The worst smartphone camera I've used in 2024, and it's not even close.
Selecting the best camera phone of 2024 was easy, but which one will be the worst of the year? There are several standout candidates, but only one will take the title.
The choice for the best mobile phone camera of 2024 has already been defined, and the title goes to the impressive Xiaomi 14 Ultra. This device is truly special thanks to its versatile photography kit, managing to replace my DSLR on several occasions for photos published in digital media. However, the question of which phone has the worst camera of the year has proven to be more complex, although the clear loser has finally been identified.
Throughout this year, I have used and reviewed numerous smartphones, which makes the task of finding some with poor cameras should not be complicated. However, most phones, even mid-range ones, have at least one acceptable camera on the back, regardless of their price. For example, the CMF Phone 1, currently available for £170, or approximately $215, is designed with a cost-focused approach, and despite this, its camera meets basic needs. It is not a feature-packed model, but if you're just looking to take general photos, it won’t disappoint.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is another case that illustrates the difficulty of choosing a phone with a bad camera. Its 200-megapixel main camera captures very good images and has excellent color use, although the other components of its camera trio are much less impressive. The 8MP wide-angle camera and the 2MP macro camera, for example, turn out to be quite useless.
When considering phones with mediocre cameras, some like the Nuu B30 Pro and the Tecno Pova 6 Pro fall into the same category, as they lack versatility or truly good elements. Choosing the worst phone regarding camera quality for 2024 seems evident, and that brings me to mention the Nokia 3210. Its fixed 2MP camera can offer nothing but disastrous photos. It is not marketed as a high-end rival but is presented as a solution to reduce smartphone addiction, making its poor camera turn it into a device that probably nobody would want to use.
The situation with the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is similar; although it is a gaming-focused phone, Asus has attempted to make its camera seem more relevant. However, after the update to the main sensor, the quality has decreased. As a premium device, it was expected that its camera would not be the main selling point.
Despite several phones standing out with disappointing cameras, there are three devices that were instantly recognizable when thinking of poor-quality cameras, and among them, one stands out. Although I haven't tested the Moto G 5G 2024, the impressions have not been favorable, placing it in an unhonorable mention. In second place is a peculiar device that is not strictly a phone: I’m referring to the Rabbit R1. This AI device has not received many positive reviews, and its 8MP camera produces low-quality images, which is disappointing given its potential for certain AI functions.
Finally, the device that takes the title of the worst camera phone of the year is the Punkt MC02, which has no comparison with the others. With its main 64MP camera and an 8MP wide-angle camera, the quality of its images is extremely poor. Additionally, the camera application is poorly designed and full of bugs, making the user experience frustrating, especially considering its price of $750, which is exorbitant for what it offers. Despite attempts to improve its functionality, no enhancement has been seen compared to its release eight months ago.
In summary, the Punkt MC02 is undoubtedly the device with the worst camera of the year, and compared to the CMF Phone 1, which is considerably more affordable and functional, the choice is obvious. Fortunately, by late 2024, choosing a smartphone with a truly bad camera has become a challenging task, as most phones on the market have quite acceptable cameras for everyday situations.
