Today we are going to take a look at six of the best smartphones that money can buy at the moment. In this article we will be comparing the cameras of each device and are looking to see if any of them can stand out above the rest.
iPhone 6S
Apple has been renowned for the quality cameras it has supplied with many a generation of iPhone. There was a time that the quality of its camera could be the only reason to purchase one instead of an Android. However, those days are over and the likes of the iPhone 6S has much more competition to contend with.
To contend with its rivals Apple has equipped the iPhone 6S with not only higher resolution but also the promise of 4K video recording for a higher quality video shoot.
So what are the camera specs of the 6S? Take a look below:
Key Camera Features of the iPhone 6S
- 12-Megapixel sensor, F/2.2, phase detection autofocus.
- Dual-LED (dual tone) flash, 1/3 sensor size.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps.
- Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR.
- Simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording.
- Secondary 5-Megapixel camera with Face detection.
Galaxy S7
For many manufacturers camera quality has become almost an afterthought when it comes to the release of a new handset. However, that cannot be said of Samsung as it has proved itself in the camera stakes time and time again.
With the Galaxy S7 it may be that Samsung has surpassed itself in camera quality, due to the fact that in this model it actually reduced the amount of pixels from 16 on the S6 to 12. The theory behind this is, the smaller the overall megapixels the bigger the individual pixels become and as such more light is absorbed per ppi (per pixel inch), which should mean a better quality image.
Here’s a quick look at the specs of the Galaxy S7 camera:
Key Camera Features of the Galaxy S7
- 12-Megapixel sensor, F/1.7, phase detection autofocus.
- OIS, LED flash, 1/2.6” sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps.
- Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR.
- Simultaneous 4K video and 9MP image recording.
- Secondary 5-Megapixel camera with dual video call.
HTC 10
HTC used to be known for its cameras however, over the last few years the camera is where the Taiwanese manufacturer has run into some troubles.
Recent handsets like the HTC One 9 fell short when compared to other leading handsets of that time, but with their latest offering the HTC 10 the manufacturer is hoping to fight back and produce something that not only competes, but also defeats its rivals.
Here’s a look at what the HTC 10s camera has to offer:
Key Camera Features of the HTC 10
- 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash.
- 1/2.3” sensor size, 1.55µm pixel size, geo-tagging.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps.
- Touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps.
- 5-Megapixel secondary camera, OIS, autofocus, 1080p, HDR.
LG G5
Prior to its launch the LG G5 was being hotly tipped as a competitor to the Galaxy S7. The fact that a once struggling manufacturer (in smartphone terms) can now compete in the camera stakes, with the likes of Samsung goes a long way to showing the commitment that LG has shown to increasing it build quality and improving the technology included in its smartphones.
With its wide angled lens and dual cameras the LG G5 promises to be fantastic for snapping selfies, tall buildings and probably just about anything else.
So what are the camera specs of the LG G5? Take a look below:
Key Camera Features of the LG G5
- 16 MP (f/1.8) + 8 MP (f/2.4), laser autofocus, OIS (3-axis).
- Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps.
- Secondary 8-Megapixel camera, f/2.0, 1080p@30fps.
Huawei P9
One of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world Huawei has been attempting to compete outside of China its home market for some time now. However, the camera on the this P9 handset has been widely condemned by many critics across the world, with some stating that Huawei has actually placed better cameras in earlier handset models.
Some of the nagging drawbacks of the P9 are its lack of optical image stabilization and the fact that it records full HD at the relatively low frame rate of 30fps.
So what positives does the P9 camera have, let’s have a look below:
Key Camera Features of the Huawei P9
- Dual 12 MP, f/2.2, 27 mm, Leica optics, phase detection autofocus.
- 25 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection.
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps.
- Secondary 8-Megapixel camera, f/2.0, 1080p@30fps.
Sony Xperia Z5
The Xperia Z5 is one of the oldest handsets in this comparison and is also has the camera with the highest megapixel rating at 23-megapixels. We took a wide variety of pictures to see how it could cope in different conditions.
The Z5 has had a significant camera upgrade when compared to its predecessors, with a 23MP 1/2.3-inch multi-aspect BSI CMOS sensor combined with an F2.0 lens and dual-LED flash. The pre-installed camera app has also had a upgrade, with a simpler user interface. It’s 23MP full resolution mode is now available in in superior auto, which was originally limited to only 8MP.
Key Camera Features of the Xperia Z5
- 23-Megapixel sensor, 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS
- F/2.0, Phase detection, Auto focus, Dual-LED flash
- Video recording at 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps
- Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR
- 5-Megapixel secondary camera.
Which Camera is the Best?
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to camera technology, however for we think the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the clear winner. Its 12-megapixel camera is great for the majority of shots both in and outdoors and performs really well in low light conditions.
