Mobile

Smartphone cameras have become one of the main ways everyday people capture photos and document life, and even professional photographers may use phones to shoot paid work. PetaPixel covers the latest news and information on how smartphones are transforming the way photographs are made.
Jeremy Gray
Four Xiaomi smartphones are displayed side by side in black, white, purple, and green colors. Each phone shows its back, featuring dual rear cameras and a large square module with a digital clock design.

Xiaomi is Obsessed With Proving It’s Better Than Apple


It's typical for Android smartphone makers to compare their latest products against the Apple iPhone. However, Chinese company Xiaomi has taken the rhetoric up a notch -- or two -- with its new Xiaomi 17 series, which comprises the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

Jeremy Gray
Close-up of a blue smartphone’s rear camera module, featuring three large camera lenses and a smaller sensor in a circular array. There is a red stylized logo or signature near the camera on the phone’s back.

OnePlus’ Next Flagship Smartphone Ditches Hasselblad’s Cameras

OnePlus teased its newest flagship phone, the OnePlus 15, at today's Snapdragon Summit China, revealing two key pieces of information. The new handheld will be powered by the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and it will feature a new camera system that ditches Hasselblad's engineering and participation.

Ted Kritsonis
A close-up view of the rear camera module on a gold-colored smartphone, featuring multiple lenses and "Leica" branding. The bottom left corner displays the PetaPixel Reviews logo.

Xiaomi 15T Pro Review: Great Leica Cameras That Inch Forward

The Xiaomi 15T Pro and 15T are driven by their cameras and Leica co-engineering, and continue to outperform established competitors in North America. As these are global launches, obtaining either of these still requires importing them from online vendors. Or, if you happen to be in Europe, Asia, or one of the other available markets, buy it and bring it back.

Jeremy Gray
A smartphone mounted in a filming rig displays a person in an orange jacket on a snowy mountain. Below, various video and audio cables are connected to a compact black device with multiple ports and controls.

Blackmagic’s New Camera ProDock Supercharges Pro iPhone Filmmaking

During the iPhone 17 Pro segment of Apple's keynote yesterday, the company revealed that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max smartphones now support genlock, which helps filmmakers keep multiple video sources in sync. While discussing this, Apple showed the new Blackmagic Design Camera ProDock accessory for professional videographers, and it promises to power up the iPhone 17 Pro series in a big way.

Chris Niccolls
A smiling man holds up a blue iPhone with three cameras; the background features circular lights and a "PetaPixel Hands-On" sign.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro First Impressions: Huge Upgrades for Photo and Video

Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 family today, including the much-improved iPhone 17, the ultra-thin iPhone Air, and the redesigned flagship iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The PetaPixel team flew to Apple Park in Cupertino to witness the unveiling and go hands-on with the new-look iPhone 17 Pro, and there is much to like for photographers and videographers alike.

Kate Garibaldi
A thin smartphone is shown from the side, flanked by stylized letters “A” and “R,” highlighting its slim profile against a white background.

All-New Ultra-Thin iPhone Air Doesn’t Totally Skimp on Photography

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone Air, the newest member of its flagship smartphone lineup, which also includes the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. Positioned between the standard and Pro models, the Air emphasizes thinness, portability, and design innovation while still carrying many of Apple’s latest performance and camera technologies.

Jaron Schneider
Two smartphones are shown: the left phone in a beige and black case with an attached camera lens accessory, and the right phone in a black case with the Apple logo and visible MagSafe ring.

The Audacity of Case Makers Flaunting the iPhone 17 Has Me Suspicious

Last week, I received multiple emails from different case makers showing supposed designs for the iPhone 17 series. Then this week, that ramped up to Dbrand, Moment, UGreen, and basically every case maker at IFA showing the same thing, all flaunting the same design. Apple is historically excellent at keeping a secret, so what changed this year?

Jaron Schneider
White logo resembling a camera lens above the text "Camera Intelligence" with the tagline "Building the camera of the future" on a dark gradient background with grid lines.

Camera Intelligence, Formerly Alice Camera, Pivots to AI

Camera Intelligence, which most will know by its former name, Alice Camera, is slightly adjusting its business model. Rather than focusing on Micro Four Thirds or the fact that control of its camera system is handled through an attached smartphone, Camera Intelligence is pivoting to AI.

Chris Niccolls
Close-up of the rear camera module on a white smartphone with three lenses and a flash, featuring a "PetaPixel Reviews" banner in the bottom right corner.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Review for Photographers: The Most Minor Update Yet

Smartphone season is here, and, as usual, Google is starting things off. The Pixel 10 series has arrived, and although a telephoto lens has now been added to the base model, we prefer to evaluate the highest-end Pro series for its creative photo and video usage. At first glance, the specs and hardware look almost unchanged from the previous models. So is new software enough, or is this the most iterative update Google has ever released?

Jaron Schneider
Four Google Pixel smartphones in grey and blue are shown from the back, highlighting their camera bars and Google "G" logos. The camera designs are slightly different on each device.

Google’s Pixel 10 Series Boosts Processing for Better Software and AI

Google has announced the Pixel 10 series of devices, which promise significantly improved processing power to handle new software and AI-based features. The flagship devices, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, don't bring many hardware improvements to the table, instead focusing on usability in what may be seen as one of Google's more iterative updates.