Smartphone cameras have evolved a lot in recent years with a number of features that have greatly improved image quality, including optical image stabilization, large image sensors, bright lenses and even optical zoom. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good model. This review presents the top inexpensive phones with a good camera and battery, the cost of which does not exceed 25 thousand rubles. In addition, camera specifications and features of their application are indicated.
Choosing an inexpensive phone with a good camera
Smartphones can be classified by the number of image sensors, matrix production technology, number andpixel size, lens aperture, optical stabilization, etc.
When evaluating the specifications of a smartphone, do not forget the following:
- The number of megapixels of the image sensor is not as important as the diameter of the lens pupil. Optics with a wide aperture (the ratio of the focal length to the effective aperture; a smaller number means a wider lens) transmits more light, improving the quality of photographs in low light.
- Pixel sizes, low-light performance are important, but high specs rarely translate to good camera performance in real-world conditions.
- The fancy optical Image Stabilizer, while supposed to improve low-light photos, doesn't always do so because photo processing software needs to work with it properly.
- Not all dual cameras are the same. Some smartphones (such as the iPhone X) use them to get the bokeh effect. Others (such as the LG V30) let you switch between wide and standard lenses.
- Is portrait mode necessary? It may have different names. On the iPhone it's Portrait Mode and on the Note 8 it's Live Photos, but other phones also let you achieve bokeh, where the subject is in focus and the background is artistically blurred. This feature is mostly supported by smartphones with two image sensors, but inexpensive mobile phones with a good camera can achieve the same result in software. Some models providethe ability to change the background blur of an already finished photo.
- Selfie camera specs are just as important as the main ones. As the number of self-portrait lovers is steadily increasing, inexpensive phones with a good front camera cannot be overlooked. To understand how a smartphone will shoot in low light, in addition to resolution, you need to check the aperture. Some front cameras (like the Pixel 2) are capable of producing the same effects as the dual rear cameras.
- Keep in mind the video. An inexpensive phone with a great camera can capture more than just still images. You need to know at what resolution and frame rate the capture is being made. For example, the LG V30 is capable of recording UHD video at 30 fps, while the iPhone 8 is capable of recording twice the frame rate. You should also look for a camera with filters and a slow-motion feature.
Honor 9
Inexpensive phone with excellent camera Honor 9 offers 2 main image sensors - color and monochrome. There's manual control, and with wide aperture and portrait modes, you can shoot with DSLR-style bokeh.
The camera application is launched by double-pressing the volume down key. The user can take advantage of a number of creative effects, including light painting, interval shooting, slow motion video and more. The camera allows you to record UHD video, save photos in an uncompressed format, and perform continuous shooting at a frame rate of 10 fps. Available ISO sensitivity ranges from100 to 3200, and there's a 2-hybrid zoom. This affordable camera phone is currently the closest thing to a premium smartphone.
Model features include 20MP monochrome and 12MP color rear f2.2 sensors and front 8MP f2 sensor, 5.15 HD display, 4K video recording, 64 GB internal non-volatile memory and RAW recording.
Moto X Play
This is an inexpensive phone with a good camera and battery, which in the current line of Motorola smartphones occupies a niche between Moto G and X Style as a mid-range model. Equipped with 21MP rear and 5MP front image sensors with f2.0 lens aperture and large 5.5” display. The footage captured by the 21-megapixel X Play sensor is bright, well-lit and has a large dynamic range. If the camera detects a scene with high contrast, Auto HDR greatly improves the quality of highlights and shadows and enhances color intensity. The effect is very noticeable, although in some cases it may look too intense. Photo quality is less impressive in low light, as noise becomes more noticeable as the camera requires a higher ISO to compensate for the lack of image stabilization. There is no manual ISO setting, which is disappointing for many users. The model is not fully waterproof, there is no USB Type-C port, and the turbo charger is not included. Volumeexpandable memory thanks to the presence of a slot for microSD cards.
The camera application is simple and clean, and the settings are located on a virtual control dial that can be scrolled on the screen. This allows you to quickly switch between shooting modes - continuous, panorama, HDR and slow motion video.
Main camera features: 21MP main sensor with F2.0 aperture and 27mm focal length (equivalent), 5MP front-facing f2, 2-lens, phase detection autofocus, auto-MER, dual tone LED flash, Full HD movie recording at 30 fps.
Moto G5
The 5th generation Moto G features a 13-megapixel 1/3-inch main image sensor, f2.0 4x digital zoom lens, 28mm (equivalent) focal length and 5” IPS -screen. The fixed focal length optics produce distortion-free photos, and sharpness in the corners is close to the center of the frame, although the built-in camera app has rather limited customization options. The front camera delivers image quality sufficient for social media or 6 x 4 prints, but when viewed up close, fine detail is missing. Owners report that panoramas are a bit disappointing, but 1080p video is well detailed, bright and well lit.
Moto G is one of the most affordable phones with an excellent camera that is waterproof. Its built-in memory can be expanded using microSD-cards. The camera app is identical to the Moto G5+, it's simple and supports auto-HDR. By touching the screen, you can select the focus object around which the brightness adjustment dial appears.
Camera specs: 13MP sensor, f2.0 aperture, 28mm focal length (50mm equivalent), Full HD video recording.
Moto G5+
This is an inexpensive phone with a good camera and an all-day battery that can charge for 6 hours of use in just 15 minutes. Long runtime between charges is guaranteed by the high-performance and energy-saving Snapdragon 625 chip. Pleasant HD images on the IPS screen do not strain the battery and GPU, which significantly extends the time between charges, surpassing even some of the best models. A GPU with eight 2GHz cores and 2GB RAM guarantee good performance, while a 12MP camera allows you to take high-quality photos. The main image sensor has an autofocus system, thanks to which all pixels are involved in the focusing process, and not 5%, as in conventional cameras. At the same time, AF works 60% faster. This is the first budget smartphone with this feature.
Thus, the phone is equipped with a 12-megapixel main sensor and f1.7 lens aperture, as well as a 5-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera with f2.2 lens, phase detection autofocus, auto-HDR, slot for microSD- cards (up to 128 GB) and 32/64 GB internal storage.
Moto G4+
The smartphone is equipped with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, records FullHD video, has a fairly bright lens with an aperture of F2.0 and a 5.5” fullHD screen. The resolution of the front camera is 5 megapixels. Owners report that the detail and color reproduction of the footage is good, and they are impressed with the color reproduction of the dual tone flash. The ISO range is from 64 to 3200. A microSD card slot is available, so you can add more memory if needed.
This is a smartphone with a 16MP rear camera, f2.0 lens and a 5MP front image sensor with f2.2 optics, phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus, dual tone flash, auto HDR, Full HD video recording with frequency 30 fps.
Moto X4
Inexpensive phone with a good camera and battery Moto X4 offers great functionality in a fairly compact (by today's standards) waterproof case. There are two main image sensors. The ultra-wide-angle camera has obvious distortion and some photo quality issues, but as an addition it is quite useful. The smartphone records video in ultra high definition or in ultra wide angle fullHD, so owners advise using it as an action camera, especially since it is waterproof.
Compared to other models like HTC U Play and Honor 7X, the Moto X4 seems a bit overpriced. However, it is one of the few waterproof smartphones, so it is worth the money.
Functional capabilities of the model: dual camera with a 12-megapixel sensor with a lens aperture of f2.0 and 8-megapixelf2.2 ultra wide-angle sensor, 16MP f2.0 selfie camera, LED flash, 5.2” 1080p display, 4K video recording, 32GB storage.
Huawei P8
This is an inexpensive phone with a good camera and battery, a thin metal body, a large 5.2” HD screen and a 13-megapixel sensor with a fast f/2.0 lens. The smartphone also has a number of improved photo features, including a light painting mode and optical stabilization. According to owners, the quality of the pictures is quite high, although not as sharp or detailed as that of competitors' phones. However, for those who do not want to spend a lot of money, but still want to get a premium camera, P8 will be the best option. The smartphone is equipped with a Sony low-light sensor and has a sensitivity range of ISO 64-1600. The permanent memory of the model can be expanded with a MicroSD card.
The camera app looks like an iPhone. There's the same circular shutter button below the row of shooting modes, which can be viewed by swiping sideways. Among them are video recording and HDR. The menu in the top corner opens up additional modes such as adding a watermark, post-capture bokeh options, and night photography.
So this big budget phone with a good camera is equipped with a 13MP image sensor, f2.0 lens with a 28mm focal length (equivalent), systemoptical stabilization and allows you to shoot Full HD-video. There's also an 8MP front-facing sensor with f2.4 aperture and 28mm focal length (equivalent).
Huawei Ascend Mate 2
Design is certainly a subjective category, but Ascend Mate 2 users love it as it's hard to find another phone of this size for less than 25,000 rubles. Its 6.1-inch panel puts it firmly in the phablet category, and while it might be a little too big for some users, reading articles and watching videos is a pleasure. The display resolution is 720p, which is not as good as 1080p, but in this price range you can't complain about it.
The phone is equipped with 13-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front sensors, as well as a microSD card slot under the rear panel, which allows you to increase the built-in permanent memory. According to reviews, the smartphone is not running the most modern version of Android 4.3, but there is voice search, Google Now, and even a glove mode that makes the screen more sensitive. The model is equipped with a Snapdragon 400 quad-core chipset with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz and a fixed battery with a capacity of 4050 mAh, which lasts for 25 hours of operation.
Mate 2 is a phone with a good camera and memory and is inexpensive. Its photo functionality is 13 MP main and 5 MP selfie sensor with LED flash and AF, 1080p video recording at 30 fps
HTC U Play
This is an inexpensive touchscreen phone with a good 16 MP camera, f2.0 lens aperture and opticalimage stabilizer. There is a dual LED flash and a 5.2” HD screen. The front camera also has 16 megapixels and f2.0 optics. RAM is 3 GB and ROM is 32 GB. The back panel is made of stylish glass, and the fingerprint sensor is located on the front. This is one of the most affordable OIS models on the market.
So, the main and selfie cameras of the phone have a resolution of 16 megapixels and a relative aperture of f2.0, there is a dual LED flash on the back, FullHD recording is supported, and there is a microSD memory expansion slot.
Nokia 6
With fast 4G LTE speeds, a 16MP camera and a stunning 5.5” HD display, the Nokia 6 delivers great value for money. Unlike other budget electronics, it will not break immediately after purchase. Its body is made of 6000 series anodized aluminum with bright edges and an attractive finish. The smartphone is equipped with a high-definition IPS display capable of reproducing sRGB space. Owners report enjoying movies with loud sound and deep bass from two Dolby Atmos speakers with 7.2W peak power output.
Amazon-exclusive offering includes media connectivity, a suite of office apps, and 32GB storage.
Inexpensive front camera phone Nokia 6 features 16MP main and 8MP front image sensors, relative aperturef2.0 lens, dual tone LED flash, phase detection autofocus, 1080p video recording at 30 fps, 3k mAh battery.
LG Q6
Those who are deciding which inexpensive phone with a good camera to get should consider buying the LG Q6. In many respects, this is a top model, distinguished by an acceptable cost. The plastic back panel is prone to scratches and lacks a fingerprint sensor. The beautiful IPS screen with QHD resolution measures 5.5” diagonally and has a 2:1 aspect ratio. The rear camera offers auto and manual focus, and does so at a fairly large 13MP resolution. The front 5-megapixel sensor is equipped with a wide-angle lens, backlight and autofocus. The user has access to modes such as-g.webp
The smartphone comes with Android 7.1, octa-core 1, 4GHz Snapdragon 435, 32GB ROM and 3GB RAM. These are characteristics that match high-end phones. The user can expand the storage up to 2TB using the SD card slot. The battery capacity is 3000 mAh. Features such as face unlock and tapping on the screen are supported. Amazon is ready to almost halve the price if the user agrees to receive special offers on the lock screen.
Thus, the photo features of the smartphone include 13-megapixel rear (f2.2) and 5-megapixel front sensors with autofocus, flash and 1080p video recording.
SonyXA1
Affordable phone with a powerful camera, the Sony XA1 offers a smart 23-megapixel resolution that rivals mid-range digital SLRs. The aperture ratio of f2.0 and the ability to work in low light conditions provide unrivaled smartphone performance in terms of photography. The ultra-modern look of the model is created by a 5” display, which has virtually no bezels. The phone comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 256 GB thanks to the SD card slot. The manufacturer even installed an application that allows you to remove unnecessary or rarely used software to optimize storage space and speed.
The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio P20 8-core 64-bit chip running at 2.4GHz and a 2300mAh battery. The model is compatible with the latest versions of Android, but Sony has added some useful features, such as the ability to learn the owner's preferences and optimize its functionality on the go. This is a great option for those who need a quality phone with a good camera and memory. High-end 23MP main image sensor and 8MP front-facing sensor with f2.0 aperture, 23mm focal length (equivalent), phase-detection AF, LED flash and 1080p video recording at 30fps are inexpensive.
Samsung Galaxy S5
This affordable phone with an excellent camera delivers an impressive 30-secondcontinuous shooting at a frame rate of 6 fps and records ultra-high definition video. The S5 is also certified dustproof and waterproof to a depth of 1 meter and comes with 16GB/32GB of internal storage, expandable with a microSD card. In terms of shooting capabilities, the S5 is equipped with a fixed 31mm lens with f2.2 light transmission and digital image stabilization. The Galaxy S5 captures well-detailed shots from both close up and far away, with sensitivity of ISO400 and below at a maximum of ISO800. At the same time, according to the reviews of the owners, the camera provides impressively low levels of smoothing and image noise. Color reproduction is accurate and exposure metering produces well-exposed shots with acceptable dynamic range.
Main camera features include 16MP rear sensor, f2.2 lens, 31mm focal length (equivalent), phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 4K video recording at 30fps, and video capture in high definition at 60 fps, memory expansion via microSD slot. The front image sensor has a resolution of 2 MP and f2.4 optics with a focal length of 22 mm.
Samsung Galaxy J7
The manufacturer's Galaxy S line is getting most of the media's attention, and for good reason - these phones are truly top-of-the-line high-end devices. But much more accessible.the J7 line also provides enough power. An inexpensive Samsung phone with a good camera is equipped with an 8-core chip that runs at 1.6 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. This is enough to run the latest generation Android OS, so the smartphone will not look like a budget one. The 5.5” Super AMOLED screen has a 720p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is great for watching videos.
The 13MP rear camera is nothing special, but the 5MP front camera is no match for higher-end models. There is 16GB of internal storage available, which is quite limited compared to flagships, but storage is expandable thanks to a microSD slot, which is a standard addition on most Android smartphones. At 170g, this is a relatively light little phone with premium features. While the build quality isn't up to par with high-end models, it feels great in the hand. True, according to user reviews, for the untrained eye, he looks like a representative of one of the previous generations. All in all, the Galaxy J7 is a bargain and also branded with Samsung.
The photo functionality of the phone is represented by 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front sensors with an f1, 9 aperture and a focal length of 28 mm (equivalent), LED backlight, autofocus and 1080p video recording.
