5 best camera smartphones for picture-perfect shots in the UAE 2025

In 2025, smartphone cameras aren’t just about snapping quick pictures—they’re about capturing moments in stunning detail and cinematic flair. Whether you're a social media maven, an aspiring photographer, or just someone who loves to document life’s adventures, the UAE is home to some impressive smartphones that make your photos and videos pop like never before. We’re talking ultra-sharp lenses, jaw-dropping zooms, and AI magic that makes every shot Insta-worthy. From dazzling low-light performance to mind-blowing zoom capabilities, these devices bring out the best in your creativity. If you’re ready to level up your mobile photography game, we’ve got the 5 best camera smartphones for 2025, all geared up to turn your snapshots into works of art. Let’s dive into the top picks that’ll have you saying goodbye to your DSLR—because your phone’s got it covered. For our picks, we spoke to Dubai-based Arjun Kumar, a product specialist and electronics expert.

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The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sets the standard for what it means to be 'Ultra,' pushing the limits of what a smartphone can achieve. As Kumar explains, "It surpasses its predecessor in every aspect, offering better battery life, faster performance, and improved cameras. While these upgrades come at a higher price, the device justifies it with its enhanced features." The display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is exceptional—large, vibrant, and incredibly sharp, especially when using the Vivid colour tone option. It also offers adaptive brightness and color tones that adjust automatically to ambient light, ensuring the screen always looks its best. In bright outdoor conditions, the display can peak at 2,600 nits, which, while not the brightest on the market, is more than sufficient for most scenarios. An intriguing feature is the Extra Dim option, which allows the screen to maintain excellent color accuracy at just one nit of brightness—dim enough to discreetly check your messages in a dark theater. The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to lead with the best zoom camera available on a smartphone. It outperforms the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10x zoom and leaves the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x zoom in the dust, especially when you push the zoom to its limits. At 10x or even 100x zoom, the S24 Ultra delivers superior color accuracy and a broader dynamic range compared to its predecessor. While the older model often produced flat images, the S24 Ultra introduces more depth and rich shadows. However, fine details are sacrificed in favor of overall image quality, with Samsung prioritizing a more polished, visually appealing shot over capturing minute details at high zoom levels. While the new AI features are a standout, Samsung's outdated software can still be a frustration, with its cluttered menus and overwhelming settings. Despite these drawbacks, the Ultra offers an exceptional experience that feels almost magical—though there is still room for refinement at the top tier.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh244.67 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty of Dh171, one-year accidental damage protection of Dh285, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty of Dh363.

2) Best High-End Smartphones: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is bigger, more powerful, and more refined than ever, setting a new standard for big-screen smartphones with its stunning display, top-tier camera array, and new controls for capturing photos. It boasts significant boosts in performance and battery life, delivering an unmatched smartphone experience. "While Apple Intelligence introduces intriguing features, it doesn’t yet offer the game-changing upgrade that would drive mass adoption," adds Kumar. For those holding onto an iPhone 12 or 13 Pro Max, however, it’s the perfect time to upgrade. The camera system sees subtle yet impactful updates, notably the 48MP ultrawide camera, enhancing wide-angle and macro photography. While the main camera's megapixel count remains unchanged, Apple upgraded the sensor for faster shutter speeds and added dual autofocus sensors for smoother focus. The 12MP 5x optical zoom stays the same, but the iPhone 16 Pro introduces a new tetraprism lens, delivering an impressive 3x optical zoom. For video enthusiasts, the iPhone 16 Pro Max shines with 4K at 120fps and cinematic slow-motion effects. The new Speed Control feature lets users adjust playback speed, offering creative possibilities for smoother, high-resolution slow motion. While it doesn’t shoot in 8K, the video capabilities are still a major upgrade. Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers a refined experience with improvements that make it an excellent choice for users looking to upgrade, though the AI features and zoom capabilities still have room for refinement.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh395.75 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty of Dh284, one-year accidental damage protection of Dh475, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty of Dh605.

3) Best Flagship Camera Smartphone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Reviewers have dubbed it the best camera smartphone ever made—so does it live up to the hype? The Leica-powered camera system on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra certainly impresses, capturing high-resolution photos that are sharp, vibrant, and virtually free from noise, even in low-light settings. Its telephoto and periscope cameras offer an astonishing zoom level rarely seen in mobile devices. Unlike digital zooms that compromise detail and introduce noise, these lenses deliver incredible focal lengths with exceptional clarity at the touch of a button. The rear camera’s Pro mode offers full manual control, allowing users to adjust settings like aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and white balance—just like a DSLR. "Xiaomi has ensured that the interface remains user-friendly and intuitive, making it accessible to both novice and experienced photographers," explains Kumar. The front-facing 32MP camera, fixed at f/2.0, captures images nearly as sharp as those from the rear, benefiting from Leica’s expertise. Autofocus is precise, ensuring every shot remains crystal clear. Video performance is equally remarkable, supporting 4K resolution at up to 120 fps. The ability to slow footage down by up to four times provides excellent flexibility for editing. While 8K resolution is available, it does reduce the frame rate to 30 fps. Designed with photographers in mind, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra also offers plenty of appeal to indie or amateur videographers.

However, no device is without its drawbacks. The rear’s quad-camera Leica notch is so heavy that it makes the Xiaomi 14 Ultra challenging to hold and operate with one hand, presenting a significant design flaw. Additionally, the phone comes with a degree of bloatware that might deter some users. Despite these issues, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s photography and video capabilities solidify its place as a top contender in the smartphone market.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh288.75 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty of Dh199, one-year accidental damage protection of Dh332, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty of Dh424.

4) Best All-Rounder: OPPO Find X5 5G

The OPPO Find X5 5G is a powerful flagship that combines design, performance, and advanced imaging capabilities. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, it delivers fast performance and smooth multitasking, while the 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers vibrant visuals and an immersive experience. In terms of camera performance, the Find X5 5G boasts a 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX766 sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 13MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, offering versatility and impressive image quality. The main camera captures sharp, detailed images with rich colours, while the ultra-wide lens is ideal for expansive shots with minimal distortion. The camera system benefits from Hasselblad’s colour science, enhancing both color accuracy and low-light performance. The 32MP front-facing camera delivers stunning selfies with excellent detail and natural skin tones. On the video front, the Find X5 5G supports 4K recording at 30fps, with AI-driven video enhancements and stabilization for smoother footage. Combining impressive camera tech, powerful performance, and a sleek design, the OPPO Find X5 5G is a strong contender in the flagship space.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh115.83 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty of Dh86, one-year accidental damage protection of Dh143, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty of Dh182.

5) Best for Low-Light Photography: Honor Magic 6 Pro

The Honor Magic 6 Pro is all about high performance and advanced features. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, it ensures smooth multitasking and rapid processing. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display boasts a resolution of 2880×1280 pixels and supports a 120Hz refresh rate for an immersive visual experience. The camera system stands out with a 50MP main sensor delivering sharp and detailed images, a 50MP ultra-wide lens with a 122° field of view, and a 180MP periscope telephoto lens offering 2.5x optical zoom for exceptional detail even at higher zoom levels. The Honor Magic 6 Pro stands out with its 50MP wide lens featuring an adjustable aperture (f/1.4-2.0), automatically switching to f/1.4 in low-light conditions. Its 180MP periscope telephoto lens (f/2.6) is the largest zoom sensor on a smartphone, offering 2.5x optical zoom and 5x lossless zoom via cropping. While the 50MP ultra-wide lens remains unchanged, the front camera impresses with its 50MP resolution. The telephoto lens shines in daylight, capturing vivid, detailed shots with exceptional clarity. Equipped with a robust 5,600mAh battery, the Honor Magic 6 Pro supports 80W wired and 66W wireless charging for fast and efficient recharging. It features NanoCrystal Shield for superior drop resistance and 4320Hz PWM dimming technology for enhanced viewing comfort. Running on Android 14 with Honor’s MagicOS 8, the phone integrates AI-driven tools like "Magic Capsule" and "Magic Portal," streamlining user experiences. Overall, the Honor Magic 6 Pro delivers high-end performance, cutting-edge camera technology, and innovative features for users seeking a premium smartphone experience.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh49.92 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty of Dh171, one-year accidental damage protection of Dh285, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty of Dh363.

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