By Chekwube Nnakife

Apple is one of the biggest and best producers of camera phones, and it has a wide variety of devices in its lineup. The best iPhones allow you to balance high-quality photos and videos at a price that fits your budget.

We’ve compiled a list of the top iPhones for photography.

Read Also: 10 phones with best camera in 2025

APPLE IPHONE 16 PRO MAX

It should come as no surprise that the finest iPhone for photography is the top-tier iPhone 16 Pro Max.  With 48MP sensors in both the tele and wide cameras and a 5x optical zoom, this pocket powerhouse enhances the capabilities of the Pro iPhone with entertaining 120fps 4K slo-mo action and sophisticated sound field editing. It will take me some time to get used to, but I’m sure certain creatives will appreciate the updated computational photography system, which is similar to having an ultra-flexible filter system built in that you can modify before or after shooting.  It demonstrates computational photography’s potential.  RAW picture, ProRes Log video, and – now – 120fps 4K is available too.

APPLE IPHONE 16

I would suggest the normal iPhone 16 if you’re looking for a good photography phone at a reasonable price. It doesn’t have the telephoto camera from the Pro, but it does have a 48MP main camera (which is essentially a 2x tele) and a wide camera in addition to the photography Control button. The ‘Pro’ side appears to be the direction Apple is taking more.  It has four ‘studio quality’ microphones and can record ProRes video via a USB-C connector.  Additionally, there are ‘ProMotion’ panels, which are incredibly smooth at 120Hz, so you never notice judder when scrolling.  Although it stands out, only Apple now views this as a “Pro” feature.

APPLE IPHONE 16 PRO

For those who desire amazing cameras without a large phone, this is the smaller version of the iPhone 15 Pro series compared to the Max.  The 15 Pro still has a lot of camera capabilities, especially for photographers with its 48MP RAW images, even though its x3 telephoto is a little shorter. With a more portable 6.1″ screen, the iPhone Pro is smaller than the Pro Max. This is good if you like compact phones, but I prefer the Max’s larger screen for editing photos and videos.  However, if you want a manageable-sized iPhone, the standard Pro is the best option for photography.

APPLE IPHONE 15 PRO MAX

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a little chunkier than Apple’s other offerings but it’s got an impressive set of camera features that make it perfect for photographers. Another huge benefit of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is that it adopted USB-C charging, making it compatible with most chargers plus a range of monitors and camera accessories. Even though the new iPhone 15 Pro costs a lot of money, it’s a strong phone with a great battery that lasts all day.  The iPhone 15 Pro is an obvious choice for Apple fans who like smaller phones, although you will still get 3x optical camera.  However, the Pro Max is for you if you enjoy large phones and the greatest possible photography experience.

APPLE IPHONE SE (2022)

If you’re on a tight budget but still want the photography capabilities of a modern iPhone, I suggest the iPhone SE (2022). While it’s not quite as good as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which costs several times as much, it still has an impressive camera setup with a 12MP f/1.8 aperture wide camera on the back.

Everything functions flawlessly and elegantly thanks to the quick A15 Bionic chip, and photography-focused features like the AI-enhanced Portrait mode and the same Smart HDR 4 technology as the iPhone 13 give you a ton of amazing shooting possibilities.  The front camera (7 MP, f/2.2) is also quite good for taking selfies.  In addition, the iPhone SE (2022) has enhanced durability and is 5G-enabled.  It has the Home button, supports Touch ID and Apple Pay, and has an IP67 rating for resistance to dust and water.

For heavy users, battery life is very important. With their large batteries, iPhone models like the Plus and Max offer longer usage than smaller iPhones.  It’s crucial to future-proof your purchase because newer models usually get upgrades for longer periods, guaranteeing compatibility with new features and apps.  Even the oldest phone on our list (iPhone SE 2022) has a good number of years left, as Apple promises updates for up to seven years.