For people intending to upgrade to or purchase a new phone, the best phone for video recording has never been a more pertinent concern. This is because currently social media is dominated by video content.
Many smartphone reviews stress photography, it’s, therefore, necessary to concentrate on video recording abilities in this review. You may be stunned to know this, but a phone having a good camera doesn’t outrightly guarantee amazing video capturing. Why? Because smartphone camera systems heavily depend on computational strength and processing of image signals to produce photos and videos.
According to Camera World, the fact is, phone makers vary in their skills in creating a smartphone camera that can capture nice pictures and video. While some simply emphasize one over the other. For many years, Apple has led the way in producing devices with cutting-edge, high-quality video recording abilities. However, recently Samsung, Oppo, and others have laid more emphasis on video, closing the gap significantly.
Which Phone is Best for Video Recording in 2022?
Here are the best phones for video recording:
1. Sony Xperia Pro-I
The most comprehensive video-centric smartphone.
Specifications
- Cameras: 12MP 50mm (f/2.4), 12MP 1-inch 24mm (f/2-4), 12MP 16mm (f/2.2)
- Front video: FullHD/30p (f/2)Rear video: 4K/120pOIS: YesWeight: 211g
- Dimensions: 166 x 72 x 8.9mmRAM: 12GBStorage: 512GB + microSDXC (up to 1TB)
- Battery: 4,500mAh
Pros
- Comprehensive manual controls
- 4K/60 ProRes video recording
- Best-in-class 4K HDR display
- Quality 4K/120p video
- Expandable storage
- Dedicated physical camera buttons + strap hole
Cons
- Complicated functions
- Not best for point-and-shoot
In a world where most phones just seem to be slightly re-designed from each other, the Sony Xperia Pro-I goes it’s the way. It has a boxy form aspect, with a 6.5-inch 21:9 4K HDR OLED display, one of the sharpest available on any smartphone right now. It also has a dedicated button for opening the camera app and another right beside it for opening one of its three video recording modes.
In other departures, the Xperia Pro-I has a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable memory via microSDXC support up to 1TB; two things no other major flagship offers right now. When it’s time to record video, the Sony Xperia Pro-I gives full manual controls, optical image stabilization, subject tracking, eye autofocus, and a physical aperture that switches the lens from f2 to f4. Videography Pro mode allows you to control every aspect of exposure and focusing, even allowing you to make cinematic manual focus pulls.
Sony says it developed this smartphone’s video UI around similar menus and functions it used in its pro camera bodies, so it will feel familiar to Sony shooters in particular. However, that also means that the wealth of settings, cinema picture profiles, and controls may feel daunting to the uninitiated.
It has also produced some interesting accessories for this device that allow you to add a vlogging monitor via USB-C and a bluetooth remote grip with physical controls. This combo allows you to plug in a microphone and use the main rear camera for vlogging. And if you have a Sony mirrorless camera, you can also use the Xperia Pro-I as an external 4K HDR monitor.
If you want a smartphone that doesn’t depend on point-and-shoot computational photography and video execution, the Xperia Pro-I sets you in the director’s chair. It’s a device that rewards people who are willing to take the time to make the most of its plethora of shooting functions.
2. iPhone 13 Pro Max
No commotion, excellent quality, iPhone just works.
Specifications
- Cameras: 12MP 26mm (f/1.5), 12MP 77mm (f/2.8), 12MP 13mm (f/1.8)
- Front video: 4K/60pRear video: 4K/60pOIS: YesWeight: 240g
- Dimensions: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mmRAM: 6GBStorage: 128GB-1TB
- Battery: 4,352mAh
Pros
- Great automatic performance
- Faithful color
- Built-in video editor
- Superior 3rd-party support
- Apps optimized for iPhone
Cons
- Little manual control
- Very large device
- Unattractive lens flare
Since the introduction of the iPhone 5S, Apple’s flagship phones have consistently been a popular option for filmmakers. Each generation has added to the success of the last and using 4K/60 10-bit HDR video capture and optical image stabilization, the Apple iPhone 13-series is surely the best. Apple has prioritized the capture of neutral, faithful colors for photography and video, which is appealing to people who prefer content with more natural tones.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max can record videos in the professional video codec Apple ProRes, which maximizes image quality in efficient file size for easy editing. And when it comes to editing, iPhones benefit from the inclusion of iMovie, a built-in video editing app. iMovie is a powerful tool for putting together slick-looking videos and exporting them for social media. Best of all? It’s free. This is one of the major advantages of using an iPhone for video as there is no equivalent standardized film creation app for Android.
Another critical benefit of choosing an iPhone is that 3rd party manufacturers prioritize making accessories specifically for them. For example, when the iPhone 13-series launched, photo and video accessory pioneers PeakDesign launched a full range of mounts and other accessories to help creators film and take pictures with their devices.
Because iPhones come in three standardized sizes and a single operating system, it makes it easy for other companies to support them with other products and apps. This leads to our final reason for recommending the iPhone 13 Pro Max as the best smartphone for video. Because iOS is a single platform, apps, like Instagram and TikTok are optimized primarily for iPhone, which generally leads to fewer issues with compression ruining the quality of the content you upload.
3: Google Pixel 6 Pro
Another smart Pixel camera phone.
Specifications
- Cameras: 12MP 1/1.31” 24mm (f/1.85), 48MP 1/2.0” 104mm (f/3.5), 12.5MP 1/2.86” 16mm (f/2.2)
- Front video: 4K/30p (f/2)Rear video: 4K/60pOIS: YesWeight: 210g
- Dimensions: 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mmRAM: 12GBStorage: 128/256/512GB
- Battery: 5003mAh
Pros
- Beautiful 4K/60p footage from the main camera
- Consistent exposure and color
- Best-in-class image stabilization
- Low noise
Cons
- Ultra-wide lens is not wide enough
- No fast-charging
- The device is super slippery without a case
Google’s Pixel 6 Pro is built around its proprietary Tensor chipset, with powerful AI being deployed to deliver a significant bump in image and video quality produced by its cameras. Pixel devices have been among the most innovative when it comes to computational imaging and the Pixel 6 Pro is the company’s best execution yet.
The Pixel 6 Pro is the first Google phone to feature a triple camera array. The primary camera has a 50MP 1/1.31-inch sensor, partnered with a 24mm equivalent f/1.85 lens. The other two cameras are a 12.5MP camera with an ultra-wide 16mm equivalent lens, and a 48MP telephoto camera offering 4x optical zoom, equivalent to 104mm focal length.
Thanks to its advanced algorithms, including the newly developed “HDRnet”, the Pixel 6 Pro is adept at “seeing” and representing what’s in the scenes that you direct it at. The result means that its auto exposures are consistently pleasing, accurately capturing colors and details in most lighting scenarios when using the main camera. The Pixel 6 Pro also handles noise smartly and delivers impressive dynamic range performance that rivals the iPhone 13 Pro.
As seems to be the case with most devices these days, the quality doesn’t hold across the other available cameras. There’s a slightly cooler color shift when using the ultra-wide camera, although it appears a touch more saturated, which some people may prefer. When recording 4K video, 2x zoom is available. However, it doesn’t look great and it would only be recommended when shooting for a Full HD output. Overall, the Pixel 6 Pro makes shooting video on an Android phone a joy, due to its consistency and ease of use.
4: Realme GT 2 Pro
Wonderful value for money.
Specifications
- Cameras: 50MP 1/1.56” 24mm (f/1.8), 50MP 15mm (f/2.2), 3MP Microscope camera (f/3.3)
- Front video: FullHD/30p (f/2.4)
- Rear video: 8K/24pOIS: YesWeight: 199g
- Dimensions: 163.2 x 74.7 x 8.2mmRAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Battery: 5000mAh
Pros
- Impressive camera hardware
- Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Impressive image stabilization
- Great value for money
Cons
- Autofocus unstable
- Strong exposure fluctuations
- No telephoto lens or optical zoom
Challenger brand Realme has climbed the ranks quickly to become one of the best-kept secrets in the Android phone world. By selecting some top hardware for its camera unit and maximizing the benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, Realme has ensured that the GT 2 Pro is one of the most competitive smartphones for photography and video currently on the market.
The Sony IMX766 sensor at the heart of the Realme GT 2 Pro is a proven winner, it’s the same unit in the Oppo Find X5 Pro. This device also shares the same impressive 150° ultra-wide camera as the OnePlus 10 Pro. With quality hardware at its disposal, the Realme GT 2 Pro can produce excellent video in good light. Although relying on its infant AI scene enhancement mode, it has a slight tendency to over-saturate and occasionally, wildly over or underexpose whenever it’s unsure what the subject of a scene is. These types of errors can be corrected via updates, so we hope this is something that will be improved.
The Realme GT 2 Pro has a dedicated Movie mode, that features a horizontal UI and allows you to take control of manual settings, which will negate deficiencies in its auto exposure performance. It also gives you the choice to shoot in its version of a flat log profile or in an HDR mode that increases vibrancy and dynamic range automatically. When recording in Movie mode, the Realme GT 2 Pro outputs a 4K file in a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. You can also record 720p video using the device’s unique – some may say – gimmicky microscope camera, with audio. It might have very limited use cases, but it’s a fun addition.
5: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
One of the zoom governors of the smartphone world.
Specifications
- Cameras: 108MP 1/1.33” 23mm (f/1.8),10MP 1/3.52” 230mm Periscope (f/4.9), 10MP 1/3.52” 70mm (f/2.4), 12MP 1/2.55” 13mm 120° ultra-wide (f/2.2)
- Front video: 4K/30p (f/2)
- Rear video: 8K/24pOIS: YesWeight: 228g
- Dimensions: 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mmRAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
- Battery: 5000mAh
Pros
- Super high-definition 8K video
- Innovative video functionality
- Large battery
- 10x Optical Zoom
- Remote control via S-Pen
Cons
- No microSD card(opens in new tab) slot
- The S21 Galaxy Ultra is still attractive
Samsung’s Galaxy S-series phones have received a significant bump in video-recording capabilities since the launch of the Galaxy S9 Plus. Since that benchmark release, Samsung has consistently delivered year-on-year improvements to both photography and video recording, making Samsung flagship devices a go-to choice for content creators.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra has some eye-catching headline specs, including 8K video recording at up to 30fps, 10x zoom, and 480fps Full HD slow-motion capture. It also has a quirky mode called “Director’s View”, which is only available when you use the dedicated Samsung Galaxy camera app. Director’s view is aimed at vloggers and YouTubers, and it enables you to record video from all of the device’s cameras at once. It’s not a tool that will appeal to everyone, but it could be great for filming something taking place while capturing your reactions and commentary.
Video from the S22 Ultra is punchy, crisp, and stable, thanks to its optical image stabilization system. It also has a large battery, which is ideal for those of us who want to stay connected and enjoy heavy camera use. But that being said, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra seems to be able to squeeze just under an hour more out of its 5,000 mAh battery. It also still holds its own when it comes to video and camera performance. If you’re on a budget, maybe Samsung’s previous flagship is worth considering too.
Video from the S22 Ultra is punchy, crisp, and stable, thanks to its optical image stabilization system. It also has a large battery, which is ideal for those of us who want to stay connected and enjoy heavy camera use. But that being said, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra seems to be able to squeeze just under an hour more out of its 5,000 mAh battery. It also still holds its own when it comes to video and camera performance. If you’re on a budget, maybe Samsung’s previous flagship is worth considering too.
6: Oppo Find X5 Pro
Powered by its bespoke MariSilicon X neural processing unit.
Specifications
- Cameras: Main camera 50MP (f/1.7), telephoto 13MP (f/2.4), ultra-wide 50MP (f/2.2)
- Front video: FullHD/30p
- Rear video: 8K/30pOIS: YesWeight: 195g
- Dimensions: 163.7 x 73.9 x 8.5mmRAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 256/512GBBattery: 5,000 mAh
Pros
- Premium design
- The consistently impressive main camera
Cons
- Limited zoom
The Oppo Find X5 Pro’s camera is built around the 50MP Sony IMX766 camera and its proprietary MariSilicon X chip, which is designed to deliver greater levels of picture detail, color depth, and low noise.
The main camera is capable of recording up to 4K/60p video and FullHD video at an impressive 240fps, for those of you who are interested in capturing slow-motion content. Its front-facing or selfie camera is limited to only FullHD/30p. Oppo has identified nighttime video recording as one area where most smartphones typically let people down. With that in focus, Oppo has created a progressive noise reduction algorithm to eliminate grainy footage. It works by using artificial intelligence to scan each frame for and reduce image noise in low-light videos, pixel by pixel. The advantage of taking this approach is that the phone cleverly manages to deliver cleaner 4K footage in low light, without heavily destroying details and compromising color accuracy.
The autofocusing and auto-exposure of the Oppo Find X5 Pro is another area where its neural processing unit performs well. The Find X5 Pro detects subjects, including faces quickly and adjusts the exposure to deliver a pleasing look, depending on what it thinks you’re filming. The only major setback here is the device’s humble telephoto capability, which taps out at a limiting 2x optical zoom.
7: Xiaomi 12 Pro
Amazing detail and colors in most lighting conditions.
Specifications
- Lenses: 1/1.28” 50MP (f/1.9), 1/2.76” 48mm telephoto 50MP (f/1.9), 1/2.76” 15mm ultra-wide 50MP (f/2.2)
- Front video: FullHD/60pMain video: 8K/24pOIS:
- YesWeight: 204g
- Dimensions: 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2mmRAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
Pros
- Large sensor in the main camera
- Good value for money
- 8K/24p video
- Great image stabilization
Cons
- Mid-range sensors in telephoto and wide cameras
- Only 2x optical zoom
- Not on sale in the USA
Sporting a triple 50MP camera setup, the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s main camera is built around the Sony IMX707 sensor. While it’s not the largest sensor in the camera world, measuring 1/1.28-inches, it’s one of the biggest. It even has more light-gathering surface area than the ever-popular Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s main camera.
Both its main and telephoto cameras use f/1.9 lenses, paired with its relatively large sensor, this helps the Xiaomi 12 Pro to produce rich footage in daylight and natural, detailed footage in low light. Although the detail falls apart when not using the main camera in low light. Its ultra-wide camera offers a 115° field of view, suitable for cityscape-style vistas. But again, the quality doesn’t keep up with its main camera, even in good light.
There are some decent movie-making modes within the 12 Pro’s camera app, including VLOG. This shooting mode gives users a selection of vlogging templates. Selecting one allows you to create quick and easy landscape videos from captured clips in a range of styles, with edits, effects, and transitions built into a precomposed timeline.
All things considered, the Xiaomi 12 Pro does a brilliant job with video, particularly in good light. It’s one of only a handful of phones to make use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset’s 8K-video capabilities. It also churns out attractive 4K/60p footage and has effective image stabilization for smooth shots when filming handheld or steady walking.
Video Recording Phones FAQs
Here are the frequently asked questions about video recording phones.
How many hours can a phone record videos?
This honestly relies on your device storage capacity and the quality in which you are capturing the video. Just the 4K video recording comes with a time limit of 4 to 8 minutes (depending on the phone) Because it takes up large storage space on your phone and heats it greatly.
Can you be on the phone and take a video?
Yes, you can capture a picture (screenshot) or a video of your phone’s screen. After you seize your screen, you can view, edit, and share the image or video.
What are more important megapixels or lenses?
Honestly, a better lens will often yield better images regardless of the megapixel count. Yet, the opposite is not true. Using a bogus lens on a higher MP camera will still give mediocre results.
Which phone records the best video?
Succeeding this category for its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II, the Xperia 1 III proceeds Sony’s dominance in the world of smartphone video recording. It is capable of 4K HDR recording at 24, 25, 30, 60, and 120 fps slow motion.
Which budget phone is best for video recording?
If you are operating on a budget, you can consider one of the following options:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- iPhone SE 2020
- Huawei Nova 8i
- Vivo X60 Pro
- Realme 8s 5G.
Which phone has a cinematic mode?
Regarding recording, Cinematic Mode is now available for the wide-angle and telephoto cameras on the back, and a selfie camera. These iPhones support Cinematic Mode: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max.2.
There you have it, all the information you need to make your sound decision.
