The best phone cameras

The best camera phone in the UK in September 2026 is the Google Pixel 11 Pro. The Pixel 11 Pro combines a 50 MP main camera on a 1/1.3-inch sensor with a 48 MP 5x periscope telephoto, and it costs £1,079 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best for zoom, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best for video, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the largest sensors of any phone on sale here. The Google Pixel 10a is the best cheap camera phone at £399.

The rankings below rest on manufacturer camera specifications, named independent measurements and UK pricing. The sensor-size table further down is Compare Electronic's own comparison, built from each maker's spec sheet.

Which phone has the best camera?

The Google Pixel 11 Pro has the best all-round camera for most buyers, because it pairs flagship sensor hardware with the most consistent point-and-shoot processing. The Pixel 11 Pro's main sensor measures 1/1.3 inches, the same optical format as the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200 MP sensor and close to the iPhone 18 Pro Max's 1/1.28-inch sensor. The difference between these three phones lies less in hardware and more in lens choice and processing.

Hardware alone points to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, whose 1-inch main sensor has roughly 1.7 times the area of the Pixel 11 Pro's. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra ranks fourth here because it costs more, runs HyperOS rather than Google's own Android, and suits enthusiasts who edit their photos more than buyers who want the shot right straight from the camera app.

1. Google Pixel 11 Pro - best camera phone overall

The Google Pixel 11 Pro is the camera phone to buy when the priority is a reliable shot every time. Google launched the Pixel 11 Pro in August 2026 with a new 48 MP telephoto on a larger 1/1.95-inch sensor, which Google says holds optical quality out to 10x by cropping the sensor. The main camera uses a 1/1.3-inch sensor behind an f/1.7 lens, and the ultrawide adds macro focus.

The Pixel 11 Pro costs £1,079 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026) for 256 GB. Google's seven-year update promise keeps the camera app and its processing improving for longer than any rival here except Samsung. The Pixel 11 Pro suits buyers who shoot people, pets and low-light scenes and rarely want to edit afterwards.

2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra - best for zoom

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most flexible zoom camera on this list. The Galaxy S26 Ultra carries four rear cameras covering 13 mm, 23 mm, 67 mm and 111 mm, so it has a real optical lens at 0.6x, 1x, 3x and 5x. No other phone here has a dedicated 3x lens, which is the focal length most portrait photographers reach for.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra launched at £1,249 and costs £770.49 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), which makes it the cheapest flagship camera on the list by more than £300. The weak point is the 10 MP 3x lens on a small 1/3.94-inch sensor, which loses detail in dim light. The Galaxy S26 Ultra suits buyers who shoot sport, wildlife and concerts.

3. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max - best for video

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best phone for video in 2026. Apple rates every rear camera on the iPhone 18 Pro Max for 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120 fps, and the phone records ProRes RAW and Log for colour grading. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also the first iPhone with a variable aperture: six blades move the main lens between f/1.48 and f/4.0, which gives real depth-of-field control rather than a software blur.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max costs £1,299 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026) for 256 GB. The iPhone 18 Pro has the same cameras in a 6.3-inch body for £1,199, but the Pro Max's 5,391 mAh battery lasts longer through long recording sessions. The iPhone 18 Pro Max suits video creators and anyone already editing on a Mac.

4. Xiaomi 17 Ultra - largest camera sensors

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the biggest camera sensors of any phone in this guide. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra's main camera uses a 1-inch sensor with LOFIC technology, which stores extra charge per pixel to widen dynamic range in high-contrast scenes. The periscope pairs a 200 MP 1/1.4-inch sensor with a lens that moves mechanically between 75 mm and 100 mm, so every focal length in that range is optical rather than cropped.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra costs £1,199 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026) for the 16 GB and 1 TB model, below Xiaomi's £1,499 UK launch price for that configuration. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra suits enthusiasts who shoot RAW and want the most light per frame. Buyers who want a simple camera app and long update support are better served by the Pixel 11 Pro.

5. Google Pixel 10a - best cheap camera phone

The Google Pixel 10a is the best cheap camera phone in the UK, and it costs £399 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Pixel 10a runs the same Google photo pipeline as the Pixel 11 Pro, including Night Sight and Camera Coach, on a 48 MP main camera. The Pixel 10a has no telephoto, so it suits buyers who shoot at 1x and want the best £399 of camera processing available.

Compare Electronic's sensor-size and zoom table

Sensor size decides how much light each photo starts with, and the longest optical lens decides how far a phone zooms before quality drops. The table lists each phone's main sensor, its approximate area relative to a 1/2-inch sensor (the class used in most phones under £400), and its telephoto hardware. Prices are Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026).

Area ratios square the optical-format ratio, so they are approximate: sensor type names are not exact physical measurements. The Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro share a 1/1.3-inch format; the iPhone 18 Pro Max's 1/1.28-inch sensor is fractionally larger.

Two findings stand out. First, three of the four flagships share almost the same main sensor size, so buyers choosing between the Pixel 11 Pro, Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max are choosing on lenses and processing, not on light gathering. Second, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers the longest optical reach, 111 mm, for the lowest flagship price, £770.49.

Which is best for zoom?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best camera phone for zoom. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5x periscope at 111 mm and a separate 3x lens at 67 mm, so it covers both portrait and long-range focal lengths optically. The Pixel 11 Pro reaches 105 mm with a larger 1/1.95-inch telephoto sensor, which gives it the edge at 5x in dim light, but it has nothing between 1x and 5x except a crop of the main sensor.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the best telephoto sensor, a 200 MP 1/1.4-inch unit, but its lens stops at 100 mm. At 10x, Xiaomi crops that 200 MP sensor, which holds more detail than a crop of a 10 MP or 12 MP telephoto. The iPhone 18 Pro Max stops at 4x (100 mm) optically and offers an 8x mode by cropping its 48 MP telephoto.

Which is best for video?

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best camera phone for video. Apple's spec sheet lists 4K Dolby Vision recording at up to 120 fps, ProRes recording up to 4K at 120 fps, and ProRes RAW. The iPhone 18 Pro Max also keeps exposure and colour consistent when switching lenses mid-clip, a long-standing iPhone strength that matters more to video editors than 8K resolution.

The Pixel 11 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra both record 8K, which helps when cropping in the edit, but 8K files fill storage quickly: a 256 GB phone runs short after a few hours of 8K footage. For creators who want the best-balanced video phone at a lower price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra at £770.49 records 4K at 60 fps across its lenses and adds horizon-locked stabilisation.

What is the best cheap camera phone?

The Google Pixel 10a is the best cheap camera phone in the UK at £399 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Pixel 10a uses Google's processing on a 48 MP main camera, and Night Sight on the Pixel 10a produces cleaner low-light shots than most phones costing £100 more.

The Pixel 10a's limit is zoom: with no telephoto, the Pixel 10a crops its main sensor, and quality drops noticeably past 2x. Buyers who want a 5x telephoto under £600 should look at the Google Pixel 10 at £549, covered in our guide to the best mid-range phone. Cheaper picks with decent cameras sit in our best budget phone UK 2026 guide.

iPhone or Android for photos?

Android is better for zoom and sensor size, and the iPhone is better for video. The Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro both reach 5x optically, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra carries a 1-inch main sensor; the iPhone 18 Pro Max tops out at 4x with a 1/1.28-inch main sensor. For stills, Google's processing produces the most natural skin tones and the most dependable night shots.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max wins on video tools, on variable aperture and on the ecosystem: photos sync to a Mac through iCloud without any setup. Buyers weighing the wider platform choice, including updates, resale and switching costs, should read iPhone vs Android: which should UK buyers choose.

Verdict

The Google Pixel 11 Pro is the best camera phone in the UK in 2026 for buyers who want a reliable result without editing, with a 1/1.3-inch main sensor, a 48 MP 5x periscope and seven years of updates for £1,079. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best for zoom and the best value flagship camera at £770.49. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best for video, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the largest sensors for enthusiasts, and the Google Pixel 10a is the best cheap camera phone at £399. For the best phone overall rather than the best camera, see best phone UK autumn 2026.