Admit it — we all take selfies from time to time, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting the very best front-facing camera to take them with. Of course, sheer image quality isn’t always the only thing that matters; wide-angle lenses and software stickers can help liven up a selfie, too. We think the Pixel 3 is the best overall phone for taking selfies, but there are plenty of other great options to choose from.
Best overall
Google Pixel 3 / Pixel 3 XL
Last year’s Pixel 2 already took amazing selfies, thanks to its sharp 8MP front-facing camera and intelligent portrait mode, but the Pixel 3 steps it up with a secondary wide-angle front camera. You can switch between the lenses with a simple pinch to zoom, and the software automatically corrects lens distortion in wide shots to prevent that stretched look around the edges. Oh, and did we mention that Night Sight works in selfie mode, too?
$799 at Google Store
Best for group shots
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The Galaxy Note 9 doesn’t have the Pixel 3’s wide-angle selfie camera, but it does have the new and improved S Pen, which allows you to control the camera shutter using the button on the side without having to touch your phone. That means you can prop the Note against a wall, group up with your friends, and take the photo remotely using the S Pen. It also has fun features like AR Emoji, stickers, and plenty of filters and editing tools.
$879 at Amazon
Another dual lens champ
LG V40 ThinQ
Like the Pixel 3, the V40 ThinQ has dual front-facing cameras, one an 80-degree 8MP lens and the other a 90-degree 5MP lens. A 10-degree difference doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to get in that occasional group shot without introducing a ton of lens distortion, and as an added bonus, the V40 has three rear cameras for taking more than just selfies.
$950 at Amazon
High resolution vanity
Huawei P20 Pro
The P20 Pro isn’t just one of the most gorgeous phones to come out in 2018, it’s a stunning selfie phone thanks to its 24MP front-facing camera. There are some fun features tucked into the camera software too, like a front-facing portrait mode and a studio lighting setting. You’ll have to import this phone if you live in the U.S., but it’s one of our favorite phones of the year, and it works great on GSM networks like T-Mobile or AT&T.
$695 at Amazon
Best on a budget
Nokia 7.1
If you don’t want to spend a lot but want to take the best possible selfies, the Nokia 7.1 is your jam. On top of being a great phone with Android One, its 8MP front camera has an 84-degree field of view, which makes it great for group selfies. You can also use the Bothie mode in the camera to take a picture from the front and rear cameras at the same time, in case you prefer no-contact photos.
$349 at Amazon
Best last year’s flagship
Google Pixel 2/2XL
Here’s the good news: the Google Pixel 2 series is cheaper than the Pixel 3 and takes the same great selfies — except for the wide-angle camera. While the previous Pixel flagship only has one front-facing camera, it still supports portrait mode and takes tack-sharp selfies in any lighting condition.
$439 at Amazon
It used to be Samsung, Samsung, Samsung every year, but as with its rear camera, Google now owns the selfie game. That doesn’t mean the Note 9 shoots bad selfies — on the contrary — but the front-facing photos you get from the Pixel 3 are just astounding. On the budget side, the Nokia 7.1 has many virtues for the price, and the selfie camera is definitely one of them.
