Best Phones for Photography Under $800

Main sensor, telephoto, night mode and video: what makes a phone camera good, and how to get flagship-level photos without paying flagship prices.

You no longer need the most expensive phone to take excellent photos. Under $800, several phones share sensors and processing with their makers' flagships, and the differences that remain are specific: zoom, low-light detail and video.

What matters most

• The main camera's sensor size. A larger main sensor gathers more light, which means cleaner night shots and more natural background blur. It matters more than megapixel count.
• A real telephoto lens. A 3x or longer optical zoom keeps portraits and distant subjects sharp. Phones without one crop digitally, which quickly softens detail.
• Processing and consistency. Skin tones, HDR that does not look artificial, and a shutter that captures the moment you press it are what reviewers praise in the best camera phones. Look at sample photos, not only specifications.
• Video features. If you film, look for 4K at 60fps on the main camera, good stabilisation and consistent colour when switching lenses.

What you can safely skip

• Headline megapixels. 50MP and 200MP sensors mostly combine pixels into 12MP photos. The number on the box says little about image quality.
• Macro and depth cameras on cheaper phones. These low-resolution extras rarely add much; the ultrawide often doubles as a better macro camera.
• 8K video, which fills storage fast and is rarely watched at that resolution.

Do I need a flagship phone for good photos?

No. Mid-range and previous-generation flagship phones take excellent photos in good light. Flagships pull ahead in low light, in zoom and in video; decide which of those you use before paying extra.

Is a periscope zoom worth it?

If you photograph people, pets, concerts or travel scenes from a distance, yes. A 3x to 5x optical zoom is one of the most useful camera features a phone can have.

Which phone brand is best for photos?

Google Pixel, Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and several Chinese brands all make excellent camera phones with different looks: Pixel favours contrast and detail, iPhone natural colour and video, Samsung bright and vivid images. Compare sample photos in the conditions you shoot most.

Is last year's flagship a better buy than a new mid-range phone?

Often, for photography. A discounted flagship usually has a better telephoto and larger sensor than a new mid-range model at the same price. Check how many more years of software updates it will receive.

How the picks below are chosen

The list under this guide is not hand-picked or sponsored. It shows phones in our catalogue priced at or under $800 and rated 4 stars or better, with camera-focused phones ranked first, and it updates as prices and ratings change. Always confirm the current price at the retailer before buying. See also phones under $500 and phones under $1,000, or let the Finder narrow it to one pick.