Smartphones these days have become the perfect and compact alternative to carrying heavy DSLR cameras. You don’t need multiple lenses and a kit bag to shoot the best content anymore. Vlogging is a big part of the industry these days, thanks to the boom of social media apps like YouTube, TikTok, Reels and more. It has allowed more people to explore the space, and they can do it simply using their smartphones. If you are an aspiring vlogger, a good quality camera phone is the only thing you need to get started. Here are some of the best phones for vlogging across different price ranges that can get your vlogging career rolling.
Things to consider while buying camera smartphones
Camera: When buying a phone with its cameras as a priority can be a challenging task. For the purpose of vlogging, you need to make sure a few things to get a great video shooting experience. One of the first things to make sure of is that the front camera should have a wide angle-view lens so you get more of the scenery while vlogging. Another thing to make sure of is that the manufacturer has included the optical image stabilisation (OIS) in cameras so the video doesn’t shake while you’re walking. If the OIS is not available make sure the manufacturer is at least offering a software equivalent of OIS, which is generally called
Electronic image stabilisation (EIS).
Camera filters: Manufacturers offer a wide range of filters to suit your photography needs. These can be portrait modes, night modes, wide-angle modes, and more. Look for a wide range of filters and camera modes so you capture that beautiful shot you always wanted.
Display: Make sure the display is either an IPS LCD or an AMOLED panel. For comparison, AMOLED offers wider viewing angles, higher contrast, and deeper blacks than IPS panels. If you’re after the image quality we suggest you go with a phone that has an AMOLED display for better visuals.
Processor, RAM, and storage: Make sure you get a phone with a faster processor along with a high amount of RAM for smooth multitasking and faster task completion. Similarly, a large amount of storage will help you store more of your favourite apps, games, and movies.
Battery and fast charging: Make sure the phone can offer at least a days worth of battery life, so you don’t run out of battery in the middle of the day. Another thing to make sure of is the availability of fast charging solution so that when the battery juice runs out you can fill it in a matter of minutes instead of hours.
1. Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
Apple introduced the new iPhone 13 series a few months back, and it is one of the best phones you can buy for vlogging. The iPhone 13 Pro series features a Super Retina display with ProMotion technology for high refresh rate support. It uses the same A15 Bionic as the other iPhone 13 series devices. But where you see the real difference with the iPhone Pros is the imaging prowess. You get the new set of 12MP cameras at the back that offer wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide-angle photography for different perspectives in your visuals.
You also get a 6x optical zoom range, allowing you to capture far-off objects. Macro photography also gets a new lease of life with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max this year, and people who’ve bought either of these iPhone models have been blown away by their low-light capability. You can shoot videos in 4K Dolby Vision HDR which brings extra richness to your content. And now the front 12MP camera also supports night mode, so the selfies never look dull. iPhone 13 Pro also comes with OIS and delivers super-steady videos, a must-have feature for vloggers. We also love that the phone is IP68 certified, allowing you to shoot your vlogs in rain and near water bodies without the fear of bricking your phone.
2. Apple iPhone 13 and 13 mini
The iPhone 13 series from Apple has four models, and that includes the regular iPhone 13 and the mini version. These may not be as powerful as the Pro seniors, but you cannot discount their camera quality and performance. Apple has made a few design tweaks to give the phones a refresh in terms of looks. The rear cameras sit diagonally, and the new 12MP sensors provide better results in all conditions. You have wide and ultra-wide-angle sensors that support 4K HDR video recording and advanced night mode capabilities to give you the best results without any loss in details.
And thanks to the A15 Bionic chipset under the hood, the cameras shine and give you flagship quality results. Apple has offered its popular Cinematic Mode on the front camera that takes vlogging to a whole new level with its eye on detail and focus on the subject seamlessly. If the 13 Pro models are a bit too costly for you, you can get the iPhone 13 mini for almost half the price and start your vlogging career. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are some of the best phones for vlogging that you can buy right now.
3. iQOO 9 Pro 5G
The recently launched flagship from iQOO is another choice for a vlogging smartphone. It is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, which offers a 20 percent increase in CPU performance and up to 30 percent increase in GPU
performance. In terms of optics, you get a 50MP GN5 Gimbal camera that offers gimbal image stabilisation, a 16MP portrait lens with optical image stabilisation, and a 50MP 150-degree Fisheye camera so you can shoot the video the way you want and capture
every scene in the perfect closeup. Additionally, you also get Super Night Mode for brighter and more detailed night and low-light shots. There is a 4700mAh battery with 120W FlashCharge support that charges the device to 50 percent in just 8 minutes. You
get 50W wireless fast charging support as well. The front of the device sports a 6.78-inch 2K E5 AMOLED display along with 10-bit and 1500nits of peak brightness for colourful and bright image reproduction. You also get dual stereo speakers for theatrical
sound, a large 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for a fast and easy authentication experience, 300Hz of touch sampling rate support for responsive display, and more. Overall, if you want a vlogging phone, you cannot go wrong with this one.
4. Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G
Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G is yet another powerful and feature-packed device. You get a 5G-enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC coupled with an 8GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage for smooth multitasking apps and high performance in games. In terms of optics, you have a 108MP HM2 sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 5MP TeleMacro lens, which support 8K video recording for an immersive videography experience. The 120Hz 6.67-inch FHD+ (10-bit AMOLED) display has a Dolby Vision, HDR 10+ certification, Displaymate A+ certification, and 480Hz touch sampling rate for a vivid, smooth, and responsive experience. The Hi-Res dual symmetrical speakers are tuned by Harman Kardon for a cinematic sound experience. Additionally, you also get Dolby Atmos certification for even more sound immersion. There is a 5000mAh battery that charges through a 120W HyperCharge, which takes the phone from 0 to 100 percent in just 17 minutes. The phone supports a wide range of 5G bands to make your purchase future-proof. Additionally, Xiaomi is also promising 3 generations of Android upgrades and 4 years of security patches for peace of mind. Overall, this is one of the best feature-packed camera phones you can buy for vlogging.
5. OnePlus 10 Pro
The latest flagship from OnePlus features the second-generation Hasselblad camera that is optimised for 510 usage scenarios and can capture 64 times more colour information than a traditional mobile camera lens for an improved photography experience. You get a 48MP Sony IMX789 optical image stabilisation (IOS) camera along with an 8MP OIS telephoto lens and a 50MP 150-degree ultra-wide-angle camera so you can shoot higher dynamic and vivid photos and videos. Additionally, you also get 12-bit RAW and RAW+ format support so you can capture all the scenic shots with all the details preserved. You also get a 32MP front-facing camera for high-resolution shots. OnePlus has also included a wide range of filters such as Bright HDR video mode, Night Mode, Vibrant Colour Effect Pro, Ultrahigh-resolution video, and more. OnePlus 10 Pro is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
SoC for faster and more powerful performance in apps and games. This variant of the phone packs 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is a 5,000mAh big battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging support. The phone runs Oxygen OS based on Android 12 and should get 3 generations of Android upgrades making it future-proof. Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro will provide you with one of the best possible vlogging experiences.
6. iQOO 7 5G
iQOO 7 5G is also an option for your vlogging needs. The 48MP triple rear cameras get OIS support for shake-free content on the go. The 13MP secondary sensor at the back lets you shoot with ultra-wide and macro perspectives. iQOO has combined OIS and EIS, which gives you the Ultra Stable Mode that stabilises the videos and gives it a clean output. Then you also have the Extreme Night Vision feature that showers more light into visuals when the ambient levels are low. The compact nature of the device is also another advantage, letting you shoot for long hours without feeling exhausted.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
The latest flip device from Samsung is also part of our list, purely because it offers you something different. And we are not only talking about the form factor. Even the camera features have been customised to work on this device. Galaxy Z Flip3 5G has 12MP dual rear cameras that offer ultra-wide and wide-angle shooting. The best thing that Samsung has done in terms of innovation is that it has used the cover screen on the front as a viewfinder to shoot selfies using the rear cameras. Not only does that give you better results but also lets you shoot in different angles with more subjects added to the frame.
The innovation trickles down to the front camera as well, thanks to the Flex Mode that lets people shoot hands-free. You just have the adjust the angle of the frame before taking the photo or video. The phone also comes with an auto framing feature that always keeps the shot centred, even when the subjects are in motion. And yes, Night Time Lapse is another must-try option on the Galaxy Z Flip3 that gives you visuals in motion, even for shaky videos. With its versatile form factor and exceptional cameras, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is one of the best vlogging smartphones in the market right now.
8. OnePlus 9 Pro
The new flagship kid from OnePlus has been bestowed with camera goodness from Hasselblad. The Hasselblad colour tuning of the camera combined with the quad rear cameras of 48MP, 50MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto, and 2MP monochrome deliver astounding results. The improved image processing with the help of Hasselblad brings richness to your content, something that everyone likes. OnePlus is offering top-end quality, with a focus on skin tones with its collaboration, and promises flagship performance with its top-notch hardware and reliable software. If you are a vlogger in this day and age, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a worthy addition to your armoury.
9. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G
The Reno6 Pro 5G is the ultimate tool for vloggers because of its exceptional features for shooting videos. Oppo has equipped the rear camera with Bokeh Flare Portrait Video mode powered by AI computing, allowing you to capture portrait videos. Since most of the time you will be vlogging outside, this feature will be a big help by allowing you to blur out the unwanted subjects in the background. Reno6 Pro 5G also gets a Live HDR option, which optimises the ambient light in your videos and gives you more details.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Ultra Night Video mode brings more glamour and context to your videos, offering more brightness with help of AI technology. Having Focus Tracking means the main subject of your video is never out of focus and offered in high clarity. The primary 64MP rear camera is the brain behind all this mastery in videography.
10. Mi 11X Pro 5G
Mi 11X Pro 5G is a mid-range flagship, but when you go through its feature set, there is very little to suggest it is anything but that. Its 108MP triple rear sensor, along with its ultra-wide and macro sensors, gives vloggers the needed versatility to create awesome vlogs. When it comes to videos, Mi 11X Pro packs quite a punch thanks to the myriad of features that it packs. The camera offers features, such as time freeze for movie effects, magic zoom that adds a different zing to your content, and more. The slow shutter is a valuable addition when you are shooting with low light levels. The effect of the feature gives you great results.
Everyone likes to shoot videos in time-lapse, and Mi 11X Pro takes it to another level with night support. Capturing the skyline under the moonlight, that’s the dream. You also get features like time freeze video and parallel world mode that takes you upside-down. We also want to give special mention to the audio zoom feature that enhances the reach of the sound in your video.
