Top 5 camera phones to buy this festive season under Rs 80,000

If you’re planning to buy a new smartphone this festive season and cameras are your top priority, here are some strong options to consider. You don’t have to spend over Rs 1 lakh to get a phone that takes great photos, shoots good videos, and offers useful zoom capabilities. Brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Google offer phones with different camera strengths in this price range. Some excel at portraits, while others deliver more natural-looking colours. We’ve reviewed all five phones at our Digit Test Labs, so here’s what you can expect from their cameras, what else they offer, and which ones are worth your money.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE offers a versatile camera setup that can shoot in almost everyday shooting scenarios. It features a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. There’s also a 12MP front camera for selfies.

During our Samsung Galaxy S26FE review, we found that the main camera captures sharp daylight photos with plenty of detail and fairly natural colours. Portrait mode also works well, with accurate edge detection around people. The main camera performs well at night, although the ultrawide camera loses some quality in low-light shots.

The Galaxy S26 FE is priced at Rs 79,999. It runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chipset and features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone packs a 4,900mAh battery with 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. You also get Samsung’s One UI 9 with Galaxy AI features, and Samsung promises seven years of software and security updates.

For buyers who want a dependable camera system alongside a good display and long-term software support, the Galaxy S26 FE is worth considering. However, at this price, it faces competition from phones with more capable telephoto cameras and larger batteries.

Google Pixel 11

Google’s Pixel phones have always placed a lot of emphasis on image processing, and the Pixel 11 follows the same approach. Its rear camera system includes a 48MP primary camera with OIS, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. On the front, you get a 10.5MP selfie camera with autofocus.

In our Google Pixel 11 review, we found that the main camera captures detailed photos with balanced exposure, natural-looking colours, and impressive dynamic range. The phone also handles low-light scenes well, while the 5x telephoto camera captures sharp images with pleasing background blur. The ultrawide camera is another strong point, there is not much of a colour shift compared to the main camera.

The Pixel 11 runs on Google’s Tensor G6 processor and features a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display. Its compact size makes it comfortable to use for photography, if you prefer a smaller phone over the larger flagships in this list. Google also includes camera tools such as Night Sight and Magic Eraser.

During this festive sale, you can buy this for Rs 77,999. It becomes a more interesting option for buyers who prioritise consistent image processing over having the highest-resolution sensors.

Oppo Reno 16

Oppo has put considerable effort into the Reno 16’s cameras, and it shows in the hardware. The phone comes with three 50MP rear cameras: a primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP 3.5x telephoto camera. There’s also a 50MP front camera with autofocus.

In our Oppo Reno 16 review, we found that the main camera captures detailed, bright photos with good contrast, without making the processing look too aggressive. The telephoto camera was our favourite, particularly for portraits, as it produces natural-looking background blur. Low-light photography is also good, especially with the main camera.

Right now you can buy this device as low as Rs 52,000 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, which is a great deal. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset and features a 6.32-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone also packs a 6,700mAh battery with 80W fast charging and runs ColorOS 16 based on Android 16. If you want a versatile camera system in a relatively compact phone, the Reno 16 deserves a place on your list.

Xiaomi 17T

Xiaomi has partnered with Leica for the 17T’s camera system, and that partnership is more than just branding. The phone features a 50MP Sony IMX906 primary camera with OIS, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. For selfies, there’s a 32MP front camera. The dedicated telephoto lens is particularly useful for portraits and far subjects without relying entirely on digital zoom.

In our Xiaomi 17T review, we found that the main camera captures detailed photos with good dynamic range, while Leica’s colour profiles let you choose between a more natural look and punchier images.

It shines in portrait photography, thanks to good background separation and pleasing skin tones. The ultrawide camera is decent, although low-light shots can show noise and inconsistent white balance.

The Xiaomi 17T is priced at Rs 69,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. It runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 8500 Ultra processor and features a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. You also get a 6,500mAh battery with 67W fast charging. If you want a phone that gives you dedicated zoom hardware and Leica’s imaging options without entering the ultra-premium price bracket, the Xiaomi 17T is a strong contender.

iQOO 15

The iQOO 15 has made a noticeable jump in terms of cameras compared to its previous generations. It features three 50MP rear cameras, including a Sony IMX921 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. There’s also a 32MP front camera for selfies and video calls.

During our iQOO 15 review, we found that the main camera captures detailed photos with natural colours and good dynamic range in daylight. Portraits are another strong point, with the 3x telephoto camera delivering good subject separation and natural-looking background blur. Low-light performance is also dependable, although the ultrawide and telephoto cameras can show some noise in very dark scenes.

The iQOO 15 starts at Rs 82,990 in this festive sale, which means you’ll have to stretch your budget slightly beyond Rs 80,000. Under the hood, you get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with a 6.85-inch 2K AMOLED display. It also packs a 7,000mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging.

If you’re willing to spend a little extra, the iQOO 15 is worth considering for its combination of camera versatility and flagship hardware. Its three rear cameras give you flexibility across different shooting situations, making it a strong option for buyers who want more than just a good primary camera.

Final Thoughts

If you look at the bigger picture, each of these phones has a different strength when it comes to photography. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is a good option for everyday photos and portraits, while the Google Pixel 11 stands out for its image processing and consistent results across different lighting conditions. The Oppo Reno 16 offers a useful telephoto camera for portraits, and the Xiaomi 17T gives you Leica colour profiles alongside 5x optical zoom.

If you’re willing to spend a little more than Rs 80,000, the iQOO 15 is worth considering for its triple 50MP camera system, capable periscope telephoto camera and flagship hardware. Ultimately, your choice should depend on the kind of photos you take most often. If portraits and zoom shots matter to you, prioritise a good telephoto camera. If you mostly take everyday photos, look for consistent colours, reliable HDR and good low-light performance instead.