Which iPhone will take the best photos in 2026 ?
December 23, 2025
Today even basic Apple smartphones produce photos that, about five years ago, would have required a DSLR with a good lens. But the difference between a regular iPhone and the top Pro versions is still huge - especially in low light, zoom, and video recording. Here we look at which device currently gets the most out of mobile photography and whether it is worth paying extra for the higher-end model.
1. iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2868×1320, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3000 nits. The screen is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, supports Dynamic Island and the P3 wide color gamut. The body is made of an aluminum frame and glass panels, the device is 8.8 mm thick, weighs 233 g, and is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance. Inside is the Apple A19 Pro processor with 12 GB of RAM and 2000 GB of NVMe storage.
All rear cameras are 48 MP: the main module with f/1.6 aperture and sensor-shift stabilization, an ultrawide camera (120°, f/2.2), and a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom (f/2.8). Supported features include Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, ProRes RAW video, and 4K at 120 fps, as well as macro video and Cinematic mode. The front camera is 18 MP. A dedicated camera control button is added along with satellite SOS. Only eSIM is supported. The battery is 5088 mAh, wireless charging goes up to 25 W (MagSafe and Qi2).
Who it is for:
For those who shoot a lot of high-quality video and need ProRes RAW or slow-motion 4K 120 fps
For photographers who value three 48 MP sensors and true 4x optical zoom without quality loss
For users who want the maximum storage capacity (2 TB) and do not plan to replace the phone for several years
For people who often end up in areas without cellular coverage and appreciate satellite SOS
For those who prefer a large 6.9-inch screen for viewing and editing photos directly on the device
2. iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro has a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2622×1206, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 3000 nits. It uses Ceramic Shield 2 glass, supports Dynamic Island, and has an anti-reflective coating. The aluminum and glass body is 8.8 mm thick, weighs 206 g, and is IP68 certified. It runs on the Apple A19 Pro processor, with 12 GB of RAM and 1000 GB of NVMe storage.
The triple-camera system consists of three 48 MP sensors: a main f/1.6 module with sensor-shift stabilization, a 120° f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 4x optical zoom telephoto lens at f/2.8. Supported features include Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, ProRes RAW, 4K 120 fps video, and macro shooting. The front camera is 18 MP. It also includes a camera control button, satellite SOS, USB-C 3.0, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 25 W, and a 3988 mAh battery. Supports physical Nano-SIM and eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want all Pro-series features but in a more compact 6.3-inch body
For photographers who are fine with 1 TB of storage and need three 48 MP modules with true 4x optical zoom
For users who shoot in ProRes or frequently use slow-motion 4K 120 fps
For those who appreciate the lower weight and one-hand comfort compared to the Max version
For people who need a physical SIM card alongside eSIM
3. iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with a 6.9-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2868×1320, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and peak outdoor brightness of 2000 nits. The screen is protected by Ceramic Shield and supports Always-On Display and Dynamic Island. The titanium and glass body is 8.25 mm thick, weighs 227 g, and has IP68 protection. It runs on Apple A18 Pro, with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1000 GB of NVMe storage.
The main camera setup includes a 48 MP wide f/1.78 module with sensor-shift stabilization, a 48 MP ultrawide 120° f/2.2, and a 12 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom f/2.8. Supported features include ProRAW, ProRes, Log recording, Spatial Video, night portraits with LiDAR, and Action mode. The front camera is 12 MP. Added features include a Camera Control button, satellite SOS, USB-C 3.0 with DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 7, a 4685 mAh battery, MagSafe 25 W and Qi2 15 W charging. Supports Nano-SIM + eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want Apple's largest screen (6.9 inches) along with 5x optical zoom
For videographers recording in ProRes, Log, or Spatial Video for Vision Pro
For people who work often with AR or shoot night portraits using the improved LiDAR
For those who want a titanium body and slightly lower weight than previous Max models
For users who are fine with 1 TB storage but want maximum battery and performance reserve for 2025-2026
4. iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with a 6.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2622×1206, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and up to 2000 nits outdoor brightness. It includes Ceramic Shield, Always-On Display, and Dynamic Island. The titanium body with glass panels is 8.25 mm thick, weighs 199 g, and is IP68 rated. It runs on Apple A18 Pro with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1000 GB of NVMe storage.
The camera system includes a 48 MP f/1.78 main sensor with sensor-shift stabilization, a 48 MP 120° f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 12 MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom f/2.8. Features include ProRAW, ProRes, Log recording, Spatial Video, Action mode, and night portraits via LiDAR. The front camera is 12 MP. Added are a Camera Control button, satellite SOS, USB-C 3.0 with DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 7, a 3582 mAh battery, MagSafe 25 W and Qi2 15 W charging. Supports Nano-SIM + eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want a compact Pro iPhone with a 6.3-inch display and true 5x optical zoom
For videographers shooting in ProRes, Log, or Spatial Video but who do not need a large screen
For people who value the titanium frame and the lowest weight among current Pro models
For those who actively use AR apps or shoot night portraits thanks to LiDAR
For users who find 1 TB enough and want a balance between size, battery, and camera capabilities
5. iPhone 17
iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2622×1206, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and up to 3000 nits brightness. It uses Ceramic Shield 2 glass, has an anti-reflective coating, and supports Dynamic Island. The aluminum body with glass panels is just 8 mm thick, weighs 177 g, and is IP68 certified. It runs on the Apple A19 processor with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB NVMe storage.
The dual main cameras are both 48 MP: a wide f/1.6 sensor with sensor-shift stabilization and a 120° f/2.2 ultrawide. Supported features include Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, macro video, and Cinematic mode. Video recording goes up to 4K 60 fps. The front camera is 18 MP. A camera control button and satellite SOS are included. USB-C 2.0 with DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 25 W, and a 3692 mAh battery are supported. Works with Nano-SIM + eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want a current iPhone with two 48 MP cameras but without the telephoto module and extra cost
For users who prefer a compact 6.3-inch size and minimal weight
For people who primarily shoot with wide and ultrawide cameras, including macro
For those who value a bright 3000-nit screen and a quick camera launch button
For anyone looking for a 2025 model with Wi-Fi 7 and long software support without paying extra for Pro features
6. iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Plus is equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2796×1290, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 2000 nits. It features Ceramic Shield glass and Dynamic Island. The aluminum body with glass panels is 7.8 mm thick, weighs 199 g, and has IP68 protection. It runs on the Apple A18 processor, with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512 GB of NVMe storage.
The dual-camera setup includes a 48 MP f/1.6 main sensor with sensor-shift stabilization and a 12 MP 120° f/2.2 ultrawide with macro capability. Features include Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, Action mode, and Cinematic mode. Video recording goes up to 4K 60 fps. The front camera is 12 MP. Added are a camera control button, satellite SOS, USB-C 2.0 with DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 7, a 4674 mAh battery, MagSafe 25 W and Qi2 15 W charging. Supports Nano-SIM + eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want a large 6.7-inch screen but are not ready to pay for the Pro series
For users who value the best battery life among all iPhones with a 60 Hz display
For people who mainly shoot with wide and ultrawide cameras with macro and do not need zoom
For those who appreciate a lightweight and thin body with a large display
For anyone looking for a current non-Pro iPhone with a Camera Control button and long software support
7. iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2796×1290, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and up to 2000 nits outdoor brightness. Instead of a notch, it uses Dynamic Island, and the screen is protected by Ceramic Shield. The aluminum and glass body is 7.8 mm thick, weighs 201 g, and offers IP68 protection. It runs on the Apple A16 Bionic processor with 6 GB of RAM and 512 GB of NVMe storage.
The dual-camera system includes a 48 MP f/1.6 main module with sensor-shift stabilization and a 12 MP 120° f/2.4 ultrawide lens. It supports Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, Action mode, and Cinematic mode. Video recording is available in 4K 60 fps. The front camera is 12 MP. Additional features include satellite SOS, Crash Detection, USB-C 2.0 with DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 6, MagSafe 15 W charging, and a 4383 mAh battery. Supports Nano-SIM + eSIM.
Who it is for:
For those who want a large 6.7-inch display and good battery life at a reasonable price in 2025
For people who are fine with two cameras (48+12 MP) and do not need optical zoom
For users who want a light and thin phone with Dynamic Island but do not need 120 Hz
For those who shoot photos and videos mainly for social media and family use without professional tasks
For anyone who needs a reliable iPhone with several more years of updates ahead
8. iPhone Air 1 TB
Apple iPhone Air in the 1 TB Cloud White version is just 5.6 mm thick and weighs 165 grams - the phone practically disappears in a jeans pocket. The 6.5-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 3000 nits brightness stays readable even under bright sunlight, and Ceramic Shield 2 glass is stronger than the standard variant. The device has a titanium and glass body, IP68 protection, and a single 48 MP main camera supported by a full set of computational photography features.
Photos come out detailed thanks to Deep Fusion and Photonic Engine - shadows stay visible and highlights do not blow out the sky. Optical stabilization helps when shooting handheld while moving, and the dedicated side button lets you start shooting instantly without unlocking the screen. Video is recorded in 4K 60 fps, and the 18 MP front camera with Center Stage keeps the person in frame during calls. With 1 TB of storage, you can shoot at maximum quality for years without worrying about space.
Who it is for:
For those who take photos every day and want a phone that does not weigh down a pocket
For people who value instant camera readiness without searching for an icon on the screen
For users who shoot a lot of 4K and RAW video and do not want to constantly clear storage
For those who often make video calls and want to stay in frame even while moving around the room
For photography enthusiasts who appreciate natural colors and details in challenging lighting without needing multiple lenses on the back
Conclusion
In short - there is no universal "best" option, everything depends on what you shoot and how often you carry the phone in your pocket.
If you want maximum zoom, spatial video, and do not mind a big heavy phone - go for the 16 Pro Max or 17 Pro Max, the difference between them is not yet big enough to justify a large extra cost. If you want proper zoom but need the phone to fit comfortably in regular jeans - the 16 Pro and 17 Pro offer almost the same features but in a more convenient size.
For those who do not need telephoto at all and mainly want sharp photos in a lightweight device, the regular iPhone 17 or even the 16 Plus is more than enough. And if your budget is limited and you shoot mostly in daylight - the older 15 Plus still performs solidly.
In the end, choose based on two questions: how far you like to zoom and how large a phone you are willing to tolerate. Everything else is detail that rarely becomes decisive in real life.