My camera has 7.1 megapixels? - 1

Is it better than an iphone?

Your camera has more megapixels than the iPhone 1-4. I would say overall your camera could be better that the original, 3G, and 3GS but the 4 really improved on the camera.

Define "better".

Megapixels are used to define still image resolution. Check the different iPhone specs - the megapixel count differs by model.

Compression of the still image helps determine still image quality. Again, check the specs.

Video uses horizontal line count for resolution. 480 is standard def; 720 and 1080 is high defi. We don't know what your camera can do.

Video and still images can be transmitted from the iPhone to other phones with a media player, a computer, the internet… We don't know if your camera can do this or of this capability is important to you.

If your iPhone is stolen, you may be able to locate it - and wipe the memory remotely. Not possible with a camera.

If your iPhone is lost and on, the same "find my iPhone" can help locate it. Or you can call it and hear it ring - but not with a camera.

You can get to the internet on an iPhone. Not with a camera.

Your camera probably has better zoom capabilities than the iPhone.

Basically, you are comparing "Apples and oranges". Like asking whether a large pickup truck is "better" than a Cadillac ATS.

Yes, the sensor size in a camera is more likely to be a larger sensor than that found in any smartphone… It really depends on your camera, if it's a web cam… Then no.

Depends on the camera.

But your camera most likely has a larger sensor - perhaps a significantly larger sensor - better optics, more powerful processing hardware, a real flash…

there's more to image quality in a camera than how many megapixels the camera has.

Camera phones have the quality of a Kodak box camera made in the 1950's. The number of mega pixels can no longer be used as a yardstick to quality. As others have pointed out the sensor size contributes more to quality. BUT all that said I'm different than the majority of contributors on this site. I go by RESULTS! Case in point I own a small Pentax Optio S5z, 5 mega pixel camera, with only a 3x optical zoom. The sensor size, I don't know & I don't care! The lens is NOT the 5x zoom, I recommend to everybody for their first digital camera. BUT my pictures as sharp as a tack even up to 11x14 and I'm sure beyond! So to answer your question in my opinion cameras are far superior to iPhone or any other type phone with camera built in. But does that mean you shouldn't buy a phone with a camera… No… Why because phone cameras have their usages. Such as pictures of fender-benders. Very few of us carry a camera all the time, BUT we do carry a cell phone everywhere. So the camera phone is invaluable for this purpose, but as pictures for lifetime saving, I have no use for a cell phone camera.
You say you own a 7.1 mega pixel camera, FINE! But do you always set have the camera for maximum resolution and try to shot your exposures in the upper end of the lens stop range, i.e. F/8, f/11 & f/16? If you do that you will see a marked improvement in the quality of your pictures, but not in 4x6 prints. Make some 11x14 prints they are only about $4.00 at places like Costco, etc. You will have a renewed interest in taking pictures just by having an 11x14 print made occasionally!

It depends on the quality of the camera. A few years ago there were some 7 MP cameras made that were sharp when viewed at 100% resolution. These days I don't think any new camera is made that is good quality with only 7 MP. If it is decent quality they want to put in more (although there are many that have more megapixels which are not good quality).It is usually the cheap, low quality models these days that only get 7 MP, because more would magnify the optical defects too much.

Your camera has more megapixels and a larger sensor than the phone. What it lacks is computer programming to make the picture look better even if you took it badly.