Indian Gadget Awards winners: Redmi Note 10 Pro Max crowned the Best Mainstream Camera Phone of 2021

Point and shoot cameras have become a rare sight that can, in parts, be accredited to new-age phones. In fact, most smartphones launched these days offer a plethora of photography features, including but not limited to a high-res sensor, AI chops, night mode, and more. That’s where the Best Camera Phone of 2021 – Mainstream category comes into play, which focuses on sub-Rs 20K phones that offered a great photography experience to users. The Best Camera Phone of 2021 – Mainstream is among 30 categories of the Indian Gadget Awards, the largest tech awards in the country. Over 40 tech experts from the Indian tech media community racked their brains to crown the winners. While this was not easy for them, we finally have a winner for the Best Mainstream Camera Phone of 2021 award. Check it out:

Winner: Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Runner-up: Samsung Galaxy A22 5G

Check out the full list of nominees for the Best Mainstream Camera Phone of 2021. 

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Despite debuting in the cutthroat affordable segment, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max was quick to stand out thanks to its excellent rear camera setup. Despite carrying a sub-Rs 20,000 price tag, the device offers a 108MP main camera that employs an f/1.9 lens. The sensor’s large aperture works in tandem with Xiaomi’s Night Mode 2.0 to deliver stunning low-light shots. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max also offers an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth shooter. Apart from all this, the device ships with plenty of exciting software features like Dual Video mode, Long Exposure mode, and more.

Moto G60

Motorola’s mid-rangers have been on everyone’s lips and for good reason. Take the Moto G60 for instance, which undercuts the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and despite that, offers a 108MP primary camera. The photographs offered by the smartphone’s main snapper offer natural colours and fantastic details in the frame. The icing on the cake is that the dynamic range in the shots appears stellar too. The Moto G60 also comes with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor to offer some versatility to a user’s photography experience.

Realme 8s

The Realme 8S is among the better mid-range phones launched this year. For one, the device features a 90Hz display and 5,000mAh battery that can give the competition a run for their money. Furthermore, the handset comes equipped with a 64MP triple camera setup that includes a pair of 2MP macro and depth shooters. The camera setup is a joy to use and not only do the images exhibit great dynamic range, but the cameras can squeeze out ample details from a scene even after the sun has set. Plus, Realme’s Nightscape Filters, which play around with colour tones really add new depth to the nighttime shots. 

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G

The square-shaped module on the back of the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G features a 48MP camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture. Samsung’s AI-laden image processing capabilities work wonders for the main camera, offering crisp images with a high dynamic range and punchy colours. The 5MP ultra-wide camera with its 115-degree angle of view offers a wider view of the scene, and the unit’s 2MP depth sensor does well to expertly adjust the depth of field in a user’s photos.

Realme X7

The Realme X7 offers a capable 64MP sensor that snaps high-quality photos come night or day. The images are replete with a lot of details and the pixel-binned shots exhibit good sharpness too. It goes without saying that the company has furnished the device with a ton of photo-centric features, including AI filters and more. We should also point out that the low-light shots were snapped with utmost finesse by the phone which, coupled with the device’s 8MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro and depth cameras, make it a strong contender for this year’s award.