Which iPhone has the best camera for you?

Choosing a new phone can be difficult, especially when you are comparing multiple models. In terms of design, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 look quite similar. Naturally, you might wonder: what has been improved or changed? In recent years, Apple has introduced many innovations in their mobile devices, particularly in the area of the camera. For example, the iPhone XR has one lens, the iPhone X has two, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max even has three. But which iPhone is the most suitable for you?

Of course, we offer not only the latest iPhones but also a wide range of older refurbished iPhones. So, you have even more models to choose from. Before making a decision, you need to determine what you will be using your iPhone for. If you occasionally want to take a photo to share on WhatsApp, your needs will be different than if you want to take high-quality photos with your phone that rival those of a DSLR camera.

Lenses

Since you can't change the lenses on an iPhone like you can with a DSLR, today’s iPhones are equipped with multiple lenses. All iPhones come standard with a wide-angle lens. The range of this lens is comparable to that of your eyes. An iPhone with two lenses, like the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, also has a telephoto lens, which is the most zoomed in. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro have a third lens, which is the ultra-wide-angle lens. The ultra-wide-angle lens is the most zoomed out. The advantage is that you can capture a lot in your photos, but the downside is that straight lines may be distorted. Exceptions to this standard are the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 (mini): these models have a wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens.

Night Mode

At night or in a dimly lit bar, there is less ambient light. Not all models handle this equally well and may not be able to capture all the details in photos. Night mode was introduced with the iPhone 11. Initially, only the wide-angle lens had night mode, but since the iPhone 12, you can use night mode on all lenses, including when taking selfies!

LiDAR Scanner

You probably have no idea what LiDAR is, but this scanner has a sensor that can measure distances very precisely and recognize surroundings and objects. When you take a photo, the LiDAR scanner quickly determines what or who should be in focus. This scanner is also very useful for virtual reality applications.

Portrait Mode, Smart HDR & Burst Mode

For a good portrait, you need an iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, or newer. These devices are all equipped with portrait mode, which automatically detects the subject of your photo. The background is slightly blurred, creating more depth in your photos. This also happens through Smart HDR. This technology improves the contrast in your photos, making details and shadows more visible. Burst mode allows you to take multiple photos in quick succession. This is handy for moving objects, like when photographing children or pets, or for capturing great action shots during a sports event.

Summary

These are, of course, a lot of factors to consider when making your choice. It's understandable if you feel a bit lost. Below is a table summarizing all the features. If you're wondering which iPhone generally has the best camera, we would recommend the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. These devices are packed with features and take high-quality photos in any situation. However, that doesn't mean you can't still take great photos with older iPhones!

iPhone	Wide-angle	Telephoto	Ultra-wide-angle	Night Mode	LiDAR	Portrait Mode
iPhone 12 Pro Max	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
iPhone 12 Pro	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
iPhone 12	✅		✅	✅		✅
iPhone 12 mini	✅		✅	✅		✅
iPhone SE 2020	✅			✅		✅
iPhone 11 Pro Max	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
iPhone 11 Pro	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
iPhone 11	✅		✅	✅		✅
iPhone XR	✅					✅
iPhone XS Max	✅	✅				✅
iPhone XS	✅	✅				✅
iPhone X	✅	✅				✅
iPhone 8 Plus	✅	✅				✅
iPhone 8	✅
iPhone 7 Plus	✅	✅				✅
iPhone 7	✅
iPhone SE 2016	✅
iPhone 6s Plus	✅
iPhone 6s	✅