very well known on the Russian market: their previous series of devices, Le 1, received good ratings, which cannot be said about distribution.

    Having assessed the market, the company began an active advertising campaign in the CIS with new devices.

    The bet on the low price and good characteristics of the junior model worked, and the first batch of pre-orders of new phones at a discount was “swept off the shelves” of the online store in a matter of days.

    The company boasted of 121 thousand sales in Russia in the first 24 hours.

    The device has a good 16-megapixel main camera.

    It is equally important that LeEco did not bypass the front camera even in the younger model - here it is 8 megapixels, which will finally allow you to take truly high-quality selfies.

    The price of the device is only 15 thousand rubles.

    Characteristics:

    • Android 6.0 Marshmallow, proprietary EUI shell.
    • Display: 5.5”, 1920 x 1080 px, IPS, In-Cell technology.
    • Camera: 16 MP, f/2.0 autofocus, dual-tone flash.
    • Front camera: 8 megapixels, f/2.2.
    • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, eight cores, 1.8 GHz.
    • Memory (RAM/ROM): 3/32 gigabytes.
    • Battery: 3000 mAh, fast charging.
    • Connection of CDLA headphones (included) via USB Type-C, 3.5 mm adapter, LTE, no memory card slot, fingerprint scanner, two SIM cards.

    Lenovo Vibe X3 - 21 megapixels for 21 thousand

    Lenovo released the Vibe X3 smartphone in early 2016.

    Initially, it was positioned in a higher price category - its launch price was in the range from 26 to 31 thousand rubles, which did not add to its popularity.

    After three quarters, the price of a smartphone has dropped significantly, which is good news.

    After all, for 21-22 thousand, for which you can now buy a Lenovo Vibe X3, the buyer gets a phone with excellent sound (three amplifiers, 1.5 W stereo speakers, ESS Sabre9018C2M audio processor) and a camera.

    The latter takes it in numbers here: 21 megapixels in a device for $300 is a very good indicator.

    Characteristics:

    • Android 5.1 Lolipop, proprietary VIBE UI shell;
    • Display: 5.5 inches, 1920×1080 pixels, 403 ppi, IPS, Gorilla Glass 3;
    • Camera: 21 megapixels, flash, autofocus, f/2.0 aperture;
    • Front camera: 5 megapixels, f/2.2;
    • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992, two Cortex-A57 cores (1.8 GHz), four Cortex-A53 cores (1.44 GHz).
    • Memory (RAM/ROM): 3/64 gigabytes.
    • Battery: 3600 mAh.
    • Two nano-SIM, NFC, LTE, support for memory cards up to 128 GB, Dolby ATMOS.

    A modern phone with a good camera should take high-quality pictures in different situations: indoors, outdoors, in poor lighting, with and without flash, etc. Our top 10 phones with a good camera offers you just such a “ten” of smartphones.

    10 Microsoft Lumia 950 Dual Sim

    Technical indicators (TP): AMOLED screen – 5.2 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 3 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3000 mAh. Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and an Adreno 418 video accelerator. The 20 MP main camera, complemented by optical stabilization and having a high-quality aperture, takes excellent professional photos. The 5 MP front camera takes excellent photos in sufficient lighting.

    9 Xiaomi Mi5


    TP: screen – 5.1 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 3 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3000 mAh. Equipped with a quad-core processor. The main camera is 13 MP with a Sony sensor, which allows you to take high-quality pictures even in poor lighting. The camera has autofocus, flash, optical stabilization and various settings. Although even in automatic mode the pictures are clear and bright.

    8 LG V20


    TP: two screens – main 5.7 inches and additional 2.1 inches; memory – 64 GB permanent and 4 GB RAM; removable battery capacity – 3200 mAh. Equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and Adreno 530 graphics accelerator. Two rear cameras – a 16 MP main camera with autofocus and an additional 8 MP camera with autofocus. Front camera 5 MP. The main camera takes excellent detailed pictures - clear throughout the frame and with correct color rendition - even in automatic mode. The front one gives excellent group selfies.

    7 Sony Xperia X


    TP: screen – 5 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 3 GB RAM; battery capacity – 2620 mAh. Equipped with Snapdragon 650 processor and Adreno 510 video accelerator, which ensures maximum camera efficiency. The 23MP main camera is complemented by professional settings, making shooting in dim and difficult conditions amazing. The 13 MP front camera is simply amazing with the quality of the pictures.

    6 Huawei P9 (EVA-L09)


    TP: screen – 5.2 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 3 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3000 mAh. Equipped with an eight-core Huawei Kirin 955 processor and Mali-T880 MP4 graphics accelerator. Two 12 MP main cameras with dual LED flash and hybrid autofocus. 8 MP front camera using a fixed focus lens. The pictures are high-quality in any light, and the front camera takes excellent selfies.

    5 Xiaomi Mi5S


    TP: screen – 5.1 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 4 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3200 mAh. Equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and Adreno 530 video accelerator. Camera – 12 MP main and 4 MP front. The pictures are clear, without distortion, and perfectly convey colors. It also produces good 4K video.

    4 Meizu MX5 16GB


    TP: AMOLED screen – 5.5 inches; memory – 16 GB permanent and 3 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3150 mAh. The 21 MP main camera is equipped with additional functions to create high-quality pictures and record FullHD video. The 5 MP front camera also takes good pictures in good lighting. Equipped with a MediaTek Helio X10 Turbo processor and a PowerVR G6200 video chip that improves quality and performance.

    3 Sony Xperia Z5 Compact


    TP: screen – 4.6 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 2 GB RAM; battery capacity – 2700 mAh. Equipped with an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and Adreno 430 graphics accelerator. There is a slot for an external memory card of 200 GB. The camera – 23 MP main and 5 MP front – is complemented by professional settings and functions, thanks to which the pictures are “at the top” under any conditions.

    1 Samsung Galaxy S7


    TP: screen – 5.1 inches; memory – 32 GB permanent and 4 GB RAM; battery capacity – 3000 mAh. Equipped with an eight-core processor. The camera is 12 MP main and 5 MP front. The camera is complemented by optical stabilization, LED flash and a sensor with Dual Pixel technology, which gives faster and better focusing on the objects you are shooting.