Rita El Khoury/ Android Authority
There’s even more to a great camera phone than equipment. Certain, cam sensing units, focal sizes, and the chipset all have a significant function to play. Nevertheless, a phone’s cam application can make or damage the experience. So with this in mind, we made a decision to rate every significant Android phone manufacturer’s pre-installed cam application from worst to finest!
We took numerous variables right into account, specifically picture top quality, the amount and top quality of functions (not consisting of gallery functions), and the cam application’s layout. I depend on some associates to rate the cam applications, however likewise utilized my very own discernment in a couple of locations. In any case, this is simply for enjoyable, however you can offer us your very own listing in the remarks!
Which smart device manufacturer has the most effective cam application?
4421 ballots
10. TECNO
Hadlee Simons/ Android Authority
We believed TECNO’s HiOS was the worst Android skin out of all the significant makers, and the cam application isn’t far better. The bright side is that the application has a strong, if common, UI. That’s where the positives usually finish.
My time with 2023’s Phantom V Flip and Phantom V Layer tools revealed that TECNO’s cam application really did not endanger opponents for picture top quality. Daytime breaks are dealt with all right, however low-light efficiency is irregular to straight-out inadequate. You would certainly much better make it possible for the Super Evening setting in these circumstances. The cam application likewise often tends to struggle with inadequate zoom top quality, also when the phone has a telephoto cam.
TECNO’s cam application does not have numerous standout functions, although standard choices like an ultra-steady video clip setting, evening setting, and full-resolution capture are readily available. There are likewise lots of improvement functions if that’s your point, consisting of a plump butt filter (seriously). Simply do not anticipate functions like Samsung’s Solitary Take or Google’s Include Me. At the very least the brand name beat Google to the strike by a couple of years in providing much better assistance for darker complexion.
9. HONOR
Robert Triggs/ Android Authority
HONOR regularly supplies some superb cam equipment, as seen on its Magic 7 Pro and collapsible phones. Nevertheless, the firm might do a far better work with the cam application. For beginners, the cam UI isn’t negative, however it delays well behind prominent opponents. There’s absolutely nothing right here that really screams “HONOR.”
The cam application usually supplies strong picture top quality. Coworker C Scott Brown commended the uniformity throughout all 3 back cams on the Magic V3 collapsible, while Rob Triggs commended the HDR efficiency in our Magic 7 Pro review Nevertheless, Rob dramatically slammed the phone’s AI-assisted zoom, which included evident AI-generated images at 30x or greater, along with the AI-enhanced picture setting. Scott likewise disagreed with the oversaturated shades as a whole.
The cam application likewise has lots of settings and functions. These consist of 3 shade accounts, LUT assistance, a range of filters, a phase setting, an evening video clip setting, and a “Falcon Capture” choice for fast-moving topics. It plainly stays on top of various other brand names hereof however does not draw in advance.
8. Motorola
Ryan Haines/ Android Authority
I depend on our United States authors to offer me their viewpoints on Motorola’s cam application owing to the brand name’s all set schedule there. At the same time, my last experience with a Motorola phone was most likely 2016’s Moto Z Play. Oof. Nevertheless, the cam application UI is a little common in the beginning look, however it stimulates the Pixel cam application because of that acquainted cam setting slide carousel. At the very least you can not implicate Motorola of replicating the apple iphone cam application.
Motorola’s picture top quality hasn’t traditionally been fantastic. Our customer grievances for many years consist of over-sharpened and/or over-saturated pictures throughout the day and dark, blurred breaks at evening. The cam circumstance has actually boosted in current times, however excellent low-light pictures aren’t a warranty on its spending plan phones or the Razr series.
The Moto cam application does not have one of the most methods, either. We have actually obtained anticipated functions like picture setting and evening setting, along with trendy enhancements like horizon-locked stablizing and the ever-fun shade pop attribute. The good news is, the current front runners likewise use clever choices like Activity Shot, Team Shot, and a Trademark Design attribute that discovers your wanted picture design. Pretty cool.
7. Sony
Alex Walker-Todd/ Android Authority
Sony is probably the king of cam software program for digital photography fanatics. The firm has actually traditionally provided lots of pro-level functions in its cam application, consisting of eye-tracking autofocus, numerous video clip accounts (e.g., S-Cinetone), and an assortment of hands-on photo/video controls. The Sony application also allows you combine your phone with a Sony Alpha cam– just how trendy is that? Sony’s application does not have a great deal of standard smart device devices, however, however you still have durable livestream assistance, picture setting, a range of shade accounts, full-resolution image capture, and bokeh video clip.
Sony formerly had numerous cam applications on its phones, producing an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, the firm has actually considering that incorporated all these applications right into one cam application. The real UI layout isn’t anything to compose home regarding, however it’s tolerable.
We likewise believed that current Sony front runner phones, like the Xperia 1 VI, took fantastic pictures that really did not look over-processed. Nevertheless, coworker Rob Triggs formerly believed that the Xperia 1 V had not been as constant as competing phones, and uniformity is essential for a fantastic cam application. We have not assessed a mid-range Xperia phone in a number of years, however coworker Adam Birney formerly defined the Xperia 10 IV’s cams as “second-rate.” Simply put, there’s no warranty that standard picture top quality stands up throughout numerous rate factors.
6. Absolutely Nothing
C. Scott Brown/ Android Authority
Absolutely nothing’s cam application would certainly be rated reduced on the listing, however our United States customers all rated it in their leading 5. I can see why, based upon the cam application UI, which supplies a distinct layout. You actually aren’t mosting likely to blunder this for a Pixel or apple iphone.
The firm is going back to square one, so it can not lean on tradition functions, however there are a couple of trendy capacities worth understanding. For one, the Absolutely nothing Phone 3a collection supplies customized cam filters that can be shown to various other Absolutely nothing Phone proprietors. These phones likewise use a good range of cool filters, together with Log video clip assistance and the capability to publish customized LUTs for pictures. Actually, coworker Ryan Haines praised the latter feature last month. You likewise have actually the anticipated picture and evening settings, however that has to do with it. So you’ll need to look in other places if you desire lots of cam settings and devices.
We believed Absolutely nothing tools took some strong images over the previous couple of years utilizing this cam application, although we regreted concerns like shutter lag and inadequate low-light top quality on previous phones. Yet the Nothing Phone 3a series reveals the brand name has a great deal with on crossbreed zoom.
5. Xiaomi
Aamir Siddiqui/ Android Authority
Xiaomi has actually provided some superb cam phones in the last few years, such as the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. These phones have outstanding equipment, however the Xiaomi cam application likewise supplies excellent picture top quality. Also the firm’s inexpensive Android phones usually use strong to excellent 1x shots, although they do have a tendency to drag the Pixel A series.
The Xiaomi cam application is stuffed loaded with functions. Alternatives discovered on front runners consist of flexible shade accounts on Leica-branded phones, an AI Zoom toggle for long-range zoom, Log video clip, an activity capture setting for fast-moving topics, and much more. Less costly Xiaomi phones delay much behind in regards to settings, however you still have choices like a long-exposure collection of settings, an activity capture attribute for fast-moving topics, and a teleprompter setting.
I would certainly say that Xiaomi’s application still does not have its very own aesthetic identification nevertheless this moment. I can take an instant eye Samsung or Google’s cam application and recognize what I’m considering, however the exact same can not be stated for the Xiaomi application.
4. vivo
Hadlee Simons/ Android Authority
The vivo cam application simply loses out on a platform area, however this is still a great proving. Vivo phones usually use excellent image top quality, although over-processing can be a problem in some circumstances (e.g., reduced light). So, those that like even more natural-looking pictures could be a little dissatisfied sometimes.
Quickly the most effective feature of the vivo cam application is the variety of functions and settings. The firm supplies a range of picture choices (e.g. lots of bokeh designs), some shade accounts, LOG video clip, SuperRaw images, a motion picture video clip setting on current mid-rangers and front runners, portable astrophotography, a teleprompter setting, viewpoint improvement for structures, and a street photography mode. The last setting can be turned on with a higher swipe and offers you a camera-like UI and customized capturing accounts.
The application isn’t mosting likely to win any kind of honors regarding appearances are worried. The black, yellow, and white color pattern advises me of Apple, and there’s likewise the typical overflow food selection on top of the display. I really like how vivo handles zoom controls, however. It allows you touch the pre-programmed zoom switches a couple of even more times to cycle via even more zoom degrees (e.g. touching 1x will certainly offer you 1.2 x and 1.4 x choices). So while it’s not the best-looking application right here, it offsets this disadvantage in various other locations.
3. Samsung
Hadlee Simons/ Android Authority
The Samsung cam application has actually simply undertaken a significant overhaul as component of the firm’s One UI 7 upgrade. This upgraded cam application absolutely feels and look fresh contrasted to competing cam applications while being maximized for one-handed use.
Samsung’s application likewise has a great variety of functions, consisting of trendy choices like Solitary Take, Supervisor’s Sight, and custom filters. Samsung likewise supplies the Specialist Raw application to broaden the capability of the supply cam application, however numerous competing brand names use a few of these functions without requiring an added cam application.
Samsung’s application has likewise long had a track record for providing probably the most effective video clip top quality on Android, however photo top quality isn’t as well-defined. Pictures usually look fantastic, however issues like shutter lag on the Ultra and A collection phones have actually created an aggravating experience. Samsung’s less costly phones likewise in some cases record exceptionally over-saturated breaks, as I discovered on the Galaxy A55 5G in 2015.
2. OnePlus/OPPO
Ryan Haines/ Android Authority
Are you stunned to see the OnePlus/OPPO cam application in the number-two area? OnePlus front runners, particularly, utilized to drag the competitors in regards to picture handling, however the firm has actually made significant renovations over the previous number of years. Actually, we stated the OnePlus 13 makes our shortlist for the very best Android cam phone. You can likewise record good-quality 1x shots on just recently launched mid-tier tools. That does not seem like a large offer, however it’s notable as the company’s less costly phones utilized to use an unsatisfactory capturing experience.
Possibly the cam application’s most significant stamina is the breadth of functions, at the very least on premium phones. Front runner tools take pleasure in Hasselblad shade accounts, a cool XPAN capturing setting, a Master Setting, and a range of wise scenes (e.g. phase, fireworks). Less Expensive OnePlus and OPPO phones absolutely obtain the really brief end of the stick, however you still have noteworthy functions like high-resolution capturing, long-exposure capability, picture photo/video capture, and tilt-shift.
1. Google
C. Scott Brown/ Android Authority
Is this the best Android OEM cam application ever before made? It’s tough to say from a historic viewpoint, as the Pixel cam application was the gold requirement for nearly a years. It claims a great deal regarding your cam application when fanatics remain to unofficially port it to various other mobile phones in 2025. Google’s cam application absolutely looks business, providing a straightforward, unique UI. I’m still not a follower of the professional setups symbol in the lower best edge, however, as I frequently puzzle it for the major setups food selection.
However, the Pixel cam application’s appeal comes from its picture top quality. Google’s HDR+ imaging formulas were a cut over nearly every various other brand name’s image-processing software program in the 2010s, as informal ports of the application provided superb images on also $200 phones. A couple of makers have actually captured and probably exceeded Google in 2025, however Pixel phones still usually take superb, natural-looking pictures. Google’s application remains to provide class-leading crossbreed zoom, as well, many thanks to its Super Res Zoom technology. That suggests phones like the Pixel 9 Pro can take fantastic 10x shots while mid-range Pixels without a telephoto cam still do a good work bent on 3x or 4x.
Google’s cam application supplies standout functions like Include Me, Video Clip Increase, a darkness slider, and an astrophotography setting. Nevertheless, the application is missing out on functions seen on competing tools like user-selectable shade accounts, Log video clip setting, indigenous 8K capture, 4K/120fps video clip, and multi-camera capture. Despite the attribute void, the Pixel cam application is still our choice for the leading cam application amongst Android brand names.
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