Image Quality
One of the major factors in producing a high-quality image is the quality of the equipment. While a skilled and knowledgeable photographer can produce high-quality images with basic equipment it can't be denied that technology can limit what is possible.
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Arguably one of the major factors is the quality and type of lenses used. At lower resolutions displayed on screens, poor image quality is less noticeable than when enlarged or printed. Low-quality lenses may introduce excess noise, unwanted distortion and/or a lack of sharpness.
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SLR and more recently DSLR and Mirrorless cameras remain the standard equipment of choice for the majority of professional photographers. More than the body of the camera, the lenses allow a photographer greater creative control over the images they capture.
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But as camera body sizes have begun to shrink (removing the mirror) lenses have remained the same size to allow coverage of the sensors which have remained the same size.
What does this mean for smartphone cameras?
Current reality.
Up until the invention of the smartphone, a camera would have been a separate stand-alone device ranging in quality from a point and shoot to a DSLR camera.
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Depending on your skill, the desired end result (print or web-published image) and level of creative control you would choose your camera accordingly.
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But smartphones have enabled users to take higher quality images with less technical knowledge (skill) and allow for the convenient streamlined process of shooting, editing and posting all on one device. Users can see their results in real-time and make corrections immediately. Cheap memory cards allow the user to shoot a large volume of images, increasing the chance of a successful shot. But there are still limitations.
A video example of smartphone evolution.
Within the linked video BLASTERTECHNOLOGY (2020) provides an overview of how Samsung Smartphones evolved between the years 2000-2020.
Of note within the video are two models - 2005's SCH-V770 and 2013's Galaxy S4 Zoom. In the evolution of Samsung's smartphones, these models are worth paying attention to as they integrated an optical zoom into the smartphone body. Within their video BLASTERTECHNOLOGY (2020) states this results in a "robust and heavy" product. Both of these elements result in better image quality through a better lens, but it comes with the compromise of weight and size which does not align with the demands of most consumers.