We've been testing digital cameras for over a decade in our specialized image testing lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (And to be clear, we're only testing the rear cameras on these phones. For tests where we needed controls that the stock apps didn't provide, we subbed in either Camera FV-5 (Android) or Manual (iOS). With that in mind, most of our comparisons were made using default JPEG output, with RAW performance taken into account when it made a major difference.Īll of the phones were tested using up-to-date software (as of publication) and manufacturer-provided default camera apps (including the Google camera app for the Nexus 6). This gives them a notable edge in some tests, but the RAW shots (.DNG files) are very large (25MB+ per shot) and most users will likely never shoot in RAW. It's also a significantly bigger and heavier device than the other smartphones in this group, so the sensor and lens advantage comes with some real drawbacks.Īlso worth noting: All but three of our test phones-the Samsung S6, Sony Z3 Compact, and iPhone 6-currently support RAW capture.

The obvious outlier in this group is the Panasonic Lumix CM1 its 1-inch sensor is nearly as big as the other six phones' sensors combined. The CM1 is a brick of a phone, of course, but it makes fewer image quality compromises than anything else we've tested. Paired with the larger sensor, the Leica glass can swallow more light than any other smartphone lens. While f/2.8 sounds smaller than the rest of the field, it's all relative. Panasonic's Lumix CM1 stands apart from the smartphone camera field with a massive 1-inch image sensor, a Leica-branded lens, and a bright f/2.8 max aperture. Notable Features: Leica lens, 1080/30p video, OIS, expandable storage, RAW, shutter button Vital Specs: 1-inch image sensor, 20 megapixels, f/2.8 aperture (adjustable) Credit: / Chris Thomas Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1

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