2018 has been a blazing year for the launches of advanced smartphones that have captivated the hearts of the millions with their exclusive host of features. The market witnessed the launch of its first-ever triple and even four camera smartphones. We have also experienced how a single-camera phone, Pixel 3, raising the level of smartphone photography to a new height.
Before listing the best camera smartphones of 2018, as per DxOMark ratings, we need to talk about the importance of DxOMark ratings.
Why DxOMark ratings matter?
DxOMark is a benchmarking platform that assesses multiple types of cameras, ranging from smartphones to professional cameras. For detailed ratings and reviews, several industry-standard tests are conducted wherein 1,500+ images and 2+ hours of video are captured and put into evaluation within restricted lab environments and in natural indoor/outdoor scenes.
Here are the five best camera phones of 2018.
Huawei P20 Pro: Available at a price tag of Rs. 59,999
Regarded as the world’s first triple camera smartphone, the Huawei P20 Pro has a DxOMark score of 109, is currently adjudged the best camera phone.
The phone features a 20MP+40MP+8MP rear-camera setup with LEICA optics, OIS and 3x optical zoom.
Additionally, the primary camera supports 4K recording at 30fps and 960fps slow-motion video in 720p resolution. In the front-end,
the P20 Pro sports a 24MP selfie camera.
Apple iPhone Xs Max: Available at a price tag of Rs.1,09,900
Apple iPhone Xs Max has an overall score of 104 and seals the second spot in the fancied list of best camera smartphones of 2018. The phone is the most expensive till date and sports the same iPhone X’s 12MP+12MP rear-camera setup but with improved optics, Smart HDR and enhanced image processing. In the front, this Apple flagship product sports a 7MP (f/2.2) TrueDepth camera.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Available at a price tag of Rs. 67,900
Samsung Galaxy Note 9, occupies the third spot after scoring 103 in the DxOMark ratings. Note 9 is readily available in India.
The phone sports a 12MP main sensor with f/1.5-f/2.4 variable aperture, clubbed with a 12MP (f/2.4) telephoto sensor provided with a 2x optical zoom. The front part of the phone has an 8MP (f/1.7) camera.
Google Pixel 3: Available at a price tag of Rs.71,000
Google Pixel 3 and Apple iPhone Xr jointly bag the fourth spot with an aggregate score of 101 according to DxOMark benchmarking. But, Google Pixel 3 is marginally ahead of its competitor for its flawless video stabilisation and astounding computational photography features.
The Google flagship device features a single 12.2MP (f/1.8) rear camera with dual-pixel technology, implanted spectral and flicker sensors, and OIS+EIS. Up front, the Pixel 3 flaunts an 8MP+8MP dual camera setup.
Samsung Galaxy S9+: Available at a price tag of Rs. 52,900
This phone gains the 5th spot with a score of 99 points. The Samsung Galaxy S9+ packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies. Instead of having a fixed aperture lens, as is the case with every other phone camera, the S9 can shift between f/2.4 and f/1.5. It provides ideal light for both day and night photography. If it’s bright outside especially during daylight, it will shoot at f/2.4; when there’s less light available especially during the night, the lens will widen and utilise f/1.5 to let in more light.