Which iPhone Has the Best Camera (2024 Review)

Apple is constantly improving their technology, so it is obvious that the newer the iPhone, the better it’s camera. With the iPhone's camera, you can now create stunning images and videos, rivaling those captured with DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

If you compare the quality of the photos, you’ll see that the last iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the best choices. They have large main camera sensors that capture more light, resulting in improved image quality. Plus, these models come with advanced optical image stabilization, which helps reduce shaky hands or camera motion when shooting videos.

From resolution and dynamic range to low light performance and video capabilities, Apple has truly pushed the boundaries of smartphone photography. Just keep in mind your budget and storage needs before making your final decision.

Rear cameras: 48MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 6.7″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 1TB

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has been ranked among the best smartphone cameras in the world by DxOMark. The 48MP primary camera captures incredible detail and performs exceptionally well in low-light conditions, making it the iPhone with the best camera.

The main and ultra-wide iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras have received modest upgrades, while the iPhone telephoto lens now has a larger sensor and a periscope lens array, allowing for 5x optical zoom.

This model includes Night mode, Smart HDR, and Portrait mode with adjustable bokeh. Live Photos are also supported, allowing you to turn a still photo into a moving animated GIF file.

The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Plus support 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. This allows for full-frame videos with incredible clarity. It also has slow-motion video capabilities and records stereo audio in both MP4 and lossless ALAC formats.

Rear cameras: 48MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 6.7″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 1TB

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a 48 MP main camera, along with ultrawide and telephoto shooters, giving you a lot of versatility. Plus, the camera is equipped with a second-generation optical image stabilization system and four optical zoom levels, ensuring your shots come out sharp and steady even without iPhone tripod.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max can record videos in up to 4K resolution and supports Dolby Vision and HDR, delivering a visually stunning experience. And if you're into creating cinematic effects, the improved Cinematic mode allows you to blur the background and highlight your subject, perfect for portraits and selfies.

Rear cameras: 48MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 6.1″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 1TB

The iPhone 14 Pro is a relatively compact smartphone that packs a powerful camera punch. This iPhone for photography is the best choice for photography enthusiasts who prefer a more manageable size. This phone for realtors boasts a 48-megapixel sensor in the main wide camera, along with improved low-light performance.

The Photonic Engine enhances the quality of both pictures and videos, enabling Deep Fusion technology to work its magic on uncompressed images. As the result, you’ll chance to capture more detailed and vibrant colors, as well as higher-quality textures.

Rear cameras: 12MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 6.1″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 1TB

The iPhone 13 Pro manages to capture a good balance of colors and details, even in challenging situations like capturing signs. It's also impressive in low-light conditions, thanks to its improved ISO performance.

The addition of a 3x telephoto phone camera lens is a game-changer for portrait mode photos. This iPhone with the best camera provides a more flattering field of view and reduces blur around subjects. Plus, the phone can shoot at lower shutter speeds, which means it can capture more detail in low light.

Cinematic mode is another exciting feature. It allows you to record videos with a shallow depth of field, shifting focus from one subject to another.

Rear cameras: 12MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 6.1″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 512GB

The camera on the iPhone 14 comes with a large sensor, which is great for capturing perfect shots in any conditions. The improved optical image stabilization ensures that your photos are sharp and blur-free. Thanks to dual camera system, you can easily switch between the front and rear cameras in the Camera app, allowing you to snap photos or record videos with both.

One of the standout features of the iPhone 14's camera is the color-sensitive zoom lens. It allows for high-quality zoom photos, thanks to pixel-binning technology. This means you can zoom in without sacrificing image quality.

Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP | Screen: 4.7″ Retina HD | Storage: Up to 256GB

The iPhone SE (2022) boasts a 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and Smart HDR 4. It even comes with Portrait mode, which is great for those stunning depth-of-field shots. The front camera, on the other hand, has a 7-megapixel sensor.

In normal lighting conditions, this phone takes excellent photos with impressive detail and color balance. This iPhone for photography also performs well when it comes to recording videos. However, it does fall short in low-light situations.

Rear cameras: 12MP main, 12MP Ultra Wide | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Screen: 5.4″ Super Retina XDR | Storage: Up to 512GB

Whether you're capturing landscapes, group shots, or zooming in on something, the iPhone 13 Mini does a good job. And if you want to capture more expansive panoramas, the ultra-wide camera comes in handy, although it's not as sharp as the wide-angle lens.

The night sight iPhone camera settings are exceptional, allowing you to capture stunning images even in the darkest of environments. Plus, the camera focuses quickly and reliably, ensuring you don't miss any precious moments.

Some may argue that newer iPhones have better cameras, but that's not always the case. These older models still have a lot of advantages over other smartphones, and lower price.

iPhone 12 Pro Max. It comes with a triple camera array, featuring three 12MP sensors for the main, ultra-wide, and 2.5x zoom cameras. However, it falls short when compared to the latest iPhone cameras and may struggle with overexposed highlights and a slightly dim display.

iPhone 11 Pro. With its three rear cameras, you have a wide range of shooting options. The standard camera (12MP) captures stunning photos, while the 2x telephoto shooter delivers excellent zoom capabilities. During the day, the iPhone 11 Pro captures photos with exceptional exposure, wide dynamic range, and accurate color rendering.

iPhone 12. The main camera (12MP) has a wider aperture and larger photo-sites, which means it can gather more light and deliver better low-light performance. Plus, it supports Dolby Vision HDR video recording, so your videos will look stunning.

Camera resolution. If you want your photos to look crisp and clear, look for an iPhone with a high sensor resolution, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max with its impressive 48MP main sensor.

Image stabilization. This feature is important if you want to take sharp pictures even when your hands are shaking. While some cameras have only optical stabilization or sensor-shift stabilization, the best iPhones have both.

Lenses. The latest iPhone models, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max, have impressive camera arrays with different lenses. These lenses, including ultra-wide and telephoto, along with other iPhone camera accessories allow you to capture a variety of shots and add creativity to your photography.

Advanced camera features. 4K video recording, HDR, and optical image stabilization, are only available on the iPhone Pro series and the newest models.