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.
A person holds a smartphone taking a photo of a lively street scene with blurred lights. Next to it, a fluffy dog stands in sunlight, casting a shadow against a wall.

Eye-Catching Mood.Camera iPhone App Adds a Powerful Preset Editor

iPhone camera app Mood.Camera released last year, promising a point-and-shoot style camera experience and an incredibly convincing filmic look to photos. Mood.Camera version 1.7 launched today, adding an advanced Preset Editor that enables mobile photographers to create their own film emulations easily.

Close-up of a smartphone's rear camera with a prominent circular camera unit featuring a Zeiss lens. A ring light around the camera glows orange. The text "PetaPixel Reviews" is displayed in the bottom right corner on a gray background.

Vivo V50 Review: Marvelous Mid-Range Photo Prowess

There’s something unassuming about the Vivo V50 when first looking at it, yet its camera performance should be a wake-up call to others. The company still sees this phone as unique for its Aura Light in portrait photos but the more significant improvements come from everywhere else.

A hand holds four smartphones with multiple camera lenses on their backs. The devices vary in color and design. The background features a blurred, textured surface. The bottom left includes the text "PetaPixel Compares.

Which Smartphone Takes the Best Photos in 2025?

Expanding on our efforts we started last year, we're again taking a look at the best smartphones for photography available in 2025. We have four phones to look at this time: the Apple iPhone 16 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro, Samsung S25 Ultra, and a newcomer in the OnePlus 13. I intend to provide some education on what situations some of these phones might excel in versus the other so you can select which is best suited for you.

A person holds a smartphone with a camera accessory while taking a selfie. They are wearing a beige coat and an orange top. The background features a blurred yellow and black building.

$329 Leica Lux Grip Is a Premium MagSafe Camera Grip for iPhone

Last June, Leica announced Leica Lux, an iPhone camera app with a Leica-inspired user interface, carefully crafted Leica lens simulations, and unique Leica Looks photo styles. Today, Leica unveiled the Leica Lux Grip, a magnetic camera grip for iPhone that gives photographers Leica-inspired physical controls for their mobile photography.

A person smiling holds up a silver Samsung smartphone with multiple cameras. The background is a blurred natural setting. In the foreground, there is text reading "PetaPixel Reviews.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: It Smooths Out the Rough Edges

The PetaPixel team flew back to San Jose, California for 2025's Samsung Unpacked event ready to review the new Galaxy S25 Ultra smartphone as a tool for creators. Although all the new S25 phones feature a brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite 3nm processor and similar AI-based tools, it is the $1,299 Ultra which has the latest camera hardware that we want to focus on.

A person with a beard holds up a smartphone, smiling and facing the device. They stand against a blue backdrop. A sign next to them reads "Galaxy S25 Galaxy AI" and "PetaPixel Hands-On.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra Continues Samsung’s Apple-fication

The PetaPixel team is in San Jose, California for the Samsung Unpacked event and is working hard on our review of the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra for photographers. However, we did get an early briefing and first look at the latest high-end phone from Samsung and we have some thoughts about the most exciting features.

Three smartphones are displayed, each with three rear cameras and different colors: silver, dark blue, and white. The phones are angled to highlight their camera designs against a neutral background.

Samsung’s AI Gamble Isn’t All That Inspiring

You could be forgiven for looking at Samsung’s latest crop of flagship devices in the S25 series and wonder what the silver lining is. It’s all about AI -- Galaxy AI, that is -- and in doubling down on these features, the company is betting that it has a leg up on what could be the next big thing for mobile devices.

A smartphone with a blue back cover featuring a round triple-camera setup labeled with a small "H." The OnePlus logo is visible beneath the camera. A "PetaPixel Reviews" banner is in the top right corner.

OnePlus 13 Review: This Smartphone Is the Total Package

In North America, the number 13 is hardly lucky, but the OnePlus 13 may be the one that finally pays off for the brand. Coming off a solid predecessor in the OnePlus 12, the 13 takes several parallel steps in the right direction to make it a serious contender for one of the best of 2025.