How good is a camera if you use it mostly to text? In the past decade, as smartphone camera tech has improved exponentially—better lenses, higher resolution, the ability to zoom in to identify a ballplayer’s sneakers even from the nosebleeds—the devices they are attached to have gained power over our lives. Some might say these cameras offer too much utility, since it is far too easy to pick up your phone with the intent to take a cute photo of your lounging dog only to find yourself halfway through the Wikipedia page for the “Neolithic Revolution" 20 minutes later.
When you shoot with a dedicated camera, by contrast, the possibilities are decidedly limited. While they better equip you to literally focus on photography, and so have earned legions of new fans, they have their own downsides. Mirrorless cameras are sleeker than a DSLR but bulkier than your phone, and instant cameras can be entertaining but often render subjects dull and colorless.
Which is right for you? Below, a few cameras that offer superlative imaging in a fun-to-use package, as well as some phones for those who don’t yet feel ready to invest in something extra.
SMARTPHONES
Best In Show
The debate between iPhone and Android fanatics has resulted, it seems, in a detente, with each camp happy enough with its lot to stop trying to convert its rivals. Still, the best argument for Androids might be the camera in the Google Pixel 7 Pro. With its four lenses and advanced software, it can capture sharp images in nearly all lighting conditions, even when zoomed in pretty close. Its ease makes it a point-and-shoot competitor worth considering. $899, Store.Google.com
For Setting Tweakers
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features slightly less-impressive camera hardware, but still renders subjects clearly and in great, saturated colors. It is simple to adjust settings while shooting or to bring raw versions of your photo files into software like Adobe Lightroom to edit them further. $1200, Samsung.com