Amateur Photographer’s updated review places Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro, highlighting advancements in photography capabilities across different scenarios, with a focus on real-world performance and versatility.
Amateur Photographer has refreshed its ranking of the best camera phones after testing devices in real-world conditions, judging not only headline specifications but also image quality, zoom, night performance, video and ease of use. In the latest assessment, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra came out on top overall, ahead of Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro, because of its wider photographic range and stronger all-round flexibility. According to the magazine, the result reflects how the phone performs across different shooting scenarios rather than how it looks on paper.
Samsung’s flagship stands out for a four-camera system built around a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens and two telephoto units rated at 10 megapixels and 50 megapixels, delivering 3x and 5x optical zoom. Amateur Photographer said the main camera’s f/1.4 aperture and optical image stabilisation help it handle difficult lighting well, while its main weakness is close-up and macro work. That places it broadly in line with other recent camera-phone guides that continue to place Samsung’s Ultra models among the strongest options for mobile photography.
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max were described as the company’s most advanced camera phones, with both models sharing the same rear camera setup. The key change this year is a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 4x magnification. The publication praised image quality but said Android rivals still have the edge in macro photography. Digital Camera World has also listed the iPhone 17 Pro Max among the leading camera phones for 2026, underscoring how close the top tier remains between Apple and Samsung.
In specialist categories, Honor’s Magic 8 Pro was judged the best for night photography, helped by a 200-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.7x optical zoom and stabilisation that performs particularly well in low light. OPPO’s Find X9 Ultra was singled out for close-ups and macro shots, while Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra was described as the best choice for advanced photographers and the strongest option if image quality is the main priority. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro won praise for its artificial intelligence tools and consistently reliable results, with Amateur Photographer highlighting its software processing as one of the best in the class.
The magazine also drew attention to phones aimed at more specific buyers. Tecno’s Camon 40 Premier was named the best budget camera phone, offering three 50-megapixel cameras at a far lower price than Samsung and Apple flagships. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 was picked as the best foldable for photography, helped by a 200-megapixel main camera and an ultrawide lens with autofocus. Looking ahead, reports suggest Apple is preparing a larger camera upgrade for the iPhone 18 Pro, including a variable-aperture main camera, while Android makers are said to be exploring 100-megapixel front cameras and square sensors to challenge Apple’s Centre Stage system.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
