Which Iphone Has A Good Camera?

K&f concept 2026-07-16 00:56:57 0 Comments

Best camera phone choices

best for… those looking for the best of the best
best for… most users
best for… budget-conscious buyers
best for… pockets
best for… users with older iphones looking to upgrade
best for… entry-level
best for… extra tight budgets

a fantastic all-rounder capable of taking excellent images and video.
it represents good value for an iphone and for those who can live without the third lens, and some of the extra options that the 17 pro gives you (for example raw shooting), it’s a very tempting proposition.
if you love iphones, you’ll be pleased with what you get here, with notable updates if you’re upgrading from an older iphone.
you get an upgrade in terms of maximum zoom length, so if you’re regularly frustrated by not being able to get close enough, that alone could be enough to convince you to buy one.
images and video are excellent, and using it is also straightforward. it’s not perfect, but if you’re a fan of ios it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
considering the iphone 12 still gets the latest software updates from apple, the price for this model is excellent value.
it’s a straightforward, simple phone that does what it needs to do for anybody who wants a lower cost, brand-new iphone.

which iphone has a good camera 1

iphone 17 pro and max

pros improved selfie camera triple high-resolution cameras image quality very good overall

main camera: 48mp, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent, is
ultrawide camera: 48mp, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
telephoto camera: 48mp 4x, f/2.8 aperture, 100mm equivalent
selfie camera: 18mp f/1.9, with af
video: 4k video up to 120fps
screen: pro max: 6.9inch super retina xdr oled screen. pro: 6.3inch super retina xdr oled screen
battery: pro: 3998mah battery, pro max: 4823mah battery (more on esim versions)

cameras: 48mp fusion main: 24mm, ƒ/1.78 / 48mp fusion ultra wide: 13mm, ƒ/2.2 / 48mp fusion telephoto: 100mm (4x), ƒ/2.8
screen: pro max - 6.9-inch super retina xdr (2868x1320)
"one of the biggest talking points surrounding the new iphone 17 lineup is the design. from the ultra-thin iphone air to the, er, interesting iphone 17 pro unibody design, this is the most radically different looking bunch of phones apple has dropped for quite some time."

which iphone has a good camera 2

iphone 17

pros good value for a new iphone 2x high resolution cameras improved selfie camera

main camera: 48mp, f/1.6 aperture, 26mm equivalent, is
ultrawide camera: 48mp, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
selfie camera: 18mp f/1.9, with af
video: 4k video up to 60fps
screen: 6.3inch super retina xdr oled screen
battery: 3692mah battery

from what i understand, the 17 is supposed to have the best camera that they have ever had in previous models.
the iphone 17 is a terrible camera. i had iphone 11 pro and it was superb! the new one doesn’t come close! the color is very off! photos look nothing like what you actually see with your eyes!
17 pro is so saturated and has a orange hue it weirds me out.

which iphone has a good camera 3

iphone 16 pro and max

pros pro max benefits from larger screen new camera control button image quality very good overall
cons low resolution telephoto camera low resolution selfie camera weak macro performance

main camera: 48mp, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
ultrawide camera: 48mp, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
telephoto camera: 12mp 5x, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
selfie camera: 12mp f/1.9, with af
video: 4k video up to 120fps
screen: pro max: 6.9inch super retina xdr oled screen. pro: 6.3inch super retina xdr oled screen
battery: pro: 3582mah battery, pro max: 4685mah battery

15 pro max 16 pro low light shots especially are insane.
the answer is always the current model pro max. now, it’s the iphone 16 pro max.
iphone 16 pro best camera phone out now and better than point and shoot cameras?
i have a 16+ and the camera is very good.
i had both the 15 and 16 and there have been significant decreases in the camera quality and functionality since the xs max.
any new pro series model released will always have the best camera than the previous line (especially since the 11 was released), because the lenses are getting larger and aperture, and are always improving.

which iphone has a good camera 4

iphone 15 pro max

pros 5x zoom lens great screen 48mp main sensor/24mp output
cons screen a little big for some similar to iphone 14 pro

main camera: 48mp, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
ultrawide camera: 12mp, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
telephoto camera: 12mp 5x, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
selfie camera: 12mp f/1.9, with af
video: 4k video up to 60fps
screen: 6.7” super retina xdr oled screen
battery: 4441mah battery

the iphone 15 pro max is this generation's bargain, and remains a great option for photographers.
i have a 15 pro max. today i borrowed a 12 pro max from a friend of mine to perform a photo shoot between 12 pro max and 15 pro max. we shot photos with the same camera settings of the same subject at the same time.
the 12 pro max consistency produced better pictures than the 15 pro max.
i love my 13 pro camera but i am looking to update cause of my battery. from what i can tell from looking at pics from others i am not going for the 17 pro and maybe go for the 15 pro/ 15 pro max. the picture quality is great…jmo

iphone 15 pro

pros 3x lens system 48mp main lens, 24mp default output usb-c charging
cons 3x lens instead of 5x gentle upgrade compared to predecessor

main camera: 48mp, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
ultrawide camera: 12mp, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
telephoto camera: 12mp 3x, f/2.8 aperture, 77mm equivalent
screen: 6.1” super retina xdr oled screen
body: titanium chassis

iphone 15 pro max has the best cameras, but it's heavy and expensive
iphone 15 pro max covers 95% of what the iphone 16 pro max does camera-wise.
refurbished iphone 15 pro max is our top recommendation for 2026. you get 5× optical zoom, 48mp main camera, prores video, and usb-c – all at a significant discount.

iphone 14 pro and max

pros 3 x lens system 48mp main sensor super retina display
cons missing some software features that the iphone 15 pro/max has 3x zoom somewhat limited

main camera: 48mp, f/1.78 aperture, ois (with 2x telephoto option)
ultrawide camera: 12mp, f/2.2 aperture
telephoto camera: 12mp 3x, f/2.8 aperture, ois
selfie camera: 12mp, f/1.9 aperture, autofocus
screen: 6.1-inch oled display (iphone 14 pro) / 6.7inch on pro max

iphone 14 pro models give you 95% of the performance for 70% of the price
the iphone 14 pro introduced the 48mp main camera – a massive leap from the 12mp sensors on older models.
it has a 3× telephoto lens (not as long as 5×, but still excellent for portraits), action mode stabilization, and 4k cinematic mode.
an iphone 14 pro still takes outstanding photos and videos in 2026.
not sure but stay away from the iphone 14 pro camera. i absolutely hated it. the zoom had the worst time making things focus.

iphone 13 pro

iphone 13 series is the sweet spot for most people—great cameras, proven reliability
the iphone 13 pro offers 3× optical zoom, macro photography, and cinematic mode.
while its 12mp sensors are less detailed than newer models, it still produces excellent shots.
for hobbyists posting to social media, the differences are barely noticeable – and refurbished iphone 13 pro units come at bargain prices.

i have the 13 pro and my cousin has the 16 pro (max?).
i have a 13 pm and it takes awesome pictures!
i do a lot of work with macro settings, but i also take other pictures as well.
i sold my entire camera collection in order to invest in a top-of-the-line iphone, and it is true that the camera that you have with you is the one you used to take pictures.
i have never regretted it!

iphone 12

pros great camera system still looks like a premium phone still gets the latest updates
cons 64gb storage option a little small no telephoto camera

main camera: 12mp, f/1.6, ois
ultrawide camera: 12mp, f/2.4
selfie camera: 12m,p f/2.2
screen: 6.1inch oled screen, 1200nits (peak)

considering the iphone 12 still gets the latest software updates from apple, the price for this model is excellent value.
iphone x and iphone 12 were something actually different and i personally loved their cameras, they were of a very good quality and they weren't oversaturated they had this subtle cool tone, the pictures turned out beautiful, real and just had a touch of life.
nope. my friend has gotten almost every pro model in the last 8 years and he thinks the 12 pro he sold to me was the last great camera from apple.
i’m convinced that every camera is different. my 12 pro is having functional issues so i’m now looking which is why i’m here.
i don’t like the images i got from my 12 pro. at all.
since day one, the images are pixilated and it often washes out in varying light conditions.

iphone 17e

pros cheapest most recent iphone portrait mode has been vastly improved high-resolution single camera tough credentials impressive for budget model faster wireless / magsafe charging
cons single lens only no macro mode expensive compared to android rivals selfie camera not as good as iphone 17 small screen size not the “latest generation” photographic styles

main camera: 48mp f/1.6
selfie camera: 12mp f/1.9
screen: super retina xdr 6.1-inch oled display, 2532×1170-pixels at 460ppi, 1200 nits max brightness

it’s a straightforward, simple phone that does what it needs to do for anybody who wants a lower cost, brand-new iphone.
iphone 16e is the newest model and it definitely does not have the best camera system.
this budget-friendly iphone is an upgrade over the se models

Camera software and processing

if the pro and the pro max have the same camera setup (as they do in the current flagships) then it’s a tie between the two as to which is ‘the best’.
in some years, that year’s pro max has a feature or two that the pros don’t have.
so, if you want to be guaranteed the best phone, it’ll always be the pro max. (with some years, the pro matching it.)
however, there’s a small caveat: despite having the best camera, the operating system’s camera software - especially on at launch, or before users get used to the newer software’s customisations/filters/styles - may not take full advantage of the camera, or may over-process the photos taken.
the best camera plus new software plus a user who doesn’t really do anything but point and click sometimes ends up with “wha? this camera is rubbish! much prefer the old phone’s camera when i knew what i was doing… (and let’s forget that i’m remembering those photos as excellent when they were only ever… ok.)”

Photography and video testing

we have reviewed and tested every single iphone on this list, thoroughly, using them extensively for at least 2 weeks, and use the latest iphone as our ‘daily driver’ until the next model comes out, so when we say we know iphones, we really mean it.
we review apple iphone smartphones from the perspective of choosing a smartphone for its photography and camera performance, so we test every iphone by looking at what it offers in terms of the cameras, and what features are included for photography and video, as well as how it performs in real world use in a variety of different shooting situations, whether that’s portraits, selfies, low-light, macro and more.
we test each camera on the phone, whether that’s the ultra-wide angle, the main camera, telephoto camera(s) if available, and the selfie camera, as well as all the other camera zoom modes (including digital, ‘optical quality, and ai zoom), plus any additional modes these cameras offer, including the macro mode.
we use the phone for photography in a range of lighting conditions, including low-light, where camera phones can struggle.
we also shoot in bright conditions where dynamic range can be tested to see how the camera’s hdr (high-dynamic range) processing performs.
we’re also looking to see how well the cameras deal with bright light sources, like the sun, to check for lens flare problems.
we also look at specialist shooting modes on offer, including the portrait modes, to see how the camera deals with skin tones, background blur (bokeh), and areas of detail around the hair, etc.