Summer 2016: Which Smartphone Had the Best Camera?

Overview

Best Smartphone Camera Summer 2016: Huawei P9, LG G5, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge & More

In Summer 2016, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were widely considered the best overall smartphone cameras on the market. Their fast dual-pixel autofocus, strong low-light performance, and reliable point-and-shoot experience made them favorites among both casual users and photography enthusiasts.

Other major contenders also stood out depending on the type of photography users preferred:

• Google Nexus 6P delivered crisp HDR images and excellent daylight photography.
• Apple iPhone 6s Plus impressed with video stabilization, natural skin tones, and dependable consistency.
• Huawei P9 introduced a Leica-branded dual-camera system that attracted photography fans interested in monochrome and RGB shooting.
• LG G5 became popular for its innovative wide-angle rear camera, a feature that felt fresh and creative in 2016.

By Summer 2016, smartphone photography had entered a new era where users no longer judged phones only by megapixels. Real-world image quality, low-light capability, HDR processing, autofocus speed, and software optimization had become the true battleground.

Introduction

Summer 2016 felt like a turning point for smartphone photography. Until then, most people simply wanted a camera that could take decent social media photos. But during that year, companies like Samsung, Apple, Huawei, LG, and Google started competing seriously to build cameras capable of replacing compact digital cameras altogether.

I still remember testing photos outdoors during sunny afternoons and then comparing them again later under dim restaurant lighting or during evening walks. In my experience, Summer 2016 was the moment when smartphone cameras became more than a convenience — they became a major reason people chose one phone over another.

The competition was fierce. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was dominating headlines, the Huawei P9 was introducing Leica branding into smartphones, and the LG G5 shocked users with its wide-angle lens. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s Plus remained incredibly reliable, and the Nexus 6P quietly delivered some of the best HDR photography available at the time.

So which smartphone actually had the best camera in Summer 2016? The answer depended on what kind of photographer you were.

Why Summer 2016 Was Important for Smartphone Cameras

Before 2016, many smartphone brands focused heavily on megapixel numbers. But by Summer 2016, manufacturers realized that software processing, sensor quality, autofocus systems, and image stabilization mattered far more.

This was also the period when several important camera trends emerged:

• Dual-camera systems
• Better low-light photography
• Faster autofocus
• Improved HDR processing
• Optical image stabilization
• Advanced image software optimization

In many ways, these innovations shaped modern smartphone photography.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge: The Gold Standard

When I compared multiple devices side-by-side, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge consistently felt like the safest recommendation.

The reason was simple: it performed exceptionally well in almost every situation.

What Made the Galaxy S7 Camera Special?

Samsung introduced dual-pixel autofocus technology, which dramatically improved focusing speed. Photos snapped almost instantly, even when subjects were moving.

The phone also excelled in low-light photography. While many smartphones produced blurry or grainy nighttime shots, the Galaxy S7 Edge retained strong detail and balanced lighting surprisingly well.

Strengths I Noticed

• Extremely fast autofocus
• Reliable point-and-shoot experience
• Strong low-light performance
• Vibrant colors
• Excellent outdoor dynamic range

In real-world use, it was hard to take a bad photo with the Galaxy S7 Edge. That reliability mattered.

Huawei P9: A Camera for Photography Enthusiasts

The Huawei P9 felt different from other phones in Summer 2016 because it focused heavily on creative photography.

Its Leica-branded dual-lens system immediately attracted attention.

One lens captured RGB color information while the second focused on monochrome detail. This created sharper images and gave users more artistic flexibility.

Why the Huawei P9 Stood Out

In my experience, the Huawei P9 was especially enjoyable for people who loved experimenting with photography rather than simply taking quick snapshots.

The monochrome mode produced dramatic black-and-white photos that looked surprisingly professional for a smartphone camera.

Best Features

• Leica dual-lens setup
• Strong monochrome photography
• Detailed texture reproduction
• Creative manual controls
• Good daylight sharpness

Although its low-light performance was not always as consistent as Samsung’s, the Huawei P9 offered one of the most unique photography experiences of 2016.

LG G5: The Wide-Angle Innovation

The LG G5 introduced something many users had never experienced before on a smartphone: a dedicated wide-angle camera.

At first, it sounded like a small feature. But once I tested it outdoors, the creative possibilities became obvious.

Why the Wide-Angle Lens Mattered

The secondary rear lens allowed users to capture:

• Landscapes
• Group photos
• Architecture
• Travel scenes
• Tight indoor spaces

Without physically stepping backward.

This feature made the LG G5 incredibly fun to use during vacations and city photography.

Where the LG G5 Excelled

• Creative photography angles
• Travel photography
• Outdoor landscapes
• Social group shots

The standard camera itself was solid, though not always as polished as Samsung or Apple in image processing. But the wide-angle experience gave the LG G5 a unique identity.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Consistency Above Everything

Apple’s approach in Summer 2016 was different. Instead of chasing flashy camera tricks, the iPhone 6s Plus focused on consistency and ease of use.

And honestly, that strategy worked.

What Apple Did Better Than Most

The iPhone 6s Plus delivered:

• Natural skin tones
• Excellent video stabilization
• Balanced exposure
• Reliable color science

While some competitors oversaturated colors, Apple kept images realistic.

In my experience, the iPhone 6s Plus was especially strong for video creators. Handheld videos looked smoother, and autofocus transitions felt more cinematic compared to many Android devices at the time.

Best for Everyday Users

The iPhone 6s Plus appealed to users who wanted:

• Simple photography
• Reliable results
• Great social media content
• Excellent video recording

It may not have been the most experimental camera phone of Summer 2016, but it remained one of the most dependable.

Google Nexus 6P: HDR Photography Champion

The Nexus 6P often gets overlooked in discussions about 2016 smartphone cameras, but that phone delivered some incredible HDR photography.

Google’s software processing was ahead of its time.

Why HDR Performance Was Impressive

Outdoor scenes with difficult lighting usually challenge smartphone cameras. Bright skies can become overexposed while shadows lose detail.

The Nexus 6P handled these situations remarkably well.

Photos contained:

• Strong dynamic range
• Crisp detail
• Balanced highlights
• Natural contrast

In daylight conditions, some of its shots rivaled far more expensive cameras.

Real-World Camera Testing Matters More Than Specs

One lesson I learned while comparing these phones is that camera specifications rarely tell the full story.

For example:

• Higher megapixels did not always mean better photos.
• Software optimization often mattered more than hardware.
• Fast autofocus improved everyday usability dramatically.
• Image processing defined color quality and sharpness.

This is why phones like the Galaxy S7 Edge succeeded so strongly in 2016. Samsung balanced hardware and software exceptionally well.

Features That Defined the Best Smartphone Cameras of 2016

Several innovations separated top-tier devices from average smartphones.

1. Low-Light Photography

Night photography became a major battleground.

Samsung led here thanks to larger pixels and strong image processing.

2. HDR Technology

Google’s Nexus 6P showed how advanced HDR software could dramatically improve image quality.

3. Dual Cameras

Huawei pushed smartphone photography forward with dual-lens experimentation.

4. Wide-Angle Photography

LG changed how users approached mobile photography creatively.

5. Video Stabilization

Apple remained a leader in smooth, natural-looking video recording.

Which Smartphone Camera Was Best Overall?

If I had to choose one overall winner for Summer 2016, I would still lean toward the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

Why?

Because it consistently performed well in nearly every situation:

• Daylight photography
• Night photography
• Autofocus speed
• Ease of use
• Reliability
• Color quality

However, the “best” camera depended heavily on personal preferences.

Best Phones by Category

Best Overall Camera

• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Best for Creative Photography

• Huawei P9

Best Wide-Angle Experience

• LG G5

Best Video Recording

• iPhone 6s Plus

Best HDR Photography

• Nexus 6P

Lessons Modern Smartphones Still Use Today

Looking back, many features we now consider standard actually became mainstream during Summer 2016.

Modern flagship smartphones still rely on concepts introduced or improved during that period:

• Computational photography
• Multi-lens systems
• AI image processing
• Enhanced low-light shooting
• HDR optimization
• Stabilized video recording

Summer 2016 was not just another smartphone season. It was the foundation of modern mobile photography.

Conclusion

Summer 2016 was one of the most exciting periods in smartphone camera history. Brands were no longer simply competing on screen size or processor speed — they were fighting to deliver the best photography experience possible.

In my experience, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge offered the most complete package overall, but every major contender brought something valuable to the table. The Huawei P9 pushed creative photography forward, the LG G5 introduced wide-angle freedom, the iPhone 6s Plus mastered consistency, and the Nexus 6P showcased the power of computational HDR photography.

What made that era special was innovation. Each company experimented boldly, and users benefited from rapid improvements that changed smartphone photography forever.

Even today, many modern camera features can trace their roots back to those groundbreaking devices from Summer 2016.