Vivo is going all in on both photography and videography with the new X300 Ultra. The phone is finally coming to the global market, and to entice people away from other camera-centric Ultras lurking about, vivo has partnered with Zeiss and known camera accessory maker SmallRig, to make the X300 Ultra the best tool for both photos and videos.
Xiaomi's Photography Kit Pro for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra represents this evolution by adding manual control features and filter compatibility. The kit includes a magnetic case with detachable filter threads, a photography grip with USB-C connectivity supporting 90W HyperCharge, and customizable controls including a two-stage shutter, zoom lever, video button, and adjustable dial.
The GT 9 Pro would keep that, presumably, while also employing a 200MP main camera. Two 200MP cameras on one phone will be a massive trend in China later this year, with the Oppo Find X9s, Oppo Find X9 Ultra, and vivo X300 Ultra all expected to have such a setup.
After using the vivo X300 Pro as my only camera on a recent trip to the Andalusia region in Spain, I walked away convinced that vivo has created one of this year's strongest cameraphone contenders. While it may not introduce dramatic hardware leaps over its predecessors, the cumulative refinement across hardware, software, and accessories has resulted in a remarkably capable and versatile device.
The OnePlus 13 is the company's most recent flagship smartphone, and it's a top-notch device -- earning ZDNET's coveted Editors' Choice Award for April 2025. We praised the model "because it nails all the fundamentals of a great smartphone experience while leading the market in some regards," ZDNET's Kerry Wan wrote in his review. It features the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery, 80W fast charging, and a high resistance rating of IP69.
The imaging capabilities of many smartphones may now rival dedicated cameras, but their ergonomics do not. Belkin's PowerGrip solves that with a DSLR-style grip on one end giving you a secure way to hold your smartphone while taking pictures, even with your phone in portrait mode. The PowerGrip also has its own shutter button, positioned on the top edge of the grip so it sits beneath your finger, that snaps images using a Bluetooth connection to your phone.
"The \"Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year Awards 2025\" celebrates its tenth anniversary with a stunning shortlist of global weather photography, ranging from dramatic storms to delicate cloud formations. Organized by the UK's Royal Meteorological Society, the competition not only honors visual artistry but also raises awareness about climate change and environmental issues. This year's entries reflect a growing trend of smartphone photography, proving that powerful storytelling can come from anyone, anywhere."
Samsung makes the best camera phones on the market (at least in my opinion), and as a proud owner of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, I tend to use my smartphone a lot more than my "proper" cameras for photography lately, purely for the ease of use and the fact that it's always in my pocket. But even if you aren't an Android user and prefer one of the best iPhones for photography instead, Kadesh's tips are still worth remembering.
The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra features the world's first switchable dual telephoto system, integrating two zoom lenses with a single sensor, enhancing smartphone photography capabilities.
