10 Best Phones for Vlogging [2023]: In-Depth Review

Choosing the perfect vlogging phone from a sea of options can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to simplify your decision-making process and guide you to the right choice!

Upgrading to a new smartphone is a common trend. But for vloggers and YouTube content creators, a phone with a top-notch camera is essential.

Trust me, it can be your savior, especially on days when your dedicated vlogging camera is not at hand.

Our Favorite Smartphones:

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Best Smartphones for Vlogging in 2023

When picking a new smartphone, the camera’s capabilities are a key focus, right? It’s crucial to know that pixels alone don’t define picture quality. The lens, focus, and stabilization are equally vital. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the best smartphones for video recording, where these features are perfectly balanced. 

Our selection is based on thorough research and hands-on experience.

1. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max – Best Phone for Vlogging

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max represents the best of iPhone upgrades, especially for vloggers.

Distinguished from its predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a range of features ideal for content creation.

It has a Super Retina XDR display with a 120Hz ProMotion technology, an A17 Pro chip for enhanced performance, and a Dynamic Island interface. 

Its camera system features a 48MP main camera with Photonic Engine for superior low-light performance. Video capabilities are extensive, including 4K recording at various frame rates and ProRes video recording.

Storage is no issue with options ranging from 256GB to 1TB, ensuring ample space for your high-quality vlogs. The device also supports MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, perfect for on-the-go recording. 

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a robust titanium design with Ceramic Shield front and textured matte glass back. It’s available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. While durable, additional cover with a case is highly recommended for maximum protection.

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2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – Best Android Smartphone for Vlogging

Searching for the ultimate Android vlogging phone? The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is your answer. Elevating from the S22 Ultra, it boasts a stunning 6.8-inch QHD OLED screen, perfect for prolonged video shoots and edits with minimal eye strain.

The highlight is its 200MP camera with a 16-pixel sensor, capturing intricate details, especially in low light.

The S23 Ultra steps up with 8K video at 30 fps, enhancing the field of view for 8K recordings. These upgrades are ideal for vloggers and YouTubers aiming for high-quality stills and videos.

Coupled with exceptional battery life, it supports extensive video shooting and file downloads without the fear of your phone dying.

With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, storage will no longer be an issue for vloggers, as it comes with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options.

Retaining the sleek design of the S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra steps up with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and sturdy edges. It’s resilient against scratches and bends, but for added safety, consider using a protective case. The rear cameras are noticeably larger than its predecessor, enhancing your photography experience. The display is more user-friendly too, especially for S Pen enthusiasts. 

Available in a variety of colors like black, cream, lavender, sky blue, and green, the phone also has an IP68 water resistance rating, capable of withstanding up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

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3. Google Pixel 8 Pro – Advanced AI for Vloggers

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro Max is a standout addition to our list of best vlogging phones. It features AI-powered capabilities like Magic Editor, Audio Eraser, and a new Tensor G3 chip.

The upgraded pro-level triple rear camera system shoots in full 50MP resolution and has the brightest display in Pixel’s history. Promising seven years of Android updates, it’s a long-term investment. 

The Google Pixel 8 Pro front and back are made of Gorilla Glass Victus while the sides are made of an aluminum frame.

It has curved edges on the front and back with the camera bar on the back of the phone made with stainless steel casing.

This combination ensures the phone doesn’t break easily in case it falls.

Nevertheless, it is better to invest in a screen protector and phone case since the phone is quite slippery.

The phone is available in three colors, Snow, Hazel, and Obsidian with Hazel being the most vibrant color.

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4. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Superior Smartphone for Filming

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is a standout in our list, especially for vloggers. It features the A16 Bionic chip and a Photonic Engine, enhancing its triple camera’s low-light performance.

The 6.7-inch screen ensures smooth navigation, crucial for content creators. 

Its Pro Raw feature simplifies editing, and the 4K @30 fps Cinematic mode is a standout for video production.

While it lacks the 8K video of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, its 4K features work sufficiently for most vloggers and YouTubers.

The phone’s long battery life supports different activities, from filming to social media engagement.

Other features found in the iPhone 14 Pro Max are the always-on display, Dynamic Island, and Face ID recognition which is very fast and secure.

Resembling the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the 14 Pro Max is slightly heavier and thicker. Its larger camera lenses, Corning frosted glass body, polished stainless-steel frame, and Ceramic Shield offer a blend of style and durability. 

Available in silver, gold, space black, and unique deep purple, there is an option for everyone’s preferences. Notably, the U.S. model replaces the traditional SIM card tray with an eSIM, offering flexibility but potentially limiting in regions without eSIM support.

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5. Sony Xperia 1 IV – Great Video Recording Phone for Content Creators

We can’t deny that the Sony Xperia 1 IV is built for vloggers, YouTubers, and other video creators.

The phone is equipped with a snapdragon 8 Gen processor that makes it to be very fast and responsive.

The screen is very good as it is bright enough to enable vloggers to take pictures and shoot videos in direct sunlight.

Speaking of videos, the Xperia 1 IV provides lots of options when shooting videos. This includes the 4K @ 24/25/30/60/120fps, 1080p at 30/60/120fps.

Just note, the 4K at 120 tops when it comes to producing quality videos.

Also, the phone has 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, and an SD card slot that enables vloggers to add storage space to even up to 1 TB.

Don’t forget, the smartphone has 5G connectivity which makes it easier for vloggers to send pictures and videos to YouTube and other social media platforms.

Designed for durability, it features Gorilla Glass Victus and an aluminum frame. The Xperia 1 IV’s narrow build makes it comfortable to hold.

Available in Black, Ice White, and Purple, it strikes a balance between weight (187 grams) and size, being longer and taller than many smartphones.

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6. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Great Selfie Camera Smartphone

This is probably your pick if you have been looking for the best Samsung phone for a decent price to start making YouTube videos.

The Samsung S22 Ultra is improved in performance, camera, display, and even software.

Available in different colors, the Samsung S22 Ultra comes with a stunning 6.8” screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and an extremely high peak brightness of 1,750nits which makes it easier to read in direct sunlight.

The phone has the same quad camera setup as S21 Ultra but with two optical zoom cameras producing equally impressive results.

The primary camera is 108MP which produces a 12MP image by default. The rear cameras all support 4K video recording at up to 60fps which is perfect for vloggers who want to zoom in and out on people or objects.

Regarding battery life, the Samsung S22 Ultra lasts a day without charging. Therefore giving ample time to vloggers to shoot videos.

Don’t forget, the phone also has 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for faster transfer of images and video. Don’t forget it is dust and water-resistant which is awesome for vlogging in any weather.

Echoing the Note 20 Ultra’s style, the S22 Ultra uses Armor aluminum and upgraded Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus. It’s heavier than its predecessor, with a design that’s durable but less comfortable for one-handed use, yet ideal for outdoor vlogging due to its robust build.

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7. One Plus 11 – Great Mid-Range Premium Smartphone for Vlogging

The OnePlus 11 is a powerhouse for vloggers. It features a triple-lens rear camera with a 108MP primary sensor, ensuring high-quality images.

With 5G, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and up to 16GB RAM, it handles demanding tasks with ease, from quick app launches to smooth video recording and gaming.

It excels in video recording with 8K, 4K, and 1080p options, with 4K@30fps being optimal. The camera performs well day and night, and optical image stabilization is a boon for mobile shooting.

Note that, the fast-charging feature is really impressive as well as the battery life won’t let you down while vlogging or streaming.

Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t have a proper telephoto lens and lacks wireless charging and a headphone jack.

The OnePlus 11 is a sleek phone made of Gorilla Glass and an aluminum frame. The phone is well-built making it a premium device. It has a large 6.7-inch display that is perfect for video shooting and Live streaming on YouTube.

The OnePlus 11 also has an in-display fingerprint scanner that protects your documents and files as well as a silent/vibrate alert slider on the right side of the phone.

Look-wise, the phone comes in two colors, Titan black, and Eternal Green. Though both colors look great, the green color looks more fantastic.

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8. Asus ZenFone 9 – Best Compact Phone for Content Creators

If you are looking for a compact phone for making YouTube videos, the Asus ZenFone 9 is the best phone for you. Its performance, design, and software upgrades put it on par with other Android phones.

Sporting a 5.9-inch display, the ZenFone 9 has two rear cameras, the 50MP main camera, and 12 MP Ultra-wide cameras.

However, it doesn’t have a zoom camera which means to get closer to a subject, you have to use digital zoom or cropping feature.

On the front, the phone has a 12MP selfie camera that performs pretty well in low-light conditions. Unfortunately, the Portrait mode isn’t quite accurate with artificial background blur.

Regarding video, the ZenFone 9 supports video recording of up to 4K and 60fps, which is perfect for vloggers and YouTubers.

The phone also has a 16GB RAM option which when paired with the 256 GB provides enough storage for your video and photo files.

The Asus Zenfone 9 has a pocket-sized design with a Gorilla Glass Victus in the front and a polymer material on the back.

The phone also has rectangular metal edges. The flat screen and frame are much better than the slippery curved phones, making it easy to use the phone one-handed.

Plus, there’s a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and an easy-to-use side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Color-wise, you’ve got choices like white, red, blue, and black

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9. Realme GT Neo 3 – Best Budget Smartphone for Everyday Video Blogs

If you are looking for a smartphone that is less than $500, the Realme GT Neo 3 is the one to invest in. One of the best cheap phones for vlogging, it has a lot of amazing features to take your vlog blogs to the next level.

The phone has an AMOLED display with super definition, fast charging, MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset with 5G capabilities, and 12GB RAM with 128 GB, 256GB, and 512 GB internal space.

Also, the camera performance is great for both the front and rear cameras when taking photos and shooting videos in the daytime and at night due to the cameras dedicated night mode.

Keep in mind, the phone shoots videos up to 4k@60fps on the main camera and 1080p@30fps on the selfie camera.

As for battery capacity, some phones pack a 5000mAh battery with an 80W SuperDart charging solution while others 4500mAh battery and 150W UltraDart charging

Design-wise, the Realme GT Neo 3 looks like other mobile phones.

However, when it comes to color, the phone took a bold move and went with Nitro Blue color with white racing stripes running down the back of the phone. Then there is the Sprint White phone with black strips and lastly the Asphalt Black color phone.

This budget smartphone’s front is made of Gorilla Glass 5, while the back is made of curved glass with a matte finish. However, unlike other vlogging phones that have an aluminum frame, the GT Neo 3 is made of plastic.

Other features are a standard Type-C Port at the bottom of the phone, power, and volume buttons, 2 speakers, and 2 microphones as well as 2 Nano SIM Card slots that are a plus for vloggers who have personal and business SIM cards.

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10. Apple iPhone 13 Pro – Never Gets Old for Vlogging

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro remains one of the top pick for creating YouTube or TikTok videos, thanks to its speed and responsiveness.

It is equipped with 4K@60fps video capabilities and cinematic modes, ideal for vloggers.

Its 12MP camera setup excels in photography, and its water-resistant feature is perfect for sports enthusiasts or adventurous shoots.

Storage won’t be an issue, with options ranging from 128GB to 1TB.

The design also looks attractive and nice. Huge 6.7″ display and minimal bezels around the side.

Corner curves match well with the curves around the display. This makes the phone feel comfortable and extra smooth in hand.

In general, we can’t complain about the design – the phone is comfortable to hold and operate.

Also, a phone has a 3.5mm jack – that lets you use headphones or a headset easily.

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Conclusion

In this roundup of the best vlogging phones, it’s clear that the market is teeming with smartphones offering top-notch cameras. For beginners in vlogging, there’s no immediate need to spring for a DSLR camera. Often, your smartphone’s camera might just do the trick, sometimes even surpassing dedicated vlogging cameras.

Here’s the best part:

Keep in mind:

If you are on a budget, you can always pick one model older phone, which will most likely suit your needs!