2016 is already coming to an end, which means that most of the flagship presentations of various IT companies have already died down. Apple introduced the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, Samsung presented the long-suffering Galaxy Note 7, LG showed the V20, Meizu presented the Pro 6.
And if new flagships that can excite the minds of the public and specialized publications no longer appear, then we can single out leaders in different categories among all the new products of 2016. For example, in cameras. Over the past two years, imaging modules have made significant strides forward in color reproduction, image quality, and image smoothness. Therefore, you can try to answer the question: "What is the best camera on a smartphone in 2016?"
TOP 10 best camera phones 2016
In the following sections, ten smartphones of this and last year, which can rightly be called flagship camera phones, will be considered, their main features and advantages over competitors will be highlighted. Opinions may differ fromgenerally accepted, because people evaluate the quality of photos and videos. And how many people, so many opinions. So, here are the top 10 smartphones with the best cameras in 2016.
Tenth place
Sony Xperia Z5. Even though Sony's Z line of flagship smartphones has ceased to exist, last year's Z5 flagship still performs well in photo and video shooting, producing picture quality that is not much inferior to what 2016 flagships can offer. This can be confirmed by the high scores of the DXOMark profile publication. The numbers speak for themselves: the auto focus time is 0.03 seconds, and this is on a 23-megapixel sensor! We can say that the Xperia Z5 is the smartphone with the best camera, however, in 2015.
Ninth place
Meizu MX5. The MX line, once considered the flagship, lost this title to the Pro-series, and, accordingly, the technical equipment became somewhat worse. However, Meizu MX6 with its Sony IMX386 camera module with excellent software optimization is still able to produce excellent photo and video quality in all conditions.
Eighth place
LG G5. An excellent camera has always been a hallmark of LG's flagships. This happened with the G5, with the only exception that the smartphone was introduced quite a long time ago, and its technical equipment has become outdated. But this does not mean at all that the quality of the shooting has deteriorated. Not at all. In fact, now the LG G5 takes pictures and shoots videos that are comparable in quality to the work of budget"mirror". At the same time, we emphasize that many amateur photographers note that the G5 has the best camera on a smartphone. Well, that's their opinion.
Seventh place
Apple iPhone 6S/6S Plus. Even though the Cupertino company has updated its line of flagship smartphones, the previous generation devices, thanks to excellent optimization and the right software, shoot at the level of some of the flagships of 2016. Both the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are a clear confirmation of this. Branded iSight cameras always remain relevant for a long time, even after the release of a new generation of devices.
Sixth place
Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The flagship of the South Korean company's phablet line was released a little later than the super-successful Galaxy S6, which means it received more modern equipment. Thanks to the main camera of 16 megapixels, the device is capable of recording video in 4K format. It is also worth considering that the camera software allows the user to customize it to suit their needs and requirements. For many, the Galaxy Note 5 is still the smartphone with the best camera ever.
Fifth place
Huawei Nexus 6P. The latest generation of Nexus smartphones from Google, which were replaced by devices from the Pixel line, greatly pleased users with their characteristics, design, and overall quality. Especially Huawei Nexus 6P. The Chinese have equipped the smartphone with a camera with high light sensitivity and a high-quality 12.3 megapixel matrix. But megapixels aren't everything. Meaningfulhas optimization and camera module software. And with all this, the Nexus 6P is flawless. Many netizens even now do not ask the question: “Which smartphone has the best camera?” unequivocally answer: "Nexus 6P".
Fourth place
Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge. The latest generation of smartphones from the South Korean company shows the quality of the shooting level, comparable to semi-professional cameras. Why only fourth place, because many people say that this is a smartphone with the best camera? The answer to this question will be given a little later. Suffice it to say that buying Galaxy S7/S7 edge just because of the excellent camera will be more than justified. This device combines the qualities of not only an excellent working device, but also a first-class DSLR.
Among other things, selfie lovers say that the S7/S7 edge is the smartphone with the best front camera. It's hard not to agree with this, especially considering that the front module of the flagship from Samsung takes pictures and shoots video of a quality that the main cameras of some smartphones fall short of.
Third place
Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Despite all the failures that haunt the seventh Galaxy Note model, the smartphone is one of the best representatives of the segment in terms of its characteristics. You can verify this by looking at just a couple of photos or videos taken with the help of this device. Their quality, detail and stabilization (for video) will speak for themselves. Although in fact the camera module,installed in Note 7 is not much different from what is equipped with S7 and S7 edge.
Second place
Apple iPhone 7. Predictable? Still would! Almost every specialized publication considers it their duty to highlight the revolutionary camera of the iPhone 7. And the most interesting thing is that this is quite true. Tests have shown that the camera of the new iPhone 7 is indeed an order of magnitude higher than all its predecessors: the iPhone 6S, and even more so the iPhone SE. But is the quality of pictures and videos on the next-generation iPhone really that different from Samsung's flagships?
"First Place": Apple iPhone 7 Plus
For a whole year there have been rumors that the company from Cupertino will introduce a new flagship with a camera, which has never been in smartphones before. The rumors turned out to be true. The best camera on a smartphone is probably installed in the new iPhone. The plus version of the 7th model takes amazingly realistic shots, the quality level of which is not much lower than on professional DSLRs.
The most interesting thing is that the last four positions cannot be called stable. For example, Galaxy Note 7 could well take the first place. This smartphone deserves it just like the Galaxy S7. The eternal struggle between Samsung and Apple in the smartphone segment has made itself felt here as well.
This does not mean that the seventh generation iPhones are bad. No. They are in no way inferior to the seventh generation of flagships from Samsung, just like the Galaxy line, in turn, is no worse than the new iPhones. This means that there is no fundamental difference betweenthe flagships of the Cupertino and Ezhnokoreans. They can all claim the first place. And which one to choose is only a matter of taste, because the technical characteristics of all four devices are at the highest level.
It turns out that a clear answer to the question: "Which smartphone has the best camera (2016)?" no.
OnePlus 3
But this one is a much more suitable candidate for the fourth position: the third model of flagship killers is OnePlus 3. Good “hardware and A-class camera modules from famous manufacturers allow the Chinese “monster” to create masterpieces that are not only not ashamed show to friends or acquaintances, but it is quite acceptable to print, frame and hang on the wall.
Huawei P9
What to say about the flagship of 2016 from the largest Chinese smartphone manufacturer? Specialists from the Celestial Empire, together with engineers from the famous German company Leica, were able to develop such a dual camera that, with the proper skills and knowledge in the field of photo and video, can take shots of the level of the new iPhone and Galaxy Note 7. So the third position in the top smartphones with the best cameras can rightly get Huawei P9. We can say that P9 is the Chinese smartphone with the best camera.
Mid-budget camephorone
The above smartphones, although they have excellent features and excellent cameras, are nevertheless beyond the reach of some users. And everyone wants to take good pictures and record high-quality videos. Just for such people there is a middle segmentsmartphones.
Surprising as it may seem, but the most inexpensive smartphone with a good camera is also the brainchild of Samsung. The Galaxy A (2016) line of devices, while relatively cheap (compared to flagships), is equipped with excellent camera modules that shoot at a resolution sufficient for everyday use. A good example proving this fact is the Galaxy A3 (2016) smartphone.
By the way, not only Samsung makes excellent mid-range camera phones. Meizu and Xiaomi have also succeeded in this (these companies, in general, have succeeded in the entire smartphone market). Meizu M3 Note and MX4 Pro, as well as Xiaomi Mi4c and Mi4i are able to compete with smartphones from the South Korean manufacturer.
Low budget camera phone
However, for some, paying 15-18 thousand rubles for a smartphone that will shoot well is also an unacceptable waste of money. And for such people there is a budget segment of devices. Their maximum price is 11 thousand rubles.
And the cheapest smartphone with a good camera, according to many netizens, is ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL. Now it is available for purchase for about ten thousand rubles. And for this money, the user gets devices with a 13-megapixel main camera with a 2.0 aperture, equipped with laser autofocus.
Although the Chinese competitor Meizu M3S can become an excellent alternative to the smartphone from ASUS. Thanks to the excellent 13-megapixelmain camera with phase detection autofocus and aperture 2.2, the device produces good quality for a low-budget smartphone, the quality of pictures and videos, which is quite enough for posting to Instagram or other everyday purposes.
Chinese camera phone
It is worth noting that smartphones are divided not only by price, but also by country of origin. This is due to the fact that each country has its own peculiarities of smartphone construction. In America, the emphasis is on strict corporate design and high device performance through software optimization, in China - on high technical equipment.
For example, the best camera on Chinese smartphones is installed in Meizu Pro 6, the current flagship of the company. Immediately after the release of the device, many specialized publications around the globe unanimously claimed that this is a smartphone with the best camera. Meizu devices traditionally have excellent shooting modules. What can we say about the flagship line. In terms of image quality, the Pro 6 is ahead of its closest competitor Xiaomi Mi5.
Although Xiaomi Mi5 can also claim this title. And all thanks to a 16-megapixel camera with excellent optical stabilization, comparable to the iPhone 6S. It allows users to capture all the moments of life in highly detailed frames and widescreen videos with excellent picture quality.
Moreover, Xiaomi Mi5 can be bought at a relatively low price for a flagship - about 25,000 rubles, while Meizu Pro 6 andat all costs from 20,000 rubles. Such prices for flagship smartphones are very rare. Especially when you consider that both companies make quality devices.
Huawei's sub-brand, Honor, by the way, flagship smartphones are also equipped with high-level camera modules. An example is Honor 7. For about the same 20-25 thousand, the user gets an excellent device with a 20-megapixel main camera that produces amazing photo and video quality comparable to devices from 2015, such as the Sony Xperia Z5, for example, or last year's flagship killer OnePlus 2.
In fact, a huge number of smartphone models of all price categories with excellent cameras are created and produced in China. However, with "formally" excellent. For example, it's no secret that all UMi or Oppo flagships are equipped with the latest hardware available on the market. Very often, for example, you can see smartphones from Chinese B-class manufacturers with 6 gigabytes of memory and other "features". In fact, they perform worse than the iPhone 6, which has only 1 gigabyte of RAM. The same problem with cameras. Paradoxically, the modules are supplied by Sony, and the result is an average image quality. So Xiaomi and Meizu are one of the few companies, so to speak, "rays of light" that produce a quality product, and not mediocrity. Both Lenovo and Huawei fall into the same category. But there is nothing surprising in this. This is business. A very large business through which huge financial flows pass. And in order to direct these flows into your "pocket", you needsomething different from competitors. And first of all - the quality of products or services.
Result
Thus, it turns out that in the past year of 2016, companies have launched a huge number of smartphones with amazing cameras that are able to create real masterpieces with just one click on the screen thanks to modern photo and video processing technologies. Naturally, the leading market players – Samsung, Apple and Huawei – have succeeded in this. But smaller companies did not lag behind and proved that they can also create real camera phones in the truest sense of the word. Who knows, maybe the day is not far off when a small device in your pocket can completely replace people's cameras and cameras. And not only them, but also a personal computer and many other devices, without which it is now impossible to imagine modern human life.
