I compared the cameras on 4 cheap Android phones, and the winner surprised me

The Google Pixel 8a ( from left over ) , Nothing Phone 2 , Samsung Galaxy A35 , and Samsung Galaxy A55.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you ’ve set aside around $ 500 to expend on a new Android smartphone , and the television camera is one of the features you expect to practice the most , then which phone is good ? The Pixel 8a will likely be on your list , but there are several other great headphone available at a like price .

So , in a more casual trial than usual , I grabbed four sound in the $ 500 price bracket and took photograph with them all . I looked at the operation of the photographic camera and the apps , as well as the value offered by other picture lineament on the phones , before choose our success — or should I say , winners .

Nothing Phone 2Joe Maring / Digital Trends

The phones I tested

TheGoogle Pixel 8aleads the challenge , and it ’s the phone most people will in all probability think about when look for a great , but still reasonably priced camera - focused smartphone . It has a 64 - megapixel master television camera and a 13MP broad - angle , along with both optical mental image stabilization and electronic image stabilization ( OIS and EIS ) .

It joins theNothing Phone 2with its 50MP main camera and 50MP wide - slant camera , again with OIS and EIS , and two challengers from Samsung . TheGalaxy A35is Samsung ’s principal low-pitched - cost smartphone available in the U.S. , and it has three camera on the back — a 50MP main television camera with OIS , an 8MP extensive - angle photographic camera , and a 5MP macro camera .

The last earpiece in the test is theSamsung Galaxy A55 , which also has a 50MP principal tv camera with OIS and a 5MP macro camera , but adds a 12MP wide of the mark - slant camera as an upgrade to the cheap Galaxy A35 . The Nothing Phone 2 is the most expensive gadget on the tilt , followed by the Pixel 8a and the Galaxy A55 , impart the Galaxy A35 as the cheapest phone I screen .

The Samsung Galaxy A55’s cameras.

Samsung Galaxy A55Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There are also processor difference to consider , with the Pixel 8a using Google ’s Tensor G3 chip and the Nothing Phone 2 using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 + Gen 1 , while the Samsung Galaxy A55 has Samsung ’s Exynos 1480 processor inside and the Galaxy A35 has the Exynos 1380 mainframe . you may see the huge difference the Exynos 1480 makes over the Exynos 1380 when use up lowlight photosin a freestanding camera mental test .

What about the apps and editing features?

We ’ll arrive to the photos next , but what about the apps associated with each camera ? After all , getting the most note value from your purchase is important , and if the camera app is wearisome and the gallery app does n’t have many redaction feature , it may not matterhow goodthe tv camera is . There ’s a absolved divide between these four phones , with the Pixel 8a and the Nothing Phone 2 using Google Photos for the drift and redaction , while Samsung has its own Gallery app as standard .

I like that all four phones apply a double press of the power samara to quickly establish the camera app without unlocking the phone , but am less impressed with the 2x zoom shortcut on each camera , as it is a digital zoom and none of the phone have an ocular telephotograph camera . It means the photos you take with this mode will not have the same level of quality as the main camera . The Nothing Phone 2 has the slow camera app of the four , and it noticeably takes its time to swop between modes compared to the instant response from Samsung and Google ’s camera apps .

Comparing all four cameras

We ’re going to begin with a simple four - camera comparison and look at two series of daytime photos to see where the difference are between them . The first curing is very simple , with blue , leafy vegetable , and whiteness dominate the scene . They were shoot with the sun at an angle behind the camera . This really should be gentle for all the tv camera to get good .

There is piddling to prefer between the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 , with interchangeable tones and color balance throughout , but the A35 ’s photo is a tiny bit more noisy , but only when you look very tight . The Nothing Phone 2 amps up the intensity more than any other phone here , and the colors are considerably more “ atomic ” than the Pixel 8a ’s instinctive ( but more or less flat ) photo . If I were give way to partake in one of these photos online , I ’d in all likelihood choose the Nothing Phone 2 ’s photograph , but I also in full apprise it ’s the least naturalistic of the set .

In reality , I like the Galaxy A55 ’s picture , which sits somewhere in between the Pixel 8a ’s natural photo and Nothing Phone 2 ’s hyperrealistic exposure . It also has a picayune more life to it than the Galaxy A35 ’s photo , which brook from attend a small washed out . However , a little redaction would change all these images to my liking .

Google Pixel 8aAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

How do the four perform with a close - up photo ? The 2d solidification of photos have another fairly stock frame-up , but there are more colors and surfaces affect . I desire the camera to principally center on the coffee , but I did n’t tap the screen to ensure it .

The Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 both struggle with the focus here , and they really postulate a prompting on where to focus to get the pic I wanted alternatively of leaving it to chance . However , the Nothing Phone 2 have it correct , and with its gentler depth of field , it keeps a mess more of the setting around it in focal point , too .

The Pixel 8a also does well , but the photograph does n’t come along as shrewd or as noise - innocent as the Nothing Phone 2 ’s ikon . Punchy , brilliant , and exciting , the Nothing Phone 2 ’s camera really impresses in both of these two photos , provided you do n’t mind a hyperrealistic look to some scenes . The other three are n’t far behind and still take good photos , but the Pixel 8a is n’t the standout we may have expected here .

The Samsung Galaxy A35’s camera module.

Samsung Galaxy A35Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

countenance ’s take a look at what happens when the Pixel 8a and Nothing Phone 2 go head word - to - head .

An evening with the Pixel 8a and Nothing Phone 2

I occupy both the Pixel 8a and the Nothing Phone 2 to an evening car sports meeting to liken the cameras . The evening was shining , and the sun was acquire lower in the sky throughout the event . Obviously , there were a lot of reflective alloy surfaces for the cameras to parcel out with . The first image shows how much more aggressively the Nothing Phone 2 uncover the scene , which help bestow out more detail , such as the more plain atomic number 6 weave in the car ’s rear freebooter .

However , the Pixel 8a ’s photo is more representative of the evening sun , with shadow on the tree and a slightly less blue sky . Both photograph introduce some noise in the background . Noise is also a trouble in a wide - angle shot I took at the consequence . It was shot into the Lord’s Day , but the Nothing Phone 2 handles the unmanageable lighting far more efficaciously . All the particular on the car are sharper and more color - precise and are balance well with the pasture and sky .

The final image shows the Pixel 8a still recompense for rough lighting , even with the main tv camera . The picture is obviously taken with the sun in front of the camera , but I opt the style the Nothing Phone 2 has treated the low , warm brightness , the gray metal , and the reflection . The Pixel 8a prevent the picture quite impersonal , which does understate noise , but it ’s not as oculus - catching as the Nothing Phone 2 ’s image . Both enclose some electron lens flare in the uppr left of the photograph .

Google Pixel 8aAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Pixel takes on the Galaxy

I look up to the Pixel 8a ’s power to take natural - take care picture , but I really wish the vibrancy of the Nothing Phone 2 ’s television camera , so what about pit the Galaxy telephone against the Pixel 8a ? When comparing the Galaxy A35 , Galaxy A55 , and Pixel 8a photos together , there ’s an unexpected onward motion seeable . From the Galaxy A35 to the A55 and then the Pixel 8a , tail bit by bit increase in depth , with the Galaxy A55 attain the sweet office .

The Galaxy A35 ca n’t quite contend with its peers . It does n’t take regretful photos , but there ’s more haphazardness and less sharpness , and while it ’s utterly adequate for casual photography , it wo n’t stand up to much critical viewing . It ’s endure to get put aside and we ’re exit to focus on the Galaxy A55 , the Pixel 8a , and the Nothing Phone 2 .

If the Galaxy A55 has consistently impressed during the Clarence Day , how does it compare to the Pixel 8a in low light ? The Pixel 8a is n’t a nighttime superstar like its more expensive sibling , thePixel 8andPixel 8 professional , and the photos it take at night can be rather categorical and foggy . The Galaxy A55 makes effective economic consumption of available light , show more attractive , yet still naturalistic colors , and captures the ambiance without give item in a direction the Pixel 8a ca n’t quite superintend .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A55.

Samsung Galaxy A55Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The final challenge

The Samsung Galaxy A55 has succeeded so far by sit down in between the Nothing Phone 2 and the Pixel 8a ’s photos . It ’s a good compromise . It does n’t surcharge photos of too much emotion during its quest for ultimate realism like the Pixel 8a can , but it also does n’t impregnate colors to the extent of the Nothing Phone 2 , where everything pops just a piddling too much .

The exposure of the berth box has greens , redness , whites , and shadows to argue with , and focus aside , it exemplify just what I think of . The Pixel 8a ’s photo is a piece too dingy and gloomy ( but most accurate to the surround ) , while the Nothing Phone 2 goes too far in the opposite direction with acute colors and little shading . The Galaxy A55 is right there in the middle , capturing the best of both worlds .

What about the wide - angle camera ? The Galaxy A55 ’s wide - slant camera is n’t very good at all , with petty detail and poor consistence with the main tv camera . The Nothing Phone 2 ’s wide - slant photographic camera may have the most megapixels , but the quality is substandard and only marginally well than the Galaxy A55 ’s . The winner by some space is the Google Pixel 8a ’s wide - slant television camera , which shows considerably more detail than both its competition and acheives a adorable color equilibrium , too .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A35.

Samsung Galaxy A35Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Just for fun , how do picture taken with the 2x zoom search ? None of the cameras have a telephotograph mode , so these images are soar up in and enhanced digitally . The Nothing Phone 2 ’s 2x photo is peculiarly bad , with the shut strain around the car ’s hood altogether vanish and the stark white bodywork looking very unnatural . The Pixel 8a is better and shows detail , but the white balance is off compared to the slightly more hazy Galaxy A55 photo .

Which cheap phone has the best camera?

This was a nonchalant camera exam where we did n’t analyse each individual feature article , mostly because , at this stage , the independent tv camera is the most authoritative . It ’s fascinating to see how each camera differs in tone , color , exposure , and detail . All the camera take sound photos , and you may prefer the mode one treats a conniption over the other , making it the best choice for you .

We ’re still going to pick out which we suppose is the safe , though , and given the companionship , it may surprise you .

First , all three have consistently outclassed the Samsung Galaxy A35 , as the photographic camera on Samsung ’s cheapest A serial phone just ca n’t equalise its other rival . This is one of the vainglorious takeaway here : If you care about the camera , do n’t select the Galaxy A35 . That leaves you with three phones , and it ’s astonishingly easygoing to better the conclusion down .

Google Pixel 8aAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you want rude - front photograph quick for editing , then the Pixel 8a is for you . If you want photograph that kill and are ready for societal medium directly off the camera , the Nothing Phone 2 is a skillful selection . But the Galaxy A55 snitch in with a television camera that ’s solid and reliable in all sphere and propose a decent admixture of the other two .

It ’s punishing to choose between the Google Pixel 8a and the Samsung Galaxy A55 , making them both ace here , and I do n’t call back you could go wrong with either .

A photo taken with the Nothing Phone 2.