Diwali is full of moments worth capturing, from glowing diyas and colourful rangoli to family portraits and fireworks lighting up the night sky. As someone who enjoys smartphone photography, I look for more than just high megapixel counts when choosing a camera phone. The ability to handle challenging lighting, preserve natural skin tones and capture details across different scenes matters just as much. Features such as optical image stabilisation, versatile zoom and capable image processing can make a noticeable difference to the final picture.
With the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale offering options across budget and premium mid-range segments, it's easier to find a phone that suits your photography needs and budget. I have shortlisted some of the best camera phones in India, including options for low-light photography, night shots, portraits and everyday pictures.
Choose better. Buy smarter.
NEHA by HT Tech generates recommendations using proprietary AI analysis built on years of editorial expertise.{{#product}}{{/product}}
For festive photography, the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion offers a capable camera setup in an affordable smartphone. Its 50MP primary camera captures natural colours and skin tones, while its HDR processing keeps bright areas under control without losing too much shadow detail. I also found the 13MP ultra-wide camera impressive, with good colour accuracy and detail retention, even in challenging lighting. Portrait edge detection is mostly accurate, and skin tones look natural. However, low-light noise reduction can soften fine details, while the selfie camera tends to smooth out facial features as the lighting gets dimmer.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
Our Principles
Full Transparency
Every product review clearly lists the Pros and Cons, giving you a balanced view.
Brand Confidence
We focus on products from brands with a proven reputation and long-standing market trust.
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G offers a versatile triple-camera setup for capturing Diwali celebrations, with its 50MP primary camera the strongest performer. It captures detailed photographs with a wide dynamic range and vibrant colours in daylight, while optical image stabilisation helps produce usable shots in low light. I also like the colour consistency between the primary and ultra-wide cameras in favourable lighting. However, the ultra-wide camera loses detail in darker scenes, and the 5MP macro shooter adds limited value. The lack of a dedicated telephoto camera also limits optical zoom, though Samsung's AI editing tools offer more flexibility when refining festive photos.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
The Nothing Phone 4a offers a versatile camera setup for capturing Diwali celebrations, whether you are taking family portraits, photographing decorations or zooming in on distant subjects. Its 50MP primary camera delivers detailed shots with natural-looking colours, while the 50MP telephoto camera offers 3.5x optical zoom for greater flexibility when framing photographs. Portrait photography is another strength, with pleasing background separation. However, the 8MP ultra-wide camera captures limited detail, and low-light performance can be inconsistent.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
The iQOO Z11 5G offers a capable camera setup for capturing Diwali celebrations, from decorative lights to family portraits. In my testing, its 50MP primary camera impressed me with accurate colours, good clarity, and balanced HDR processing that retained detail across both bright and dark areas. I also found the 8MP ultra-wide camera surprisingly capable, with colours close to the original scene and reasonable detail in low light. The 32MP selfie camera preserves fine facial textures in good lighting. However, slower shutter speeds can cause motion blur in dim scenes, and selfies lose detail as lighting gets weaker. Find out more about this smartphone in its review.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
If you enjoy capturing festive moments, the REDMI Turbo 5 is worth considering for its surprisingly capable primary camera. In my testing, I found its 50MP sensor delivered detailed photos with natural-looking colours and particularly impressive HDR processing. It also handled portraits well, with accurate subject separation that kept even individual strands of hair distinct from the background. Low-light photographs were generally satisfying, although challenging conditions sometimes introduced an oil-paint-like texture on human subjects. The 8MP ultra-wide camera is less impressive, with noticeably softer details, particularly around the edges. Learn more about this smartphone in the full review.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
The Motorola Signature is a compelling option for Diwali photography, with three 50MP rear cameras covering wide-angle, portrait and distant subjects. In my testing, the primary camera captured fine detail and handled HDR well, though it occasionally boosted saturation in reds and oranges. The 3x periscope camera retained subject textures, while the ultra-wide camera delivered sharp images with a wider field of view. I was particularly impressed by the ultra-wide camera's low-light performance. However, in dim conditions, fine textures can soften, and telephoto portraits sometimes show uneven background blur.
{{#product}}{{/product}}
The Xiaomi 17T's Leica-tuned cameras make it a strong choice for capturing Diwali celebrations, especially if you prefer photos with a film-like character. During my testing, the cameras produced contrast-rich images with well-defined shadows, highlights and colours, rather than the flatter look often associated with heavy image processing. The 50MP primary camera and 5x periscope telephoto shooter also retained good detail, making them useful for everything from festive portraits to distant decorations. However, the 12MP ultra-wide camera produces slightly softer photographs than the other rear sensors.
Factors to consider when purchasing a smartphone for photography
- Camera sensor and megapixels: Look beyond megapixel counts. A larger sensor captures more light and retains detail, especially in low light.
- Optical image stabilisation: OIS helps reduce blur from hand movement, making it useful for night shots and steady videos.
- Camera versatility: Check for capable ultra-wide and telephoto cameras to capture group portraits, festive decorations and distant subjects.
- Image processing: Good HDR, natural skin tones, and accurate colours can make a noticeable difference in photos.
- Low-light performance: Compare night mode results to see how well a phone handles dimly lit scenes without excessive noise or loss of detail.
- Battery and storage: Choose sufficient battery capacity and storage for extended photography sessions and high-resolution photos and videos.
How do these smartphones stack up?
Also Read:
ANC vs ENC: Which noise cancellation feature do I need in my earbuds for music, calls and travel?
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.