The best smartphones for camera zoom

The camera technology in smartphones is incredible these days. But from snapping a selfie to capturing scenery, there’s more to taking a great pic than meets the eye.

Most smartphone cameras boast excellent definition and a range of different capture options for capturing something from a few feet away. But what about taking photos from further away?

Historically, smartphones have often struggled to maintain that high-quality definition while zoomed in. And that’s somewhat understandable, since the average smartphone has hundreds of different uses.

They’re just not built to match the quality of a camera with a specialised lens. 

But things are changing. The best smartphone cameras are advancing at a rapid rate and have closed the gap in terms of the level of zoom distance and quality they offer.

Put simply, there are lots of phone cameras with improved zoom functionality and various optical features to help you take a better photo.

But which device does it best?

Here are some of the best smartphones for zooming in and out.

Released in late January 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a great choice for anyone seeking a leading camera zoom option, since it’s got one of the best sets of zoom features released to date.

With its highly advanced Quad-telephoto camera, you can enjoy selecting from 2x, 3x, 5x and 10x optical zoom, bringing distant subjects into sharp focus without sacrificing any quality. Whether you’re photographing wildlife, sports events, or classic architecture, the optical zoom ensures your shots are detailed and vibrant.

The epic, AI-powered 100x Space Zoom intelligently processes information to capture clearer, brighter pictures and videos from ridiculous distances, even in the dark – thanks to Nightography zoom.

Powered by Samsung’s latest image processing technology, this feature allows you to capture incredible detail from afar. The Super Resolution Zoom ensures that even at high magnification levels, your photos retain clarity and sharpness. Imagine capturing the intricate details of a distant city skyline like never before.

High zoom levels often come with the challenge of maintaining a steady shot. The Galaxy S24 Ultra addresses this with its advanced Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and AI-enhanced stabilization.

These technologies work together to minimize blur, ensuring your photos are crisp and clear even when fully zoomed in. Whether you’re shooting handheld or on the move, you can trust the S24 Ultra to deliver stable, high-quality images.

Even better, the S24 Ultra comes with access to a range of Galaxy AI features, many of which are focused on photo editing and open up a new world of possibilities.

Released in September 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro Max marked another step forward in terms of what the iPhone can offer when it comes to camera zoom features.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a telephoto lens that offers up to 5x optical zoom in and 2x optical zoom out, totaling a 10x optical zoom range. This makes it another ideal option for capturing detailed shots of distant subjects in incredible detail.

Beyond its optical zoom capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also features an enhanced digital zoom that goes up to 25x. This powerful digital zoom is backed by Apple’s advanced image processing technology, ensuring that even when you push the zoom to its limits, your photos retain remarkable clarity and detail. 

One of the challenges with high zoom levels is keeping your images steady. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is also able to address this with its advanced optical image stabilization (OIS) technology. OIS helps reduce blur and ensures your shots are sharp, even at maximum zoom. Whether you're taking photos at a concert or recording a video of a sporting event, you can trust that your images will be smooth, steady and clear.

The camera zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max also performs well even in low light conditions. With larger sensors and advanced night mode, your zoomed-in photos will capture more light, reducing noise and enhancing detail.

This means you can take stunning close-ups even in challenging lighting, from candlelit dinners to nighttime landscapes.

And don’t forget the iPhone 16 Series, which launched in September 2024 with Camera Control and a 48MP Fusion camera to take things to the next level.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is another model which takes smartphone photography to the next level with its impressive zoom capabilities. The Pixel 8 Pro offers up to 5x optical zoom, with its Super Res Zoom feature extending up to 30x.

Even better, Google's powerful AI capabilities ensure that even at higher magnifications, your photos remain sharp and vibrant. High zoom levels often introduce the challenge of maintaining a steady shot, but the Pixel 8 Pro has you covered. This model is also equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which reduces blur and shake, ensuring your photos are always clear and stable. 

The Pixel 8 Pro is another leading contender for high-quality zoom even when the lights are low. Featuring Night Sight mode, the camera enhances light capture and reduces noise, making your zoomed-in shots look bright and detailed. From evening cityscapes to indoor portraits, the Pixel 8 Pro ensures that low light is no obstacle to high-quality photography.

As an added bonus, the Pixel 8 Pro’s refresh rate intelligently adjusts between 1 and 120Hz for responsive performance and better power efficiency.  

We’ve got a range of smartphones with astonishingly good cameras on Three. If you’d like to have professional features and the ability to zoom in or out with ease, then check out our range of devices.

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