What is the Best Phone for Video Recording in 2024?

Video recording has become a key feature of modern smartphones, turning them into powerful tools for capturing high-quality footage. 

Whether you’re recording a special occasion or your next viral social media post, phones with good video recording capabilities can make a huge difference. While it’s true that most of today’s smartphones can capture video, some cell phone camera systems are better suited for video enthusiasts than others.

In this article, we'll highlight the best phones for video recording in 2024 to help content creators, filmmakers, or anyone serious about digital videography. 

Once you’ve narrowed down the right smartphone for your video needs, be sure to use our free and unbiased Phone Deal Finder below to help you find and compare the best phone deals based on your current trade-in and other criteria.

iPhone 16 Pro Max for Video Recording

Specifications

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are Apple's most advanced smartphones and a top pick for anyone serious about video recording. 

Last year, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had an exclusive 5x zoom camera feature that was not available on the standard iPhone 15 Pro, but this time, Apple made the camera systems on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max identical. 

That means you won’t be missing out on any camera capabilities by choosing the smaller iPhone 16 Pro. However, you will miss the larger battery of the Pro Max, which can help you get more shots before your phone needs to be recharged. That’s why it is our recommendation between the two choices.

Pro-grade iPhones have consistently been known for their video recording capabilities, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max continues this tradition with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie camera. 

To top it off, it also has a larger 6.9-inch OLED screen, which makes viewing videos even easier.‍

Pros‍

One of the things that sets the iPhone 16 Pro Max apart from its competitors is its ability to shoot ProRes Log Video. ProRes Log allows users to capture more data when recording, which is useful when editing footage. The additional information gives users more room to adjust colors, highlights, and shadows without losing as much quality as other formats, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max one of the best camera phones for recording video.

Like the previous model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a USB-C port, allowing you to connect extra storage to your device to save large video files.

A new addition to the iPhone 16 Pro models is the Camera Control Button, located just below the power button on the phone's right side. It’s a multifunctional camera button—you can hard press it once to either open the camera or take a picture, light press it to bring up different settings like exposure or zoom, and then adjust those settings by swiping your finger along the button. 

Another upgrade is the ability to shoot 4K at 120 fps, which lets you get crisp-looking slow-motion videos. This mode is also compatible with ProRes Log, though there is one caveat that we’ll explain in the next section.

But shooting video isn’t only about visuals—Apple says it also made upgrades to allow the iPhone 16 Pro models to capture better audio thanks to a four-microphone array that can reduce wind noise and allow you to adjust sound quality right on the phone. 

There are other things to like about the iPhone 16 Pro Max, like its night mode for low-light situations, its powerful optical zoom lens, and "Cinematic Mode,” which adds a blur (bokeh) effect to your videos, much like what you'd get with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. This was previously capped at 1080p but is now available in 4K at 30 FPS, making it one of the best phones for video recording.

Cons‍

A downside of Cinematic Mode is that it’s software-based (as opposed to lens-based on DSLR and mirrorless cameras), it can sometimes blur parts of the image that should stay sharp. This means the mode isn’t highly recommended for professional use. 

Also, when shooting ProRes, it's important to remember its video files can take up large amounts of storage and require color editing to achieve a natural look (the footage will look desaturated by default without editing). 

If you want to shoot ProRes at 4K and 120 FPS, you’ll need an external drive with a Thunderbolt 4 cable — because a 10-second clip can consume around 5 GB of storage. 

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple's most expensive model, starting at $1,200. Fortunately, you can find great deals on the iPhone 16 with Navi. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for Video Recording

Specifications‍

Like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, we recommend the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL over the standard Pixel 9 Pro for video recording because of its larger screen size and better battery life. Outside of those advantages, both phones share the same camera specs, so if you'd like to save money, opt for the standard Pixel 9 Pro. 

We like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for its powerful camera system and AI-enhanced video features. 

It also has a 6.8-inch Super Actua OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. So whether you're live-streaming, editing videos, or just viewing your latest footage, the display's peak brightness of up to 3000 nits will allow you to see everything clearly, even in the brightest sunlight.‍

Pros‍

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a good phone for video recording thanks to its triple rear camera system, which includes a 50MP wide camera, 48MP ultrawide lens, and 48MP periscope telephoto lens. This allows you to shoot in different situations, while the 42MP front camera can record clear selfie videos for vloggers, even in dim lighting.

The G4 Tensor processor in the Pixel 9 Pro XL also helps run Google's Android AI features, like the resolution booster, which upgrades your video from 4K to 8K by adding extra pixels. While 8K might not be needed in every situation, you can use it to pull large images from a video or crop in closer to the subject. 

Another AI tool is the Video Boost feature, which combines Night Sight with video recording. It works by taking multiple frames at different exposures to create extra dynamic range. This is useful when shooting video in lower-light situations.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL also has a USB-C connector to attach devices like expanded storage.  

Cons

‍The Pixel 9 XL Pro lacks a dedicated format like ProRes. While the 8K video features are impressive, it's important to note that they add more pixels but don't enhance the original detail. It's also processing intensive and requires uploading video clips to the cloud for processing.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for Video Recording

Specifications‍

With a quad camera setup that includes a 200MP wide lens, 50MP periscope telephoto lens, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide lens, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gives many of its competitors a run for their money.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's 40MP front camera keeps your selfies and vlogs sharp, and its 6.8-inch display offers plenty of screen real estate, which will help you review your footage or edit on the go. Samsung has also upgraded the phone with a 5x optical and 100x digital zoom so you can get close to what you’re photographing, even from a distance. 

The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip helps everything run smoothly, whether shooting in 8K or using the phone's Galaxy AI features, which we’ll dive into below. ‍

Pros‍

The Galaxy S24 Ultra cameras can capture video at 8K at 24 FPS and support 4K at 60FPS and 1080p at up to 240FPS. The Super Steady mode also helps keep videos stable even when you're on the move.

Galaxy AI can enhance photos and videos with features like "Instant Slow-mo," which turns standard videos into slow-motion clips without originally being shot at a high frame rate. This allows for added flexibility when editing footage, making it one of the best phones with good video recording capabilities, especially for slow-motion shots.

The AI's "Edit Suggestion" feature is useful for fine-tuning your photos. It suggests minor edits, such as removing unwanted shadows or reflections, which can make your images look even better before sharing them on social media.

One of the bonuses of picking up a Galaxy S24 Ultra is the included S Pen, which lets you write down notes or even sketch out ideas directly on the screen. ‍

Cons‍

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's $1,300 price tag can drive some away. Additionally, while impressive, the Galaxy AI tools are not entirely exclusive to the Ultra model since they can be found on less expensive Samsung phones. 

OnePlus 12 for Video Recording

While it may not be as popular as other phones we've listed, the OnePlus 12 has some impressive features that help it compete with other flagship phones. 

The OnePlus 12 can record 8K footage at 24fps, which provides more room to crop and edit in post-production. If 8K isn't your thing, the OnePlus 12 also handles 4K video at up to 60fps for smooth, high-resolution footage.

Its camera system includes a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. ‍

Pros 

If you're a videographer who values control and flexibility, the OnePlus 12's 8K recording and video modes are the highlights. 

The Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the main and telephoto cameras helps reduce camera shake and keep footage steady. Modes like Video HDR and Video Nightscape can enhance video quality by adjusting settings in different lighting environments. It also has a Pro mode for advanced users.

The OnePlus 12 is more affordable than other phones on this list, starting at $800.‍

Cons 

If you'd like to use AI features for photo and video editing, the OnePlus 12 is lacking here compared to smartphones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. 

The Bottom Line

Depending on your needs, there are many great choices for the best phone for video recording in 2024. The iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out with its ProRes Log Video, while one of the best Android phones, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, offers powerful AI tools to enhance your video quality. If you’re after professional-level control, the Sony Xperia Pro-I might have the best camera features for you. 

Each of these phones offers something unique, so consider which features are most important to you — and If you’re ready to compare phone plans, Navi’s unbiased Plan Finder tool can help direct you to the best deals available today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you record high-quality video on iPhone?

To capture high-quality video on your iPhone, switch between HD or 4K and adjust frame rates to 24, 30, or 60 fps using the quick toggles in the top-right corner of the camera screen. You can also fine-tune settings by going to Settings > Camera > Record Video, where you’ll find all the resolution and frame rate options available for your model.

How can I record a good video on a phone?

To record a good phone on your photo, make sure you've got proper lighting. Good lighting is key since even some of the best phones struggle with low light due to their small sensors. Hold your phone with both hands or a tripod to keep it steady. Don’t forget to clean your lens to get the sharpest footage.

Is it better to hold a phone vertically or horizontally for phone video?

If you’re sharing on platforms like YouTube or Facebook, holding your phone horizontally is the way to go since those videos look better on larger screens. However, vertical videos feel more natural for apps like Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok because people usually watch them on their phones. In the end, it’s all about where your video will live—horizontal for wide screens, vertical for mobile feeds.