Best camera phone to capture the Christmas magic: Check models, specifications, prices

This has been a great year for smartphone cameras with brands pushing the envelope beyond what’s obvious. Apple upgraded its primary camera on the 16 Pro and added the camera control button. Android universe gave us some of the most versatile collaborations for the likes of Hasselblad with Oppo, Zeiss with Vivo, and Leica with Xiaomi.Now that the year is ending, we list down 5 smartphone cameras that stood out for us. A topic fitting for the time, since it’s all about making and capturing those jolly good memories.

The smartphones below are the latest to earliest launches this year.

Vivo X200 Pro

The Vivo X200 Pro is a high-end smartphone with a powerful camera system co-engineered by Zeiss. It features a 50MP main sensor, a 200MP 85mm zoom camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. You also get a significant AI features in the smartphone like generative AI and Google’s magic eraser. The phone also boasts a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor, and a 6,000mAh battery. The smartphone is available at a price of Rs 94,999.

Oppo Find X8 Pro

The Oppo Find X8 Pro is a flagship smartphone with a powerful camera system. It features a quad-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and two 50MP telephoto lenses. The camera system developed with Hasselblad will surprise you in both portrait and telephoto shots. Like most Android devices you get a plethora of AI features here as well like AI erase. What sets this device apart is the camera control button which is super responsive. The phone also boasts a 6.78-inch 2K AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor, and a 5910mAh battery. The device is available at Rs 99,999.

Realme GT 7 Pro

This is a wild card according to me. Realme’s strong suite has generally been performance but they have surprised the market with the GT 7 Pro. It features a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The camera delivers clear skin tones and can deliver strong results in underwhelming lighting conditions as well. The phone also boasts a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and a 5800mAh battery. It starts at Rs 59,999.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The iPhone 16 Pro Max gets an upgrade this year with a new camera system, headlined by a powerful 48MP main sensor capturing perfect detail. It’s complemented by a versatile 48MP ultrawide lens for expansive shots and a 12MP telephoto lens offering an impressive 5x optical zoom.
Beyond hardware, Apple’s advanced AI photography features take center stage. The “Clean Up” tool, inspired by Google’s Magic Eraser, intelligently removes unwanted objects from your photos with a simple tap. This, combined with advanced computational photography techniques, ensures every shot looks its best.

It sports a 6.9-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display that delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and incredibly smooth scrolling for an immersive viewing experience. Running on iOS 18 it is powered by Apple’s A17 Pro bionic chip. The starting price for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in India is Rs 144,900.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra sports a camera system co-engineered with Leica. It features a 50MP main sensor with a large 1-inch type, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and two 50MP telephoto lenses offering impressive zoom capabilities. The phone also incorporates advanced AI photography features and Leica’s signature aesthetic for stunning image quality.

Beyond its camera prowess, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra shines with a vibrant 6.7-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display and is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for seamless performance. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is priced at Rs 99,999.

Special mention –

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra –

Launched in January of 2024, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands tall with it’s camera system paired with the Galaxy AI features. The reason this device is in special mention is simple – the S25 Ultra is launching very soon. However, the camera system here is none to less.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a groundbreaking camera system with a 200MP main sensor, capturing incredible detail. It’s complemented by a versatile set of ultrawide, telephoto, and periscope lenses for stunning zoom capabilities.

Powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and featuring a brilliant 6.8-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the S24 Ultra delivers peak performance and a visually immersive experience.

Advanced AI features like enhanced scene optimization and object recognition further elevate photography, while features like Nightography ensure stunning low-light shots.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at Rs 109,999 in India.