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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features the second best phone camera, according to DxOMark
August 23, 2025
Even before theGalaxy Note 9was released, it was widely believed that the smartphone would have one of the best cameras when compared to other handsets currently on the market. This is in part due to Samsung having a history of releasing flagships with best-in-class cameras. But now, according toDxOMark’scamera review,the Galaxy Note 9 only ranks second at 103 points, falling six points below theHUAWEI P20 Pro.
Before we start breaking down the Note 9’s points, keep in mind thatDxOMarkscores can be influenced and arenot necessarily unbiased. While we don’t have any evidence that points to Samsung doing this, companies have paidDxOMarkin the past to analyze their smartphone camera systems and suggest changes so that they could receive a higher ranking.
Read next:Best Android smartphone cameras
Starting with photo performance, the Galaxy Note 9 scored 107 points, besting theHTC U12 Plusbut still falling short of the HUAWEI P20 Pro by several points. This ranking is based on several subtests that examine details such as exposure, contrast, color accuracy, autofocus, texture, noise, artifacts, and more.
you’re able to see photo samples fromDxOMark’sexposure and contrast test below.
Without going into too many details,DxOMarkfound the Note 9’s camera to feature a fantastic dynamic range under most lighting conditions, the zoom kept imagine quality up to 4x, excellent color accuracy, and bokeh that looked highly realistic. Unfortunately, the organization also notes that the camera occasionally had exposure inaccuracies, images tended to not always look the sharpest, and fine details disappeared when shooting in bright and dark locations.
Lastly,DxOMarkalso includes the phone’s video performance in its ranking. Coming in at 94 points, most of the organization’s notes are similar to those provided for photo quality. Some of the standout pros include an improved autofocus and tracking, the exposure updates nicely when faced with a change in lighting, and a good amount of image stabilization when moving. Some of the downsides included loss of details, chroma, and luminance in low-light situations.
One thing to note here at the end is that the Galaxy Note 9 might only have the second highest ranking according toDxoMark, but it’s the highest of any smartphone in markets like the U.S. where theHUAWEI P20 Proisn’t sold. That technicality doesn’t give Samsung the crown for having the best smartphone camera, but, at the end of the day, it just shows that the Note 9 offers a fantastic camera that any smartphone buyer should be happy using.
What do you think aboutDxOMarkscores? Do you ever base your decision to buy a smartphone based on its camera quality? Let us know by voting inthis week’s poll.
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