Camera technology inside phones has come on leaps and bounds during the past half-decade. Just think about how much your phone has changed since, like, 2008 – it’s pretty impressive isn't it?

Taking photos is something we all love to do; this is why tech companies constantly innovate with their camera units. They know we love taking pictures with our phones and they know a good camera is a big selling point for a lot of potential customers.

If you’re using a flagship phone built inside the last two years, the camera technology you have at your disposal will be impressive. With it you will be able to take breathtaking pictures, professional quality video and capture all of life’s most important moments in super crisp detail.

But what are the best of the best camera phones you can buy right now?

This is always a tough one to call; we test A LOT of phones, so picking the strongest is always tricky as there is usually very little to separate the biggest and best handsets’ imaging capabilities.

To make this article as useful as possible, I’ve broken it down into sections: best premium camera phones, best mid-range camera phones and best budget camera phone options.

That way, regardless of your budget, you will have options.

Right. Let’s start with the premium, flagship handsets, shall we?

Best Premium Camera Phones 2017

Google Pixel XL

The Pixel XL is a fantastic all-round phone. It has great battery life, amazing software, stellar performance and brilliant imaging capabilities.

Google really pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with imaging aboard its Pixel phones and the result is very impressive indeed.

I enjoyed testing the Pixel XL so much that I actually went out and bought one.

This handset, in my opinion, is the finest Android phone ever released. It has power, poise, and it can take some seriously amazing pictures and videos, even if you’re not a particularly accomplished photographer.

iPhone 7 Plus

Apple’s iPhones, for the last few generations, have always possessed excellent point and shoot cameras. The iPhone 7 Plus is no exception to this rule; it has one of the best overall cameras on market today.

If you’re not committed to Android, pick yourself up one of these excellent handsets as the images you can produce with its advanced camera technologies are beyond impressive.

The iPhone 7 Plus is even used by professional photographers on shoots instead of actual DSLR cameras. Yep. It really is THAT good.

Samsung Galaxy S7

The Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE was one of the best looking phones I’ve ever tested. It also featured one of the best overall cameras ever implemented inside a phone.

We loved the Galaxy S7’s camera so much we even decided to do a dedicated review of the camera technology, which you can read here – Samsung Galaxy S7 Camera Review: Stunning In Almost Every Regard.

LG G5

The LG G5 might have tanked in 2016, but the phone’s imaging capabilities – for a good long while after its launch – were unparalleled. It was the first Android phone to feature a dedicated, dual-lens camera, for one, and, second, it also took exceptional images.

The upside to LG’s failure to sell this phone in 2016 is that you can pick one up right now for a fraction of the cost, meaning you not only get a brilliant camera phone, but also a boat-load of specs and processing grunt as well.

I love this phone. You will too, if you like imaging and clean software and basic, simple design. The fact this handset didn’t sell better is a travesty in my opinion.

Best Mid-Range Camera Phones 2017

OnePlus 3T

The OnePlus 3T is a flagship phone. It has flagship specs and hardware and performs like a flagship handset. It is the equal of all of the handsets mentioned above and the only reason it is included in this section of the article is because of OnePlus’ amazing pricing.

The OnePlus 3T costs A LOT less than any of its contemporaries and, for this reason, if you’re after what is easily one of the best Android phones on the planet right now this should be the only the phone you look at. It is a solid performer across the board and it has an excellent camera.

You literally could not ask for more.

Nexus 6P

A bit of a wildcard, this one. If you can find a Nexus 6P online, you’re well advised to pick one up. Not only because it is an excellent phone, but also because it will get Android updates as soon as they come out and it also has a very capable camera on its rear.

I used a Nexus 6P for a good eight months and I genuinely loved it; the handset is a solid performer and is well sized for users that prefer a larger handset.

There are plenty of options to pick one up online right now, so if you do fancy getting yourself a pure Android phone, but you don’t want to pay Pixel XL money, the Nexus 6P is the one to go for.

Nokia Lumia 930

With support for Windows 10 and an excellent Carl Zeiss PureView imaging camera on the rear, there is definitely a lot to like about the Nokia Lumia 930.

Yes, this phone is pretty old these days. But it still looks great and, thanks to Windows 10, has a new lease of life with a brand new OS which you can install for free.

The camera tech inside, as usual, is brilliant. The image quality is second to none, even by today’s standards, and the app itself is great to use and features tons of useful features.

Best Budget Camera Phones 2017

Nokia Lumia 1020

The Nokia Lumia 1020 was and still is one of the most impressive camera phones ever created.

The Lumia 1020’s 41-megapixel PureView camera features enhanced optical stabilisation using motors and ball bearings, 6-lens Zeiss optics and a Xenon Flash. 1080p HD video capture, complete with 4x zoom and 6x zoom at 720p, is also fully catered for.

Nokia Lumia 1020: Specs and Hardware

• Dimensions – 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm
• Weight – 158g
• Display – 4.5-inch AMOLED HD+ 1280 x 768 pixel display with Gorilla Glass 3
• Processor – 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 Processor
• RAM – 2GB
• Storage – 32GB
• Connectivity – LTE, HSPA+, and GSM/EDGE, along with WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, and NFC
• Battery – 2000 mAh non-removable

This handset might be old, but as a camera phone it is still definitely a great option if you’re looking for something a little different.

Moto G4

The Moto G4 looks awesome and it performs brilliantly. This super-cheap Android phone is testament to Moto’s resurgence in recent years, following its acquisition by Google and subsequent sale to Lenovo.

If you’re on a tight budget but want a decent Android phone with good camera performance, this is the phone to go for. You can pick these handsets up for next to nothing online, and this, as well as their awesome design and unique styling, make them a solid favourite in the KYM office.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is another older handset, but true to form it is still a very solid option for 2017 – especially if camera capabilities are important to you.

This phone delivers excellent performance and it looks really bloody smart.

I tested this handset out for the first time a couple of years ago and was immediately impressed by its imaging capabilities.

If you’re operating on a budget but want great design, specs and performance be sure to check out the Galaxy Alpha.

Another option, for those after a more modern phone, is Samsung’s Galaxy A series.