4K recording in smartphones has become so popular among consumers that you can now find it in most mid-range devices, and sometimes even in entry-level devices. Recording in 4K has its share of advantages — not only are you getting much more detailed videos — you are also getting higher cropping latitudes as well as improved colour balance. This gives you more freedom to edit them however you like — such as zooming parts of the videos without losing too many details or even cropping them. If you’re searching for the best smartphone with 4K video recording support, then the below list will come in handy for you. Below you can some of the best smartphones with 4K recording capabilities across the price ranges. But before that, you need to keep in mind some important things before you make the purchase decision.
Things to consider before buying a phone with 4K video recording support
It may seem like a challenging task to buy a smartphone with a camera as the priority. Especially considering you cannot gauge everything by just looking at the hardware. This is because lenses are inherently smaller on mobile devices due to space constraints. That’s why OEMs rely on a combination of hardware and computational photography tricks to give you the best picture quality possible. When buying camera smartphones keep the below things in mind:
- Camera: Ensure the phone’s optics come with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). OIS uses hardware to help you shoot blur-free and stable videos. And if OIS is not available, many OEMs at least include EIS or Electronic Image Stabilisation. This uses software solutions to stabilise the videos.
- Camera filters: Manufacturers offer a wide range of filters and camera modes to help you capture versatile shots — including portrait modes, night modes, wide-angle modes, and many others. When buying a camera smartphone look for these modes/filters.
- Display type, resolution, and refresh rate: Most of the current smartphone market is either dominated by IPS or AMOLED panels. Out of these two technologies, AMOLED panels provide better picture quality and wider viewing angles along with higher contrast ratios and deeper blacks. If you want the best picture quality go with AMOLED smartphones. Another factor to consider here is the display resolution. This becomes especially important if the smartphone’s display is too big as such displays usually tend to have lower DPIs (Pixel Density per Inch). So, when you’re buying smartphones ensure the phone’s display has a higher resolution and higher DPI to avoid pixelated images. Lastly, also consider the refresh rate of the display. All smartphones include 60Hz panels but it is not uncommon to see 90Hz or 120Hz displays and even refresh rates as high as 144Hz and 160Hz on mid-range and high-end smartphones. The higher the refresh rate the better smoothness you’ll get while scrolling through apps. A higher refresh rate is especially important if you are a gamer as it’ll give higher fps while gaming.
- Processor, RAM, and storage: If you plan to run heavy games or run other intensive tasks, you should get a phone that has a powerful processor coupled with at least 4GB to 6GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and quick response times. Similarly, a large amount of storage will help you store more of your favourite stuff like apps, games, photos, movies, and other things.
- Battery capacity and fast charging: Always ensure that the phone can at least last through the day on a single full charge. Keep an eye on the battery life claims made by the manufacturer. While a larger battery capacity will statically give you more runtime on paper, the results don’t always translate to real-world numbers. Because the battery life depends on several nuanced factors — such as your use cases and hardware configurations such as the refresh rates- and the type of display used by the manufacturer, as well as on-board software optimisations. So before you make that purchase decision make sure to research and ensure the smartphone actually offers the battery life you need in real-world scenarios. Another thing to make sure of here is the availability of fast charging solution on the smartphone so you can juice it up faster.
Best phones with 4K video recording support
1. Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13 is one of the best premium smartphones you can buy, and it supports 4K video recording. Its upgraded dual-camera system now comes with improved wide- and ultra-wide cameras, which let more light in and support Dolby Vision HDR 4K video recording for stunningly detailed videos even in low light. Apple has also added Cinematic mode support both for the front and rear cameras, which lets you shoot cinema-grade videos with just a click of a button. You also get the Photographic Styles feature that applies a set of filters and effects to your photos using computational photography magic to get stunningly beautiful and natural-looking photos. Furthermore, the sensor-shift OIS technology enables you to shoot shake-free videos. What's more, you also get Portrait mode, Night mode selfies, Smart HDR4, Deep Fusion, and many other photography filters and modes to help you capture the best shot you always wanted.
Thanks to the energy-efficient and powerful A15 Bionic chipset at the core, the Apple iPhone 13 provides fast performance as well as improved battery life. You now get up to 19 hours of video playback on a single charge. You also get accurate and secure authentication with the TrueDepth-powered Face ID. At the front, you get a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (OLED) for gorgeous popping visuals. Further, the display can peak up to an impressive 1,200nits of brightness to offer great sunlight legibility and improved whites and blacks. Software-wise the iPhone 13 runs on the latest iOS 15 -- which gets updates over time to improve the functionality of the device. Phone 13 sports a boxy flat edge design and is built to be durable and gets an IP68 water resistance rating as well. Lastly, you get MagaSafe accessory support as well.
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
The latest flagship from Samsung is one of the best camera smartphones worth buying. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G has a sleek and elegant design profile with a metal frame around the edges for a premium look. A 108MP wide-angle Pro-grade main camera is taking care of the optics, which is coupled with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 10MP 3x optical zoom lens, and 10MP 10x optical zoom lens. This setup brings you the ability to click sharp and detailed photos and videos with higher cropping latitudes. Its AI brilliance and Super Night Solution further help you click impressive low-light imagery. And yes, you get an excellent 4K video recording mode as well.
Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra also supports S Pen to make it easy to take notes or draw. You get a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display for vivid and vibrant imagery. Further, an impressive 1,750nits of brightness ensures everything is bright and clear under direct sunlight. At the core, a powerful 4nm processor is powering the handset, which cuts through most tasks, including games, without any hassles. It also gets Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection at both the front and back for increased scratch- and drop resistance. Additionally, the IP68 water resistance rating enables you to shoot videos near the water bodies without worrying about any accidental water splashes. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has one of the best optics on a smartphone and if you're looking for an excellent camera smartphone, you cannot go wrong with this one.
3. iQOO 9 SE 5G
We have the excellent iQOO 9 SE 5G on our list of best 4K video recording smartphones. A 48MP OIS main camera is taking care of the optics along with a 13MP wide-angle (120-degree) lens, which can also capture macro shots with a minimum focal length of 2.5cm. As for the processor, the iQOO 9 SE runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform, which brings up to a 25 percent improvement in CPU performance and a 35 percent increase in GPU performance than its previous generation of chips. There is a 6.62-inch 120Hz (AMOLED) display with 1,200nits of peak brightness for super-smooth visuals and brighter image rendering capabilities. Thanks to the HDR10+ you also get next-level vibrant imagery. iQOO has also certified the phone with the SGS Eye Care Display certification to protect your eyes.
You also get a big 4,500mAh battery that charges through the included 66W Flash Charger, which gets you from zero to 50 percent in just about 15 minutes. With features like Extended RAM 2.0, a full coverage Vapour Chamber Cooling System, 300Hz touch sampling rate, 4D Game Vibration, and Z-axis linear vibration motor -- iQOO 9 SE 5G is designed to provide excellent gaming performance. Overall, if you want a phone with 4K video recording capabilities, which can also double as a gaming smartphone, the iQOO 9 SE 5G is an excellent choice.
4. iQOO Neo 6 5G
iQOO Neo 6 5G is one of the best smartphones for gaming, multimedia consumption, as well as photography including 4K video recording. At the heart, the smartphone packs the powerful and energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, which provides power-packed performance in most daily tasks as well as gaming. You'll notice that the handset doesn't throttle while playing graphics-intensive games thanks to its area of Cascade Cooling System, which covers a total area of 36,907mm². Featuring a 6.62-inch 120Hz E4 AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and 1,300 nits of peak brightness, you'll notice that the images are much brighter and more vibrant. You also get Netflix HDR certification to ensure that you can play HDR videos on the iQOO Neo 6 5G. All this is to say that you'll get one of the best multimedia consumption experiences on this device. What's more, it also gets SGS Eye Care certification to protect your eyes from excessive harmful blue light.
In terms of optics, you get a GW1P 64MP main sensor with OIS for high resolution, blur-free images. Further, Party Portrait, Long Exposure Mode, and Super Night Mode ensure versatile photography. A massive 4,700mAh battery is taking care of all the energy needs. It also gets 80W FlashCharge support, which charges the device from zero to 100 percent in around 30 minutes. The company also promises up to 2 major Android upgrades and up to 3 years of security patches to further future-proof the device. All this makes the iQOO Neo 6 5G one of the most well-rounded mid-range devices on the market currently and is definitely a good choice when it comes to 4K videos recording smartphones.
5. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
OnePlus recently introduced its latest mid-ranger, the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G. And just like its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 2, it also packs excellent optics and well-rounded hardware. It sports the same capable Sony IMX766 (OIS) main sensor at the back, which captures gorgeous and detailed shots including 4K videos. You also get an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view to help you capture wide-angle scenery. At the front, you get a 32MP Sony IMX615 camera for high-resolution beautiful selfies. The cameras also retain a wide array of effects and filters such as Nightscape, AI Highlight Video, and more. The front features a 6.43-inch 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display for buttery smooth visuals in apps and games. Further, the display also supports sRGB and DCI-P P3 colour gamut for vivid imagery. Watching videos on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube is going to be a memorable experience with HDR10+ support.
OnePlus is now using an even more powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1300 SoC, which brings additional horsepower in graphics performance, making it capable of running even the most high-end games with high fps. It now also comes with an upgraded 80W SUPERVOOC fast-charging as well for super-fast charging. OnePlus is also promising two generations of Android upgraded on top of the OxygenOS 12.1. Other features of the OnePlus Nord 2T include Dual Stereo speakers, Alert Slider, and AI Haptics.
6. OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
Now if you want a little more budget-friendly device, OnePlus has another capable device on the market. OnePlus Nord CE 2 has a thin and lightweight design profile with just 7.8mm thickness and just 178 grams of weight. The phone comes with a Mediatek Dimensity 900 processor, which strikes the perfect balance between power and energy efficiency -- giving you a smooth performance while still consuming less battery. It gets a 6.43-inch 90Hz (AMOLED) FHD+ screen for buttery smooth scrolling performance. Further, the display is HDR10+ certified for vibrant colour reproduction.
A 64MP AI-infused main sensor with 119 degrees wide-angle camera and a 16MP selfie shooter are powering the optics for improved photography. The camera also supports AI Backlit videos and Nighrtscape for enhanced photography. A massive 4,500mAh provides long battery life, which also supports a 65W SuperVOOC charger for quick recharge times. The company has also certified its fast charging with TUV Rheinland so you can simultaneously charge your device and play games without any safety concerns.
You also get a dedicated slot microSD card for storage expansion. The phone also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack so you can connect your favourite wired headphones for low-latency, high-quality audio. You also get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. As with all the OnePlus ‘Nord' series smartphones, OnePlus is promising 2 years of major Android updates and 3 years of security patches for more peace of mind. Nord CE 2 also supports a wide range of 5G bands so you can access the next generation 5G networks with ease. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is another well-rounded device from OnePlus with an excellent value proposition and is worth checking out.
7. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A33 sports a 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity U-Cut 90Hz Super AMOLED display. This one gets the Exynos 1280 octa-Core processor at the core for smooth performance. Its 8GB of RAM and a fast 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage ensure fast multitasking and quick app launches. Moreover, you can further expand the storage via the microSD card. The IP67 dust and water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 bring additional strength to an already good build. It also gets Dolby Atmos for cinematic audio.
The rear camera island houses a quad-camera setup, which includes a 48MP main sensor for high-resolution photography. A 13MP selfie takes care of the front camera. Further, Samsung has also included a Fun Mode for the camera with various visual effects. Samsung is also including a dedicated Game Booster to give you a lag-free gaming performance. Samsung is also claiming a 2-day battery life with its massive 5,000 battery, which also supports 25W fast charging to quickly juice up the device. The phone also comes with an under-display fingerprint sensor for easy authentication. The Samsung Galaxy A33 runs on the latest OneUI 4 based on the Android 12 OS for a feature-rich and intuitive software experience. To sum it up, if you want a device that is good at gaming, multimedia consumption, as well as photography, the Samsung Galaxy A33 is one of the best choices.
8. OnePlus 10R 5G
Next up, we have another OnePlus device, the OnePlus 10R 5G. And it is another excellently well-rounded device from OnePlus. OnePlus 10R is a beast of performance with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max chipset at the core. This makes day-to-day performance including gaming as well as 4K video recording a breeze. This one gets a 6.7-inch HDR AMOLED display for deeper blacks and whiter whites. And its 120Hz high refresh rate enables buttery smooth visuals. Additionally, the display also gets features such as Hyper Touch Mode, Reading Mode, Night Mode, and Eye Comfort Mode for improved functionality. OnePlus 10R 5G also packs one of the best optics around. You get the capable Sony IMX766 rear camera along with a 16MP Sony IMX471 front selfie camera. Furthermore, the OnePlus has added a range of filters and effects to improve the photography -- including Nightscape2.0, UltraShot HDR, Super Macro, Tilt-shift mode, Focus Peaking, Video Nightscape, Video Portrait Timelapse, Hyperlapse Mode, and many others.
OnePlus 10R 5G is also a long-lasting phone with a massive 5,000mAh battery at the centre, which also supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging for quick recharge times. Gaming is going to be a breeze with features such as HyperBoost Gaming Engine, GPA Frame Stabiliser, 720Hz of touch sampling rate, a Quick Startup feature, and 4D haptics. The phone runs on the OxygenOS 12 for a smooth, intuitive, and feature-rich software experience. If you want a gaming smartphone under the budget of Rs 40,000, the OnePlus 10R 5G is worth considering.
9. Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
The Samsung Galaxy M53 is another quality mid-ranger that you can consider for a 4K video recording camera smartphone. The smartphone features a thin and leek design profile with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED (120Hz) display for high-contrast and colourful image rendering. A Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the front for scratch and extended drop resistance. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor for powerful performance. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor makes unlocking the phone fast and easy. Further, The Vapour Chamber Cooling ensures smooth gaming. The massive 5,000mAh battery gets you a long-lasting battery on a single charge, which also supports 25W fast charging for quick recharge times.
The smartphone is equipped with a total of 12 5G bands for comprehensive next-generation wireless network support. A 108MP main camera is taking care of the optics along with an 8MP Ultra-wide camera for wide-angle shots. At the front, there is also a 32MP selfie camera for high-resolution photos. Additionally, you also get an Object Eraser, Photo Remaster, and background effects for video calls. The Dolby Atmos ensures theatre-like sound immersion. Lastly, the phone runs on the OneUI 4 for a feature-rich software experience.
10. Redmi Note 10S
The last device on our list of best 4k video recording smartphones is the Redmi Note 10S. The phone packs capable hardware and sports the company's Evol Design for stunning looks. Its 6.43-inch Super AMOLED gets 100 percent DCI-P3 wide colour gamut and up to 1,100nits of peak brightness vivid and bright image rendering. At the core, a MediaTek Helio G95 processor is powering the device for buttery smooth performance in daily tasks. Additionally, its built-in HyperGame engine makes sure you get a smooth and lag-free gaming experience.
The rear gets a 64MP quad-rear camera setup along with an Ultra-wide-angle lens, Tele macro lens, and Depth sensor for versatile photography. At the front, there is a 13MP front-facing camera as well for beautiful selfies. Its multiple camera filters such as Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and many others ensure versatile photography. The Redmi Note 10S satiates its energy needs from its massive 5,000mAh battery, which also charges from zero to 50 percent in around 30 minutes with the included 33W fast charger. You also get an IP53 water resistance rating and Corning Gorilla Glass protection for extended durability. Redmi Note 10S also includes Hi-Res dual stereo speakers and a Z-axis vibration motor. If you want a budget device for gaming and multimedia consumption, which also supports 4K video recording, the Redmi Note 10S is an excellent choice.
