Capturing stunning photos has become a key feature many of us look for when buying a smartphone. With advancements in camera technology, today’s phones can rival traditional cameras in terms of image quality and versatility. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a social media influencer, or simply someone who loves capturing beautiful moments, finding the right phone with the ideal camera features can make all the difference.
Finding the right phone is now easier than ever, thanks to the wide variety available on e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee. This guide highlights the different phones for photography in the Philippines, allowing Filipino tech enthusiasts to effortlessly compare features and choose the perfect phone that suits their needs.
Quick List - Top Phones for Photography
As a content planner, Jemanuel is fully committed to making sure that consumers can figure out the best choices with ease and convenience. He is always eager to learn new things and is always on the lookout for the latest market and industry trends that can help you make your research much easier.
Table of Contents
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Finding the perfect phone for photography can be challenging with so many options on the market. To simplify your decision, we've identified the key factors to consider—like camera resolution, sensor size, battery life, etc. Read on for a quick guide to help you decide.
For top-notch mobile photography, a phone with a high megapixel count is essential. A 108MP camera captures sharp, detailed images, perfect for showcasing fine textures in landscapes or intricate patterns in architecture. Higher megapixels also allow you to zoom in on distant subjects and crop photos without losing detail. Even phones with 64MP or 50MP cameras provide excellent image clarity, making them ideal for those seeking high-quality results without slowing down the phone's processing. This advantage greatly benefits landscape, nature, and portrait photography, where every pixel contributes to a clear and vibrant image.
Sensor size and aperture significantly impact photo quality, especially in low-light settings. Larger sensors, such as 1/1.7" or 1/1.33", combined with a wider aperture (like f/1.8 or lower), allow more light to reach the camera’s pixels, resulting in brighter images with less noise. This is particularly useful for night photography, indoor shots, and situations with limited lighting.
Additionally, a larger sensor and a wide aperture work together to create a natural bokeh effect, giving portrait shots a professional look by blurring the background. This enhances the focus on the subject and adds depth to your photos, a highly desired quality in photography.
Having multiple lenses at your disposal allows you to experiment with various photography styles, from ultra-wide shots for landscapes to telephoto lenses for close-ups, a multi-lens setup ensures you’re ready to capture every moment.
An ultra-wide lens is perfect for capturing expansive scenes like landscapes, cityscapes, and group photos. This type of lens allows you to fit more into the frame without having to step backーespecially useful for travel photography. Look for phones with at least a 12MP ultra-wide lens to ensure sharpness and detail, even at the edges of the frame, as lower-resolution ultra-wide lenses can sometimes suffer from distortion and loss of detail.
A telephoto lens enables you to zoom in on faraway subjects without losing image quality. Phones with a 3x optical zoom are ideal for portrait photography, as they create a flattering perspective by slightly compressing the background. For more specialized use, some phones offer up to 5x or even 10x optical zoom, allowing you to capture crisp details of far-off subjects, such as wildlife or sporting events. Optical zoom is preferable to digital zoom, as it magnifies the image through the lens, maintaining image quality and clarity.
A macro lens is designed for extreme close-up shots, allowing you to capture tiny details like textures on flowers, insects, or other small objects. For best results, look for macro lenses with a focus distance of around 2-4cm, which lets you get close enough to reveal intricate details. A 2MP to 5MP macro lens can provide sharp images with good color accuracy, making it suitable for those who enjoy exploring the fine details of their surroundings.
Advanced camera features let you adapt to different lighting conditions and creative styles, helping you capture each moment just the way you want.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a must-have feature for reducing blur, especially when shooting in motion or low-light conditions. OIS minimizes the effects of handshakes, resulting in sharper and clearer photos. This feature is especially important for night photography, long-exposure shots, and capturing fast-moving subjects, ensuring that your images remain detailed. OIS is also beneficial for video recording, providing smoother footage with minimal shakiness.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology enhances images by balancing exposure levels in scenes with varying light conditions, such as sunsets or high-contrast environments. Phones that support HDR automatically adjust brightness, contrast, and color saturation, resulting in vibrant and true-to-life images. HDR is particularly useful for outdoor and landscape photography, ensuring that no detail is lost in the bright or dark areas of the image.
A phone’s display is crucial for both taking photos and editing them. A high-resolution display, such as a 1440p (Quad HD) resolution or higher, provides a more detailed view of your shots. Additionally, an OLED or AMOLED display with a wide color range, shows more vibrant and accurate colors, which is essential when editing photos. Additionally, a high refresh rate (90Hz or 120Hz) ensures smooth scrolling and responsiveness, allowing for a more seamless experience while reviewing and editing images.
High-resolution photos, RAW files, and 4K or 8K videos require substantial storage. A phone with at least 128GB of internal storage is recommended for photography enthusiasts, as it provides sufficient room for hundreds of high-quality images and videos. For those shooting in RAW format or using professional editing apps, this amount of storage is advisable to avoid running out of space. Some phones also support expandable storage through microSD cards, providing additional room for your files. This ensures you never have to worry about storage limitations when capturing and editing your work.
In addition to photography, a phone's video recording capabilities are critical for capturing high-quality motion footage. Look for phones that support 4K video at 60fps (frames per second) or even 8K recording for ultra-high-definition videos. Higher frame rates, such as 120fps or 240fps, are ideal for smooth slow-motion shots, providing a cinematic touch to your recordings. Additional features like optical image stabilization (OIS) help keep videos steady, while support for HDR video recording enhances contrast and color in various lighting conditions. If you’re looking to produce professional-grade videos, a phone with a dedicated Pro Video mode will also allow you to manually control settings like ISO, shutter speed, and focus during recording.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Megapixels and Pixel Size | Sensor Size | Lens Aperture | Type of Lens | Display Type | Storage | Video Resolution | |||||
1 | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max|A3296 | ![]() | Premium Titanium Design With Advanced Camera Technology | 48 MP Fusion, 48 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP Telephoto | 1/1.28" | ƒ/1.78 Fusion, ƒ/2.2 Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.8 Telephoto | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Telephoto、Main Camera | OLED | 256 GB、512 GB、1 TB | 4k at 120 FPS | |
2 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra|SM-S938BZBQPHL | ![]() | Advanced Camera and Seamless Performance | 200 MP Main, 50 MP Ultra Wide, 10 MP Telephoto, 50 MP Periscope | 1/1.3" | ƒ/1.7 Main, ƒ/1.9 Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4 Telephoto, ƒ/3.4 Periscope | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Telephoto、Main Camera、Periscope | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 256 GB、512 GB、1 TB | 8K at 30 FPS | |
3 | Pixel 9 Pro XL | ![]() | Advanced AI Camera With Smooth, Bright OLED Display | 50 MP Main, 48 MP Ultra Wide | 1/1.31" Main, 1/2.55" Ultra Wide | ƒ/1.7 Main, ƒ1.7 Ultra Wide | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera | OLED | 128 GB | 4K at 60 FPS | |
4 | Vivo V30 Pro 5G | ![]() | Slim Design With ZEISS Optics and Fast Charging | 50 MP | 1/1.49" main, 1/2.76 ultrawide, 1/2.76 telephoto | ƒ/1.88 main, ƒ/2.0 ultra wide, ƒ/1.85 telephoto | Telephoto、Main Camera、Ultra-Wide Angle Camera | AMOLED | 512 GB | 4K at 30 fps | |
5 | Samsung Galaxy S24 FE | ![]() | Bright Display With Versatile Camera And Long Battery Life | 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 8 MP telephoto | 1/1.57" | ƒ/1.8 Main, ƒ/2.2 ultrawide, ƒ/2.4 telephoto | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 512 GB | 8K | |
6 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro | ![]() | Ultra-Clear 200 MP Camera With Vibrant 120 Hz AMOLED Display | 200 MP Main, 8 MP Ultra Wide, 2 MP Macro | 1/1.4" | ƒ/1.65 Main, ƒ/2.2 Ultrawide, ƒ/2.4 Macro | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Macro、Main Camera | AMOLED | 512 GB | 4K at 30 fps | |
7 | OPPO Find X8 | ![]() | AI-Powered Camera With Long-Lasting Battery Life | 50 MP | 1" Main, 1/2.75 Ultrawide, 1/1.95 Telephoto | ƒ/1.8 Main, ƒ/2 Ultrawide, ƒ/3.1 Telephoto | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto | AMOLED | 1 TB | 4K at 120 fps | |
8 | Sony Xperia 1 IV | ![]() | 4K OLED Display With Pro-Grade Camera And Audio | 12 MP | 1/1.7" | f/1.7 Main, f/2.2 Ultrawide, f/2.8 telephoto | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto | OLED | 512 GB | 4K at 120 fps | |
9 | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | ![]() | Enhanced Performance with Signature Design | 50 MP | 1/1.57 Main, 1/2.76 Ultra Wide | f/1.88 Main, f/2.2 Ultra Wide | Main Camera、Ultra-Wide Angle Camera | AMOLED | 256 GB | 4K at 30 fps | |
10 | Realme Realme 13+ | ![]() | Smooth Performance with Vibrant OLED Display | 50 MP Main, 2 MP Depth | f/1.8 Main, f/2.4 Depth | unknown | Main Camera、Depth | OLED | 256 GB | 4K at 30 fps |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 48 MP Fusion, 48 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP Telephoto |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.28" |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.78 Fusion, ƒ/2.2 Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.8 Telephoto |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Telephoto、Main Camera |
Display Type | OLED |
Storage | 256 GB、512 GB、1 TB |
Video Resolution | 4k at 120 FPS |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 200 MP Main, 50 MP Ultra Wide, 10 MP Telephoto, 50 MP Periscope |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.3" |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.7 Main, ƒ/1.9 Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4 Telephoto, ƒ/3.4 Periscope |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Telephoto、Main Camera、Periscope |
Display Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
Storage | 256 GB、512 GB、1 TB |
Video Resolution | 8K at 30 FPS |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP Main, 48 MP Ultra Wide |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.31" Main, 1/2.55" Ultra Wide |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.7 Main, ƒ1.7 Ultra Wide |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera |
Display Type | OLED |
Storage | 128 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 60 FPS |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.49" main, 1/2.76 ultrawide, 1/2.76 telephoto |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.88 main, ƒ/2.0 ultra wide, ƒ/1.85 telephoto |
Type of Lens | Telephoto、Main Camera、Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
Display Type | AMOLED |
Storage | 512 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 30 fps |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 8 MP telephoto |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.57" |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.8 Main, ƒ/2.2 ultrawide, ƒ/2.4 telephoto |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto |
Display Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
Storage | 512 GB |
Video Resolution | 8K |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 200 MP Main, 8 MP Ultra Wide, 2 MP Macro |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.4" |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.65 Main, ƒ/2.2 Ultrawide, ƒ/2.4 Macro |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Macro、Main Camera |
Display Type | AMOLED |
Storage | 512 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 30 fps |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1" Main, 1/2.75 Ultrawide, 1/1.95 Telephoto |
Lens Aperture | ƒ/1.8 Main, ƒ/2 Ultrawide, ƒ/3.1 Telephoto |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto |
Display Type | AMOLED |
Storage | 1 TB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 120 fps |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 12 MP |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.7" |
Lens Aperture | f/1.7 Main, f/2.2 Ultrawide, f/2.8 telephoto |
Type of Lens | Ultra-Wide Angle Camera、Main Camera、Telephoto |
Display Type | OLED |
Storage | 512 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 120 fps |
Features and benefits:
Reviews mention:
Users appreciate the phone’s stylish design and the unique Glyph lighting system, which helps manage notifications without distractions. The upgraded processor offers noticeable speed improvements, though some find the software experience less polished. Battery life is praised for lasting over a day, but a few wish for better app integration with the Glyph feature. Overall, it is seen as a solid mid-range phone with distinct aesthetic appeal.
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP |
---|---|
Sensor Size | 1/1.57 Main, 1/2.76 Ultra Wide |
Lens Aperture | f/1.88 Main, f/2.2 Ultra Wide |
Type of Lens | Main Camera、Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
Display Type | AMOLED |
Storage | 256 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 30 fps |
Megapixels and Pixel Size | 50 MP Main, 2 MP Depth |
---|---|
Sensor Size | f/1.8 Main, f/2.4 Depth |
Lens Aperture | unknown |
Type of Lens | Main Camera、Depth |
Display Type | OLED |
Storage | 256 GB |
Video Resolution | 4K at 30 fps |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
While smartphones have advanced significantly and can handle most everyday photography needs, such as capturing moments and creating social media content, they may not fully replace a traditional camera for specialized tasks like professional sports, wildlife, or low-light photography. However, for casual use and even some semi-professional work, modern smartphones equipped with high-quality lenses and powerful camera software can offer impressive results that come close to traditional cameras.
Not always. While megapixels contribute to image detail, other factors like sensor size, lens quality, and image processing are equally important. A phone with a larger sensor and lower megapixel count can often take better photos in low-light conditions than a phone with a higher megapixel count but a smaller sensor.
Familiarizing yourself with manual functions allows you to control settings like ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance. This is useful for more advanced photography, as it gives you control over how the camera handles different lighting and motion conditions, enabling you to create the desired effect in your photos.
To take the best photos, you might need some photography tools. Additional equipment or editing software can easily take your photos to the next level. Find out more about upping your photography game in the links below!
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Apple|iPhone 16 Pro Max|A3296
No. 2: Samsung|Galaxy S25 Ultra|SM-S938BZBQPHL
No. 3: Google|Pixel 9 Pro XL
No. 4: Vivo|V30 Pro 5G
No. 5: Samsung|Galaxy S24 FE
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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