Whether you're a pro filmmaker, casual vlogger, or just love capturing everyday moments in stunning quality, choosing the right phone for video recording can make all the difference to your creations. Today’s top smartphones offer cinema-grade features once exclusive to professional gear, and we’ve rounded up the very best to help you decide. Have a read of our recommendations from iD Mobile. brought to you by Currys, and browse pay monthly deals to go alongside your new handset.
What makes a good video recording phone?
A great video recording phone goes beyond just high megapixels. It blends advanced hardware with smart software features to deliver crisp, stable, and cinematic footage.
Look for 4K60fps recording across all lenses, optical image stabilization (OIS) and powerful low-light performance, as well as intelligent features like AI scene detection or audio cleanup. A bright, high refresh-rate display also helps with framing and editing. Whether you’re filming on the move or creating content in studio-like setups, these capabilities will take your video recording up a notch.
Best overall for video recording: iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max sets a new gold standard for mobile video, combining Apple’s signature design with cutting-edge recording capabilities. Filmmakers and content creators will love this handset. From cinematic storytelling to everyday vlogging, it’s built to capture your world in stunning, realistic detail.
Apple continues to lead the pack when it comes to camera and video technology, and this year’s upgrades are the icing on the cake. Whether you're capturing a fast-paced action sequence or a quiet low-light scene, Smart HDR and enhanced Action Mode work together to deliver stable, true-to-life footage every time. You get 4K60fps across every lens, the option to shoot ProRes 4K30 with Log encoding, and new support for external SSD recording via USB-C – a first for iPhone. This is a game-changer for serious videographers shooting on a mobile phone, letting you store larger files and high-quality videos on an external storage device.
A nice extra touch for fans of the full Apple set, the iPhone 16 Pro Max also introduces Spatial Video recording, offering an immersive 3D experience that’s designed to shine on Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Add in top-tier low-light performance, and you've got a phone that not only competes with dedicated video cameras, but in many cases, can outperform them.
- Release date: September 2024
- Dimensions: 163x77.6x8.25mm
- Weight: 227g
- Display size and resolution: 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display (2868x1320)
- OS: iOS 18
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
- CPU: A18 Pro chip
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: up to 33 hours video playback
- Rear cameras: 48MP + 12MP + 48MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- IP rating: IP68
- 4K60fps recording across all lenses
- ProRes 4K30 with Log encoding for professional-grade video
- USB-C port with support for external SSDs
- Super-clear macro photography capabilities, including timelapse and slo-mo
Best for cinematic content creation: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a real machine when it comes to mobile filmmaking. If you want to capture life's moments in unreal quality, this is the phone for you. Offering UHD 8K video at 30fps and 10-bit HDR, the S25 Ultra shoots like a pro, capturing stunning detail whether you’re filming night or day. The enhanced AI auto-framing and stabilisation makes the job feel easy, too.
Samsung’s Pro Video mode is back and better than ever, offering granular control over ISO, shutter speed, white balance and focus. Pair that with Director’s View and Samsung’s sleek Expert RAW app, and you've got access to creative tools that are normally reserved for professional camera equipment with a hefty price tag.
A fantastic feature within the much-lauded ProVisual Engine, the phone’s advanced scene detection AI seamlessly adjusts settings in real time, giving you studio-quality results with minimal effort. On top of that, the telephoto stabilisation has been dramatically improved, helping you get crisp, cinematic zoom shots even with a shakier hold. And it all looks stunning on the huge 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display – sharp, bright, and perfect for editing on the fly.
Explore our full Galaxy S25 Ultra review to see how Samsung’s latest and greatest phone holds up in other aspects.
- Release date: February 2025
- Dimensions: 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm
- Weight: 218g
- Display size and resolution: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (3120x1440)
- OS: Android
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- RAM: 12GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear cameras: 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10 MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- IP rating: IP68
- Pro Video mode, Director’s View and Expert RAW app give you full creative control
- AI scene detection and auto-framing for cinematic quality without the effort
- Upgraded telephoto stabilisation for smooth zoomed-in footage
Best for vlogging: Google Pixel 9 Pro
If you’re looking for a phone that practically does the work for you, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the easiest recommendations we can make. With a simple interface, AI-powered video features, and robust camera hardware, it’s a dream device for content creators and vloggers who film and edit on the go.
Google’s AI capabilities work their magic in audio, too. If you’ve ever recorded a perfect video only to be frustrated by unwanted background noise, Google’s Audio Magic Eraser is the fix. This clever tool uses AI to reduce or remove background sounds like wind, traffic or chatter, keeping your voice front and centre. We also love the Cinematic Pan mode. It brings that dramatic, Hollywood-style movement to your videos, giving them a more polished, professional feel. Plus, Auto-Crop keeps your subject perfectly centred, so you can stay focused on what you're doing, not how you’re framing your shot.
It’s these kinds of thoughtful additions, paired with 4K60fps video on both front and rear cameras, that make the Pixel 9 Pro the vlogger’s best friend.
- Release date: September 2024
- Dimensions: 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm
- Weight: 199g
- Display size and resolution: 6.3-inch Super Actua (1280 x 2856)
- OS: Android 14
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
- CPU: Google Tensor G4
- RAM: 16GB
- Battery: 4,700mAh
- Rear cameras: 50MP + 48MP + 48MP
- Front camera: 42MP
- IP rating: IP68
- Excellent range of AI features on offer, including Audio Magic Eraser, Auto-Crop and Night Sight
- 8K recording at 30fpst
- Protective Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 helps you avoid any scratches or scuffs
Best for video editing: Google Pixel 9 Pro
Sticking with Google phones, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an ideal choice for video editing, and one of the most capable foldables out there. It brings together cutting-edge hardware with smart AI features, all packed inside a sleek foldable design that’s perfect for editing on the go. You’re free to put your camera through its paces too, with 72hour battery life available via Google’s impressive Extreme Battery Saver.
Unfolded, you have an expansive 8-inch Super Actua Flex display, ideal for scrubbing through timelines, colour grading clips, or stacking layers in an editing app. Each action is made all the more seamless thanks to that larger screen. Paired with the powerful Tensor G4 chip and 16GB RAM, you can run demanding editing apps like CapCut and LumaFusion, effortlessly swiping and editing with ease.
The beauty of the foldable design is in its versatility. Multitasking is seamless; you can split-screen your editing app and preview window, or browse music and sound effects while perfecting a video. Plus, exclusive Pixel tools like Audio Magic Eraser and AI-assisted cut suggestions genuinely help speed up your workflow and polish your final product.
When you’re ready to shoot your next clip, the excellent rear camera system (including 48MP wide, 10.8MP telephoto, and 10.5MP ultra-wide lenses) delivers crisp, dynamic footage in all lighting conditions. It's a one-device studio that can be angled, flipped or folded to suit you.
- Release date: August 2024
- Dimensions: 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1mm (unfolded), 155.2x 77.1 x 10.5mm (folded)
- Weight: 257g
- Display size and resolution: 6.3-inch Actua display (1080 x 2424) - external cover, 8-inch Super Actua Flex display (2076 x 2152) - main display
- OS: Android 14
- Refresh rate: 60-120Hz
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB
- CPU: Google Tensor G4
- RAM: 16GB
- Battery: 4,650 mAh
- Rear cameras: 48MP + 10.8MP + 10.5MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Inner camera: 10MP
- IP rating: IPX8
- Impressive 8-inch unfolded screen for seamless editing
- Split-screen multitasking for editing + previewing simultaneously
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass to protect from wear and tear
Best for zoom and long-distance video: Motorola Edge 60 Pro
Want to capture crisp, stable footage without splashing out on a flagship? The Motorola Edge 60 Pro will be your best friend at concerts, races and more, thanks to its amazing zoom and distance video recording capabilities.
The 60 Pro pairs a versatile triple-lens setup with powerful image stabilisation and 50MP ultrawide lens that’s a considerable upgrade from its predecessor’s 13MP. Its standout 50MP telephoto camera offers a true 3× optical zoom, giving you clean, close-up shots without the annoying blur. Add in up to 50× hybrid zoom, and you’re set for capturing everything from on-stage performances to wildlife at a distance. All create super-steady results thanks to optical image stabilisation and gyro-enhanced video.
Recording in 4K at 30fps across all lenses, the Edge 60 Pro delivers punchy, detailed video no matter the focal length. Low light? The 50MP main camera pulls in plenty of detail, while bright conditions let the telephoto lens shine. On top of that, the vivid 6.7-inch Super HD display helps you frame each shot with precision.
- Release date: April 2025
- Dimensions: 160.7x73.1x8.2mm
- Weight: 186g
- Display size and resolution: 6.7-inch Super HD Display (2712 x 1220)
- OS: Android 15
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 512GB
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 8350
- RAM: 12GB
- Battery: 6,000mAh
- Rear cameras: 50MP + 50MP + 10MP
- Front camera: 50MP
- IP rating: IP68
- 3× optical zoom with OIS
- 4K across all lenses
- Huge 6,000mAh battery life on offer
Best budget phone for video recording: Samsung Galaxy A56 5G
Looking for standout video quality without stretching your budget? The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G should be your go-to. With 4K recording on both the front and rear cameras as well as Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on the 50MP main lens, it brings serious camera power to a seriously affordable phone.
The bright Super AMOLED display makes previewing and editing footage a treat, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, every frame you shoot or watch is smooth and fluid. Whether you're vlogging, capturing travel reels, or recording your next YouTube short, the Galaxy A56 5G has the tools you need to make your content look polished straight out of your pocket.
It also packs 10-bit HDR video on the front camera, so you can shoot yourself in stunning, colour-rich detail even when lighting isn't on your side. Add that OIS into the mix for shake-free handheld clips on the rear camera, and you’ve got a phone that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.
- Release date: May 2024
- Dimensions: 162.2x77.5x7.4mm
- Weight: 198g
- Display size and resolution: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display (1080 x 2340)
- OS: Android
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 256GB
- CPU: Octa-Core
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear cameras: 50MP + 12MP + 5MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- IP rating: IP67
- Optical Image Stabilisation available for super-smooth footage
- 10-bit HDR video on the front camera
- Large Super AMOLED display for crisp playback
While the A56 5G punches above its weight in video performance, it doesn’t offer the same level of computational photography found on flagship models. That said, for content creators on a budget, it’s one of the best value-for-money picks around: powerful, reliable, and ready to shoot.
Summary
From the industry-leading iPhone 16 Pro Max to the value-packed Galaxy A56 5G, 2025 offers a wide range of video-centric phones for every need and budget. Whether you prioritise cinematic features, vlogging ease, editing versatility, or long-distance zoom, there's a phone in this list that’s sure to fit your creative style. Make sure your smartphone becomes a powerful video production tool ready to capture, create, and share in stunning detail, or browse our selection of the best camera phones.
FAQs
Many flagship phones now offer excellent video stabilisation. Models like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Google Pixel 9 Pro all deliver smooth, shake-free footage.
Both iPhone and Samsung phones are leaders in video quality. iPhones are known for their colour accuracy and portrait modes, while Samsung offers high-resolution recording and versatile pro video tools. You can’t go wrong with either, it really comes down to personal preference!
Use the highest resolution your phone allows, make sure there’s plenty of light, and keep your hands steady - or use a tripod for extra stability. Many phones also have built-in stabilisation and pro video modes, so explore those settings to take things up a notch.