What is the best smartphone for filmmaking?

Here at the Mobile Motion Film Festival, every year we search for the best films shot on smartphones. We usually say, “The best smartphone for filmmaking is the one you have in your pocket”.

However, if you’re a filmmaker or want to use your smartphone for more than home movies, your next upgrade might be influenced by a phone’s camera and video specs. Or you might want to shoot even more awesome home movies.

When it comes to filmmaking or videography, there are a number of things to consider. Video resolution, image quality, battery life, inbuilt storage space and more. Cost is obviously a major factor for many of us. Remember, one reason we’re smartphone filmmaking is we don’t want to spend $$ on a camera.

First, if you’re serious about shooting video on your smartphone, you should consider using a specialized camera app, like FiLMiC Pro. If not, then you might want to be more concerned about the phone’s stock camera app. I’ve included an unlocked device cost as a rough reference, but you will need to hunt for the best deal.

READ NOW: New Best Smartphone for Video and Filmmaking 2019

Apple iPhone XS / XS Max

Rear Cameras: 12Mp + 12Mp (2x zoom)

Front Camera: 7Mp

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 60fps, stabilised

The ‘extended dynamic range’ still makes a noticeable difference and – as ever – the iPhone XS produces fantastic, stable footage and can shoot at 60fps in 4K.

Apple iPhone Xs Max on Amazon

Apple iPhone Xs on Apple

Google Pixel 3 / 3XL

Rear Camera: 12.2Mp

Front Cameras: 8Mp + 8Mp wide

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 30fps, stabilised

Video capture matches the Pixel 2 with shooting 4K at up to 30fps. Stabilisation comes with a combination of electronic and optical. Unfortunately, 60fps isn’t available at 4K and Google still hasn’t updated slo-mo options. These are 120fps at 1080p and 240fps at 720p.

However, the Pixel 3 does have a flicker sensor which eliminates flicker from videos shot under artificial light.

Google – Pixel 3 XL on Amazon

Google – Pixel 3 XL on Google

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Rear Cameras: 40Mp, 20Mp (wide), 8Mp (3x zoom)

Front Camera: 24Mp

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 30fps, stabilised

Slow-mo: 960fps

Huawei Mate 20 Pro on Amazon

Huawei Mate 2o Pro on Huawei

OnePlus 6

Rear Cameras: 16Mp + 20Mp

Front Camera:16Mp

Highest Video Quality: 4K resolution video at 30/60 fps

Slow-motion video recording at 480fps

OnePlus has boosted the size of the sensor on the main 16MP camera by 19%. Also, it now has a 1.22um pixel size (up from 1.12um), enabling greater light sensitivity.

Slow-mo video recorded at 480fps is captured at 720p. You can switch to 240fps @ 1080p for a higher-resolution result (but less slow). The OnePlus 6 captures a full minute of slow-motion footage, which equals around six minutes of video when played back.

Overall, the OnePlus 6 is great for videography and is close to the filmmaker favourites iPhone and Samsung for a handful of dollars less.

OnePlus 6 on Amazon

OnePlus 6 on OnePlus.com

Huawei P20 Pro

Rear Cameras: 40Mp, 20Mp (mono), 8Mp (3x zoom)

Front Camera: 24Mp

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 30fps, not stabilised

Slow-mo: 960fps

1080p at 30fps offers nicely stabilised footage. Once in 4K mode, however, all the stabilisation is disabled. There’s no stabilisation for 60fps video, plus no option to record at 60 frames per second in 4K at all.

Huawei P20 Pro on Amazon

Huawei P20 Pro on Huawei

Samsung Galaxy S9+ / Note 9

Rear Cameras: 12Mp + 12Mp (2x zoom)

Front Camera: 8Mp

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 60fps, stabilised

Slow-mo: 960fps

The main rear camera has a variable aperture. Basically, 2 aperture choices: f/1.5 or f/2.4. This means if light conditions are too bright, you have the option to switch to the smaller (f/2.4) aperture. Using the stock camera app, you get the same options as the iPhone, which means 4K video at 24, 30 or 60fps.

There’s no longer advanced controls in Samsung’s camera app for video, as there is with Huawei’s. So you will need a 3rd part app to get manual control using a Samsung phone with updated OS.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S9+ on Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S10+

Rear Cameras: 12MP telephoto + 12MP wide angle lens + 16MP ultra wide angle lens.

Front Cameras: 10MP dual pixel auto focus lens + 8MP lens

Highest Video Quality: 4K at 60fps, stabilised, including NEW HDR10+ recording

Slow-mo: 720p @ 960fps

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has cameras/lenses in total, compared to the S9+ which has 3. There’s 3 rear facing cameras and 2 front facing. The cameras provide 3 different apertures: F2.4 – F1.5 – F2.2.

The S10+ is one of the few phones to allow 4K video to be shot using the front facing cameras.

The new Samsung also comes with the option of HDR10+ which is a developing technology used to create greater dynamic range in both photos and videos. For video there’s also Super Slow-mo, Slow motion and Hyperlapse mode. Meanwhile, Live focus video is only available with the Galaxy S10 5G model.

Note: HDR10+ recording is currently in beta and only available on the rear camera.

Samsung Galaxy S10+ on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S10 range on Samsung Website

Check out how DxOMark Image Labs rates smartphone cameras for video.

Low Light Performance

When compared to more expensive (or dedicated) cameras, smartphone cameras struggle to match them in low light situations. When comparing their performance, we need to be looking for digital noise created when the ISO is pushed up to brighten the picture.

If the image looks bright enough, whilst displaying a low level of digital noise, then that is a good indication the camera is performing well in a low light situation.

Apple iPhone XS Max

“I don’t see much reason to shoot with the flat or log gamma profiles. In fact I think the best results could very well come from letting the iPhone do it’s own thing. It may be doing a better job of maximizing recorded dynamic range through it’s own intelligent tone mapping than can be achieved manually.” Richard Lackey

Google Pixel 3 / 3XL

How does the Pixel 3 camera shape up for filmmakers. Well why don’t we ask legendary indie director Terrence Malik to give it a test? The video is produced by Google in collaboration with Malik.

Yeah but what about it’s low light performance? OK, so we’ll just go and shoot an Eminem video with a few Pixels…

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

I’m reading a lot about major issues with the Huawei Mate Pro’s low light performance. Check this video below to see what the results are. Honestly, this night footage (on the left) is unusable. If this is just poor settings, then ok. But if this is a device issue, then you can surely forget this phone for filmmaking.

Having said that, suggestions are that this is a software issue which might be fixed, at some point… hm.

Huawei P20 Pro

It’s hard to find a good video test for the P20 Pro, as most tests are focused on the still photography capabilities of smartphone cameras. Video tends to get a brief mention, as if most people aren’t really bothered.

However, this below seems to be a pretty good one. To my eyes, the Samsung is better.

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Skip to about 5 minutes on this video test below to see how the Samsung S9+ matches up with the iPhone X in a low light situation.

In this test, at about 50 seconds, a night video test shows the iPhone to be producing more noise. But what about the colour and the skin tones?

Samsung Galaxy S10+

The low light tests for the S10+ I’ve found have been very positive, with the new Samsung boosting light levels without introducing artifacts or noise. Check out this (fairly unscientific) test below. One thing to note is the great quality of the inbuilt mic which he is using.

In this test at least, the inbuilt stabilization seems to make a mess of the image when he runs. I don’t think anyone would be happy with that. But inbuilt smartphone stabilization is really designed for better stills photos and not running video shots. However, it will still help you out with minor movements – such as slow walking or panning.

Note: Huawei Mate Not Available in USA

Unfortunately for USA smartphone filmmakers, the Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro will not be sold in the USA.

So this is the video shooting qualities of each smartphone. However, bear in mind that some notable apps only work on iOS (iPHone). Apps such as LumaFusion and MAVIS for example. So if you are intending to use one of these apps, you will have to look to buy an iPhone.

Read Next: Best Smartphone Filmmaking Kit 2019.

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