Choosing an iPhone that has the best camera zoom can be difficult, especially when you’re trying to find the best camera for your needs. Apple’s 2024/2025 lineup offers a number of impressive options, each aimed at different types of users.
Whether you’re a professional photographer, a vlogger, or someone who just loves taking photos, there’s an iPhone for you. This guide will help you find the best iPhone for photography in 2024, so you can make an informed decision.
To make it easier for you to choose the best iPhone for your photography needs, we’ve summarized the top models in different categories. This carousel provides a quick overview of the best iPhones of 2024 based on different user needs.
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Which iPhone has the Best Camera Zoom?
1. iPhone 16 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro boasts a new 6.3-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, all powered by the new A18 Pro chip. The triple-camera array features a high-resolution 48MP sensor for the ultra-wide lens, and there’s a new physical camera control button for taking photos and operating the camera app.
The iPhone 16 Pro gets a small but meaningful upgrade this time around. It’s upgraded to 5x zoom, which was previously available only on the Pro Max in the 15 series.
The jump from 3x to 5x zoom doesn’t sound all that impressive on paper, but it goes a long way toward making the smaller 16 Pro feel on par with the 16 Pro Max. For once, you don’t have to buy the biggest phone to get the best phone.
The 16 Pro is roughly the same size as the 15 Pro, but it has a bigger screen, growing from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches. There’s also new camera controls, an upgraded 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and of course, a new chipset ready for Apple Intelligence.
There’s no reason to absolutely upgrade to the 16 Pro. Still, many people will want the latest and greatest in a device with all the bells and whistles, and the 16 Pro gives you a chance to get it all without having to buy the biggest phone.
2. iPhone 15 Pro Max
The new iPhone 15 Pro Max is notable for its camera upgrades. One of the new additions is a 5x zoom lens, which is nice to have. The zoom function on a phone camera has always been pretty meaningless to me.
Digital zoom has traditionally been so horrible that I’ve avoided it at all costs. I’d rather not bother taking a picture than use the longest zoom on my phone.
But technology is always advancing, and Apple is often at the forefront when it comes to mobile phones. Now we have optical zoom with a longer reach than we’re used to.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a new zoom lens called 5X, but for photographers, that’s about 120mm. “For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, we designed a 5x telephoto camera with the longest optical zoom of any iPhone to fit into a compact Pro camera system.
The problem is that it’s still a very small element that fits almost perfectly on the back of the camera.
3. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
The iPhone 15 Pro is essentially the same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the top of this guide, but there are a few key differences that make it less of a good phone for taking photos.
Firstly, the iPhone Pro has a smaller, more pocketable 6.1-inch screen than the Pro Max. If you like smaller phones, that’s a good thing, but I personally prefer the Max’s larger screen for photo and video editing. However, if you want something that’s easy to adjust to size, the regular Pro is the best iPhone for taking photos.
Another downside to the Pro is that it doesn’t share the same 5x optical zoom lens as its sibling, the Pro Max. Instead, the Pro still has a great 3x telephoto lens, but the Max teases what’s possible with the iPhone’s zoom range, leaving the regular Pro feeling a bit behind.
The biggest draw of this titanium model is that it’s a lot cheaper than the Max. It doesn’t have the 3x zoom, but you get a bunch of new features like the action button, the latest processor, and the USB-C charging port!
4. iPhone 14 Pro Max
The iPhone 14 Pro Max shares the exact same 48MP primary sensor camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but it offers a huge leap over the previous 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 13 series.
That means the phone is packed with detail in its full-resolution 48MP RAW files, and the generous sensor size allows more light to enter the lens, which is especially handy when shooting at night or in low-light conditions.
The camera also boasts a wider-than-normal 24mm field of view and an f/1.78 aperture lens with OIS.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max also boasts an ultra-wide 12MP sensor with a 13mm wide-angle and f/2.2 aperture. The 12MP telephoto sensor has a 77mm field of view, image stabilization, and an f/2.8 aperture, which equates to roughly a 3x zoom.
The downside is that the iPhone 14 Pro Max (despite being replaced by the iPhone 15 series) is still very expensive. So if you have a little more money to spend, I would recommend the iPhone 13 Pro model over this model.
You might also prefer some of the other iPhone models further down this list, which are a little older now and therefore much cheaper. Also, if you want the latest model for a fraction of the cost, buying a refurbished Apple tech product is a great way to promote recycling and resale at the same time.
5. iPhone 13 Pro
When it comes to asking which iPhone has the best camera for video making at low-light, there’s no better choice than the iPhone 13 Pro. The 13 Pro has one of the best cameras for night photography of all the iPhone models, including the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone 13 Pro sports a typical triple-lens setup with a 12MP main, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens, but the difference lies in the aperture. The 13 Pro’s main camera is f/1.5, making it one of the best we’ve seen on an iPhone.
The ultra-wide lens boasts an f/1.8 aperture. In fact, this aperture is recommended for professional photographers who use cameras in low-light environments, such as concerts. As a result, you can imagine how great the Night Mode and Night Mode Portraits on the iPhone 13 Pro are.
It also supports Night Mode on the 12MP front camera. With sensor-shifting image stabilization, access to Photo 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.
6. iPhone 12 Pro
We’ve already discussed some of the key differences between the iPhone 12 Pro and its slightly more impressive 12 Pro Max sibling above. However, if you prefer a smaller, more compact device and want to save money in the process, this iPhone shouldn’t be ruled out for photography.
The iPhone 12 Pro’s 6.1-inch display is more than enough for most people, and while a larger display is great for viewing photos, it can add unnecessary weight.
The zoom range is slightly lower than the Pro Max, with 4x digital zoom at 5x, and the lens aperture is slightly different. But other than that, you get great photo settings, including Night mode portraits powered by the device’s LiDAR scanner.
You might have to sacrifice a bit of battery life for the iPhone 12 Pro, but if you want a great iPhone camera without sacrificing money, the iPhone 12 Pro is a great choice, and it’s not too different from the iPhone 12 Pro Max in terms of features.