Save money on the best camera on your smartphone with these tips
In the fall of 2014, the cell phone market was flooded with a large volume of new phones. Apple, Samsung, Google, and HTC were some of the major players introducing new product lines, and we reviewed them all to help you decide the best smartphone camera.
So now that we’ve survived the deluge of fall releases from major smartphone companies, it’s time to start rating each one. From all the best smartphone cameras to battery life to operating system and more, there’s a lot to look at and discuss.
One of the latest trends in the recent wave of new cell phones is the increase in screen size. There are the gigantic Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy s5 from Samsung. Even Apple has gotten into the mix with its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. At 4.7 and 5.5″, these new iPhones are the largest iPhones ever made.
It’s easy to say that most smartphones now take on the size and look of small tablets.
And all this made us think. If all these new cell phones have bigger screens, doesn’t that mean video quality will follow suit?
The answer is a resounding yes!
As screen sizes have increased, there has been a parallel of notable improvements in camera resolution and improvements in video technology as well.
From everything we have previously reported on the best smartphone cameras on the market, here is a brief summary to help you know what each of these new cell phones offers.
What we chose to highlight includes overall camera megapixels, image resolution quality, and camera software aspects to help you better understand what each phone has to offer you. Why are we commenting on the software? It is the software that helps create stunning images with the best camera on a smartphone.
Key highlights for the best smartphone cameras available
Samsung Galaxy s5:
- It has a 16-megapixel front camera.
- Single LED flash to illuminate the backlight
- Enhanced HDR technology to improve images taken in low-light situations
- The fastest autofocus technology to help stabilize every image
Samsung Galaxy note 4:
- It has a 16-megapixel front camera.
- Optimum image stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 UHD video resolution
The iPhone 6:
- An 8 megapixel camera
- Autofocus pixels to maximize image refinement
- Dual LED flash to remove shadows and red-eye
- Slow motion video capture at 60 or 240 (fps) frames per second
The iPhone 6 Plus:
- 8-megapixel high-definition ‘iSight’ front camera
- Retina display for image viewing.
- Taking panoramic photos in dynamic stabilization
Google Nexus 6:
- A 13-megapixel camera that emphasizes pixel size quality over pixel quantity
- Enhanced low-light shooting
- 1440 x 2560 dynamic resolution
HTC One (M8):
- Large pixels to help improve image brightness
- Ability to sharpen focus on the subject after taking the photo
- Ability to shift focus from the subject in the foreground to one in the background
With so many outstanding new smartphones out there, we know it can be hard to choose which one is the best when it comes to photo quality. While some phones like Apple and Samsung claim to have the best hardware, HTC and Google put more emphasis on user-side features.
Whatever you want out of your new phone, choosing between the best smartphone cameras will be difficult, but you can’t go wrong with any of the five we’ve discussed above.
Here’s what you need to know to save money on one of the best new smartphones
There are a couple of questions you need to answer about your new cell phone, and they are: How much are you willing to pay and what are the service options you want for that price?
Knowing the answers to these two questions will help you find a great phone at the price you want to pay. Typically, both price and service options are intertwined.
So if you want to pay a lower price for your new cell phone, a two-year standard service agreement will help subsidize your costs. Do you want a new smartphone at a whole new price, or are you willing to bundle the phone with a standard service agreement? Once you decide on that basic fact, if you want a phone that isn’t tied down with a two-year deal, you can find a great deal. So if that’s something you’re interested in, you can get the best smartphone camera without tying you to a service provider, but it will cost more.
The tradeoff of this type of purchase is the flexibility and freedom to change your service plans as needed. Let’s say, for example, that you don’t plan on using your data plan much during the winter, why pay a premium price? And when you want to add features and data, you can browse all service providers and find an offer that fits your current needs.
One thing to consider, if you know where to look, there are a number of deals to be found. From Verizon to Sprint to Boost Mobile, there are several ways to get the phone you want with the service you need.
However, keep in mind that having an unlocked smartphone can be a bit risky. If you break your phone or want to upgrade it, you are most likely out of luck. You will probably have to buy a new phone instead of being able to replace the damaged one. A phone locked with a service provider agreement acts as an insurance plan for your phone in case of damage.
If you wish that some of the best smartphone cameras have been released lately, it is important to consider what you want and how much you want to pay.
Defining what you want and how much you’ll pay is important when shopping for your next phone. It will save you time; money and energy to consider all the facts before buying the best smartphone camera available today.