How camera phones will change in 2022 — Galaxy S22, iPhone 14 and more

How camera phones volition change in 2022 — Galaxy S22, iPhone xiv and more

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

2021 was a banner year for smartphone photography. From Apple tree and Google pushing the envelope to Samsung and OnePlus drastically improving their offerings, it was a great yr for the best photographic camera phones. Merely now that 2022 is here, what'southward adjacent? Where do these phone makers go from here?

We've thought long on this question and we have a few ideas. Obviously, nosotros won't know what the major names have in store until we get our hands on the new flagships, merely we can make some guesses based on what we saw in 2021 and rumors surrounding the most anticipated phones, including the Milky way S22 and iPhone 14.

Here are 5 things we expect to run across in 2022'south phone cameras.

Zoom lens improvements

pixel 6 back facing camera up against pillar — (Epitome credit: Tom's Guide)

In 2021, we saw several upgrades to zoom lenses. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, for example, connected Samsung's authority in total zoom capabilities. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 Pro received a bump to 3x (from 2x on the 12 Pro and 2.5x on the 12 Pro Max in 2020) and the Pixel half-dozen Pro saw a 4x folded optical lens.

Expect this trend of higher optical zooms this yr. We retrieve many phone makers volition beginning to employ folded optics, meaning that yous get a stronger zoom without the need for larger hardware (aka camera bump).

And we likewise think more than telephone makers will meliorate their digital zoom technologies, much like Google has with the Pixel'south Super Res Zoom. This would permit for much cleaner zoomed-in images.

Macro photography with ultrawide lens

iPhone 13 Pro Max, in front of a background of water — (Prototype credit: Tom'southward Guide)

With the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple introduced macro photography using the ultrawide lens. We've seen Android telephone makers include dedicated macro lenses on mid-tier and budget phones to questionable success. Just the iPhone has one of the showtime useful macro modes since it not only works really well, but uses the existing photographic camera hardware.

As usual, expect Android phone makers to copy Apple here and start adding macro modes to the ultrawide lenses. This could be a really peachy thing to happen, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra's main camera is tipped to offering a macro mode. We too fully conceptualize high-end phones like the Pixel seven to employ this characteristic. And if a device tin can use already-existing hardware, information technology might lower costs since the manufacturer wouldn't take to include a macro lens.

Existent-time filters and effects

iphone 13 pro back in hand with wood background — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

With the iPhone 13, Apple introduced Photographic Styles. These act like existent-fourth dimension filters, assuasive you to meet dissimilar color calibrations and such before taking the photo. It seems similar a small-scale feature, but it requires a lot of AI smarts to work.

With Google'due south 2d-generation Tensor flake and the newly-announced Snapdragon viii Gen 1, Android phones might get something like. Some phones in the past take employed something akin to Photographic Styles, but the filter is still practical in post-processing. Apple'southward method does so in real-time.

Of all phones in 2022, nosotros'd guess that the Pixel vii will come the closest to what Apple has done, just the pregnant image bespeak processing upgrades on the Snapdragon viii Gen i could as well come up close.

Portrait video

Apple pushed ahead on portrait video, called Cinematic mode. This allows for dynamic adjustments to focus in a video frame. It'southward all done in real-fourth dimension, which presents a huge challenge for many mobile chips. It's a cool choice if you're into "artistic" videos. The only bummer is that information technology's limited to 1080p.

Qualcomm said that the new Snapdragon eight Gen 1 will support portrait video (via a hardware bokeh engine) upward to 4K, potentially giving phones using that chip a leg upward over the iPhone 13. Then we definitely think the Galaxy S22 Ultra and OnePlus x Pro volition have portrait video. And who knows, Google might have figured out something similar with the new Tensor bit nosotros'll see in the Pixel 7 Pro.

AI and machine learning enhancements

Pixel 6 Pro vs Galaxy S21 Ultra — (Epitome credit: Tom'south Guide)

In 2021, Apple's A15 Bionic and Google'south Tensor chips ready the standard for what'due south possible with AI and motorcar learning when it comes to photography. Simply put, you lot'll notice Google and Apple have the strongest offerings. It all comes down to software and the post-processing that the iPhone xiii and Pixel six exercise.

Information technology's a given at this point that the iPhone 14 and Pixel vii will be photography juggernauts, merely what about other Android phones? Qualcomm is talking upward the new AI/ML capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen ane's epitome signal processor (ISP). Qualcomm's new chip handles all image-related AI/ML tasks on the Internet access provider itself, not offloaded to other parts of the chip, which could drastically improve efficiency.

All of this to say, we think that 2022 will run across a lot of powerful camera phones thanks to the upcoming A16 Bionic, 2nd-generation Tensor, and Snapdragon 8 Gen ane. From Samsung to OnePlus, choosing the entries for the best camera phones list could become quite challenging this yr.

2022 smartphone photography outlook

pixel 6 pro vs iphone 13 pro max: both phones laying face down to show camera modules — (Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

At first glance, you might remember that smartphone photography has effectively peaked. In some cases, information technology has. The hardware gets iteratively better each year, merely the true magic comes from software. That'due south how Google and Apple have kept their crowns for years on stop.

2022 might see some features become more widespread, like Apple's macro ultrawide mode. Some things may experience marginally useful, similar real-time photograph furnishings and portrait video, but that's how many smartphone camera features work.

It's easy to feel bored with smartphone photography, simply simply keep in listen that all of the features we're accustomed to present, even dark mode, started somewhere. Call up that portrait mode for stills seemed like a contemporary thing dorsum in the day, and now wait at how many people use it. Information technology's completely possible that something like that could happen once more.

Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom'southward Guide, roofing all things telephone-related. He's written about phones for over five years and plans to go on for a long while to come. He loves goose egg more than relaxing in his habitation with a book, game, or his latest personal writing projection. Jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, but you can best accomplish him on Twitter.