The best photographic smartphones for less than 300 usd of 2021

29-10-2021 by MNP

The camera has become a decisive selling point for many smartphones. To feed social media or in a professional capacity, the ability to take beautiful photos with your phone is essential. Of course, the flagships have the best photo modules.

But more and more manufacturers are offering quality entry-level photo smartphones. To make the right choice, check out our guide to the best photo smartphones under $ 300.

1. Best value for money: Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G is the most affordable 5G smartphone out there. It is also the budget smartphone that offers the best photo module on the market, as evidenced by Sony's excellent 64MP prime lens.

The main sensor of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G is a Sony IMX682 64 Mpx sensor with an aperture of f / 1.9. This module is generally superior to Samsung's, especially when it comes to clarity. Next to the main sensor is an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Finally, at the rear, there are also two 2MP lenses. The first is a macro lens and the second is a depth sensor.

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G offers a set of standard shooting modes: automatic, professional, night mode and panorama. Consider video capture at up to 4K resolution and electronic image stabilization operating in Full HD format. The images in this smartphone photo feature impressive detail in bright scenes, normal given the high resolution of the main sensor. Power the Mi 10T Lite with plenty of light and you get sharp shots that far exceed your price expectations.

2. Best for less than 250 usd: Huawei P20 Lite

He prefers the Huawei P20 Lite for its 5.84-inch screen and large internal storage capacity of 64 GB. With its 8 cores, you will hardly have to worry about switching from one application to another.

Powered by a Li-Po battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh, this device can last up to 960 min of talk time and 454 h when in standby. In addition, the handling of the different applications is facilitated by the presence of a powerful 2.36 GHz Kirin 659 processor supported by 4 GB of RAM. In addition, the Android 8.0 version of its operating system is a luxury that the brand puts at your disposal.

In addition, this device is completely waterproof with an IP68 protection index. This line of smartphones fits easily in your pocket at just 8.3mm thick. Best of all, its 194g weight makes it light and saves space.

3. Best for less than 200 usd: Nokia 5.3

If you want a smartphone with photos for less than $ 200, go for the Nokia 5.3. This model is for anyone who wants a versatile photography experience at a low price.

Priced at less than $ 200, the Nokia 5.3 is impressive. While it doesn't stand up to direct comparisons to the Google Pixel 4a or iPhone SE (2020), it's undoubtedly the best low-budget photo smartphone in this price range. It has a four-lens setup, including a 13 MP wide main lens, a 5 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a 2 MP macro lens.

Photos taken with the main sensor often need to be edited to look really good. You just need to use an application like Snapseed or Photoshop. The photo interface also comes with a welcome Portrait mode, if you want to take photos for social media. Overall, the Nokia 5.3 may not be ideal for someone who intends to use their smartphone a lot, but if you are a light user, this might be the best option. Your quad-lens camera can be fun in the right conditions, but more serious photographers will have to go their way.

4. Very good: Xiaomi Poco X3

The Xiaomi Poco X3 is undoubtedly the smartphone below 200 euros that offers the most powerful photographic module. It has features that are most often seen in high-end photophones.

The Xiaomi Poco X3 has a large, well-designed screen. It is a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel that offers a resolution of 2400 x 1080 px with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This model also benefits from powerful stereo speakers and its Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G SoC handles titles like Fortnite much better than phones. Smartphones with a Snapdragon 665 or an Exynos 9611 available at the same price. The Xiaomi Poco X3 has a rear photo module consisting of three cameras and a depth sensor. The 64 MP main camera is the same as found on the Realme X2 Pro. This is Sony's latest IMX682 sensor. It combines pixel binning with an aperture of f / 1.89 and a sensor size of 1 / 1.73 ".

By combining 4 pixels into one and shooting 16MP images, it offers an effective pixel size of 1.6um. The second device is a 13MP ultra-wide sensor that has an equivalent focal length of 119 °, approximately 14mm, and the sensor measures 1 / 2.55 ". Finally, the third and last camera on the back is a macro camera intended for create a blur effect.

5. Alternative: Wiko View 5 Plus

Compared to the View 5, the Wiko View 5 Plus has a more powerful processor and more storage capacity. In addition, this high-end smartphone from Wiko stands out for its three and a half days of autonomy and its four-camera module. All of this for less than $ 200.

The Wiko View 5 Plus is not a larger variant of the View 5. In fact, the screen remains at 6.5 ", but the Helio A25 chipset used in the View 5 is replaced by the more powerful Helio P35. This model also has more RAM. (4 GB) and more storage memory (128 GB). The Wiko View 5 Plus, which is made largely of plastic, is quite heavy thanks to its large battery. We feel a good feeling in the hand and the device leaves a real impression of solidity.

Note that the Wiko View 5 Plus is a 4G LTE compatible dual SIM model, which supports Bluetooth 4.2 and has a 5000 mAh battery. With this battery, and even in intensive use, the Wiko View 5 Plus guarantees an autonomy of 3 and a half days.

6. Good value for money: Samsung Galaxy A70

Samsung offers you its Galaxy A70 at a price that defies all competition. This smartphone includes a 6.7 "screen and a storage capacity of 128 GB of ROM + 6 GB of RAM.

The Samsung Galaxy A70 is very aesthetic due to its compact shape and its black color. It is crowned by a 6.7 '' wide Super AMOLED widescreen display that offers a definition of 2400 x 1080 pixels. It is equipped with Android version 9.0 as the operating system. Added to this, its Snapdragon 675 processor only increases its performance.

Thanks to its 4,500 mAh Li-Po battery, you will have greater autonomy. In addition, it has a gyroscope and a fingerprint sensor placed just below its screen. Finally, it will be of great help to you to succeed in your photos at all times, with its 64 Mpx x 8 Mpx x 5 Mpx + 32 Mpx sensors.

7. Good resolution: Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung fans looking for a high-performance photo smartphone for less than $ 300 will be delighted with the Samsung Galaxy A51. With its gorgeous display and quality photo module, it's hard to find better at this price.

The Samsung Galaxy A51 currently sells for less than $ 250. Turns out it has an excellent rear photo module with 4 lenses. This module includes a 48MP wide angle lens, a 12MP ultra wide angle lens, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. While the lack of autofocus makes the macro lens quite difficult to use, the main wide angle lens and ultra wide angle lens capture great photos in good light.

Photos are vivid and detailed, while the presence of an ultra-wide lens offers a level of versatility that simply cannot be found anywhere else for less than $ 250. However, the quality drops a bit in low light conditions, and the shots feature noise and blur. That doesn't detract too much from the overall experience, for similar results to the Google Pixel 4a or the iPhone SE 2020.