Top 10 smartphones with the best camera for less than $500

If you want a smartphone with a great camera but do not want to spend a lot of money on the most expensive smartphones, you can purchase these smartphones for less than $500. You'll undoubtedly discover one that appeals to you.

Choose the smartphone that best suits you from our selection of today's top 10 models that stand out in the photographic category without paying much.

The best camera smartphones with less than $500

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is one of the most affordable models available right now with a top-notch camera. It includes a 4500 mAh battery with a 120W quick charge that is more than enough to last you through the day snapping pictures, a good MediaTek 920 processor, huge RAM, and a 120 HZ FHD AMOLED screen.

A 108 MP f/1.8 primary lens, an 8 MP f/2.2 wide-angle, and a 2 MP f/2.4 macro lens make up its triple camera system. Furthermore, it has a 16 MP front camera so you can capture the greatest selfies from any position.

For the best image quality, even in night mode, this is coupled with a variety of photo and video modes. It provides an excellent photographic experience despite not being a high-end or pricey model.

Google Pixel 6

With a 50-megapixel f/1.85 OIS main lens and a 12-megapixel f/2.2 wide-angle lens, the Google Pixel 6 not only boasts a fantastic camera system but also produces images with rich colors and fine details. An 8 MP sensor is on the selfie front.

The Pixel 6 camera has all of Google's technology and innovations, and it can capture up to 150% more light.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

With the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, you can get a phone at a reasonable price that shoots great pictures, and because it's currently on sale, you can get one while prices are still low and save more than $100. It boasts a big 5000 mAh battery with 25W rapid charging, a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, and many other features. It has a camera with many lenses that produce stunning images.

You can take sharp pictures with its 64 MP OIS camera's f/1.8 aperture and optical stabilization, while the 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera widens the viewing angle and the 5 MP macro camera makes you stand out more.

The 32 MP f/2.2 front camera will provide you with excellent results in any circumstance so that you can take better selfies.

OnePlus 9

This smartphone distinguishes by its camera. It has a 6.55-inch AMOLED 120 Hz FHD+ screen, a Snapdragon 888 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 HB of storage. It has three cameras: a 48MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera.

Thanks to its Free-form lens and integrated 50 MP ultra-wide angle lens, it offers remarkable clarity. You'll also like the 8K Video experience.

Xiaomi 12

The Xiaomi 12 is a smartphone that can stand out for its camera quality thanks to its 6.28-inch AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and 5000 mAh battery. It has a 50 MP main camera that is pro-grade, with new focus technology, AI, and image processing algorithms, in order to preserve more detail even in low light.

It also has a 13 MP wide-angle and a 5 MP telephoto macro camera. Its 20 MP front camera has an f/2.2 aperture for excellent selfies.

Google Pixel 6a

With the release of the Pixel 6a, a more affordable alternative to the flagship Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google has re-entered the race for the title of best low-cost smartphone. Even though this phone is under $500, it has a lot of features thanks to the same Tensor chipset that powers more expensive models.

It has two cameras instead of the three found on most smartphones today in its rear array, which is a pretty respectable camera setup, but Google's real strength lies in software, not hardware. As a result, the Pixel 6a is loaded with clever little processing tricks, resulting in photos that are just as vibrant and punchy as those taken on phones that cost twice as much. Having an OLED display on a phone this affordable is also nice.

Oppo Find X3 Neo

With its sophisticated camera technology, including a 50 MP main camera with a bigger sensor co-developed with Sony and All-Pixel Omni-Focus, this Oppo provides you with high-quality images and movies. It has a 2 MP macro, a 13 MP telephoto, and a 32 MP front camera for great selfies. Its sensor is incredible for producing sharper images whether it's day or night.

It has also enhanced HDR for the backlight. It has many settings that enable you to capture images in a variety of lighting and action-oriented situations.

Honor 50

As long as you choose the 128GB model, Honor's newest smartphone officially falls just under the price cap and features a 108MP main camera in addition to an 8MP ultra-wide and two 2MP auxiliary cameras.

The 32MP selfie camera, though, steals the show because self-portraits come out vivid and colorful.

With well-balanced highlights and shadows, excellent contrast, wonderful color, and realistic-looking Bokeh background blur. We thought this was terrific in both normal and Portrait modes. We discovered that we were well-detailed even in our selfies taken at night.

The rear cameras, while not horrible for photography, weren't as impressive to us as they were with other mobiles on the list. The decision is really up to enthusiasts of selfies.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is a better option if you need a 108MP camera phone. Other than that, this is your typical mid-range Android phone with a medium-power processor, long-lasting battery, and good-looking display.

OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an update to the Nord 2 that was released a year later. To explain its existence, the Nord 2T offers a few minor improvements here and there.

The Nord 2's cameras are unaffected. You will receive the same 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor on the OnePlus Nord 2T, which excels in low-light conditions.

An 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP depth sensor rounds out the camera array, which will be useful for some. But the AI on this phone stands out because it seems to enhance colors in photos more than other AI optimization tools on other phones.

Apart from the cameras, this is a well-rounded mid-range phone with a respectably powerful processor, a nice-looking screen. And incredibly quick charging, though it is not a significant improvement over its predecessor.

iPhone SE

The Apple iPhone SE (2022) is a superb camera phone for the money. The smartphone combines wireless charging, water resistance, and good performance—all flagship features. The major drawback of this smartphone is its old design. With big bezels around the display and the old home button. The design is very reminiscent of earlier iPhone models.

Although there is only one lens on the rear of the camera, the 12MP sensor can capture high-resolution portrait mode images and even record 4K video. You obviously do not receive all of the features of the iPhone 13. Such as Night mode, Dolby Vision HDR, or Cinematic Mode for video. But you do get the essential tools, such as Portrait Mode for people, that improve the images. Photos don't have as much dynamic range or color vibrancy as those taken with an iPhone 13 Pro. But they are very detailed. Apple is now officially defeating many Android smartphones in the game they typically dominate. The smartphone offers good value for money, given that it starts at just $399.