Buying guide
Best Camera Phones in Canada (2026): 7 Picks for Every Budget
Seven phones with the best camera specs we sell, from 10x zoom Androids to 48MP iPhones. Tap through the quiz to find yours.
The best camera phone for most people in Canada is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you want an iPhone, get the iPhone 17 Pro. For the best value, the Pixel 8 Pro has flagship camera specs for much less.
Find your camera phone in 3 taps
iPhone or Android?
What's your budget?
What do you shoot most?
Our picks
- 200MPmain camera
- 5x + 3xoptical zoom
- 4rear cameras
Buy it if you want the most camera in one phone, plus a built-in S Pen.
Skip it if you want a small or light phone. It is 6.9 inches and 218 g.
Why we picked it
Four rear cameras cover every distance: a 200MP main, a 50MP ultra wide, a 3x telephoto and a 50MP 5x periscope. The newer S26 Ultra keeps the same camera layout.
- 48MPall 3 cameras
- 4xoptical zoom
- 18MPfront camera
Buy it if you want an iPhone with three 48MP cameras.
Skip it if you shoot a lot of far-away zoom. The 5x Android picks reach further.
Why we picked it
All three rear cameras are 48MP, including the 4x telephoto, so zoomed and wide shots keep their detail. The 18MP Center Stage front camera is a big step up for selfies and video calls.
- 50MPmain camera
- 5xoptical zoom
- 48MPultra wide
Buy it if you want flagship-level camera specs without the flagship price.
Skip it if you want the newest Pixel or a smaller phone. It is 6.7 inches.
Why we picked it
It has the same rear camera specs as the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro: a 50MP main, a 48MP ultra wide and a 48MP 5x telephoto. You give up a newer chip and a sharper front camera.
- 10xoptical zoom
- 200MPmain camera
- 4rear cameras
Buy it if you shoot sports, concerts or wildlife from far away.
Skip it if you want the newest chip. It launched in February 2023.
Why we picked it
It is the last Galaxy Ultra with a 10x optical periscope lens. From the S24 Ultra on, Samsung switched to 5x. If reach matters most, this is the one.
- 5xoptical zoom
- 48MPmain camera
- 6.7"screen
Buy it if you want 5x iPhone zoom without paying for the newest model.
Skip it if you want a smaller phone or a 48MP ultra wide.
Why we picked it
It has a 5x telephoto, which reaches further than the 4x lens on the iPhone 17 Pro. The ultra wide and telephoto are 12MP, so fine detail in those shots is lower than newer models.
- 5xoptical zoom
- 50MPmain camera
- 48MPtelephoto
Buy it if you want a real 5x zoom on a budget.
Skip it if you want the latest software features. It launched in October 2022.
Why we picked it
A 48MP 5x telephoto at this price is rare. Most budget phones skip optical zoom entirely.
- 48MPmain camera
- 2xsensor zoom
- USB-Cport
Buy it if you want a 48MP iPhone camera for less.
Skip it if you need optical zoom. It has no telephoto lens.
Why we picked it
The 48MP main camera gives you a sharp 2x crop for portraits and zoomed shots. It is one of the most affordable iPhones with a 48MP camera.
Camera specs side by side
| Phone | Main | Optical zoom | Rear cameras | Front | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 200MP | 5x | 4 | 12MP | $1,199.99 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 48MP | 4x | 3 | 18MP | $1,149.99 |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | 50MP | 5x | 3 | 10.5MP | $499.99 |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | 200MP | 10x | 4 | 12MP | $609.99 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 48MP | 5x | 3 | 12MP | $899.99 |
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | 50MP | 5x | 3 | 10.8MP | $349.99 |
| iPhone 15 | 48MP | None | 2 | 12MP | $569.99 |
How to pick a camera phone
Zoom matters more than megapixels. A phone with a 5x telephoto takes far sharper zoomed shots than a 200MP phone without one. Check the optical zoom column first.
Do megapixels matter?
Up to a point. 48MP to 50MP is plenty for the main camera. Past that, lens quality, zoom and processing matter more. The 200MP Samsung sensors mostly help with crisp crops.
What is optical zoom?
A separate telephoto lens that zooms without losing detail. Digital zoom just crops the photo. A 5x lens gets you five times closer at full quality.
Is the camera on a pre-owned phone as good as new?
The camera hardware is the same. Every phone we sell is inspected and tested before it ships, and grades describe looks only. You also get up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
Which Android phone has the best camera?
From our list, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has the most camera hardware. The Pixel 8 Pro is the best value, and the S23 Ultra zooms the furthest at 10x.
How did we pick?
We compared the published camera specs of every phone we sell: lens count, megapixels, optical zoom and front camera, then weighed them against price and release date. We do not run our own lab tests. Prices on this page are live from our store.
Not set on a camera phone? See all unlocked phones or which iPhone to buy.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pre-owned from $1,199.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
