Best Samsung Phone for Photography in 2026: Every Galaxy Camera Ranked

Samsung makes a ton of different Galaxy phones with cameras, more than most people will probably ever care about comparing. And the newest one isn’t necessarily the best Samsung camera phone. A discounted S25 Ultra can focus on objects that are physically closer than the S26 Ultra, and the S26 FE squeezes a 3x telephoto camera into a $699 phone. Below, we’ve ranked the Galaxy phones you can buy in November 2026 from best to worst according to the camera quality.

We made this list of the best Samsung phones for photography using specs from Samsung and reviews from GSMArena, along with scores from DXOMARK when available. We did not test these phones ourselves.

Best Samsung phones for photography, ranked

We've made photo quality the most important aspect and price the second most important aspect. Zoom range and video quality are used to break ties. DXOMARK's camera scores (where available) can be found in the respective smartphone's section. Most other information comes from GSMArena's reviews. None of the rankings below are based on our own testing.

1. Galaxy S26 Ultra, the best Samsung camera phone

For the most part, the S26 Ultra’s camera is largely identical to the S25 Ultra’s, featuring the same four cameras in the same resolutions. The main and 5x telephoto cameras are the only ones to get an upgrade: the 200MP main camera now has an f/1.4 aperture (f/1.7 last year), while the 50MP 5x telephoto camera goes from f/3.4 to f/2.9. Samsung claims this lets in 47% and 37% more light, respectively. The other cameras stay the same: 50MP for the ultrawide, and 10MP for the 3x telephoto (though according to GSMArena, the latter uses a slightly smaller sensor). In its review, GSMArena says the S26 Ultra’s cameras performed well in daylight, especially the main and 5x cameras.

Close focus, however, took a major step backwards, as the minimum focus distance went from 8cm to 18cm for the main camera, and from 26cm to 52cm for the 5x camera. Samsung itself recommends shooting anything farther than 80cm away when using the 5x camera. In March 2026, DXOMARK gave the Galaxy S26 Ultra a camera score of 157 points, commending its white balance and wide dynamic range but noting issues with exposure and colour tone in certain lighting conditions.

With the strongest video tools in the Galaxy range, the S26 Ultra can shoot 8K and 4K 120fps videos, and supports Samsung’s own APV video codec. Log videos now get an extra trick, too: a live LUT preview. Finally, Samsung raised the price of its flagships in the US on 1 October 2026. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 256GB storage variant, for example, now costs $1,399.99 instead of $1,299.99. Check out the S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra comparison before you pay the difference.

2. Galaxy S25 Ultra, the better buy for close-ups

The S25 Ultra has a 200MP main camera (albeit with a dimmer f/1.7 aperture), a 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x periscope (f/3.4) and a 50MP ultrawide (an upgrade from the 12MP sensor on the S24 Ultra). Newer image processing also sets it apart from the S24 Ultra, and it has the same zoom range as the S26 Ultra.

The dimmer apertures mean the S25 Ultra doesn’t quite match the S26 Ultra’s low-light image quality, but it can get noticeably closer when shooting, making it still very much worth considering in 2026 (as per GSMArena’s S26 Ultra review) as stock dries up and prices fall, especially if you like to get in nice and close with the telephoto for shots of flowers and food.

3. Galaxy S24 Ultra, the used bargain

The S24 Ultra’s cameras are very similar to the S25 Ultra’s, featuring the same 200MP main sensor, 10MP 3x telephoto and 50MP 5x telephoto. The only big difference is the S24 Ultra’s 12MP ultrawide camera, compared to the S25 Ultra’s 50MP version. If you use Expert RAW to shoot raw images and edit them yourself, the difference in the main and zoom cameras is small, and a used S24 Ultra costs far less than the newer Ultras.

4. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, for careful composition

Samsung’s new Fold8 family was unveiled on 22 July 2026, and if you’re after the best camera, you’ll want the Fold8 Ultra. If you want to take photos with your foldable, the Fold8 Ultra is the model to get, thanks to its 200MP main camera, 10MP 3x telephoto and 50MP ultrawide camera, as well as 8K video recording with the APV codec. That’s right, no S-series phone can match the size of the Fold8 Ultra’s viewfinder when unfolded thanks to its massive 8-inch display. Plus, in Flex mode the Fold8 Ultra can fold in half and stand on its own for timer mode photos and long exposures.

Samsung’s regular Fold8 doesn’t have a telephoto camera, costs around $1,900 and is lighter, but Samsung has also left out Flex mode. For reference, neither Fold8 has the 5x telephoto camera found on S-series Ultra phones. Our Fold8 camera guide compares the two models in detail.

5. Galaxy S23 Ultra, the last 10x lens

The S23 Ultra was the last Galaxy with a 10x optical telephoto, a 10MP f/4.9 periscope. Subsequent models ditched this for a 50MP 5x telephoto camera (the S24 Ultra and beyond all feature 5x zoom).

So if you’re after tight shots of sports or wildlife without as much cropping, a used S23 Ultra may be worth considering. Just keep in mind the older image processing and 12MP ultrawide camera.

6. Galaxy S26 and S26+, the smaller flagships

In terms of cameras, GSMArena's review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 says the camera setup is identical to that of the Galaxy S25: a 50MP f/1.8 main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor), a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 12MP fixed-focus ultrawide.

While GSMArena praised the cameras for capturing natural texture in well-lit conditions with impressive dynamic range, it wasn’t as impressed with low-light photos, calling them a bit soft and noisy when shot in full Auto mode and just so-so for a phone in this price bracket. Video recording tops out at 4K60 across all cameras and 8K30 on the main sensor. There’s no 4K120 or APV support.

The review unit of the Galaxy S26+ had the same camera setup, and GSMArena noted some of its test shots were slightly sharper than those of the Galaxy S26.

Pricing starts at $999 for the 256GB Galaxy S26 and $1,199 for the 256GB Galaxy S26+ (US pricing as of 1 October).

7. Galaxy S26 FE, a telephoto for $699

The new S26 FE costs $699 (that’s $50 more than what Samsung originally charged for the S25 FE). Expert RAW isn’t compatible with the S25 FE according to a recent SamMobile article, and Samsung’s list of phones that support Expert RAW only specifies phone series and doesn’t say whether FE models are covered, so you may be limited to shooting manually using Pro mode. Samsung has equipped the S26 FE with a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, 8MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide camera. The main camera can record 8K30 and 4K60 videos. Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE on 27 August 2026. Our S26 FE camera guide has settings for each lens.

8. Galaxy Z Flip8, for selfies on the main camera

When it comes to selfies, the Flip8’s cover display is helpful. That’s because you can use its 4.1-inch screen as a viewfinder to help frame selfies with the better main camera (when the phone is folded shut). The Flip8 has the same cameras as last year’s Flip7: a 50MP f/1.8 main and 12MP ultrawide. Video maxes out at 4K60.

The Flip8 can also stand on its own when it’s only partially unfolded, which is helpful for group photos and videos. You can take a shot with a raised palm or even use a voice command. The Galaxy Z Flip8 starts at $1,199.

9 and 10. Galaxy A57 and A37

Samsung announced the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 on 25 March 2026, and while they launched at $549 and $449 respectively, as of 2 October Android Authority reports that their prices have risen to $599.99 and $489.99 in the US. Both handsets have a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with OIS and similar image quality in good lighting conditions. The Galaxy A57 has a 12MP ultrawide camera that supports 4K video recording, while the Galaxy A37 is limited to 1080p with its 8MP ultrawide camera. Neither phone has a telephoto camera, and Photo Assist isn’t available on Galaxy A-series phones. The A57 and A37 guide describes the other differences.

The Galaxy A27 5G and Galaxy A17 5G cost $379.99 and $269.99 respectively. The former’s main camera with OIS can record 4K video on a smaller 1/2.76-inch sensor, while the latter’s similar camera has OIS and the same sensor size but tops out at 1080p. India's range differs and adds M-series and F-series twins of these phones, which our India guide by budget covers.

Which Galaxy for what you shoot

How Galaxy cameras compare with other brands

Samsung doesn’t have the best cameras on 2026’s Android phones, as the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera hardware was listed as one of the cons in GSMArena’s review, but its 3x and 5x telephoto cameras and the S Pen still set it apart from the pack. The Galaxy S26 Ultra got a DXOMARK score of 157, compared to 172 for the iPhone 18 Pro, 170 for the OPPO Find X9 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra, and 168 for the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

GSMArena liked the S26 Ultra’s selfies, which it said are among the most detailed it’s seen, and in Europe the phone costs much less than the iPhone. All of these phones are pitted against the S26 Ultra in our best camera phone guide, including the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Three habits that matter more than the model

Your choices beyond just picking a particular phone will have a bigger effect on the final picture than which phone you pick. Our 12 quick wins add a few more that take a minute each, and the Galaxy photography guide covers lenses and modes in order.

• If you don’t have great lighting, try shooting in RAW (in Pro mode or using the Expert RAW app). RAW DNG files will retain more detail in highlights and shadows than default JPEGs and give you more flexibility when editing your photos. Believe me, it’ll make a greater difference than going up a generation in Ultra phones.
• If your shutter speed is going to be longer than 1/60s, use a tripod or prop your phone up on something stable. This makes a huge difference when shooting at night and will result in crisp images instead of blurry ones (on any of these phones).
• Don’t be afraid to edit! Even just brightening up shadows and darkening highlights (in Lightroom, Samsung Gallery, etc.) will improve so-so pics dramatically.