How to select a cell phone (mobile phone) that will have the best camera hardware and software?

Question

Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began, I had the opportunity to attend a few art gallery openings that featured photography.

What surprised me was that some of the photographs were taken using cell phones (aka mobile phones, smartphones, and cameraphones). What surprised me even more was that some of these photos were enlarged to over 2m wide, and still looked good.

My first quality camera was medium format (followed by large format), so this was a real eye-opening experience for me.

As all photographers know, the foremost challenge to taking a good photograph is actually having a camera with you when you see an opportunity.

Cell phones have given us an easy-to-carry and portable solution to almost always have a camera (and even a short-range flash!) with us. But finding a cell phone with quality camera hardware and software can be challenging. Four issues make this especially challenging:

1. Cell phone models are constantly being introduced, making previous comparative reviews less valuable.
2. Cell phone brands and model availability are not consistent around the world. This is partly because different technologies and frequencies are used in different regions.
3. Cell phone prices vary considerably, and different people have different budgets. Phone XYZ might technically offer the best combination of hardware and software, but it might be twice the price of a device that is 99% as good.
4. The cameras of many cell phones get great reviews because they generate reasonable quality images if you never enlarge your photographs. But once you enlarge them to sizes appropriate for hanging in a gallery, quality often (but definitely not always) degrades to unacceptable levels.

Taking the above into consideration, how does a photographer select a cell phone that will have the best camera hardware and software that will meet their desires (those desires, of course, tempered by an understanding of the current limits of technology, manufacturing, and form factor)?

Answer 1

This is probably not an answer, but a long comment.

How to select a cell phone (mobile phone) that will have the best camera hardware

Read reviews, technical sheets, and choose one based on your needs and budget.

and software

Read reviews, if it is not installed on the phone I bet you can buy it and install it.

Cell phone models are constantly being introduced, making previous comparative reviews less valuable.

So, look for some other reviews. Some companies live for this. Some websites review things even before you can get them on a store. Some come to my mind:

www.dxomark.com

www.dpreview.com

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This is a strong opinion based.

Cell phone models are constantly being introduced, making previous comparative reviews less valuable.

Thinking like that will paralyze you.

Yes, there will be for sure a better camera or phone somewhere, more modern, and probably will be a time where the phone does not even need you.

Get what you can and enjoy taking photos.

Cell phone brands and model availability are not consistent around the world.

So? The same, work with what you can have, instead of thinking about you can not.

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Here is a bit more specific point but also subjective.

The cameras of many cell phones get great reviews because they generate reasonable quality images

Depends on the reviews. Some of them are very technical for example about sharpness and noise.

if you never enlarge your photographs.

I really doubt that is a reason for a good or bad review. The review could simply include information about Mpx, and give you a hint on print size.

But once you enlarge them to sizes appropriate for hanging in a gallery, quality often (but definitely not always) degrades to unacceptable levels.

What is that acceptable size? What is quality? Quality "does not degrade" quality is a process. Yes, you can put some limits on the technical side, for example, you can simply "exclude" a print of less than 100ppi... does this mean that a photo of 99ppi does not have any artistic merit?

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Just as an example of printing sizes.

A 12Mpx image, common on some phones and old dslr has 4000 on the long side.

You can safely print it as 100ppi or with a simple 2x resampling to blur a bit the pixels and print it at 200ppi. This will give you a print of 40inches or 1m.

Is it good for a gallery? I'm pretty sure it is.

Some phones even have more than 48Mpx on the sensor. 80 inches or 2m.