Big sensors, periscope zooms, camera systems co-developed with storied names like Leica, ZEISS, and Hasselblad: in 2026, flagship mobile photography is as much of a technical battleground as the chip race. We compared five smartphones that, each with a different approach, all aim to get you the best possible shot without carrying an actual camera.
vivo X300 Ultra: the best camera phone overall
The vivo X300 Ultra is considered among the best camera phones on the market thanks to dual 200 MP ZEISS sensors: one main and one dedicated to the periscope telephoto, both high-resolution enough for clean digital crops even after the shot. The 2K AMOLED display at 144Hz is among the very best for enjoying your shots right after taking them. The price, predictably, is absolute premium tier (around €1699), and availability on the Italian market is less widespread than more common brands.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra: the biggest main sensor
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra bets everything on a 1-inch Leica sensor — physically larger than average, with LOFIC technology for superior dynamic range in high-contrast scenes — paired with a 200 MP telephoto with mechanical optical zoom covering the 75-100mm range. Video goes up to 8K with Dolby Vision and a dedicated LOG mode for professional editing. Leica’s warm, saturated color rendering isn’t to everyone’s taste: those who prefer more neutral colors might find themselves better served elsewhere.
Google Pixel 10 Pro: the best software processing
The Google Pixel 10 Pro doesn’t win on megapixel count or sensor size, but on computational processing that remains an industry benchmark: its camera system is considered unmatched right now in its class, especially in low light and portraits. The Tensor G5 chip and magnetic Pixelsnap wireless charging round out a package that’s Android in its purest form. The one known limitation: the “Magic Cue” AI feature isn’t available in Italy.
OPPO Find X9 Pro: the best zoom
For anyone who frequently shoots distant subjects, the OPPO Find X9 Pro has the most capable system of the group: a 200 MP Hasselblad telephoto with 3x optical zoom and lossless zoom up to 13.2x, extended beyond 10x with an optional teleconverter (sold separately). The 7500 mAh battery — the biggest in the ranking — delivers up to two days of battery life, handy during an intense photo trip. The ColorOS 16 software takes a few days to get used to for anyone coming from stock Android.
vivo X300 Pro: the best balance of photography and performance
The vivo X300 Pro shares the ZEISS system with its bigger Ultra sibling — including a 200 MP APO telephoto — in a more generalist body also geared toward raw performance, thanks to the Dimensity 9500 chip and 16 GB of RAM. It’s the choice for anyone who wants a top-tier photography experience without going all the way to the X300 Ultra’s price and bulk, accepting a smaller battery in the European version (5440 mAh versus 6510 mAh for the Chinese variant).
Bottom line
There’s no single overall winner, because each of these phones excels at a different aspect of mobile photography. Anyone wanting the most versatile camera package should look at the vivo X300 Ultra; anyone after the physically biggest sensor should pick the Xiaomi 17 Ultra; anyone who’d rather rely on software processing should go with the Google Pixel 10 Pro; anyone who frequently shoots from far away wants the OPPO Find X9 Pro’s zoom; anyone after the most balanced compromise should look at the vivo X300 Pro.