Best Camera Phone of 2026

From the first moment I picked up the new $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max and $1,099 17 Pro, I was beguiled by their bold, bright redesign. It’s a complete turnaround from the years of Apple’s subdued titanium motif. As I tested the new Pro phones, I was consistently impressed: Even after a full day of heavy use, the Pro Max’s battery still had 22% or more left. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any phone that CNET has ever tested.

The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have the exact same rear cameras, all with 48-megapixel sensors. You can choose between the trio of lenses (wide-angle, ultrawide and telephoto) to capture photos at 12-, 24- or 48-megapixel resolutions. The telephoto camera has 4x lens and a 48-megapixel sensor that’s 56% larger than last year’s iPhone 16 Pro. You read that right: The new Pro has a shorter optical zoom than its predecessor. But I find the short 4x zoom better for portraits, and the increase in detail and dynamic range in 4x photos is a big improvement over 5x snaps from the 16 Pro.

There’s a new selfie camera on both Pro phones that Apple calls Center Stage. It not only takes 18-megapixel selfies, up from 12 megapixels on the 16 Pro, but you can hold the 17 Pro vertically and take a horizontal selfie thanks to a new square image sensor.

The 17 Pro and Pro Max are bold, loud, aggressive and powerful, and their daring design appeals to me. But features such as its amazing battery life, brighter screen, new selfie camera and iOS 26 are the real reasons to get either.

Why we like it

I appreciate that Apple gave the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max personality. Gone is the minimal design for the sake of simplicity. We have a phone with great cameras that is more durable, has a longer battery life and, when running iOS 26, comes with a number of significant “quality of life” improvements such as live translations for calls, texts and FaceTime.

Who it’s best for

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max would be an excellent upgrade for someone coming from an iPhone 14 Pro or older. You get a bigger battery, a better screen, faster charging, better cameras and a speedier processor that can handle graphics-intensive games and Apple Intelligence.

Who shouldn’t get it

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you don’t need these new phones unless battery capacity on your current phone is low — and even then, it’d be cheaper to simply have your battery swapped out. And unless you have a gracious disposable income, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max owners can sit this one out.

Read our iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max review.

With the iPhone 17, Apple has significantly narrowed the chasm separating its baseline model from its Pro counterparts. The $829 iPhone 17 (or $800 if you activate with a carrier) shares many of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max’s camera features, including Dual Capture and Center Stage. It also finally has a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate display, so you can enjoy smoother scrolling and enable the always-on display and see your notifications at a glance. And support for iOS 26 across the full iPhone 17 lineup means you can access Apple’s most talked about new software features such as live translation, call screening and the Liquid Glass redesign. All that without spending upwards of $1,100 for a Pro model, albeit with slightly scaled-back battery life and cameras.

Why we like it

The iPhone 17 is a baseline phone that shares many hardware and software features with the iPhone 17 Pro models, making it feel like a worthy, money-saving contender to those pricier devices. Generous battery life, faster charging and camera upgrades help it stand apart from last year’s iPhone 16, even if it looks almost identical.  

Who it’s best for

The iPhone 17 is a great choice for the average phone user who wants good cameras, solid battery life and a quality display. It’s also a good size for anyone who doesn’t like larger phones.  

Who shouldn’t get it

If you’re a photography enthusiast and a particularly heavy phone user, the 17 Pros might be the way to go, since you’ll get a telephoto lens on the back, as well as longer battery life. On the other hand, if you’re a lighter phone user, you can save more money by opting for the slightly more budget-friendly $599 iPhone 16E.

Read our iPhone 17 review.

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL aren’t a revolution over their predecessors, but almost every element — from the software to the hardware — has seen some kind of update, resulting in a phone that feels fresh but familiar. The processor isn’t the fastest around, but it’s got more than enough power for anything you’re likely to need it for, while the cameras have proven themselves extremely capable in our testing.

Mix in the fun (and potentially quite useful) new AI skills and the long software support period and Google’s new phones do a lot to earn their flagship title. 

Why we like it

The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL build on their already superb predecessors, offering more power and deeper, more useful AI skills. The cameras remain among the best around, while the large 6.8-inch display offers plenty of space to do justice to YouTube videos and mobile games on the go.

Who it’s best for

While some Android rivals offer more straight-line speed, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL offer a truly slick all-around experience. These phones are easy to use, swift to operate and allow you to take stunning images with little input on your part. If you want a “do it all” phone that won’t get in your way, you’ll likely do well with these phones.

Who shouldn’t get it

Passionate mobile gamers wanting to hit the highest frame rates for pro-level mobile gaming may find the Tensor G5 processor’s raw speed lacking.

Read our Google Pixel 10 Pro review.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra has a lot of AI features, the best of which are interesting and the worst of which are unreliable. Luckily, Samsung gets a lot of other things right on the S25 Ultra, which has a new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, high-resolution ultrawide camera and some sweet pro video tools that rival the iPhone 16 Pro. Samsung wisely carried over almost everything that made last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra great, including that antireflective display — unfortunately, that also includes the $1,300 price tag.

If you want the best screen you can find on any phone, get the S25 Ultra. If you want the most versatile phone cameras, get the S25 Ultra. If you want a stylus, get the S25 Ultra. But if your needs scale back on any of those fronts, the more affordable S25 options, or even last year’s S24 Ultra, may be worth considering. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review.

Why we like it

The reason to get the Ultra over its S25 siblings is its screen, which is truly the best I’ve seen on any phone, and the cameras, which are a step above those on the S25 and S25 Plus. Added video features like the ability to record in Log format get the Ultra as close as it’s ever been to the iPhone in terms of professional video capture.

Who it’s best for

If you have a Galaxy S22 Ultra or older, the S25 Ultra will seem like a significant upgrade. It’s harder to make that case for S23 Ultra owners, who, unless their phone’s battery is ailing or they can score an incredible discount, should otherwise sit this one out. And for S24 Ultra owners, you don’t need this phone. Save your money and treat yourself to a nice steak dinner and a movie.

Who shouldn’t get it

The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s appeal is muddied by its $1,300 price. The regular Galaxy S25 has the same functionality, power and longevity — and it costs $500 less. Want a bigger screen? Consider the Galaxy S25 Plus. For the majority of people, the regular Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will be a better fit.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung has finally addressed some of the key issues with its previous book-style foldables. The impressively thin build and wider, 6.5-inch cover screen makes this feel like a standard phone when closed, and that wider 8-inch inside display is great for multitasking, with the ability to run up to three apps simultaneously. Perhaps most notably, the camera gets a major upgrade with the addition of a 200-megapixel main camera, which takes shots on par with the top-of-the-line S25 Ultra. 

Altogether, it’s a great choice if you want a bigger, tablet-like display without the bulk or a compromise on camera quality.

Why we like it

The Z Fold 7 does a solid job combining what’s great about standard slate phones and what’s great about foldables. It feels wonderfully normal to hold when closed thanks to its sleek design and lightweight build. It also packs great cameras and has an expansive main display that’s 11% bigger than last year’s Z Fold 6. 

Thankfully, a slimmer build doesn’t force the battery to take a hit; the Z Fold 7 maintains that same 4,400-mAh battery as last year’s foldable. That pales in comparison to batteries from Chinese competitors, but at least it’s not a downgrade. The Z Fold 7 also packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor to power the many AI features you’ll get onboard, from Galaxy AI photo and audio editing tools to Google’s Gemini Live and Circle to Search. The phone also supports seven years of software and security updates. 

Who it’s best for

If you’re bored of standard slate phones and want something that feels a little more exciting, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a great choice. The slim design and wider cover screen help it to feel as normal as possible when closed, with the added perk of an expansive main display that’s great for multitasking and watching videos. The cameras are also impressive for a foldable that’s so thin. 

Who shouldn’t get it

The Z Fold 7’s $2,000 price tag is perhaps its biggest caveat. Also, if you don’t need a bigger display, it may not be worth the splurge. Ironically, the cover screen is so practical that you’ll rarely need to open the phone — unless you’re watching movies or multitasking, in which case a phone like the Galaxy S25 Ultra might be a better fit.

At $799, the Pixel 10 is a baseline device that packs many of the same features that help Pro-level phones stand out, like a telephoto camera, long-lasting battery and intuitive AI features. It’s a nice, streamlined option for those who simply want a dependable phone, backed by seven years of software and security updates.

Who it’s best for

If you want a phone with a solid camera for more casual photography, the baseline Pixel 10 is perfectly suitable. It’s also a great choice for people who simply want a phone that can last all day, and that’s equipped with all the latest Gemini features.

Who shouldn’t get it

If you consider yourself more of a pro photographer, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL may be more appealing options. Also, if you have a Pixel 8 or 9, you’re probably fine holding onto your device for a few more years, as there aren’t any major differences between those older devices and Google’s latest baseline.

Read our Google Pixel 10 review.