I've Tested the Best Phones. But None Will Ever Replace My Camera

The best phone cameras you can buy in 2026 are seriously impressive when it comes to capturing glorious pictures. With their physically bigger sensors, wide apertures and a wealth of extra software features — including creative color modes — they can take the sort of photos that you’d normally expect to see coming from pro-level mirrorless cameras.

As a CNET journalist, I’ve thoroughly tested all of today’s best camera phones, including the iPhone 18 Pro, Galaxy S26 Ultra and my personal favorite, the Leica Leitzphone. And as both phone reviewer and professional photographer, I’ve been frequently blown away by the sort of shots I’ve been able to take.

But despite that, I still wouldn’t ever want to fully replace my regular camera with just a phone. I have a few important reasons why.

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