The camera remains one of the main factors when choosing a smartphone. In 2026, almost all flagships and even many mid-range devices take good photos, but some models deliver maximum quality for their price. The publication Palach compiled five of the most cost-effective options, from ultra-budget to near-premium level, where the camera truly stands out.

Honor 200: a long-lasting hit with powerful zoom

The Honor 200, released back in 2024, still remains one of the best in terms of price-to-performance ratio. It features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and brightness of up to 4000 nits. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor ensures stable performance and allows for moderate gaming.

The main highlight is the camera system. It includes a 50 MP main sensor, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera. The front camera is also 50 MP. Zoom photos come out detailed, with pleasant and natural background blur. The 5200 mAh battery with 120 W charging easily lasts a full day of active use. There is no official water resistance, but for its price this is one of the best camera phones in the mid-range segment.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: unusual design and a balanced camera

The Nothing sub-brand released the CMF Phone 2 Pro, a stylish plastic smartphone with a detachable round element on the back that allows attaching accessories such as a stand, card holder, or strap. The device has a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 120 Hz, Full HD Plus resolution, and brightness of up to 3000 nits. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro processor can handle most games on medium settings.

The camera setup consists of a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and an 8 MP ultra-wide camera. The front camera is 16 MP. Photo quality is solid, especially in daylight. The battery is 5000 mAh with 33 W charging. The phone has IP54 protection, a microSD slot, and NFC. The downsides are the lack of optical image stabilization and stereo speakers, but for its price it is a very attractive option with a unique design.

Huawei Nova 14: the ideal choice for selfies and content creators

The Huawei Nova 14 is an underrated mid-range device that is perfect for those who take a lot of selfies and shoot video. It features a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display with 1.5K resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and brightness up to 1200 nits. The Kirin 8020 processor provides good performance for everyday tasks and light video editing.

The camera system is its main strength. The selfie module is dual, combining 8 MP and 50 MP sensors with 2x optical zoom. The main camera system includes a 50 MP sensor, a 12 MP lens, and an 8 MP telephoto lens with optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom. The battery is 5500 mAh with 100 W charging, reaching full charge in about 30 minutes. The phone has an infrared port, NFC, stereo speakers, and IP65 protection. It lacks Google services, but for photo and video work it is one of the best choices in the mid-range category.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: a reliable flagship from last year

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a great choice for users who prefer non-Chinese brands. It comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, Full HD Plus resolution, and brightness up to 1900 nits. The Exynos 2400e processor and the 4700 mAh battery with 25 W charging are sufficient for a full day of active use.

The camera system includes a 50 MP main camera with optical stabilization, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front camera is 10 MP. It produces natural-looking photos with good detail, wide dynamic range, and accurate color reproduction. The phone supports DeX mode, has stereo speakers, and offers IP68 water and dust protection. It is an excellent option for those who value Samsung’s reliability and do not want to overpay for the S25.

Google Pixel 9a: the best pure Android with a top-tier camera

The Google Pixel 9a is currently the most cost-effective Pixel smartphone. It features a 6.3-inch P-OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, Full HD Plus resolution, and brightness up to 2700 nits. The Tensor G4 processor can handle games on high settings. The battery is 5100 mAh with 23 W charging. The phone has IP68 protection, wireless charging, and NFC.

The camera system consists of a 48 MP main camera and a 13 MP ultra-wide camera, both supported by optical stabilization, Pixel Shift technology, Ultra HDR, and the Best Take feature. The front camera is 13 MP. Google’s computational photography algorithms are considered a benchmark in mobile photography, delivering natural colors, excellent detail, and a powerful astrophotography mode. The phone runs pure Android without unnecessary add-ons. It is the best choice for photography enthusiasts and fans of minimalist software.

In short

In 2026, the best camera phones in terms of value for money are the Honor 200 for strong zoom and selfies, the CMF Phone 2 Pro for its unusual design, the Huawei Nova 14 for top-tier selfies and 3x optical zoom, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for reliability and natural color reproduction, and the Google Pixel 9a for clean Android and outstanding image processing. All of these models shoot at a flagship level while costing significantly less. The choice depends on priorities: zoom points to Honor, selfies to Huawei, natural colors to Samsung, and Google’s computational photography to the Pixel 9a.