
What are the best phones for filmmaking?
This question gets tougher to answer every year as phone companies continue to up their camera quality and new models hit the market. But as of early 2025, these phone models stand apart for filmmaking.- iPhone 16 Pro - iPhone pro models are usually our top pick for mobile filmmaking. They’re capable of filming in Apple Pro Res, a file format that gives you high-quality professional footage without taking up a lot of storage space. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max also offer plenty of base features that can elevate your videos, like Dolby Vision compatibility, 4k resolution, 120 frames per second (fps), and more.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - While the non-Apple smartphones can’t film in Pro Res, they can still pack a punch. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can film in resolutions up to 8K at 30 fps, and 4k at 60fps.
- Google Pixel 9 Pro - Google’s latest pro smartphone can film in 4k at up to 60fps, making it a good choice for filming videos without any extra features or distractions.
7 Phone videography tips for your next video project
Once you’ve got your phone of choice handy, you can up your filming game with the following tips.Choose the right resolution for mobile filmmaking
Your video’s resolution is the number of pixels every frame contains. In other words, a 4k video has around 4,000 horizontal pixels, and 8k has 8,000.While higher resolution is objectively better for sharper images, a higher resolution will also yield bigger video files, which take longer to load and may be tougher to edit. Whenever possible, we suggest filming in 4k, since it offers a good balance between sharp quality and file size. You can also use a codec like Apple Pro Res to reduce the file size even further if you’re filming with an iPhone.
Choose the right frame rate
Once you’ve chosen your file format and resolution, other manual adjustments can make an impact on your finished project. For example, the frame rate, or frames per second (fps).24 or 30 fps are standard frame rates for regular footage. But if you’re filming a scene in slow motion, a higher frame rate, such as 60fps, can make the footage look smoother.
Adjust your ISO & aperture
Just like a traditional camera, smartphone cameras contain settings that control light intake, like aperture and ISO.Aperture is the opening in the lens that controls the amount of light entering your camera. A lower aperture restricts the light, which is better-suited for very bright environments and helps you avoid overexposure. Larger apertures let in more light, and are best for darker or poorly lit environments.
Meanwhile, your camera’s ISO is a setting that controls the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor. Just like with aperture, a lower ISO is ideal for well-lit environments while higher ISOs can let more light into darker setups.
Use a third-party camera app geared for mobile filmmaking
If you’re using an iPhone, you might find that some of these camera settings, like frame rates, are hidden and can only be adjusted automatically. Luckily, third-party camera apps like the Black Magic app unlock these “hidden” features and allow you to make the manual adjustments you need to get your shots perfect.
Invest in a tripod
Beyond understanding your camera’s settings and adjusting them for the right scenarios, it’s also helpful to have additional equipment in your kit, especially a tripod.Not only can tripods make your life easier for self-filming, but some versions also feature attachments for gimbals, which hold your camera steady for moving shots. Other tripods also come with mounts that can accommodate accessories, like external microphones, ring lights, or diffusers, for a more seamless filming experience.
Try a separate microphone
While modern smartphones have come a long way in terms of audio quality, we recommend adding an external microphone to your mobile filmmaking rig. Not only can an external microphone offer improved audio, but having a separate audio file can make editing easier if you plan on making adjustments to your video’s sound.One of our favorite tools is a simple mini shotgun microphone since they’re easy to attach to a gimbal and can connect directly to your phone. It’s a small detail that can give your videos a more professional and polished feel.
Use an external lens specifically designed for mobile filmmaking
While not strictly necessary, some mobile filmmakers like to experiment with external lenses. These devices attach to your phone’s camera lens to help you get effects that aren’t possible on your phone’s existing camera.For example, some give you better optical zoom, which allows you to get a clearer picture when filming faraway objects. Others can give your smartphone its very own anamorphic lens, which gives you a more cinematic look.
The bottom line, from a Rhode Island videographer
With these basic mobile filmmaking tips and tools up your sleeve, you can start upgrading your video projects without investing in pricey professional cameras.But if you’re still feeling overwhelmed and would prefer a professional to take the reigns, McVeigh Media is here for you. As experienced Rhode Island videographers, we’ve helped countless local and national brands film interviews, promotional footage, drone overviews, and more. You can trust us to give your projects the polish your company deserves.
Contact us today to tell us more about your video goals.
Posted by Sean McVeigh