Budget camera phone shootout - Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE - Android

Which 2020 budget phone has the best camera, the OnePlus Nord, Pixel 4a, or iPhone SE? Let's find out.

Budget camera phones have typically been a big step down from their flagship counterparts. However, that has started to change in recent years and we now have cheaper devices with impressive camera capabilities that can keep up with or sometimes even outmatch the very best camera phones you can buy.

The Google Pixel 4a, OnePlus Nord, and iPhone SE represent the best crop of budget camera phones of 2020. They are all solid mid-range smartphones that have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, but how do their photo-capturing capabilities compare? In today’s camera shootout, we aim to find out.

Be sure to take our poll at the end of the article to vote for which phone you think is the winner. Also, for those into pixel-peeping, you can view the full-size images in this Google Drive folder.

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Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE: Camera specs

	Google Pixel 4a	OnePlus Nord	iPhone SE
Rear cameras	12.2MP, f/1.7, 1/2.55-inch, 1.4µm, OIS	Main: 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2-inch, OIS Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.3, 119-degrees FOV Depth: 5MP, f/2.4 Macro: 2MP, f/2.4	12MP, f/1.8, OIS
Rear video	UHD 4K 30fps 1080p 60fps 1080p 120fps	UHD 4K 30fps 1080p 60fps 1080p 240fps	UHD 4K 60fps 1080p 60fps 1080p 240fps
Front cameras	8MP, f/2.0, 24mm, 1.12µm	32MP, f/2.5, 1/2.8-inch, 0.8µm 8MP, f/2.5, 105-degrees FOV, 1/4-inch	7MP, f/2.2
Front video	1080p 30fps	UHD 4K 60fps	1080p 30fps

The Pixel 4a and iPhone SE share similar camera setups; two total cameras with similar focal lengths and resolutions, but different sensors and lenses. The OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, sports six total cameras — two selfie cameras and four rear sensors — with several different focal lengths and different use cases. You can check them all out in the table above.

The phones also all use different SoCs (System on Chips). This means each phone processes images at different speeds, which will affect the overall user experience. In our testing, the iPhone SE processed images the fastest thanks to its flagship-level processor. In an interesting turn, the OnePlus Nord took the longest to process photos, even though the Snapdragon 765G has more capable imaging and processing hardware on paper compared to the Pixel 4a’s Snapdragon 730G chipset. It seems like Google’s algorithmic magic may be giving the Pixel 4a a boost here, though the OnePlus Nord’s 48MP-to-12MP pixel-binning may also be a factor.

The iPhone SE processes images the fastest thanks to its flagship SoC.

Based purely on specs, however, the OnePlus Nord should have this shootout in the bag. Its main camera has the 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor — the biggest and highest resolution of the three. Its selfie camera is also the highest resolution in this comparison. However, OnePlus’ camera processing doesn’t have the best track record. Meanwhile, Apple’s and Google’s processing has been known to be some of the best in class.

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Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE: The samples

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Color and white balance

Straight off the bat, the first set of images shows the Pixel 4a captures a cooler color temperature than the competition. This might make it seem like “the odd one out,” but it is in fact the most accurate color temperature of the three.

Throughout the sample photos, the Pixel 4a also manages to capture the most detail in the shadows. It also bests its rivals on dynamic range while also balancing the color temperature. The Nord’s images, on the other hand, have too much contrast, leaving you with moody-looking images.