best-iphone-camera

Which iPhone Has the Best Camera in 2024? A Comprehensive Guide

Updated on 26 July 2024

Read below for our "Which iPhone Has the Best Camera in 2024?" Ultimate Guide.

Choosing which iPhone has the best camera can be challenging, especially when it comes to finding the best camera to suit your needs. In 2024, Apple’s lineup offers several impressive options, each catering to different types of users. Whether you’re a professional photographer, a vlogger, or someone who loves taking selfies, there’s an iPhone for you. This guide will help you navigate the best iPhones for photography in 2024, ensuring you make an informed decision.

We’ll delve into the specifications, pros and cons, and user perspectives for each model. Additionally, we’ll discuss why purchasing a refurbished iPhone from Back Market can be a smart and eco-friendly choice. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of which iPhone has the best camera for your specific needs.

Winners of 2024

To make it easier to choose the best iPhone for your photography needs, we’ve summarised the top models in various categories. This carousel provides an at-a-glance view of the best iPhones for 2024, based on different user requirements.

These categories are designed to help you quickly identify which iPhone might be best for you, depending on your specific needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for the best overall performance or the most affordable option, this table will guide you in the right direction.

Best Overall: iPhone 15 Pro Max

best-overall-iphone-15-pro-max

When it comes to overall performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Verified Refurbished from *£909) stands out as the iPhone that has the best camera. This model offers top-of-the-line camera technology, making it ideal for both amateur and professional photographers. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a triple-lens setup, including a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens, making it a strong contender when considering which iPhone has the best camera for versatility. This combination allows for stunning versatility, enabling you to capture a wide range of shots with exceptional clarity.

The Pro Max also excels in low-light conditions thanks to its advanced Night mode. This feature enhances your photos by reducing noise and capturing more detail in dark environments, solidifying its position in the debate of which iPhone has the best camera for low-light photography. Additionally, the Pro Max supports ProRAW and ProRes formats, giving you greater control over your images and videos during post-processing. If you’re looking for a smartphone that can do it all, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the clear winner.

iPhone 15 Pro Max review: is Apple making a play for the Android crowd?

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 3.02 in. x 6.29 in. x 0.32 in.

  • Display: 6.7-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display

  • Processor: A17 Pro chip

  • Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

  • Camera: Triple-lens pro camera system (48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto)

  • Front camera: 12 MP

  • Battery life: Up to 29 hours of video playback

  • Weight: 7.81 oz

Pros

Cons

👍 Exceptional camera versatility with triple-lens setup with support for ProRAW format

👎 Expensive

👍 Superior audio/video recording capabilities and low-light performance

👎 Bulky size might not be convenient for all users

👍 Large display for reviewing photos and footage

Best Affordable Option: iPhone 14

best-affordable-iphone-14-image

For those on a budget, the iPhone 14 (Verified Refurbished from *£390) offers excellent camera performance at a more accessible price. This model features a dual-lens system, including a wide and ultra-wide lens, which provides great flexibility for everyday photography. The iPhone 14’s camera capabilities are impressive, particularly in well-lit conditions, making it a great option for casual photographers.

One of the standout features of the iPhone 14 is its Smart HDR, which enhances your photos by balancing the highlights and shadows, ensuring that your images are vibrant and detailed. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of the Pro models, the iPhone 14 still delivers solid performance, making it the best affordable option for 2024.

Is the Apple iPhone 14 Worth It? Here’s Our Honest Review to Help You Decide

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 2.82 in. x 5.78 in. x 0.31 in.

  • Display: 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display

  • Processor: A15 Bionic chip

  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

  • Camera: Dual 12MP system (Main and Ultra Wide)

  • Front camera: 12 MP

  • Battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback

  • Weight: 6.07 oz

Pros

Cons

👍 Affordable price

👎 Lacks some advanced features of Pro models

👍 Dual-lens system with wide and ultra-wide lenses

👎 Limited low-light performance compared to higher-end models

👍 Smart HDR for balanced and vibrant photos

Best for Vloggers: iPhone 15 Pro

best-for-vlogging-iphone-15-pro-image

Vloggers require a smartphone that can deliver high-quality video recording and seamless performance, and when considering which iPhone has the best camera for vlogging, the iPhone 15 Pro (Verified Refurbished from *£762) is the perfect fit. With its exceptional video recording capabilities, including support for ProRes and Dolby Vision HDR, the iPhone 15 Pro allows vloggers to capture professional-grade videos with remarkable clarity and colour accuracy, making it a strong contender for the best iPhone for vlogging overall. The front-facing camera also boasts impressive features, making it ideal not only for vlogging on the go, but also for those who love taking selfies. Its ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid motion capture, making it perfect for sports and action shots, as well.

The iPhone 15 Pro includes advanced audio recording technologies, such as spatial audio recording and directional beamforming, enhancing the overall quality of your vlogs. For vloggers looking for a powerful tool to elevate their content and wondering which iPhone has the best camera to meet their needs, the iPhone 15 Pro is the top choice. In fact, the iPhone 15 Pro has almost all the bells and whistles of the 15 Pro Max, but is a bit smaller, allowing for easier on-the-go use.

iPhone 15 Pro review: Mighty and made out of Titanium

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 2.78 in. x 5.77 in. x 0.32 in.

  • Display: 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display

  • Processor: A17 Pro chip

  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

  • Camera: Triple-lens pro camera system (48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto)

  • Front camera: 12 MP

  • Battery life: Up to 23 hours of video playback

  • Weight: 6.6 oz

Pros

Cons

👍 Superior video recording capabilities with ProRes and Dolby Vision HDR

👎 Expensive

👍 Advanced audio recording technologies

👎 Less optical zoom options than the iPhone 15 Pro Max

👍 ProMotion technology for smooth motion capture

👍 Advanced image stabilization systems

Best for Beginners: iPhone 12 Pro Max

Best for Beginners: iPhone 12 Pro Max-image

For beginners just starting their iPhone photography journey, the iPhone 12 Pro Max (Verified Refurbished from *£354) is a great starting point. This older iPhone boasts a triple-lens setup with a 12MP main camera as well as an Ultra Wide and a telephoto lens, allowing beginners to learn how to use all the photo and video capabilities of the Pro Max model without springing for a newer and more expensive Pro Max phone right away. 

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is perfect for portraits with its Portrait mode with Depth Control, its Night mode, and support for Apple ProRAW. This phone is also great for selfies with its 12MP front camera with Portrait mode. Its sensor-shift image stabilization technology also allows you to experiment with different types of photography, including action and sports shots, landscape, and more. If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of iPhone photography, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the obvious choice.

iPhone 12 Pro Max price: how much is the iPhone 12 Pro Max and should you buy it?

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 3.07 in. x 6.33 in. x 0.29 in.

  • Display: 6.7-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display

  • Processor: A14 Bionic chip

  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

  • Camera: Triple-lens pro camera system (12MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto)

  • Front camera: 12 MP

  • Battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback

  • Weight: 8.03 oz

Pros

Cons

👍 More affordable than newer models with similar triple-lens camera setup

👎 Lower image quality than newer Pro Max models

👍 Large display for reviewing photos

👎 Subpar video recording capabilities

Best for Night Photography: iPhone 13 Pro

best-for-night-mode-iphone-13-pro-image

When asking the question “which iPhone has the best camera for low-light photography,” look no further than the iPhone 13 Pro (Verified Refurbished from *£373). The 13 Pro has one of the best cameras for night photography of any iPhone model around, including the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro boasts the typical triple-lens setup with 12MP Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses, but the difference lies in the aperture. The main camera of the 13 Pro is f/1.5, one of the best seen on an iPhone. The Ultra Wide lens boasts f/1.8. These apertures, in fact, are recommended for professional photographers with cameras working in low-light conditions such as concerts.

As a result, you can imagine that the iPhone 13 Pro’s Night mode and Night mode portraits are outstanding. It also supports Night mode on the 12MP front camera. With sensor-shift image stabilization, access to Photographic styles, and support for Apple ProRAW, the iPhone 13 Pro is a no-brainer for anyone interested in low-light photography, whether you’re an amateur or a seasoned pro. Want to incorporate video into your work? You also have access to 4K video recording and Night mode time-lapse capabilities.

Which storage capacity should I choose for my iPhone 13 Pro? 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 2.82 in. x 5.78 in. x 0.30 in.

  • Display: 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display

  • Processor: A15 Bionic chip

  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

  • Camera: Triple-lens pro camera system (12MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto)

  • Front camera: 12 MP

  • Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video playback

  • Weight: 7.19 oz

Pros

Cons

👍 Excellent Night mode and low-light capabilities with f/1.5 and f/1.8 front cameras

👎 Lower image quality than newer Pro models

👍 Cheaper than newer Pro models

👎 Fewer optical zoom options

Why You Should Choose a Refurbished iPhone

Refurbished iPhones from reliable sources like Back Market are rigorously tested and restored to ensure they perform like new. Buying a refurbished iPhone can save you money while still providing access to top-tier camera technology. For instance, a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro offers the same advanced camera features at a fraction of the cost of a new device.

FAQs

Which iPhone is best for low-light photography?

The iPhone 13 Pro is the best iPhone for low-light photography due to its advanced Night mode with f/1.5 and sensor-shift optical image stabilization. These features significantly enhance image clarity and reduce noise in dark environments, making it the top choice for night photography. Additionally, the larger sensor size and wider aperture allow more light to enter, resulting in brighter and clearer photos in low-light conditions.

Does the iPhone 15 Pro really have a better camera than the iPhone 14 Pro?

Yes, the iPhone 15 Pro has several improvements over the iPhone 14 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro includes enhanced image stabilisation, a more advanced Night mode, and better computational photography capabilities like Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion. These features collectively provide superior image quality, making the iPhone 15 Pro’s camera better than the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera.

Which iPhone has the best camera quality?

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is widely regarded as having the best camera quality. Its triple-lens setup, advanced computational photography features, and superior image stabilization make it the top choice for photographers. The ProRAW and ProRes capabilities also allow for professional-grade photo and video editing directly on the device.

Which older iPhone has the best camera?

Among older models, the iPhone 12 Pro Max still stands out for its excellent camera capabilities. It features a triple-lens system with wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses, along with Night mode and Deep Fusion technology, making it a strong performer even by today’s standards and perfect for beginners because of its lower price point.

Which iPhone has the best camera for selfies?

The iPhone 15 Pro is the best iPhone for selfies. Its high-resolution front-facing camera combined with advanced features like Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Night mode ensures that your selfies are vibrant and detailed, even in low-light conditions.

Which iPhone has the best video camera?

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have the best video cameras. They support ProRes and Dolby Vision HDR, offering exceptional video quality that rivals dedicated video cameras. The advanced image stabilization and high dynamic range capabilities make them ideal for professional videography. The main differences between the two are the overall size of the phone and the zoom capabilities. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers more optical zoom options as well as autofocus, the iPhone 15 Pro boasts a smaller size, ideal for vloggers on the go.

Methodology

Our methodology for selecting the best iPhones for different photography needs involved a detailed analysis of camera specifications, user reviews, and hands-on testing. We focused on key factors such as image quality, versatility, ease of use, and additional features that enhance the overall photography experience. By comparing these aspects across various iPhone models, we identified the top performers in each category to determine which iPhone has the best camera.

Image Quality

Image quality was assessed by reviewing sample photos taken with each iPhone model in various lighting conditions and scenarios. We considered factors such as colour accuracy, dynamic range, noise levels, and detail resolution. The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in low-light photography due to its advanced Night mode and sensor-shift optical image stabilization. These features significantly enhance image clarity and reduce noise in dark environments, making it the top choice when determining which iPhone 15 has the best camera.

In addition to low-light performance, we evaluated the dynamic range of each camera. A higher dynamic range allows the camera to capture more detail in both the shadows and highlights of an image. This is particularly important for landscape photography, where you want to preserve the details in the sky and the ground simultaneously. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s advanced computational photography capabilities, such as Smart HDR 4, ensure that your photos have a balanced and vibrant look, regardless of the lighting conditions.

Video Capability

Video capability is an important feature of iPhone models with the rise of video-based apps such as TikTok, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels. When it comes to video capability for each model, we considered factors such as video quality, depth-of-field control, colour accuracy, image stabilization, and audio recording. The iPhone 15 Pro stands out with its 4K recording capabilities at multiple frame rates and its image stabilization for both the main and front cameras. In addition, it boasts the Academy Colour Encoding System, ensuring colour accuracy to enhance video clarity. 

In addition to the video specifications, we also evaluated the audio capabilities of each model. For vloggers especially, high-quality audio recording is essential to professionally produced videos. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max both boast spatial audio recording and other advanced audio technologies, enhancing the overall quality of your videos. As for ease of use during vlogging or video recording, the iPhone 15 Pro stands out as it’s a little smaller and easier to use on the go. 

Night Mode

Low-light capability is an important feature in an iPhone camera’s versatility. Night mode allows users to capture high-quality and detailed images in challenging lighting conditions, whether you’re at a concert or taking a landscape photo. To evaluate each iPhone model’s Night mode, we looked at the apertures available on each lens. A lower aperture corresponds to better low-light capability and less grainy photos. 

The iPhone 13 Pro stands out as the iPhone model with the lowest aperture, with the main camera having an aperture of f/1.5. This is on par with the lenses that many professional photographers use with their DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Even the iPhone 15 models boast main cameras with f/1.78 – while this is still good, the f/1.5 lens is unbeatable. We also evaluated Night mode portraits and Night mode for the front camera, and the iPhone 13 Pro still wins out. 

Hands-On Testing

Hands-on testing allowed us to evaluate the usability and practicality of each iPhone’s camera features. We tested various camera modes, such as Portrait, Night, and ProRAW, to see how they perform in different scenarios. This hands-on experience provided a comprehensive understanding of each model’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, during our testing of the iPhone 15 Pro, we found that the ProRAW mode offers professional photographers greater flexibility in post-processing, allowing for adjustments in exposure, colour balance, and sharpness without compromising image quality.

Additionally, we explored the video recording capabilities to determine which iPhone has the best video camera. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, with their support for ProRes and Dolby Vision HDR, deliver stunning video quality that rivals dedicated video cameras. The ProRes format is particularly useful for content creators who require high-quality footage for professional projects. Our hands-on tests confirmed that both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are not only powerful photography tools but also exceptional devices for videography. 

Additional Features

We also considered additional features that enhance the overall photography experience, such as computational photography advancements, video recording capabilities, and software updates. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for instance, supports ProRAW and ProRes formats, offering greater control over images and videos during post-processing. These features provide photographers with the tools they need to capture and edit high-quality content directly on their smartphones.

The iPhone’s computational photography features, such as Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 4, utilize machine learning algorithms to improve photo quality. Deep Fusion, for example, analyses multiple exposures at a pixel level to create highly detailed images with minimal noise. This technology is particularly beneficial in medium- to low-light conditions, where traditional camera sensors might struggle to capture clear and detailed images. The continuous software updates from Apple ensure that these features are constantly improving, providing users with the best possible photography experience.

By combining these various elements, we provided a comprehensive analysis to help you choose the best iPhone for your photography needs in 2024. The detailed evaluation of camera specifications, image quality, user reviews, hands-on testing, and additional features ensures that you have all the information you need to determine which iPhone has the best camera quality and suits your specific needs.

*Price at date of writing

Haziq

Written by HaziqTech Expert for Back Market UK, Ireland & Australia

When not fighting the good fight for environmental sustainability, Haziq loves making reviews of everything and anything tech-related.

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