You don’t have to spend more than $ 1,000 on an iPhone, but if you want the best camera experience and aren’t on a budget, the iPhone 12 Pro models are for you. Specifically, the iPhone 12 Pro Max (9/10, WIRED Recommend). For $ 100 more than the iPhone 12 Pro, you get a bigger image sensor and better stabilization tech, so the camera can absorb more light and produce some of the best photos and videos in low. light from any smartphone. Both phones have telephoto lenses, but the Pro Max can zoom in a bit more than the regular Pro. They also have a lidar scanner, which shoots lasers to measure depth (and for faster autofocus), allowing you to take photos in Night Portrait mode.
The largest iPhone to date with a 6.7-inch display, the Pro Max also has the benefit of lasting more than a full day on a single charge. Still, if you don’t want a big phone but want the camera perks, stick with the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommend). You’ll get great OLED displays in any case (they get brighter than the iPhone 12) and a durable stainless steel body. They can also take photos in Apple ProRAW format, which offers greater editing capabilities. This is in addition to other iPhone 12 features like 5G, water resistance, and HDR video capture.
