Phone cameras are astonishing, but a good compact camera still offers something they cannot: a larger sensor, a proper lens and the simple pleasure of a dedicated device that slips into a jacket pocket. Independent laboratory testing of more than 100 cameras sorts the compact field. These are the five best compact cameras of 2026, from a premium fixed-lens icon to an affordable pocket zoom — with the pocketable Ricoh and everyday Sony picks we have reviewed in full.
The Short Version
- Best overall — Fujifilm X100VI. The tested top fixed-lens compact, with an APS-C sensor, IBIS and a hybrid viewfinder.
- Best pocketable — Ricoh GR IIIx. An APS-C sensor and sharp 40mm-equivalent lens in a body that vanishes into a pocket.
- Best zoom — Sony RX100 VII. A 24-200mm range and pop-up viewfinder in a genuinely pocketable body.
- Best for vlogging — Sony ZV-1 II. A flip-out screen and creator features for filming yourself.
- Best budget — Canon PowerShot SX740. A cheap, long-zoom point-and-shoot for casual shooting.
Best Overall: Fujifilm X100VI
The long-awaited Fujifilm X100VI is the best fixed-lens compact the test has measured. It is not the most pocketable option, but it makes up for that by being one of the most full-featured point-and-shoots on the market: a high-resolution APS-C sensor and a bright 35mm-equivalent f/2 lens capture excellent image quality with plenty of detail and dynamic range. It is one of the few compacts to include in-body image stabilisation for steadier handheld shots, and its clever hybrid viewfinder toggles between an optical rangefinder and an electronic display. The test's caveats are practical rather than technical: it is expensive, and it is so in demand that stock is hard to find. Check the price on Amazon
Best Pocketable: Ricoh GR IIIx
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For image quality that rivals the Fujifilm in a camera that actually disappears into a pocket, the test points to the Ricoh GR line — and the Ricoh GR IIIx is our pick of it. It pairs the same class of large APS-C sensor with a minimalist, discreet body built for street photography, and where the standard GR III uses a 28mm-equivalent lens, the GR IIIx's 40mm-equivalent gives a more natural, standard field of view. The trade-offs are deliberate: no viewfinder, no 4K video and a fixed screen. But the RAW image quality is superb, and it is the one on this list you will actually carry everywhere — our Ricoh GR IIIx review and the newer Ricoh GR IV cover the range. Check the price on Amazon
Best Zoom: Sony RX100 VII
If you want reach, the test's pick is the Sony RX100 VII, the best compact it has tested with a zoom lens. The RX100 formula is well proven: a highly portable body, a versatile 24-200mm full-frame-equivalent zoom and more features than seem possible at the size, including a pop-up viewfinder and flash. Its 1-inch sensor cannot match the APS-C cameras above on outright image quality, but its stacked design enables quick 20fps burst shooting with reduced rolling-shutter distortion. Battery life is short, as it is on most compacts, but for framing flexibility in a coat pocket, nothing here matches it. Check the price on Amazon
Best for Vlogging: Sony ZV-1 II
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Compacts make natural vlogging cameras, and the Sony ZV-1 II is the current model built for it. It adds a fully articulated screen for self-recording and a Product Showcase mode that snaps focus to an object held up in frame, on top of a 1-inch sensor with good video quality and excellent autofocus. One honest note from the test: the ZV-1 II moved to a wider lens better suited to handheld vlogging but dropped the original ZV-1's optical stabilisation, relying on digital stabilisation that crops the frame. Our Sony ZV-1 II review has the detail, and creators should also read our best vlogging cameras guide. Check the price on Amazon
Best Budget: Canon PowerShot SX740
Once you drop into budget territory the worthwhile options thin out, but the test rates the Canon PowerShot SX740 a solid, affordable choice. Its small 1/2.3-inch sensor cannot match the pricier picks on image quality, and for many people a modern phone is the better free alternative — but if you want the feel of a camera in your hands and a long zoom reach a phone cannot provide, the SX740 delivers it cheaply. For casual travel and family snaps on a tight budget, it is the sensible pick. Check the price on Amazon
What to Look for in a Compact Camera
A few things decide the right compact. Sensor size is the biggest lever on image quality: APS-C (as on the Fujifilm and Ricoh) beats the 1-inch sensors of zoom compacts, which in turn beat the tiny sensors of budget models. Fixed versus zoom lens is the core trade-off — a fixed prime is sharper and brighter, a zoom is more flexible. A viewfinder helps in bright light, though not every compact has one. Portability is the whole point, so weigh how truly pocketable a model is. And if you plan to film yourself, prioritise a flip-out screen and video features, as on the ZV-1 II — or step up to our best vlogging cameras and, for larger sensors, the best full-frame cameras under £1,500.
How These Picks Were Chosen
Every recommendation here reflects independent laboratory testing of more than 100 cameras, scored for image quality, autofocus, handling and video rather than judged on the spec sheet. Prices and stock shift over time — the Fujifilm in particular is often back-ordered — so check current availability before buying.
This guide is based on independent laboratory testing rather than our own hands-on trial.
