Smartphone camera quality has improved greatly over the years. As a result, many content creators rely on smartphones that shoot 4K videos for their work. With the rapidly increasing popularity of capturing moments and making reels, the best smartphone brands just had to make sure 4K recording is featured in their best models. Software developers have also supported the trend with mobile apps similar to Photoshop.
Top-Class Smartphones That Shoot 4K Videos
It is risky to prioritize camera quality when buying a smartphone. This is because you cannot rely solely on the specifications announced by manufacturers. If you're looking for smartphones that shoot 4K videos, you're in the right place. We have highlighted some of the best in the field for you to pick from. They are as follows:
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung's latest flagship phones are some of the most well-rounded in the market. The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G sports one of the best cameras for its price range. The 5G-enabled phone boasts a 108MP wide-angle Pro-grade main camera for the optics. This is augmented by a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 10MP 3x optical zoom lens, and 10MP 10x optical zoom lens. This camera system lets users capture stunningly detailed photos and 4K videos with higher cropping latitudes.
Furthermore, the AI Focus and Super Night Solution enhance low-light imagery. The Galaxy features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 1,750nits of brightness for vivid and vibrant imagery. This display, along with its powerful 4nm processor, makes it one of the best Android phones for gaming. The phone can handle almost any computing task. You can also take advantage of the IP68 water-resistance rating to shoot videos in shallow water.
In addition, this phone supports the S Pen for easier note-taking or drawing. Its Corning Gorilla Glass Victus front and back protection improves scratch resistance. A new unit of this phone starts at around $799.99.
2. Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is one of the most affordable premium smartphones that shoot 4K videos available today. The phone sports an upgraded dual-camera system comprising improved wide- and ultra-wide cameras. This system lets more light in and supports Dolby Vision HDR 4K video recording. As a result, they record impressively detailed videos even in low light.
The Apple phone also boasts a Cinematic mode supported by its front and rear cameras. This feature enables users to record cinema-grade videos. Furthermore, the Photographic Styles feature utilizes a set of filters and effects to enhance your photos using AI to achieve beautiful, natural-looking photos. You also get to employ the sensor-shift OIS technology for shooting shake-free videos. Other impressive camera modes you can enjoy on the iPhone 13 are Portrait mode, Night mode selfies, Smart HDR4, and Deep Fusion.
The energy-efficient and potent A15 Bionic chipset powers the iPhone 13. This processor provides a reliable, smooth performance and enhanced battery life. The selfie camera and processor enable dependable TrueDepth-powered Face ID authentication. The 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display has 1,200nits of brightness, offering great sunlight legibility and improved whites and blacks. Additionally, the IP68 water resistance rating allows you to take pictures in a pool.
Lastly, the iPhone 13 is offered with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB internal memory options. The price for a new one ranges between $599 and $899, depending on which one you choose.
3. OnePlus 10R 5G
The OnePlus 10R is also among the well-rounded smartphones that shoot 4K videos. The phone delivers top-class performance thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max chipset. This processor is paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal memory to take on the most demanding applications. The 10R boasts a 6.7-inch HDR AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for sleek visuals. Furthermore, the display also sports features like the Hyper Touch Mode, Reading Mode, Night Mode, and Eye Comfort Mode for enhanced functionality.
The reliable Sony IMX766 rear camera and 16MP Sony IMX471 front selfie camera offer 4K videography. Users also get to enjoy a wide range of filters and effects such as Nightscape2.0, UltraShot HDR, Super Macro, Tilt-shift mode, Focus Peaking, Video Nightscape, Video Portrait Timelapse, Hyperlapse Mode, and a lot more. You get to take advantage of the 5,000mAh battery, which supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging.
Additionally, the phone is ideal for mobile gaming thanks to the HyperBoost Gaming Engine, GPA Frame Stabiliser, 720Hz of touch sampling rate, a Quick Startup feature, and 4D haptics. The phone's OxygenOS 12 enables a smooth, intuitive, and feature-rich software experience. A new OnePlus 10R comes with a $390 price tag.
4. Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Sony is one of the industry's finest, especially in photography. The Xperia XZ Premium features a 13MP front camera and a 19MP camera at the rear. Many photographers favor this phone's camera as it takes realistic photos with no filters. Furthermore, the camera app is easy to navigate and offers the best tools to enhance capturing.
On this phone, the 4K mode is featured as a special mode similar to the creative effects and the AR. In addition, the camera can record slo-mo videos at 980 frames per second. This camera quality enables you to film spontaneous videos like nature documentaries as it doesn't miss any details. The only downside is that the camera flash is less powerful than others on this list.
Overall, this Xperia is a cool phone featuring a 4K HDR display (the first of its kind) with a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels on a 5.5-inch panel. A powerful Snapdragon 835 processor runs this phone. This processor is supported by 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. You can also enjoy the high-resolution audio, stereo speakers, and water resistance. A new Sony Xperia XZ Premium starts at about $799.99 in today's market.
5. ViVo iQOO Neo 6 5G
Vivo iQOO Neo 6 5G features one of the best displays in the industry. It also packs an impressive chipset to rank it among the top smartphones that shoot 4K videos. The Neo 6 runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, which delivers adequate processing power to perform the most demanding tasks.
4K video recording on this phone is facilitated by a GW1P 64MP main sensor with OIS. The sensor enables users to capture high-resolution, blur-free images. Also, you will benefit from the Party Portrait, Long Exposure Mode, and Super Night Mode, which facilitate versatile photography. In addition to the impressive camera setup, the phone boasts a 6.62-inch 120Hz E4 AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and HDR10+ support. The 1,300 nits of peak brightness also helps sharpen the resulting videos and pictures.
The phone also has Netflix HDR certification to enable users to play HDR videos on their phones. This feature, plus the SGS Eye Care certification that reduces harmful blue light from your eyes, makes this phone a top choice for gamers and movie lovers. The Cascade Cooling System enables this phone to run graphics-intensive apps without heating up. The system covers a total area of 36,907mm².
Additionally, you get a 4,700mAh battery with 80W FlashCharge support. As a result, your device charges fast and lasts longer. Finally, the company promises 2 major Android upgrades and 3 years of security patches. This is super-impressive for a mid-range phone with a starting price of about $400.
6. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
The Nord 2T 5G from OnePlus is another cool mid-ranger with 4K video recording support. The 5G phone delivers excellent optics, which is common with OnePlus phones. The 4K video recording mode is made possible by the Sony IMX766 (OIS) main sensor at the back. It captures stunning images as well as 4K videos. The system also comprises an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view for capturing wide-angle scenery. The selfie camera at the front is a 32MP Sony IMX615 high-resolution camera.
You also get to explore various effects and filters, such as Nightscape and AI Highlight Video on this phone. The display is a 6.43-inch 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED screen with sRGB support and a DCI-P P3 color gamut for vivid imagery. The HDR10+ support makes this phone ideal for watching Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube videos. All these are facilitated by the new MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC processor.Â
The processor is augmented by 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory to enhance the graphics performance further. Hence, the phone can play the most high-end games with high fps. The upgraded 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging for gamers makes this phone a favored option. OnePlus also offers cool features such as dual stereo speakers, alert sliders, and AI haptics to impress users further. The model offering 12GB RAM and 256GB internal memory costs about $600 for a new one.
7. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
The Exynos 1280 octa-core processor powers the Samsung Galaxy A33. It is also augmented by 8GB of RAM and a fast 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage for seamless multitasking. Furthermore, you get a Micro SD card slot to expand your storage.
Many recent Samsung flagship phones can shoot 4K, but we highlighted the best value-for-money options. A quad-camera setup enables 4K videography on this phone. The main rear camera is a 48MP ultra-wide lens for high-resolution photography. You also get a 13MP front camera for selfies. The phone comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity U-Cut 90Hz Super AMOLED display. You also get to benefit from the IP67 water and dust resistance rating by taking pictures near wet areas.
The Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the phone from scratches and cracks. Additionally, you can enjoy the Dolby Atmos for cinematic audio. The best part is the new ‘Fun Mode’ for the camera, which offers many visual effects. This phone also has a dedicated Game Booster to enhance performance.
The long-lasting 5,000mAh battery supports 25W fast charging. So you enjoy long battery life after charging for less than an hour. The fingerprint sensor is an under-display kind, and pricing starts at around $194. Depending on the RAM and internal memory option, you can get other versions for about $299.
8. Oppo Find X2
If you’re looking for affordable smartphones that shoot 4K videos, consider the Oppo Find X2. Like most recent Oppo phones, this phone offers impressive camera quality and ultra-fast charging speed. The 4K photography is made possible by the astonishing camera setup. This system comprises three cameras at the rear, and a 48MP ultra-wide main camera is augmented by two cameras (13MP & 12MP) to facilitate its AI focus mode.
You also get a single punch-hole 32MP camera on the front for selfies. The best part is that the rear and front cameras can record 4k videos. A long-lasting 4,260mAh battery powers this phone. Reviewers say its 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charger can charge the phone from zero to full in less than 40 minutes.
The Snapdragon 865 octa-core processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB ROM gives this phone its remarkable processing capacity. The 6.7-inch OLED curved display screen offers a high quantum definition with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Additionally, the 5G experience is top-tier and can be accessed using a 4G SIM card.
This phone offers you a well-rounded Android experience with a starting price of $1,180, which is fair considering the impressive chipset.
9. Redmi Note 10S
The Redmi Note 10S boasts capable hardware, featuring Mi’s good-looking Evol Design. It features a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED with 100 percent DCI-P3 wide color gamut and up to 1,100nits of brightness. The capable MediaTek Helio G95 processor makes the Note 10S dependable for day-to-day tasks. For 4K video recording, you get a 64MP quad-rear camera setup comprising an Ultra-wide-angle lens, Tele macro lens, and Depth sensor. The 13MP selfie camera at the front also records stunning 4K videos.
The phone boasts multiple camera filters, such as Night Mode and Portrait Mode. The Redmi is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. The battery is said to charge to full in 30 minutes and offer about 22 hours of battery time. The water resistance rating is IP53. Furthermore, the Corning Gorilla Glass protection improves durability. Other impressive features in this phone include Hi-Res dual stereo speakers and a Z-axis vibration motor.
Additionally, you get a built-in HyperGame engine that ensures a smooth and lag-free gaming experience. Hence, if you are in the market for affordable gaming smartphones that can shoot 4K videos, the Redmi Note 10S is ideal. A new unit costs about $190.
10. Realme 6i
The Realme 6i is the cheapest on our list of smartphones that shoot 4k videos. Despite its price range, the phone still possesses a top-class chipset. It boasts a 6.5-inch (HD+) IPS LCD with a refresh rate of 90Hz. With a screen resolution of 1600 x 720 Pixels, you won't have to deal with intermittent animations when gaming or viewing 4k videos after uploading them.
An energy-efficient MediaTek Helio G90T processor powers the phone. You also get 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory to facilitate efficient multitasking. It has a Micro SD slot on the SIM tray to expand the memory to 256GB. Coupled with the quad-camera setup, these specifications facilitate the 4K recording feature on the 6i.
The camera setup comprises a 64MP main camera, with an 8MP and two 2MP cameras for the rear. You also get a 16MP selfie camera at the front. The 5,000mAh battery supports 18W charging to make this phone energy efficient. With a $194 sticker price, this option is recommended for budget buyers seeking a recommended Android phone.
Let's Wrap It Up…
The 1080-pixel video recording cameras now seem archaic, thanks to the advent of smartphones that shoot 4k videos. The list above features the best options money can buy if you seek a reliable phone that records cinematic 4K videos. The phones we listed range from flagship models to regular ones. We ensure that you pick top-class phones that offer value for your money.
