5 Best Mobile Phones With Excellent Zoom Capacity

Camera-centric phones have become the new norm in 2023, with every other flagship boasting of their ability to zoom X number of times. From Samsung to Google to even Apple, all the big boys of the tech world have engaged in this rat race for optical zoom. Today, we will list out the top mobile phones with excellent zoom capabilities. This will help you choose phones that let you extract that extra bit of detail, no matter how far the subject is.

Do note that, for these smartphones to have the aforementioned excellent zoom capabilities, they need to have best-in-class optics, which are only available on flagships. This article will mostly focus on the best of the best flagships, so they might cause a dent in your pocket. With that being said, if you are willing to splurge for the best, then here are some of the best smartphones you can buy.

Also Read: Buy These 5 Best Smartphones For Night Photography!

What Is Optical Zoom?

Before we begin, we must first delve into what Optical Zoom is, since it is this element that makes the best smartphones the best in zooming. Optical zoom in smartphones refers to a camera feature that allows users to zoom in to or magnify subjects with greater detail and clarity. Its subsidiary, digital zoom, relies on cropping and enlarging the image whereas optical zoom makes use of physical lenses.

Smartphones with optical zoom usually come with specific camera lenses that have varying focal lengths. When you zoom in, the phone switches to these lenses in order to provide a high-quality zooming experience.

This basically results in the image retaining its sharpness and resolution, as it doesn’t rely on software tricks. Optical zoom helps capture faraway landscapes, events and even animals with great detail 

Best Mobile Phones with Excellent Zoom Capabilities

Here’s some of the latest smartphone that have zoom capacity never witnessed before. 

1. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Ultra by name and ultra by features, the latest and greatest flagship from Samsung is perfect for your zooming needs. At times dubbed as the king of zoom, the 200MP primary sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ensures picture quality like no other. This, coupled with 3x and 10x telephoto lenses which allow for a massive 100x digital zoom makes for a camera experience like no other.

7.7

Score

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G

Starting

₹75,999

Compare

Processor

9.7

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Octa core (3.36 GHz, Single core, Cortex X3 + 2.8 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A715 + 2 GHz, Tri core, Cortex A510)Adreno 740

Display

9.8

6.8 inches501 ppi, AMOLED1440 x 3088 pixels

Camera

9.0

Quad, 200MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP7680x4320 @ 24 fps, 3840x2160 @ 30 fps, 1920x1080 @ 30 fpsSingle, 12MP

Battery

9.9

5000 mAh, Li-ionWireless ChargingFast, 45W

Add to this the secondary 12MP ultra-wide camera and 12MP front snapper with both HDR10+ and Auto-HDR support, and the optics of the S23 Ultra make it a segment-best camera smartphone, which is fitting for the Korean giant’s best handset. In my opinion, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Mobile Phone with Excellent Zoom capabilities.

2. Google Pixel 8 Pro

The latest flagship from Google, which was announced just a week ago is also a telephoto king. The Google Pixel 8 Pro, which comes with a triple rear camera setup with a primary 50MP Octa PD wide snapper, a 48MP ultra-wide snapper and a third 48MP telephoto lens comes with 8x Optical Zoom and 30x Digital Zoom.

7.7

Score

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Starting

₹1,06,999

Compare

Processor

6.7

Google Tensor G3Octa core (3 GHz, Single core, Cortex X3 + 2.45 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A715 + 2.15 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A510)Mali-G710 MC10

Display

8.9

6.7 inches490 ppi, OLED1344 x 2992 pixels

Camera

8.8

Triple, 50MP + 48MP + 48MP3840x2160 @ 24 fps, 1920x1080 @ 30 fpsSingle, 10.5MP

Battery

9.9

5050 mAh, Li-ionWireless ChargingFast, 30W

Whilst the optics might not be at the same level as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, with its software magic is no weak opponent, with telephoto shots being crisp and detailed, especially the 8x optically zoomed shots.

3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

For the foldable lover, the best option with a good telephoto lens is undoubtedly the latest foldable from South Korean giant Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, renowned for its folding hinge development and design also has a capable set of cameras.

The primary 50MP wide-angle shooter, with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP lens with 3x optical zoom, is decent for a foldable handset. Regular shots come out well and, for a foldable, the zooming capability is also decent, but it does fall short of both the Pixel and S23 Ultra. A 30x Space Zoom is added, for those moon shots, but, for most foldable users, the camera might not be an ultimate priority.

4. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

This list titled “Best Mobile Phones with Excellent Zoom Capabilities” would be incomplete without an offering from Cupertino’s finest, Apple. The latest Apple iPhone 15 series brings with it a host of changes, one of which is the optical sensors on offer. Coincidentally, this time Apple has changed things up. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have different optical lenses. 

8

Score

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Starting

₹1,06,199

Compare

Processor

8.5

Apple A17 ProHexa Core (3.78 GHz, Dual core + 2.11 GHz, Quad core)Apple GPU (six-core graphics)

Display

8.9

6.7 inches460 ppi, OLED1290 x 2796 pixels

Camera

8.8

Triple, 48MP + 12MP + 12MP3840x2160 @ 24 fps, 1920x1080 @ 30 fpsSingle, 12MP

Battery

9.2

4441 mAh, Li-ionWireless ChargingFast, 20W

The regular iPhone 15 Pro comes with the usual 3x telephoto camera, as was found on the outgoing model. On the other hand, the 15 Pro Max, the big boy of the lineup comes with a brand new 5x telephoto snapper. This lens is quite impressive, considering it has a new prism-like setup and Apple’s special technical experience. 

This is quite new for Apple since it tries to tackle the strides made by its biggest opponent, the S23 Ultra. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max’s design reduces the space required for the lens whilst allowing better telephoto shots. This, coupled with a new and larger 48MP primary snapper improves the overall optical performance of the latest gen iPhone.

Also Read: Most Awaited Comparison: Apple iPhone 15 Vs 15 Pro Max Camera!

5. Xiaomi 13 Pro 

The final option on our list comes from the Chinese smartphone company, Xiaomi. Its flagship product, the Xiaomi 13 Pro comes equipped with some decent optical power. The Xiaomi 13 Pro comes with a triple-rear shooter with a primary 50MP Sony sensor, which is a massive 1-inch sensor. This is coupled with a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom, with a floating effect that allows it to double as a tele-macro lens. The third snapper is a 50MP ultra-wide lens with the ability to focus automatically. 

7.5

Score

Xiaomi 13 Pro 5G

Starting

₹47,499

Compare

Processor

9.6

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Octa core (3.2 GHz, Single core, Cortex X3 + 2.8 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A715 + 2 GHz, Tri core, Cortex A510)Adreno 740

Display

9.8

6.73 inches521 ppi, AMOLED1440 x 3200 pixels

Camera

8.4

Triple, 50MP + 50MP + 50MP7680x4320 @ 24 fps, 3840x2160 @ 30 fps, 1920x1080 @ 60 fpsSingle, 32MP

Battery

9.9

4820 mAh, Li-PolymerYes Charging Time: 36 minutesFast, 120W

The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a triple camera on the back that’s reminiscent of the one on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The primary camera uses a 50MP 1″ sensor, then we have a 50MP telephoto for 3.2x optical magnification and finally, there is a 50MP ultrawide camera with AF capabilities.

The telephoto lens is a 50MP Samsung 1/2.76″ sensor with a Tetracell filter. The phone comes with 3.2x optical zoom, all thanks to a special floating lens from Leica. The telephoto lens also comes with OIS or Optical stabilization.

Also Read: Mobile Phones With The Same Camera As iPhone 15!

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