The best camera phone of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

The latest iPhone 15 Pro Max offers everything a premium flagship smartphone should, including a brilliant 6.7-inch AMOLED display for work and play. The latest model also looks and feels different than any prior Pro Max devices, as it’s made of titanium instead of stainless steel and, therefore, significantly lighter in the hand. This makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max noticeably more comfortable to use, as ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner noted in his review.

Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best camera phone right now if you prioritize video recording. Perhaps it’s Apple’s Bionic chip working its processing magic or just how social media apps are better optimized for video files recorded on the iPhone. There’s no arguing that the best iPhone right now also takes the video-recording crown. And if you want the most future-proof video feature currently available, Spatial Video recording, the iPhone 15 Pro series can get the job done.

Review: iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro Max also features a new 5x zoom camera lens — the equivalent of a 120mm focal length on a mirrorless or DSLR camera. The far-distance capturing and improved low-light performance have been so reliable that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has become my go-to for video recording during product launch events. Lastly, a new Action button replaces the mute-switch toggle of older iPhones and lets you better customize shortcuts and easily open the apps you need, including firing up the camera with a press-and-hold.

Another prominent feature of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the USB-C connector, particularly, one that supports faster charging and data transfers and can charge other devices, including the Apple Watch from your iPhone, directly transfer photos and videos into a portable SSD, and connect to an external 4K monitor. 

“Recent iPhones will give you very good results, and no learning curve you will just have to press a button, so if that’s what you want there is no better solution than a smartphone,” one Redditor says about the 15 Pro Max, and I agree wholeheartedly.

iPhone 15 Pro Max specs: Processor: A17 Pro | Display size: 6.7 inches | Storage options: Up to 1TB | Rear cameras: 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x), 12MP telephoto (5x) | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 4,441mAh