12 Best Optical Zoom Camera Phones To Buy in 2023

By Smartprix Staff • Updated On 14 Jul 2023

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Stacking multiple wide-angle, depth, and zoom cameras on phones is in trend, but unless we are talking about premium flagships, these ancillary shooters are often more of an afterthought.

The good thing is that the quality has been consistently improving, thanks to smarter image processing algorithms and capable chipsets that can deftly handle these computational needs.

Of the different types of extra lenses that we have on phones in 2023, the telephoto lens or zoom camera is what we love the most and tend to use most frequently. The ability to peek at distant objects is not only exhilarating but also quite useful in a number of practical scenarios. In fact, with most phones using wide-angle lenses on primary cameras, a bit of zoom or crop is needed for the captured image to match what your eyes naturally see.

Before we proceed to the list of best Zoom camera phones, let’s talk a bit about types of camera zoom and the limitations of optical zoom on cameras.

Digital vs Optical vs Hybrid Zoom: Which one is better?

There are basically three types of zoom technologies on phones that you as a consumer would come across: Digital, Optical, and Hybrid.

Digital Zoom: Digital Zoom cuts out the sides and stretches a certain image portion across the full frame in order to magnify it, and this naturally results in some loss of quality. Some phones like Pixel 3 can deliver digitally zoomed images without compromising on resolution. To do so, the software adds extra in-between pixels to maintain the resolution but quality still takes a hit.

Optical Zoom: Optical zoom is generally considered to be the best since it is lossless. But, Optical Zoom on phones is not at all the same as optical zoom on DSLR cameras.

Optical zoom on phones is actually multi-camera zoom. For real optical zoom, the lens assembly needs to move back and forth to change the field of view. Our phones, however, switch to a second, different focal length camera to get an optically zoomed image.

This means, if your phone has 5X zoom, you will get optical or lossless zoom only at 5X. All other zooms say, 3x, 3.5x, and 4.5x, will still be merely digital zoom.

Achieving higher magnification for optical zoom is very tricky. The lens will need to have a larger focal length. This is to say that the space between your camera sensor and lens assembly has to be increased, thus resulting in a bigger bump.

Manufacturers have been able to go as high as 5X, but that mandates the use of a periscope-style lens that helps increase the spacing horizontally rather than vertically.

Zoom isn’t all that the Telephoto lens on our phones is used for. Due to the wider field of view, telephoto lenses are also better for portrait shots with blurred backdrops. That also explains why certain phones zoom in on the subject while transitioning from Auto to Portrait mode.

Hybrid zoom: Hybrid zoom is what we are essentially pinning our hopes on.

It is a combination of optical zoom, digital zoom, and software magic. Judging by the hybrid zoom performance on Pixel 7 Pr3 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and advancements in AI, we are optimistic that someday manufacturers will be able to go beyond constraints set by Physics and deliver magnificent zoom.

Limitations of optical zoom in phone cameras

Here is what you need to know before you get too excited.

Optical zoom on phones works only for a single focal length. If your phone supports 5X zoom, only 5X will be lossless. Lower and higher magnifications like 3x, 4x, 4.5X, or 6x will only be digital zoom.
Most manufacturers don’t use the same sensor under the Telephoto lens and primary lens, and hence what you will experience is not the same as zooming in on an image. just a closer image from a different sensor.
The focal lengths mentioned for telephoto lenses on phones are “Equivalent” focal lengths (actually, this is true for all lenses on phones). In reality, the focal length of the 2x telephoto lens is never 2X the focal length of the primary camera.
In low light and indoors, most phones do not use their telephoto lens but switch to digital zoom using the primary camera.
You won’t be able to use it to zoom in on close-ups. The telephoto lens on phone cameras has a fixed focal length and is not ideal for shooting close-ups. So, if you are planning on zooming in further on those macro objects – not happening!

List of best zoom camera phones

Let’s now list phones with impressive zoom cameras.

1. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the king of zoom photography on smartphones with its massive 200MP sensor for the primary camera. The smartphone comes with 100x digital zoom capabilities along with dedicated 3x and 10x telephoto lenses for lossless zooming. All in all the device comes with a quad camera setup at the back including a 200MP wide-angle camera, 10MP telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. It also has a 12MP selfie camera that comes with Auto HDR and HDR10+ support.

Galaxy S23 Ultra Specifications

Other Samsung smartphones with the telephoto lens are Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+, Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy A72, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy S20 series, Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Samsung Galaxy S10 series, Samsung Galaxy A9, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Samsung Galaxy S9, etc.

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes with an improved camera setup. It has a 50MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. There is a 4MP under-display camera as well along with a 10MP cover camera. The camera setup is equipped with advanced OIS and VDIS for better night photography along with 30x space zoom for the telephoto lens. Foldable comes with an IPX8 rating in Phantom black, beige, burgundy, and gray-green colors.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 Specifications

3. iPhone 14 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is one of the best camera powerhouses, packing 4 camera sensors at the rear. The smartphone comes with a 48MP primary camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom capability. The company claims that the smartphone offers a 6x optical zoom range with digital zoom capped at 15x.

iPhone 14 Pro Max Specifications

Other apple smartphones with the telephoto lens are iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, Apple iPhone X

4. OPPO Reno 10 Pro+

The OPPO Reno 10 Pro Plus boasts an impressive camera system that captures stunning images. With a quad-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, 8MP wide-angle lens, and 64MP telephoto lens it offers versatile shooting options. The camera’s advanced features like optical image stabilization ensure it takes clear photos even when in motion. Additionally, the device supports 3x optical zoom, enabling users to capture detailed shots from a distance. Overall, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro Plus offers good camera capabilities in a sleek and stylish design.

OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ Max Specifications

5. iQOO 11 5G

iQOO 11 5G sports a triple camera setup at the back. It includes a 50MP primary lens with Optical Image Stabilisation along with an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 13MP telephoto and portrait lens. The telephoto lens comes with 2x zoom and claims to click sharp images in daylight. Iqoo has added a Vivo V2 imaging chip for better photography. There is a 16MP selfie camera as well. It is priced at Rs. 59,990 in India.

iQOO 11 5G Specifications

6. Vivo X80 Pro

Vivo is a brand that is well known for its camera capabilities and Vivo X80 Pro is no different. It is brimming with lenses for all kinds of photography. The smartphone has a 50MP Samsung GNV Primary sensor along with a 48MP ultrawide Sony IMX598 sensor, a 12MP 2x portrait camera with IMX663, and an 8MP 5x optical zoom sensor. The phone allows up to 60x digital zoom.

Vivo X80 Pro Specifications

7. Oneplus 10 Pro

The OnePlus 10 Pro which was launched in 2022 allows 3.3x optical zooming capabilities. It has a triple camera setup at the back including a 48MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP 3.3x zoom telephoto lens. Optical zoom capabilities are better than its successor OnePlus 11 5G as well. It comes in volcanic black, emerald forest, and panda white colorways.

Oneplus 10 Pro Specifications

Other Oneplus smartphones with optical zoom lenses are Oneplus 9,8 and 7 series phones.

8. Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes with a 50MP primary lens along with a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zooming capabilities. The smartphone allows up to 30x zooming in on subjects and Google’s slick image processing algorithms make the output even better.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Specifications

8. OnePlus 11 5G

OnePlus 11 5G has a triple camera setup at the back. There is a 50MP main camera with OIS, along with a 48MP ultrawide camera and a 32MP portrait camera. The portrait camera comes with 2x zooming capabilities and is fitted with XCD 30mm and 65mm lenses. Hasselblad has also worked with OnePlus to make cameras better. It has a 16MP selfie lens as well. The smartphone retails at Rs. 56,999 via Croma stores.

OnePlus 11 5G Specs

9. Xiaomi 13 Pro

Xiaomi 13 Pro has a 3-lens setup at the back. It features three 50-megapixel sensors for wide, ultrawide, and telephoto shots. The main sensor is a Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor while the ultrawide lens has a 115-degree FOV. The 50MP telephoto lens is versatile with a 3.2x zoom telephoto lens. This telephoto lens is a 6-piece lens setup that is paired in 2 groups of three. There is a 32MP selfie camera as well. Xiaomi 13 Pro retails at Rs. 79,999 via Amazon.

Xiaomi 13 Pro Specs

10. Moto Edge 30 Ultra 5G

The Moto Edge 30 Ultra comes with a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP1 sensor that handles the primary image-taking responsibilities. There is a 50MP Samsung GN5 ultrawide sensor along with a 12MP depth sensor that can shoot up to 2x telephoto zoom as well. The smartphone comes with a 60MP front camera making it one of the best camera setups available. The smartphone retails at Rs. 56,899 via Amazon.

Moto Edge 30 Ultra Specs

11. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max features a triple camera setup at the back. It includes a 12MP main, 12MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The telephoto lens comes with 3x digital zoom. There is a 12MP camera at the front as well. It is available for Rs. 1,09,990 via Flipkart.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Specs

11 Best Phones with Optical Zoom Cameras

These are some of the phones that go the extra mile when it comes to Zoom experience. Optical zoom is now a staple feature for mid-range and flagship phones and 2x telephoto lenses are extremely common. However, good-quality camera zoom is still very rare for phones.

List of best phones with zoom cameras to buy in 2023:

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iQOO 11
Vivo X80 Pro
OnePlus 10 Pro
Google Pixel 7 Pro
OnePlus 11
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Moto Edge 30 Ultra
Apple iPhone 13 Pro max

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12 Comments

wiechciu

@wiechciu_hecepaxu

16 hours ago

What about Huawei P40 Pro+? 10x optical zoom is a beast. Why nobody talks about this masterpiece?

Timothy Newman

@timothy_muxuwusu

6 months ago

What you call optical zoom is not what photographers call zoom - it's using multiple primes.

Sasha

Anonymous

1 year ago

Are there any models under 15k?

Elena

Anonymous

1 year ago

A telephoto lens should have a narrower field of view. The shorter the lens the wider the field of view.

Andrule kasiya

Anonymous

1 year ago

I was also wondering the huawei is always miles ahead, but they simply wanna see it dead

Sathish Kumar G

Anonymous

2 years ago

I really wonder why the Oppo Reno 10x did not make it to the list. Even though it is a 2019 model, it still has specifications to fight with the premium brands till date in the mid-range budget. When this article is specifically on the telephoto capability of the phones, I thought Reno 10x, Huawei P30 pro might still be out there somewhere in the list (even at the bottom) for their efforts in bringing the periscope zoom lens on mobile technology. And even the technological performance in other aspects of these optical/hybrid zoom veterans is still on par with mir-range budget phones of many premium brands.

Peter

Anonymous

2 years ago

This excellent article is helpful to all who need a phone with good camera capability and in particular, good zoom. I bought Samsung S21 Ultra for this reason and can confirm that the camera is superb. However in other respects, the phone is much poorer than the cheaper ones I formerly used. Its main downfall is its unstable platform that drops out of Apps annoyingly and won’t reconnect until you turn the phone off and on again. It also lacks an SD card slot and with the option of a 108mp camera, you need one as the images are about 36mp each. If Samsung provided an SD slot and used standard Android performance rather than their own version of things, this phone would be miles better than anything else currently available. I hope that other better phones like the Nokia latest offering, will soon emulate the S21 zoom ability and resolution.

Show Replies (1)

Maligaya

Anonymous

3 years ago

No realme x3 superzoom? Really? Rmx3sz has a 60x zoom even 10x zoom still a good shot in this phone.

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