Best phones for video recording in 2024

If you love capturing special moments on video, you need a capable smartphone. While almost all smartphones allow users to capture videos, not all of them can record at the highest resolution and with great clarity. Forget about grainy footage and shaky blurs! The best phones for shooting videos in 2024 are like mini movie studios in your pocket. They not only allow you to capture stunning videos but also offer cool editing features for that cinematic look and enhancements.

What features to look for in a phone for videography?

If you are looking for a reliable smartphone mainly for video recording, you need to look for features, such as sensor size, resolution, high frame rates, optical image stabilisation (OIS), a powerful chipset, a dedicated image processing chip, manual controls, and so on.

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If you are into vlogging, which has been one of the major trends in recent times, you can opt for a smartphone with a good front-facing camera.

Top 5 phones for video recording in 2024

Flagship phones available in 2024 offer top-notch video recording features, such as 8K resolution videos, high frame rates across resolutions, improved HDR, semantic segmentation, cinematic effects, and more. Let’s look at the best phones for videography this year.

1. iPhone 15 Pro Max

2. iPhone 15 Pro

3. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

4. Vivo X100 Pro

5. OnePlus 12

1. iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports up to 60fps 4K video recording. Its Cinematic mode supports up to 4K HDR at 30fps, and there is an Action mode that works like a gimbal by offering improved video stabilisation ideal for shooting videos of fast-paced activities like sports. It also supports 1080p slow-motion videos at 120fps or 240fps. Other video recording features available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max include OIS, ProRes, time-lapse, and HDR with Dolby Vision.

2. iPhone 15 Pro

The iPhone 15 Pro, while slightly more affordable than the Pro Max, still offers a robust suite of videography features. You still get 60fps 4K video shooting, Cinematic mode, Action mode, and more. Since both models share the same rear camera setup, expect similar video performance. Naturally, the smaller size of the 15 Pro means you will get a slightly smaller display and battery compared to the Pro Max.

3. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Galaxy S24 Ultra supports up to 30fps 8K video recording. It offers various video recording features like OIS, portrait videography, dual recording with front and rear cameras at the same time, autofocus on the subject while recording, 10-bit HDR, 60fps 4K video recording through a selfie camera, and more. 

In addition, with AI Frame Rate Conversion (AI FRC) technology, the S24 Ultra can transform standard 24fps HD videos into smooth, 60fps UHD slow-motion clips. It can even push 240fps Full HD footage into cinematic 120fps UHD slow-motion for even more dramatic results.

4. Vivo X100 Pro

All three 50MP cameras available on the rear of the Vivo X100 Pro support up to 60fps 4K video recording. Its main camera can shoot up to 30fps 8K videos and 4K cinematic portrait videos.

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Speaking of the main camera, it is the only phone in this list to feature a one-inch camera sensor, the Sony IMX989, which promises to capture crisp videos even in low-light conditions. Additionally, an in-house Vivo V3 chip aids in advanced portrait videography.

5. OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 is also capable of shooting 24fps 8K and up to 60fps 4K videos. It also supports 4K HDR video recording with Dolby Vision at 30fps. In addition, it offers other videography features, such as 1080p slow-motion videos, dual view (recording with the front and rear cameras simultaneously), time-lapse, and Pro mode.

Things to remember before buying a phone for video recording

It is impossible to declare one outright winner here. Sometimes a phone may pack top-notch cameras but offer a poor videography experience due to buggy software, poor heat management, or a short battery life. Hence, it is advisable to read in-depth reviews or visit an offline store to try some out.

Most flagship phones are priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1,50,000. If you don’t feel like spending big money, you can opt for affordable sub-flagship phones, which are priced at around Rs 35,000 to 50,000. Some of the phones that fall into this price category include, Nothing Phone 2, the Vivo V30 Pro 5G, the OPPO Reno 11 Pro 5G, and the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ 5G.