The Best Phone for Live Streaming: 7 Options

Looking for a new phone to live stream your exploits or showcase adventures to your social media followers? Then, you need one of the best phones for streaming, equipped with a set of powerful cameras, good processing speed, and other key features. 

Choosing the best phone for streaming video is important for delivering high-quality content to your audience, so let Navi help. Read on for our breakdown of the best iOS and best Android phones for live streaming in 2024, many of which you can find at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and more.

Looking for the best cell phone deals available today? Try our free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder below.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

For Apple fans, the iPhone 15 Pro Max tops the list of best phones for streaming video and influencing. It’s the highest-priced phone in the iPhone 15 series, but if your budget allows, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers many advantages, like a 6.7-inch Retina XDR OLED display. The robust and durable glass pairs well with the long-lasting battery.

On the reverse side of the phone, you'll find a triple camera system featuring 12-megapixel wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. All of these support night mode, which will automatically switch on whenever you need to take a low-light shot. The fourth and final camera at the front is a 12-megapixel variety with a real-depth portrait mode and 4K video capture functionality.

The iOS 17 software makes it easy to record photos and videos and comes with 8 W charging adapters. Wireless charging is supported, too — that’s great for influencers, as you’ll be able to stream content to your viewers without worrying about running out of battery at an inopportune time.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

For live streamers and influencers on a tighter budget, the iPhone 15 Plus balances affordability and functionality. Starting at $899 for the 128 GB model, the 15 Plus costs $100 more than the standard iPhone 15 but has a larger body and extended battery life. Additional storage options are available with 256 GB for $999 and 512 GB for $1,199, catering to those who need more space for apps, photos, and videos.

The 6.7-inch OLED display offers more screen real estate than the standard iPhone 15 and boasts a peak brightness of 2,000 nits—perfect for outdoor streams or editing on the go. The camera setup includes a 48 MP main camera for high-resolution images and video, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera for capturing broader scenes, and a 12 MP front camera that ensures sharp and clear selfies.

Performance-wise, the iPhone 15 Plus has the same A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro models, which ensures smooth streaming and multitasking. Depending on usage, the battery can last up to 14 hours, so it can handle long streaming sessions or back-to-back video shoots without many hiccups.

Apple has also brought USB-C to the iPhone 15 series, which means faster data transfer and more universal charging options than previous models. This is great for content creators who need quick file transfers or on-the-go charging. However, the Pro model does have a faster transfer speed since it uses USB 3.0. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus each have USB 2.0 speeds. 

But the iPhone 15 Plus is an excellent choice for a high-performance phone that won't break the bank. It offers big upgrades in display, battery life, and camera capabilities over the standard iPhone 15.

If you’re deciding between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Plus, and price is a factor, check out our iPhone 15 deals round-up to see the latest offers across top carriers.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best phones for streamers and influencers of all stripes. Though it’s quite pricey, usually over $1,000, there’s a lot to like about this model. It has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, which scales between 10 Hz and 120 Hz to ensure top-tier, smooth performance for media viewing and streaming.

Perhaps more important is the excellent suite of cameras on this high-quality Android phone. They include a 108-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and even dual optical zoom sensors for 3x and 10x magnification. The front camera quality is 40 megapixels, offering your audience a great viewing experience when live streaming.

The rest of the phone features excellent specs, making it one of the best smartphones overall. It takes excellent pictures in brightness and dark modes and comes with S Pen support. 

Its 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage make it a phenomenal live-streaming phone in terms of processing speed and overall filesharing functionality. The battery is also excellent, clocking in at 87 hours before needing to be recharged. While it doesn't come with a microSD card slot, that's an ultimately minor downside, given the other areas in which it excels.

Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus

If the Galaxy S24 Ultra is outside your budget, there are two other phones in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series to choose from: the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Plus. However, we recommend the Galaxy S24 Plus as a live streaming phone over the standard S24.

While they are nearly similar in specs, the Galaxy S24 Plus has a larger screen size and battery and is a good all-around phone for occasional live streamers and influencers. It features a 120 Hz 6.7-inch screen, which ensures smooth scrolling, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, so you’ll have enough space for your media.

The 4900 mAh battery will last longer than the standard Galaxy S24’s 4000 mAh battery. The Galaxy S24 Plus also has fast wired charging, Qi wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, allowing it to power other devices. 

There's a lot to like about its cameras, too. The Galaxy S24 Plus has a 50 MP main camera, a 10 MP telephoto lens, a 12.2 MP ultrawide camera on the back, and a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front. Each one is great for taking photos or streaming videos to your followers. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro

The newly released Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the best phones for influencers thanks to its bright display, upgraded camera system, and long battery life. 

The Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED display has a resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Whether live-streaming, editing videos, or playing back footage, the display's peak brightness of up to 3000 nits will allow you to see your content even in bright sunlight.

But its video capabilities make the Pixel 9 Pro really stand out. It features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP periscope telephoto lens. However, the 42MP front camera is perfect for vloggers and will offer clear and bright selfies even in dimly lit environments, like a bedroom, garage, or living room. 

You can fix shaky and grainy footage without extra work thanks to Google's Tensor chip and AI-powered “Video Boost” feature. Video Boost processes your video recordings to smooth out imperfections and enhance lighting to make your footage look sharp and professional. Also, the “Super Res Zoom” and “Night Sight Video” features can help you record footage in low light or subjects at a far distance.

With storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB and a 4,700 mAh battery that promises "24+ hour" battery life (under moderate use), the Pixel 9 Pro was built with content creation in mind.

Google Pixel 9

While the Pixel 9 Pro is our top choice for a streaming phone in the Pixel 9 line, the best budget option would be Google’s Pixel 9. It has 256 GB of storage space for $899, compared to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 256 GB version for $1,099. The Pixel 9 also comes with Google’s powerful Tensor G4 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and a lower 128 GB storage option for $100 less. It also supports 5G functionality.

The 6.3-inch Actua OLED display has a 90 Hz refresh rate, so it's great for viewing and transmitting media equally. Meanwhile, the 4700mAh battery ensures you won't need to recharge the phone all that often — it’s relatively fast charging for a cell phone, too.

Regarding cameras, you've got 50MP Main and 48MP Ultrawide rear lenses. The 10.5-megapixel selfie camera is also a favorite for live streamers and influencers because it is powerful enough to capture any subject, even in lowlight environments.

Overall, it’s a comfortable and lightweight mobile phone with solid battery life and many different features that make it usable at any time of day.

OnePlus 12

Between the choices from Apple, Samsung, and Google, the OnePlus 12 is another great option for live streamers who want solid performance and great visuals. Starting at just $799, it offers a 6.8-inch display, a whopping 5400 mAh battery, and fast wireless charging to ensure you won't have to take long breaks between streams.

The display's peak brightness of 4,500 nits means you'll be able to see your content even in bright sunlight, and the phone is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, which is perfect for managing live streaming and multitasking.

On the camera front, the OnePlus 12 comes equipped with a 50-megapixel wide lens for sharp, detailed shots, a 48-megapixel ultrawide that can capture large areas, and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens when you need to get a close-up. 

At its price point, the OnePlus 12 is a good choice for content creators who prioritize performance and screen quality and want something different from the most popular alternatives. 

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many stellar phones that compete for the title of the best phone for influencers and steamers. If you’re still not sure which to pick, Navi can help.

Our Phone Deal Finder searches through thousands of phone deal options to match you with the best offers you qualify for right now.  If you livestream away from home, you’ll want a solid data plan to back you up. Our free and unbiased Plan Finder tool can help you find the right phone plan deal based on your data needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which phone is best for live streaming?

If you’re into live streaming, you’ll want a phone with great cameras, solid performance, and a long-lasting battery. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Google Pixel 9 Pro all have vibrant displays and powerful cameras to keep your content looking the best it can.

What phone do streamers use to IRL stream?

Streamers who share content on YouTube and Twitch usually opt for top-tier iPhone or Android smartphones. By choosing devices like Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, they’ll get amazing cameras, fast processors, and batteries that can keep up. 

Which phone is best for a TikTok live stream?

If you want the best TikTok live streams, you’ll need a phone with powerful cameras, fast processing, and a long-lasting battery. You will usually find these in the Pro model iPhones and Pixel phones, as well as the Ultra editions of the Samsung Galaxy.