Both Google and Apple also stuck with 12MP cameras well into this decade, while Asian phone brands were flexing with 48MP, 64MP, and even 108MP cameras. This divide in philosophy was perhaps most noticeable between 20 when Asian phone brands were introducing third and even fourth rear cameras and engaging in a megapixel arms race, while Google famously stuck with one camera in 2018's Pixel 3.

In contrast, western brands (Apple and Google) focused on optimizing the software experience and using machine learning to overcome any shortcomings in optics. But toward the end of the last decade, a narrative emerged: Asian brands are eager to chase flashy hardware like more cameras and more pixels. Whether this was a pure coincidence or a statement about the differences between east and west culture is a debate for another day. While Samsung and Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and OnePlus also worked on, and marketed, its image processing software prowess, these brands were generally eager to chase new hardware than Apple or Google.

Phone with best camera 2015