Robert Triggs / Android Authority
There are plenty of reasons to buy flagship Android phones, such as bleeding-edge performance, wireless charging support, and premium designs. The list goes on, with high-end phones also offering super-fast charging, sharp and bright displays, IP68/69 ratings, and great build quality. Needless to say, you’re often getting a lot of features and perks by paying a premium.
However, colleague Andrew Grush recently questioned whether flagship phones are still worth it. I reckon they’re not worth it for most people, but there’s one reason why I still buy and use high-end Android phones over most mid-range devices. I simply want a fantastic camera experience.
What's your biggest reason for buying flagship Android phones? 0 votes Bright, sharp display NaN % Performance NaN % Lots of storage NaN % Durability NaN % Cameras NaN % Premium design NaN % Battery life NaN % Wireless charging NaN % Software features and updates NaN % Audio quality NaN % Resale value NaN % I don't buy flagships NaN % Other (leave a comment) NaN %
I only buy flagship phones for the great cameras
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
The sole reason why I tend to buy and use flagship Android phones is because I value top-notch cameras above all else. Phones like the vivo X300 Pro, OPPO Find X9 Pro, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and others usually offer high-quality camera hardware. And it starts with the telephoto camera.
Telephoto cameras are a must on my phones, and they’re rare on mid-range devices from most manufacturers. That means I’m often forced to use flagship phones if I want great camera zoom. There are some mid-range phones with tele cameras, such as the realme 16 Pro Plus and Nothing Phone 3a series. But again, these devices are the exception rather than the rule. The best camera phones in this regard also pack cutting-edge tele camera features like wide apertures, larger sensors, macro focusing, 200MP sensors, and/or variable telephoto modules.
I'm an unabashed camera phone nerd, but few mid-range phones offer great cameras.
I’m not just buying a high-end Android phone for the zoom camera, although that’s certainly a big reason. I’m also buying them as they tend to have great primary camera hardware. Sure, even sub-$250 phones take good-quality 1x photos during the day, but they sometimes struggle in adverse scenarios. This includes low-light conditions, capturing fast-moving subjects, freezing subjects in mixed lighting, and more. Premium phones tend to excel in these situations, though.
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