Phones with the best cameras for under £400

For a breakdown of what to look for in a camera phone, and some recommendations if you can stretch your budget, check out our list of the best camera phones in 2021.

What do different lenses do?

A lot of modern phones come with multiple lenses. If you’re unsure of what each lens is used for, here’s a quick guide:

• Ultra wide: this lens allows you to capture a larger view of the scenery around you by expanding the field of vision
• Macro: this lens can take sharp, clear photos of small objects
• Depth: this lens controls background blur by focusing on distances in photography

Samsung

Samsung are famous for their industry-leading technology, impressive cameras, huge screens, and superb designs - but they’re usually quite expensive phones!

We’ve managed to find three high-tech Samsung models with amazing camera and video capabilities all for under £400. See if one of these could be your next phone. 

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Price: £397.99

Additional features:
✔OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) keeps photos sharp and blur-free

✔Night mode enhances photos taken in low lighting by keeping them clear and well-balanced

✔2x zoom on main lens to capture detailed shots from afar

✔Ultra wide lens provides immersive 123 degree viewing

✔Portrait mode on the depth lens creates colourful and vivid selfies with a focus on capturing facial expressions rather than background noise

✔Scene optimiser sharpens the landscape

✔Time-lapse videos to capture creative memories over a long period of time

✔Shutter speed control

✔Slow motion capture

✔Single take feature gets quick photos of a scene

✔Fun mode activates camera filters

✔Bixby Vision is an accessibility feature that lets you translate text, scan barcodes, and describe scenes to you using your camera

Samsung Galaxy A51

Price: £327.99

Additional features:

✔Optical Image Stabilisation to keep photos and videos blur-free

✔Enjoy a 123 degree viewing angle with the 12MP ultra wide lens

✔Live Focus feature means your image will automatically focus on you as the main subject

✔Bokeh feature on depth lens isolates subject and reduces background noise for clear images

✔SuperSteady feature keeps videos stable and smooth

✔Selfie focus enhances front-facing images by blurring the background and sharpening your face

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Price: £317.99

Additional features:

✔Optical Image Stabilisation

✔Live Focus technology means your selfies will focus automatically on you and blur background noise

✔Portrait mode for ideal selfies

✔Super slow-motion technology to capture detailed videography or live photos

✔Hyperlapse (time lapse) feature for creative videos over a period of time

✔Night mode ensures images taken in low light are still clear, well-balanced, and vivid

✔Single take feature for one rapid shot before you need to move on

Xiaomi

Xiaomi is another brand known for their large screen sizes and impressive cameras. Our top two recommendations definitely don’t disappoint - with one sporting a massive 108MP lens!

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Price: £266.99

Additional features:

✔Optical Image Stabilisation

✔108MP is the largest megapixel available on a camera at the moment, so this main lens can provide ultra-detailed photos and videos

✔ Night mode 2.0 uses light sensitivity to frame images correctly in dim lighting for sharp and clear photos

✔Telemacro lens allows for a closer zoom

✔AI portrait mode

✔Long exposure mode for artistic shots

✔Time-lapse videos to capture long sunsets or sunrises

✔Dual video modes so the front and rear cameras can record simultaneously 

✔ShootSteady feature keeps all videography stable and clear, even when moving a lot

Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite

Price: £227.99

Additional features:

✔Optical Image Stabilisation

✔Long exposure modes

✔Timed burst to take up to 600 pictures in 60 seconds

✔Dual video can record with front and back cameras simultaneously for interesting and creative videos

✔Time-lapse technology

Nokia

Nokia are well known and loved around the world. They have stood the test of time, from the iconic 3310 (and classic Snake game), to their more modern edge-to-edge smartphones. 

Their modern handsets can get a little pricey, but we found a model under £400 (and £300!) that will take impressive photos without breaking the bank.

Nokia X20

Price: £296.99

Additional features:

✔AI assist enhances your photography and videography by ensuring everything is colour-balanced, lighted, and in focus

✔Supported by ZEISS Optics for cinematic effects

✔Cinema mode makes every image look dynamic

✔Dual Sight multicam mode allows you to video different angles simultaneously

✔Night mode

✔AI Beautification is like a built-in photoshop

✔Panorama to properly capture those stunning landscapes in all their glory

✔Add a watermark on to photos to own your photography

Discover more

Not all smartphones have to break the bank! If you’re on a budget, why not consider a phone for under £100 or £200?

Some brands like Doro, Alcatel, and Google offer more affordable devices without sacrificing the high-tech features like big cameras.

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