Every smartphone claims to have the best camera money can buy, but which ones actually make the cut? To help you decide, I’ve sifted my way through dozens of the best and most affordable camera phones, grading them on essential photography metrics like exposure, HDR capabilities, portrait quality, zoom capabilities, and video capture options. Whether you’re shooting friends and family or documenting a trip abroad, these are the smartphones I think you should buy.Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: The best camera phone overallCheck out our Google Pixel 10 Pro XL camera samplesWhen it comes to snapping photos of friends and family, you seldom get a second chance to reframe the moment, so reliability and point-and-shoot simplicity are key. As such, it is no surprise that the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL (the two share the same camera hardware) take our top spot. While it’s not a massive upgrade over the previous generation, Google has addressed some issues, like questionable color reproduction, and added a few new features to the Pixel 10 Pro XL that keep it a top pick for an all-around photography powerhouse.