The year 2017 is racing to an end and all the major flagships of the year have been released. As expected, the best camera phones of 2017 are flagship devices. Remember, we already explained why that is so in a 2016 article, Why budget phones have poor cameras.
Back to 2017, we have sifted through camera phone reviews and shoot-outs from around the world to nail down the very best camera phones of the year. Finally, we settled for the list drawn up by GSMArena, because it mentions every single 2017 smartphone that is acclaimed by everyone else as having a top dog rear camera.
How did dual cameras fare in 2017? Of the devices on this list, four (4) of them have single cameras at the back, so most devices on this list of the best camera phones of 2017 spot a dual camera on the rear side.
Best Smartphone Camera 2017: The A-list
PS: You can click on each device listed below to see its detailed specifications.
- Google Pixel 2 XL / Pixel 2
- Samsung Galaxy Note8 / Galaxy S8
- LG V30 / G6
- Apple iPhone X / iPhone 8 Plus
- Huawei Mate 10 / Mate 10 Pro
- HTC U11+ / U11
- Nokia 8
- Sony Xperia XZ1
- Xiaomi Mi 6
- Motorola Moto Z2 Play
These are the best camera phones of 2017. It is an extensive list. As you will have observed, there are two phones listed for many brands. This is because these brands have launched two variants of the same device or put similar camera performance into two closely-knit models. That give interested smartphone photography enthusiasts plenty of options to pick from.
The Best Smartphone Camera 2017
Google Pixel 2 XL has gotten rave reviews everywhere and almost everyone agrees that it is the best camera phone of 2017. Applause, everyone!
Honorary Mentions
For the first time in a few years, Nokia – the mobile brand that ruled camera phones for over 11 years – is back on the list.
And it is interesting to see a Xiaomi make the list. The brand has never had a reputation for great camera phones, so this is a big one for them.
Lastly, having phones without dual cameras on this list goes a long way in showing that dual cameras are not always an improvement on single cameras. As we have pointed out, in many cases, 2017’s dual cameras are just catching up with some older single cameras.
You are probably reading this article because you have a deep interest in camera phones and smartphone photography. Which of these sharp-shooters will you be getting for yourself?
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