Dunno, I have the Google Pixel XL, it's the first camera that has made me not take my serious camera (a Fuji X series mirrorless) on trips. The quality of photos it produces is amazing, and the default camera app has some seriously good processing. You can do more with a serious camera, but I'm not sure it'll do much better with quick snaps.

You're right though, the constant marketing of phone cameras is kind of funny. I have no doubt the iPhone makes incremental improvements every year, as do other phone cameras.