These days, iPhones are some of the best camera phones you can buy, and that means you’ll always have a top-notch snapper in your pocket, ready to go. But how do you decide which is the best one for creatives? After all, we all have different needs and requirements, so picking the best iPhone for photography isn’t always an easy task.
Yet it’s a task that’s made significantly more straightforward with the help of our buying guide. Our experts and reviewers have cast their eyes over all the best iPhones, picking out the ones that have the top features for creatives who enjoy a spot of mobile photography. And don’t worry, getting an iPhone doesn’t have to be expensive – they’ve even made it onto our list of the best budget camera phones, so it’s possible to score a great iPhone deal to boost your photo game.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have just been released, and after thorough testing, we think they belong at the top of this list. Camera upgrades include an improved macro lens and ultrawide capabilities. You can also shoot in 4K. Read more below
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple's last-gen model in the iPhone family, which means it's an excellent option given the price and specs. It has a 120mm telephoto lens, and 25% larger than before quad-pixel sensor for quality images. Read more below
Though it's ageing, the iPhone 14 Pro is excellent value and considerably cheaper than its shiny new siblings. It has an identical camera to the iPhone 14 Pro Max model too, so as long as you're not fussed about a bigger display this iPhone is a winner for photographers on a tighter budget. Read more below
4. iPhone SE (2020)
The iPhone SE (2020) packs in an awful lot for the money. It's only got one lens, so isn't ideally suited for photographers who want to snap ultra-wide or telephoto shots, but its main camera is good and won't cost the earth.
5. iPhone 13 Pro
While you won't find the iPhone 13 Pro in any of Apple's official stores, it can be picked up for a real bargain at third-party retailers. Its three-lens camera system only offers 12MP resolution (down from the 48MP you'll get in the latest iPhones), but it's still full of mightily impressive photography features for users on a more restricted budget.
6. iPhone 13 mini
The iPhone 13 mini is the most recent small-scale phone Apple sells, although you won't get it at the company's stores. Still, it's ideally shaped for smaller hands or anyone who wants to easily use the camera one-handed. With two lenses it's not the most deluxe camera system, but it's still a worthwhile option if you need something more compact.
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Dimensions: 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm/ 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm
Weight: 199g/ 221 grams (7.81 ounces)
Battery: 3582mAh
Reasons to buy
+
New A18 Pro chip is powerful
+
Improved camera
+
Native creative apps still best on the market
Reasons to avoid
-
Charging still slow
-
Smaller model's screen feels too small
-
That's a lot of money for more storage, Apple
Buy it if:
✅ You are a professional content creator: The high-quality cameras and image processing abilities make it ideal for creatives. ✅ You want to record UHD video at high framerates: In terms of Apple phones, video recording doesn't get much better than this. ✅ You value performance: This iPhone delivers the absolute best possible performance in an Apple-designed package.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't need the luxury camera features: While high-quality, the camera undoubtedly push the price up. ❌ You want fast charging: iPhone charging speeds are outdone by many Android alternatives. ❌ You have an iPhone 14 Pro or 15 Pro already: There's not a huge difference between this and Apple's other recent pro-level phones.
The bottom line
🔎 iPhone 16 Pro is the flagship phone for the world's biggest tech company, and it duly delivers in the categories we expect it to: power and ease of use. ★★★★
What you need to know: Although we only gave this device four stars rather than five, it is still the best iPhone for photography out there. Its incremental camera upgrades make it so – and the loss of a star is purely down to the leaps forward other camera phones have made in recent times.
Design: The iPhone 16 Pro looks almost identical to its predecessor and comes as a rounded rectangle of titanium and glass. That said, the size has increased ever-so-slightly and there's a new Camera Control for quickly opening your favourite camera app, which is a great addition for photographers. Plus, you get Apple's trademark build quality in every aspect of the design.
Performance: Apple's chips are becoming legendary in the industry, and the iPhone 16 Pro offers the best performance you can get. Its A18 Pro offers an incremental uptick over the iPhone 15 Pro, but that still puts it well ahead of most Android rivals.
Battery: Battery life is a little disappointing, as we measured a slight drop over last year's device. The fast charging is also well below what you'll get from some Android alternatives. If you want the phone to last longer, you might have to look elsewhere.
Price: Starting at $999/£999, this is an expensive device, but you do get an awful lot for your money. That means it's not a terrible deal, providing you have the cash on hand.
✅ You value performance: Its chip isn't the newest anymore, but it's still one of the best. ✅ You need a top camera: With its pro-level camera array, the iPhone 15 Pro Max still crafts superb pictures. ✅ You want it to last a long time: The extra bulk means more space for batteries, and thus longer-lasting performance.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You worry about overheating: Apple had some issues with the iPhone 15 Pro Max getting overly hot in use. ❌ Fast charging matters: Android rivals will juice up far quicker than Apple's device. ❌ You're on a budget: It's not the most recent iPhone but it still costs a pretty penny.
The bottom line
🔎 The iPhone 15 Pro Max brings a host of top features to the Apple fans, and its camera in particular will still be a delight for mobile photographers. ★★★★½
What you need to know: 2023's Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max was the best of the generation, and you can get it for less money now there's a new release. If we're boiling it down to the specs on paper, the iPhone 15 Pro Max loses out to the latest model. But the updates are relatively minor, so you wouldn't be missing out on tons if you went for this option.
Design: A familiar design with a titanium frame and rounded corners. Being a Pro Max model, this is a large, chunky device that's tricky to use one-handed. It's also not a great option for people with smaller hands.
Performance: Apple is so good at making chips for its iPhones that even the last-gen chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max still smokes most of the competition. It won't miss a beat no matter what you're doing and handles photography tasks with aplomb.
Battery: You'll get plenty of juice out of this phone, and it offers the longest battery life in the iPhone 15 range. But it does tend to get hot -- which can impact battery life -- and there's only lacklustre fast charging. Android rivals have it beat here.
Price: Although it was initially an expensive product, the price has come down a bit now that the iPhone 16 range is out. Don't expect it to be cheap, but it's not as costly as it was back when it was the most current iPhone on offer.
Zoom: 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 15x digital zoom in
Screen size: 6.7-inch display
Reasons to buy
+
Best-in-class performance
+
Camera improved over 13 Pro
Reasons to avoid
-
Battery life not brilliant
Buy it if:
✅ You want value for money: With prices coming down, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers superb performance for the money. ✅ You like the Dynamic Island: This was the first time we saw Apple's Dynamic Island, and it's still a great way to manage apps in iOS. ✅ You like premium designs: This phone oozes class with its pro-level design and high-grade finishes.
Don't buy it if:
❌ It might be too big: This is a huge phone, and it's sheer size can make it tricky to manage if you need to shoot photos in a hurry. ❌ You want the longest battery life: Battery life isn't bad, but it's not the best-in-class offering either. ❌ You're on a budget: Sure, it's not as costly as it once was, but we'd hardly call this a cheap iPhone.
The bottom line
🔎 The iPhone 14 Pro Max looks expensive, has the Dynamic Island, and everything from the screen to the camera, its interface, battery life, and performance all do a great job. ★★★★½
What you need to know: 2022's iPhone 14 Pro Max shares the exact same 48MP main sensor camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, yet offers a huge leap from the previous 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 13 series. It's a large device packed with professional features, despite its age.
Design: Given that this is a Pro Max device, you can expect it to fill your hand and be a little difficult to use one-handed. On the plus side, you get Apple's incredible build quality and top-tier camera system on the back, which makes it a strong performer when it comes to photography.
Performance: Apple's A16 Bionic chip powers this device, delivering strong performance in all manner of tasks. It manages to do this without breaking much of a sweat, and is even adept at handling the occasional demanding workload that you throw its way.
Battery: Apple introduced an always-on display with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and unfortunately that has impacted battery life. It doesn't last as long as the iPhone 13 Pro Max and it doesn't charge up as quickly as many rivals either, which is disappointing considering it's a premium iPhone that was once Apple's flagship model.
Price: Apple no longer sells this phone, but you can find some decent bargains for it on third-party websites. That makes it a great value phone to buy, albeit still a fairly expensive one. Be prepared for moderately high prices, but don't rule out discounts.
✅ You want power at a great price: Apple's budget phone boasts phenomenal value thanks to its inclusion of a powerful chip. ✅ You want a strong (if simple) camera setup: The iPhone SE only has one camera lens, but it's a really strong one. ✅ You value one-handed use: Unlike some of Apple's later iPhones, the iPhone SE is easy to use with one hand.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You hate the old design: This phone uses Apple's old design with Home button and large bezels. It looks old-fashioned now. ❌ Battery life matters: It's outdone by many other iPhones. ❌ You want more lens options: With only one shooter, this isn't the phone for creatives who need multiple lenses.
The bottom line
🔎 The iPhone SE (2022) packs some ridiculously capable features into a very small frame. ★★★★
What you need to know: The iPhone SE range is Apple's low-cost option, but that doesn't mean it's a waste of money. No, Apple actually packs it with a high-performing chip and a decent camera for the money, so it can actually be a savvy purchase if it meets your needs. Don't expect modern touches like an all-screen design, Face ID and the Camera Control, though.
Design: Apple has used an old-fashioned design to bring costs down, and it really feels out of place these days with its Home button and giant top and bottom bezels. It's not attractive, but we suppose it gets the job done. You won't find modern touches like the Dynamic Island or even Face ID here.
Performance: The A15 chip and 5G connectivity you get with the iPhone SE help it achieve much better performance results than you'd expect. It's not the latest and greatest chip, but for the money, you're still getting a brilliant deal.
Battery: Its more compact frame means less space for battery cells, so it's not the longest-lived iPhone you can buy. You should still get decent longevity out of it, just not anything to set the world on fire.
Price: This phone represents exceptional value if performance matters to you, and its thanks to its high-grade chip. Given that this iPhone SE launched in 2022, its price has come down a lot too.
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Price
A very fair price considering the performance you get.
★★★★★
Design
Dated design that's showing its age.
★★
Performance
Strong performance, if not the latest and greatest.
Zoom: 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 15x digital zoom in
Screen size: 6.1-inch display
Reasons to buy
+
Great camera quality for the time
+
Excellent 120Hz display
+
Improved battery life
Reasons to avoid
-
Annoying camera switching
Buy it if:
✅ Camera quality matters: It's not the latest offering, but the 13 Pro's camera system brings large sensors, a telephoto lens, LiDAR and ProRaw support ✅ You want buttery smooth motion: The 120Hz ProMotion display makes scrolling oh-so-satisfying. ✅ You need long battery life: Compared to some of the issues in later generations, this phone offers solid battery life.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want USB-C: Modern iPhones all have USB-C ports, but not the iPhone 13 Pro. ❌ You want a microSD slot: iPhones don't come with microSD slots and this one is no different. ❌ You dislike the auto lens switching: In certain lighting conditions, your camera lens will automatically change, which can be irritating.
The bottom line
🔎 The iPhone 16 Pro offered elite-level features in all areas at the time, from its new cameras to its screen to its processor. It's still a good option if you can find a deal. ★★★★★
What you need to know: The iPhone 13 Pro is now more affordable than ever given the recent iPhone 16 series launch. It has a 12MP main sensor which is a step down from the 48MP sensor in the new iPhone 15 Pro Max and even the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But it's still pretty great for photography and is now considered great value too (if you can get hold of one, that is).
Design: The iPhone 13 Pro uses the old, pre-Dynamic Island design, which means a larger notch at the top of the screen. Elsewhere you get the Ceramic Shield for drop protection and a stainless steel chassis, but there's no titanium here.
Performance: The Apple A15 chip inside the iPhone 13 Pro was an absolute powerhouse when it launched, and it's still mightily impressive today. It's beaten by more modern options, of course, but you won't be disappointed as long as you're not throwing extremely intense workloads its way.
Battery: Battery life was improved in the iPhone 13 Pro versus older models (as long as they weren't Pro Max, that is), and we measured 22 hours of video playback in our tests. That's impressive and should help you shoot photos and videos for longer.
Price: Keep an eye out for deals on this model. Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 Pro, but you can find it at third-party retailers and second-hand shops for a decent price these days. That's an attractive prospect given how much it used to cost when it was one of the main iPhones in the lineup.
Main camera: 12MP f/1.6 (wide) 12MP f/2.4 (ultra wide)
Selfie Camera: 12MP f/2.2 (wide)
Zoom range: 2x optical zoom out, 5x digital zoom in
Video: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Screen size: 5.4-inch display
Weight: 141g
Dimensions: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm
Reasons to buy
+
Great camera
+
Affordable
+
Great for kids and smaller hands
Reasons to avoid
-
No telephoto lens
Buy it if:
✅ You need a small phone: The last "mini" phone that Apple made, it's ideal for smaller hands. ✅ You're after value: There's a lower price than the iPhone 13, despite sharing many features. ✅ You want good camera: The iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini are small, but the 13 mini had a much better camera setup.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want modern power: At three generations old, its chip falls behind more recent options. ❌ You want a telephoto lens: There's no long-range lens here. ❌ You want lots of battery: The smaller chassis means less room for battery cells.
The bottom line
🔎 The iPhone 13 mini has a great dual-lens 12MP camera and it's really affordable right now too.
What you need to know: The iPhone 13 mini is your last chance to get a pint-sized iPhone that's designed for smaller hands, since Apple no longer makes iPhones this small. But its titchy size doesn't mean it lacks features, as it came with almost the same experience as the iPhone 13. While it's not the most up-to-date iPhone anymore, it's still got a lot to offer.
Design: As the name suggests, Apple purposely made the iPhone 13 mini smaller than the other phones in the range. That gives it an advantage if you are sick of stretching your hand to reach the far corners of the display, and it's tailor-made for one-handed use.
Performance: Its chip puts it on par with the iPhone 13, and it'll still offer decent performance today. Don't expect it to break any records, but for everyday tasks, it'll do a good job for most everyday consumers. Just don't lug any data crunching workloads its way.
Battery: The smaller size means more limited battery life, and while it's not awful, it can't hold a candle to the larger Pro Max models. You should get about a day's usage out of it per charge, although that of course depends on what exactly you're doing.
Price: The iPhone 13 mini was the most affordable iPhone Apple sold, barring the iPhone SE. You won't find Apple selling it anymore, but other retailers might still have stock available. If so, you can expect it to go for an affordable price.
When choosing the best iPhone for photography, it's easy to go in order starting with the latest release. And yes, while the newest iPhone is usually the best one for photography technically, with improved specs and features compared with the previous model, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's the one you should choose, or the best iPhone for your lifestyle or budget.
We suggest that you start by figuring out how much you want to spend first, and then look at the desirable features which make that particular iPhone a great asset for photography. Remember, it's not always about megapixels. If you shoot a lot of video then you'll want an iPhone with 4K capability (iPhone 12 or above is best).
If you know that you'd prefer an iPhone with USB-C charging, then that narrows your options exclusively to the iPhone 15 series, the standard, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max models to be exact.
At Creative Bloq, we enjoy putting phones through their paces when it comes to testing, with benchmarks in place to measure battery life, response rate, general use – and the camera, of course. Although manufacturers carry out their own testing on phones, we think it's important to have an unbiased reviewer on the case to detect any flaws or find genuine reasons why we think a device might not be the best fit for creatives.
With so many phones out there, it can be hard to know which ones are really the best value for money. So with this in mind, we spend significant time testing phones to see how they perform in the real world. We do this by using social media and checking the upload speeds, running photo editing software, streaming video content, and testing the camera in different real-world scenarios.
It can be easy to geek out over the latest top-spec phones, which is why we also take pricing into account when pitting similar phones against each other, and seriously consider if a device is worth the hard-earned income of our readers. If we find that a phone isn't all that up to scratch, we'll be honest and recommend alternatives where possible. For more information, see our guide to how we test and review at Creative Bloq.
In 2025, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max take the best photos (note: their cameras are identical). These premium phone cameras featuring cutting-edge sensors, powerful zoom capabilities and exceptional low-light performance. They also offer features that the more affordable iPhone 16 lacks, including 48MP macro photos, a 5x zoom telephoto lens, night mode portraits, and support for the Apple ProRAW format.
Is the iPhone 16 camera better than the iPhone 15?
In a word: yes. While there’s not an enormous difference, there are enough changes for the iPhone 16 to pull ahead. It offers macro photography capabilities, for example, allowing you to get closer to the action with your shots. It also support spatial photos for the Vision Pro headset, has a slightly improved aperture on the ultra wide lens, and has a better selection of Apple’s Photographic Styles.
What are the main differences between the cameras on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro?
The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro both have fantastic cameras, but there are some key differences between them. Most significantly, the Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, enabling better zoomed-in shots without digital loss, while the 16 lacks a telephoto lens. Secondly, the iPhone 16 Pro has a larger and faster sensor than the iPhone 16, which allows it to capture more light and produce better low-light photos.
Thirdly, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 48MP ultrawide camera, whereas the 16's is 12MP, potentially leading to better detail and low-light performance for wider shots on the Pro. Finally, the Pro also offers the ability to shoot video in 4K at 120fps, while the iPhone 16 only offers 60fps.
Is there a big difference in the cameras between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max?
Photography-wise, the primary distinction between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro lies in the ultrawide camera. The 16 Pro boasts a higher resolution ultrawide camera (48MP to the 15 Pro's 12MP), potentially resulting in slightly greater detail and improved low-light performance for wider shots.
Is the iPhone the best smartphone camera?
The iPhone consistently ranks among the top smartphones for photography, but it's not necessarily the absolute "best" for everyone.
iPhones are renowned for their exceptional image processing, producing images with impressive dynamic range, detail and colour accuracy. The camera app is intuitive and easy to use, making it accessible to both casual and serious photographers. The seamless integration with Apple devices and software enhances the overall photography experience. And perhaps most importantly, iPhones feature high-quality lenses that capture sharp, detailed images.
However, other brands, such as Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy, also offer exceptional camera systems. Google Pixel is known for its excellent low-light performance and computational photography prowess, while Samsung Galaxy offers powerful zoom capabilities and versatile camera systems.
What are the best iPhone alternatives for photography?
In 2025, several phones offer strong alternatives to the iPhone. The Google Pixel 9 Pro stands out with its exceptional camera system, particularly excelling in low-light conditions. Google's renowned computational photography consistently delivers stunning image quality. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra also offers a powerful and versatile camera system featuring impressive zoom capabilities. It also boasts a vibrant display, a robust build, and strong performance. For more options, see our guide to the best camera phones.
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Beth is Creative Bloq’s Ecommerce Writer and has the fun job of finding you the very best prices and deals on creative tech. Beth kicked off her journalistic career writing for Digital Camera World, and has since earned bylines on TechRadar too. With a Masters degree in Photography, Beth loves getting to tinker with new cameras, especially camera phones, as the resident Samsung fan on the team. Her background working as a tester for CeX let her play around with all kinds of weird and wonderful products, including robots, and she’s recently gotten into 3D printing too. Outside of CB, you’ll find her gaming on her PS5, photographing local shows under the alias Bethshootsbands, and making TikToks of her dog, Tilly.
