The iPhone has historically offered some of the best smartphone cameras on the market, but which iPhone has the very best camera system?
Apple's iPhone, dubbed as the "world's most popular camera," delivers one of the best consumer photography and videography experiences to date. But do you need to get the most expensive iPhone to get the best camera?
Stick around to find out which iPhone has the best camera system for your needs.
iPhone 12 Pro Max: The Best iPhone Camera System
To start, if you want the best iPhone camera from a technical standpoint, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers the most versatility and the biggest feature-set compared to the other models.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers four cameras: one on the front and three on the back. All four cameras use 12MP sensors with varying focal lengths.
The main sensor is 26mm wide and the standard lens has a wider aperture of f/1.6, compared to f/1.8 on the iPhone 11 Pro. This main sensor also has dual pixel autofocus and in-body image stabilization.
The 12 Pro Max also sports a 65mm telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom alongside a 13mm ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view.
Finally, the front camera is a 23mm wide-angle lens.
The 12 Pro Max has a larger main sensor compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, allowing the device to capture better low-light photos and videos. The larger sensor also means you're going to get more natural depth-of-field (blurry background) straight from the regular shooting modes compared to using Portrait mode, which can sometimes mess up edge detection on subjects.
Read our iPhone 12 Pro Max review to discover other aspects of this phone as well as a couple of photo samples.
The iPhone 12 Pro models can also capture in ProRAW.
ProRAW is Apple's new image format that combines both the iPhone's image processing and the information of RAW photo files. This new image format allows you to get a much more detailed end result that is more flexible to edit.
Shooting Video
From a video standpoint, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the best video you're going to get from an iPhone. Just like the rest of the iPhone 12 series, you can capture video in Dolby Vision HDR; this video format allows you to capture a wider dynamic range, which can result in better color accuracy and detail.
All three back cameras can capture 4K video up to 60 frames per second or 1080p at 240 frames per second (slow-motion video). The front camera can capture 4K at 60 frames per second or 1080p up to 120 frames per second.
Unlike the other three models released in November of 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a large enough chassis to allow for sensor-shift in the camera. Sensor-shift is where the sensor of your camera physically moves inside to stabilize your image.
Sensor-shift or IBIS (in-body image stabilization) is commonly found in big DSLR or cine cameras, but the inclusion of it within the iPhone means you're going to get some of the best-looking videos out of a smartphone.
Summary of the iPhone 12 Pro Max
Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the best camera system on an iPhone right now, allowing you to capture the best quality photo and video with great control and versatility. While the 12 Pro Max is the most flexible camera system, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best camera system for your needs.
We recommend the iPhone 12 Pro Max for content creators or amateur photographers because it offers the best creative control for both photo and video.
What About the iPhone 12 Pro?
The iPhone 12 Pro is an awkward middle-child between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Aside from an extra telephoto camera, you're better off sticking with the iPhone 12 or 12 mini, which have an identical set of the regular wide, ultrawide, and selfie camera.
Compared to the 12 Pro Max, you're losing IBIS, a larger sensor, and better telephoto capabilities. The iPhone 12 Pro doesn't give you enough to justify spending more for it compared to the iPhone 12 or 12 mini, and it lacks the main features that make the 12 Pro Max the best iPhone camera.
iPhone 12 or 12 mini: The Default iPhone Camera System
The iPhone 12 and 12 mini are great camera systems for beginners and intermediate photographers or videographers. As mentioned before, these two iPhones feature the same 12MP wide, ultrawide, and selfie cameras found on the iPhone 12 Pro.
The iPhone 12 and 12 mini have a slightly faster aperture than the iPhone 11 series; all that really means is you're going to get slightly better low-light performance.
Compared to the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, all you're trading off is the telephoto lens and the ability to shoot ProRAW. ProRAW, as mentioned before, is just the combination of the iPhone's image processing and standard RAW; you are still able to capture regular RAW photos using 3rd-party apps such as VSCO or Halide.
As for video capture, these two iPhones do not disappoint. The iPhone 12 and 12 mini both capture the same 4K video up to 60 frames per second, and they also capture the same Dolby Vision HDR video as the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
For the 12 mini specifically, this iPhone offers the most portable camera system of the iPhone 12 series, and you can confidently capture stunning photos and videos without having to worry about opting for a larger device. However, you should take into account the smaller battery of this iPhone compared to its siblings.
We would recommend the iPhone 12 and 12 mini to mostly everyone. These two devices offer an acceptable photo and video experience that can rival larger and more expensive devices.
iPhone 11 or 11 Pro: The Best Camera on a Budget
You don't need the latest and greatest to get a good camera system. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are still great options when it comes to the camera.
The iPhone 11 features 12MP sensors for its regular wide, ultrawide, and selfie camera. From a technical standpoint, the main sensor uses slower shutter speeds with an aperture of f/1.8 compared to f/1.6 on the iPhone 12 series.
The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max have identical camera systems which include the same wide, ultrawide, and selfie cameras as the iPhone 11, but with the addition of a 52mm telephoto on the Pro, which offers a 2x optical zoom.
All three devices are able to capture 4K video up to 60 frames per second on each camera, and the quality is still comparable to the newest iPhones today. You should note, you're not able to capture Dolby Vision video like on the iPhone 12 series.
We recommend the iPhone 11 for people who are on a budget but still want to capture consistently great photos and videos.
The notable differences between the iPhone 11 series compared to the iPhone 12 series are the faster aperture on the main sensor, the ability to record Dolby Vision HDR, and slightly better image processing.
Comparing the 11 Pro series to the 12 Pro Max, you're sacrificing a larger sensor, IBIS, and ProRAW if you opt for the iPhone 11 Pro.
That said, if you currently own an iPhone 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max, in the grand scheme of things, there isn't a good reason to upgrade your device just for these incremental camera improvements.
We recommend the iPhone 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max to people who want the versatility of a telephoto lens. However, you should only get the Pro variants if you can snatch them up at a good price.
The regular iPhone 11 offers a near-identical camera experience to the 11 Pro or Pro Max, and unless you're bound to purchase the more expensive 11 Pro for other aspects, such as the screen or design, you should stick to the regular 11, and save some money.
Which iPhone Camera Is Right for You?
Overall, all the iPhones in this article are exceptionally well-made devices that will perform very well for taking photos and videos. The 12 Pro Max offers the best camera from a technical standpoint, while the 12 and 12 mini offer a similar, but slightly more consumer-level experience for the masses.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, the iPhone 11 series offers a great camera system that is still usable today.