- 7 weeks ago
On this episode of Tech Today, we explore how smartphone cameras evolved from basic camera phones into advanced optical systems that now define flagship devices. We trace the key shifts in mobile imaging, from the move to multiple lenses and optical image stabilisation to periscope zoom, stacked sensors, teleconverters and AI-driven processing, and explain why cameras have become the biggest focus for smartphone brands. The episode also looks at how camera heritage partnerships have influenced colour science and image quality, and what future hardware innovations could shape the next phase of mobile photography.
Alongside this, we present a 2025 flagship buying guide comparing the OnePlus 15, Samsung Galaxy S25, iPhone 17, iQOO 15 and Vivo X300, breaking down which phones make sense for camera performance, overall balance, long-term reliability and value.
We also cover the steps to follow if your smartphone is lost or stolen, how to secure your data quickly, and whether buying the iPhone Air at a discounted price is actually a smart decision.
Watch & Share!
Alongside this, we present a 2025 flagship buying guide comparing the OnePlus 15, Samsung Galaxy S25, iPhone 17, iQOO 15 and Vivo X300, breaking down which phones make sense for camera performance, overall balance, long-term reliability and value.
We also cover the steps to follow if your smartphone is lost or stolen, how to secure your data quickly, and whether buying the iPhone Air at a discounted price is actually a smart decision.
Watch & Share!
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00:00have you seen a flagship smartphone lately it looks more like a camera than a smartphone i mean
00:20just look at these two i'm not kidding these are smartphones because these days it's more about
00:26optics and less about the rest of the stuff but then how did all of these smartphone cameras get
00:33here this is our big discussion on the show today plus i have some solid deals for people who are
00:38looking for flagship smartphones in india now each of these is special in their own way and which is
00:45best for you stick around and i will tell you all this is the tech today show i'm cyrus and let's
00:51kick things off with the top headline making news of the week apple fitness plus is finally available
01:01in india bringing guided workouts and meditation sessions to iphone and watch users everything
01:07syncs live with your health data so the experience stays personal and easy to follow the pricing for
01:14the same starts at 399 and services work across apple devices right out of the box this is apple
01:20expanding its fitness ecosystem with a massive new market
01:24adobe is bringing key photoshop and acrobat tools straight into chat gpt users can now edit images
01:35adjust pdfs and make quick fixes using simple prompts it cuts out the need to open separate software for
01:42basic creative tasks a practical upgrade that streamlines every day editing
01:52apple has opened a brand new retail store in noida its fifth in the country the store offers the full apple
01:59experience from product demos to today at apple sessions it strengthens apple's offline presence
02:05especially for customers in the ncr region
02:08a major addition to india's growing apple footprint
02:12instagram is adding an ai powered feature that lets users shape what they want to see more or less of
02:23you can now fine-tune categories and adjust recommendations directly it's designed to give people more control over how the feed behaves a small but important shift in how instagram manages personalization
02:37google has rolled out its ai plus subscription in india priced at 399 per month the plan unlocks enhanced gemini features and priority performance across google apps
02:53it's aimed at users who rely heavily on ai for work and daily tasks a clear step in google's push towards premium ai services
03:02every year smartphone brands promise a better camera sharper shots wilder zoom more pro than the last year's pro but something strangely happened and happened quietly these cameras stopped behaving like phone cameras and started behaving like actual optical systems but that's the thing this transformation did not happen overnight it began more than 20 years ago
03:32back when the earliest camera phones barely existed from the 0.3 megapixel era to the early 2000s to today's multi lens ai driven hardware this entire shift has been happening step by step and ear by ear
03:46but modular lenses the upgrades today feel less like these annual updates and more like complete overhauls now oppo joined hands with hustleblood xiaomi collaborates with leica and suddenly every brand is crambling to become and build its own camera identity so how did we really get here why are smartphones suddenly obsessed with cameras and what might change in 2026 to understand all of the
04:16we need to go back right to where the evolution of all of this began before massive sensors and triple cameras became normal phone cameras were almost an afterthought
04:43in 2002 the Nokia 7650 appeared with a tiny 0.3 megapixel sensor the moment the camera phone era actually took off then the big hardware leap arrived in 2012 Nokia dropped the 808 pure view with a 41 megapixel sensor and early pixel binning
05:06a year later the Lumia 920 introduced optical image stabilization to phones for the first time
05:13these two launches proved that a phone camera could aim higher but one small lens simply couldn't do everything so companies began adding more an ultra wide a telephoto a macro a depth sensor gradually
05:35gradually turning the back of the phone into a tiny optical team of Avengers some used robotic cameras attached to the phone some Chinese brands even went overboard with 8 to 10 cameras arranged like the solar system and then the realization hit you can't keep making lenses bigger inside a slim phone so instead of growing the glass brands grew the brains
06:02this is when computational photography began creeping in multi-frame processing AI driven HDR smarter low light and all of a sudden
06:09the software was doing work the hardware couldn't and that simply changed the direction of the industry
06:17at sensor size approaches practical limits for mobile devices we believe the real future of imaging lies in an intelligent hybrid approach
06:24opico innovation still sets the foundation better lenses advanced coatings improve the periscope architectures but computational imaging is what unlock the
06:45full potential of that hardware in real time while AI was evolving quietly in the background hardware engineers were wrestling with another question how do you put real zoom in a thin phone the answers arrived dramatically in 2019 when the Huawei P30 Pro introduced a true optical periscope system for the first time light wasn't traveling straight through a lens it was bouncing
07:14sideways inside the phone allowing a clean 5x optical zoom in 2017 OPPO had already demonstrated the first concepts of multiple periscope systems this is the moment zoom became serious and zoom in turn unlocked something bigger adaptive imaging systems where optics and computation constantly negotiated with each other to stay
07:44ableize process and clean an image at the same time social platforms changed how people use cameras tick tock Instagram YouTube the world shifted rapidly from photos to videos and the smartphone had to follow but the big question will phones actually replace DSLRs
08:05smartphone will be there because they are getting better day by day all the AI features all the lenses so it will be widely used as a daily
08:14content creation you know content creation you know gadget for fast videos for you know daily photography but on the other hand DSLR will be used for the professional work as you know because of its low light and high dynamic range all the features which DSLR has so it will be used for professional work so there is no replacement is just that according to the convenience people or even the professional photographer you know will go hand to hand
08:42hand to hand with smartphone and DSLR so as sensors grew and the hardware hit their physical ceilings brands did something unexpected they turned to photographic heritage
08:55Zyles stepped in with vivo and brought t-star coating and cleaner portrait rendering
09:02Leica collaborated with Xiaomi and shaped the entire look of its flagship cameras from Summilux lenses to distinct color profiles
09:09Xiaomi's long-standing partnership and co-engineering efforts with Leica remains a major pillar of our imaging philosophy our joint optical institutes which we have one in Germany and one in China already bring top talent together to push the boundaries of the world's
09:20imagery and imagine a brighter future together together
09:35Hasselblad worked with OPPO and OnePlus to refine color science and skin tones with a medium format philosophy
09:41Now while there were several partnerships which happened quietly behind the scenes Sony started pulling features like real-time eye autofocus and advanced color algorithms into its Xperia phones but sadly even all that tech could not save Xperia and it died
10:02Apple co-developed custom sensors with Sony and enhanced its overall photography which is the real reason that Apple cameras are so good today
10:11Now Samsung pushed its ISO cell sensors harder than ever especially in its 200 megapixel camera system
10:17Now these partnerships all of these have shaped how a phone can see all these colors, handle skin tones, control the flare and even get you DSLR quality depth
10:28The smartphone camera evolution has now quietly entered its experimental stage
10:35Now we have phones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra snapping on a real teleconverter something that used to live only in DSLR bags
10:45Variable apertures have returned to letting devices shift from wide open to stopped down in a split second
10:54So portraits and night shots behave more like they came from real cameras
10:59Zoom systems fold and bounce light sideways through the phone
11:04A trick OPPO and Samsung perfected long before Apple joined in
11:09And behind every one of these optical stunts sits a new breed of stacked sensors and aggressively trained AI
11:18Cleaning, correcting and sometimes reinventing what the lenses saw
11:31What's really interesting about where smartphone cameras are headed has more to do with what people are actually creating with them
11:37In the last few years, phones have become legit filmmaking tools
11:44Short films at MAMI 2024 were shot on the iPhone 15 Pro Max
11:50Vishal Bhardwaj shot his entire shot for sat on the iPhone 14 Pro
11:56And long before that, films like Night Fishing and Tangerine proved that a phone can walk onto a festival stage
12:06And not a look out of place at all
12:10Flagships today, whether it's the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with its attachable teleconverter
12:17Or the color-driven Vivo X300 Pro
12:20Are giving creators a reason to try things that would have felt impractical with bigger systems
12:27Travel storytellers shooting entire journeys on their phones
12:31Indie filmmakers using them for scenes that need to be fast and discreet
12:38Even musicians filming music videos without hauling a truckload of gear
12:43That's the shift that matters
12:46And the next shift may come from ideas already showing up in early hardware
12:50Like Xiaomi's Liquid Lens Concept Modules, Sony's stacked sensor tech
12:55Now appearing in premium phones
12:57And the micro-gimbal stabilization Vivo has been refining in its X series
13:02If the last decade was about phones catching up, the next one is going to be about phones adopting features
13:08Traditional cameras were never designed for
13:11Like some of these telephoto lenses that the new Vivos and the Oppos have added
13:15And some better sensor stabilization systems like we have seen in the new Honor phone
13:20Which just looks absolutely brilliant
13:22Now, the smartphone camera battle I feel is just getting more interesting and more entertaining from here on
13:28Because it's changing the way that people are clicking pictures
13:31Because it's just not about selfies, but also shooting full-length movies
13:36Brands are now trying old tricks
13:38And trying these new ideas with the smartphones that they have in their hands
13:42And that just keeps all of this a little more fun
13:45Because we have to follow that, right?
13:47And remember, we will keep tracking all of these big swings, the quiet experiments
13:52And the moment that genuine shift happens in the industry will be getting you all of this
13:57And I, at least, am very excited for what smartphone cameras are going to be in the future
14:03Now, it's time for the next segment
14:13So, 2026, it's just a couple of weeks away
14:15But people are still trying to get the best bargain on the best phone launch in 2025
14:20And I know there are so many flagships with some of them having the best AI
14:24Some having the best camera or even the best processor
14:27But the question is, which one is the best for you?
14:30So, in this video, let me give you five good options in terms of the flagships
14:34And which one you should go for considering the price, the features
14:38And the best possible option for you
14:50So, let's start with the OnePlus 15, the champion device
14:53Which was launched in the latter part of 2025
14:57And it's grabbing a lot of headlines even today
15:00The OnePlus 15 continues to focus on speed and clean software
15:03With the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and Oxygen OS
15:06The UI remains simple, smooth and easy to use
15:09Battery life is great
15:11And charging is still among the quickest in this segment at 120 watts
15:16Camera performance has improved this year, especially daylight shots
15:20Low light is better than before
15:22But it still isn't as consistent as a Samsung or a Vivo
15:26One thing to keep in mind is that OnePlus tends to prioritize performance over long-term software features
15:32So, while the updates do come, the experience doesn't evolve as much over time
15:37So, if you want a fast, reliable and not with a lot of extras
15:41But covers a lot of the basics
15:43The OnePlus 15 is indeed a good option
15:49Next up is the Samsung Galaxy S25
15:51Now, the S25 is an all-rounder in this group
15:54You get a bright color-accurate display, dependable cameras and strong software support
15:59AI tools this year focus on reminders, translations and even photo editing
16:04The cameras are consistent and perform well in almost every situation
16:08Video stabilization is strong too
16:10The one thing to note is Samsung's charging speeds
16:13They are still slower than what the OnePlus, iQoo or even the Vivo offers
16:17And yes, AI features look good
16:19But may not be the features you will use in everyday life
16:23But if you want an Android smartphone that not only gets you the brand credibility
16:28But also gives you supreme features
16:30Then the S25 should definitely be on the top of your list
16:37Next up is the iPhone 17
16:38And I must say, Apple has finally launched a smartphone in the base category
16:42Which gives you true flagship features
16:45Because sometimes in the past we have seen that the base model does miss out on some key features
16:49But this time, the 17 is truly a flagship
16:52The A19 chipset in the 17 is efficient
16:55Apps run smoothly
16:56And battery life is much more stable this time
16:59Apple intelligence does bring some new features
17:01But many of them depend on the region and availability
17:05And it will take time to fully roll out in India
17:09Camera quality is consistent especially for video
17:11Which Apple continues to lead in
17:13But if you want manual controls or some flexibility in Zoom
17:17It can feel a little limited compared to
17:20Maybe a Vivo X300 or a Samsung S25
17:23If you are already in the Apple ecosystem
17:26Or want long-term reliability
17:28The iPhone 17 remains one of the safest long-term purchases
17:32However, I would like to say that
17:34If you are ready to spend 83,000 rupees
17:37Make sure that you are ready to transition into the Apple ecosystem
17:40However, if you are using an Apple device already
17:43Maybe the 13 or the 14, even the 15 series
17:46Then and then only it makes sense to get the 17
17:49Because if you are already on the 16 or the 16 Pro
17:52The upgrades are not that worthy
17:57And next on the list
17:58Is one of the most recent launches in India
18:01This is the iQoo 15
18:03Which is purely built on raw performance
18:06If you are someone who likes hardcore gaming
18:08Wants absolute monster in the processor department
18:12This one is something that you should really consider
18:15Because get this
18:16Inside you get an efficient cooling system
18:18The display is responsive
18:19And the storage goes up to 512 gigabytes
18:22But to get the performance at a lower price
18:24You do compromise on camera tuning
18:26Daylight shots are good enough
18:27But low light and portrait performance
18:29Aren't as refined as what you get on the X300
18:32Or even the S25
18:34Or even the Apple
18:35The software is better than before
18:37But still not as clean as a OnePlus or an Apple
18:40However, if you just want pure performance on your smartphone
18:43And for people who really shoot a lot of videos
18:46And do a lot of gaming
18:47The iQoo 15 is indeed a powerful phone
18:54And next up is a camera focused flagship
18:57In the Vivo X300
18:59You get a strong main sensor
19:01Which is excellent for portrait
19:02And also one that betters zoom
19:05Compared to the other smartphones in this price range
19:08Colours are natural
19:09And low light photos come out clean with good detail
19:12And all of this by the way
19:13Has been tuned by a camera giant like Xias
19:16However, Vivo's software can feel heavy at times
19:19And updates are regular
19:20But not always feature rich
19:22Charging and battery life are solid
19:24Though not the fastest in this segment
19:26Because we already know
19:27That the OnePlus gives you 120 watts
19:30And this one isn't as quick
19:32But quick enough
19:33If camera quality is your number one priority
19:35The X300 is the most versatile option
19:38Among this group
19:40And get this
19:41You also get the option of adding
19:43A teleconverter optical lens
19:45Into this kit
19:46Which means your photography
19:48Just goes up a notch
19:50So that sums up this list
19:51Every flagship in this category
19:53Offers you something very different
19:55And as a buyer
19:57I am sure you do your own due diligence
19:59And research to find out
20:00Which one of these flagship
20:02Is compatible with your need
20:04Because remember
20:05You're spending a lot of money
20:06But getting some very specific features
20:08With each of these flagships
20:10The only thing you need to make sure is
20:12Just be very clear about what you want
20:14And here's a quick breakdown
20:16With the Vivo X300
20:17You get great portraits, low light and zoom
20:20However, the heavy UI is indeed a trade-off
20:23As far as gaming and performance is concerned
20:25The IQ 15 is indeed a champion
20:27Because it's extremely fast
20:29Although the cameras are a compromise
20:31The best all-rounder Android phone
20:33In this category would be
20:34The Samsung Galaxy S25
20:35Which has a reliable cameras
20:37A good display, software
20:38However, charging is slower
20:40If you want best value in this list
20:42The OnePlus 15 is the best
20:44It's smooth and fast
20:45But photography could be the Achilles heel
20:48Best long-term choice however
20:50Would be the iPhone 17
20:52Which has strong support
20:53In terms of video performance and software
20:55However, it is on the expensive side
20:58However, let me know
20:59Which one of these smartphones
21:01Is the best fit for you
21:02Because remember
21:032025 is coming to an end
21:05And this is the best time
21:06To get a sweet deal
21:07On any of these smartphones
21:10Before 2026 hits
21:11Best grab them right now
21:13You're watching the Tech Today Show
21:20And it gives me immense pleasure
21:23To welcome back
21:24My favourite AI anchor in India
21:27Ladies and gentlemen
21:28Say hello to Sana
21:30Hi Cyrus, it's great to be back
21:31On the Tech Today Show
21:33It's been a while
21:34I know, right?
21:35Well, anyway, Sana
21:36I have a very important audience query
21:39That we need your help with
21:41So, I know losing a smartphone
21:43Can be very stressful
21:45I'm speaking from personal experience
21:47Can you tell us
21:49What are the steps
21:50One should follow
21:51If something like this happens to them?
21:54Okay, the first thing to do
21:55Is try locating it through tools
21:56Like Find My Device on Android
21:58Or Find My Phone on iPhones
22:00If it seems unsafe
22:01Or keeps moving
22:02Lock it or wipe the data remotely
22:04You can do this
22:05By accessing the Find My option
22:06On another device
22:08Then block your SIM immediately
22:10To stop OTP misuse
22:11Sign out of apps like
22:12Email and banking
22:13From another device
22:14And file an online FIR
22:15With your IMEI number handy
22:17From the box or invoice
22:18And just to be safer
22:20Make sure you change your login passwords
22:23For all of your social media as well
22:25And I know that a lot of people
22:27Don't log their devices with pins and biometrics
22:30Please don't be that careless
22:32And secure your devices properly
22:34Because it will save you a load of pain
22:37Cyrus, I saw that the iPhone Air is available
22:40At a discount right now
22:42Since many like the iPhone
22:43And it's also unique
22:44Should one buy it?
22:45Okay, let's not get swept away
22:48With all of these attractive deals
22:49That you're seeing online right now
22:51Yes, I understand
22:52The iPhone Air is available
22:54At a discount between
22:5512,000 to 15,000 rupees
22:56But ask yourself
22:58Is it something that you really want to invest in?
23:01No doubt
23:02It is a tempting phone
23:04Because it is an Apple
23:05The design is beautiful
23:06It's a powerful, powerful phone
23:08With a powerful processor
23:09And also the Apple logo
23:11And if you want a slim phone
23:13It is the iPhone to go for
23:15But there are some compromises as well
23:19Like the battery isn't the best
23:21In fact, you'd be lucky to get a full day's charge with that one
23:24Also, it only has a single camera system at the back
23:27Which is good but isn't versatile
23:30And if you want a clean iOS experience
23:32Yes, the software support is indeed long
23:35And the device actually feels premium in the hand
23:38However, if you do get it at a good discount price
23:42And you really want an iPhone
23:44Then and only then
23:45The Air is actually a solid buy
23:48That's great
23:49It's something that many aspiring iPhone buyers
23:51Will be looking forward to
23:55Since we are closing the year
23:57We'll be doing a roundup of the best of the best
24:00Which tech really stood out for us
24:02And why it needs to be talked about on the show
24:05So, next week we begin our best of the best series
24:08From phones to gadgets to a whole lot more
24:11Also, let's talk about what you feel is the best tech
24:14And what you experienced in 2025
24:17And send in your suggestions
24:18And we'll try to feature it on the show next week
24:21Till next time, this is Cyrus
24:22Saying goodbye on the Tech Today Show
24:24Take care
24:35Take care
24:36Take care
24:37Take care
24:38Take care
24:39Take care
24:40Bye
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