Nowadays, video content is king in the Internet age, and having the best video editing phone for creating engaging, high-quality videos, whether you are a vlogger, podcaster, sketch video maker, or you make other YouTube videos.
Video platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok outpace traditional platforms like blogs and news websites. There are budget phones for video editors that you can use to create professional videos without spending too much on equipment.
How much does the best smartphone for video editing cost?
A high-end smartphone with solid video editing capabilities costs around $500 to $1000 / £450 to £900, depending on the model and features. You’ll be paying at the top of the range for the flagship model. However, you can still find good quality video shooting smartphones with smooth editing capability even in the budget range.
Best Phone for Editing Videos in 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 ultra includes Galaxy AI editing features, making it one of the best phones for 4K video editing to help you turn ordinary photos into extraordinary content! Use generative editing to rearrange objects or sections of a photo to create something completely new, or use edit suggestions to see automated editing prompts.
Running the latest Android 14 with Samsung One UI 6.1, S24 Ultra delivers a user experience packed with innovative AI features. Explore real-time call translation, intelligent typing assistance with Chat Assist, and creative photo editing with AI-powered effects.
One UI 6.1 also introduces Circle to Search with Google and Note Assist, making your search and note-taking experience more efficient. Some of these features are truly impressive, such as the article summarizer, which condenses long content into bite-sized pieces without losing the main idea. But photo editors can be hit or miss. This is especially true for difficult textures that require modification.
The S Pen further enhances the experience by supporting intuitive gesture control, mouse-like precision navigation, as well as smooth writing and drawing.
Samsung claims that the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Quad Tele system with its new 5x optical zoom lens works in conjunction with the 50MP sensor to deliver optical quality performance at 2x, 3x, and 5x to 10x zoom levels thanks to the adaptive pixel sensor.
They announced that they would implement it. Images are also claimed to show sharp results at 100x using improved digital zoom, but as usual, it’s probably worth taking with a grain of salt.
Galaxy AI-powered editing tools enable simple edits like deleting, reorganising, and remastering, while Edit Suggestions use Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suited fixes for each photo. I’d almost be surprised if you didn’t see this kind of stuff these days.
The body of the S24 Ultra is titanium, which was applied to the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year. The phone feels good in the hand, if not a bit slippery, with a nice matte finish. I was afraid the case would run out when I tested the phone, but it somehow managed to prevent me from dropping the phone completely.
Thanks to the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the phone responds quickly to commands and AI-based editing features. Generated AI editing is expected to be one of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s halo features for controversial areas, especially when it is often difficult to distinguish between original and edited content.
It’s called Samsung Gauss and it’s expected to see a lot of use in photo editing, but it’s hard to say if it can also be used in video editing. Because we know how complicated it is to use a dedicated video editor.
This could be very cool, as it would require artificial intelligence to convert regular videos shot by the Galaxy S24 Ultra to the desired resolution and frame rate. This eliminates the need to constantly switch between different shooting modes, allowing you to integrate AI to get the look you want.
Converting 1080p video to 4K requires generative AI to analyze each frame to increase resolution. Meanwhile, changing the frame rate from 30 frames per second to a smoother rate, such as 60fps, requires a similar process. Think about it. It might be possible to create an ultra-slow-motion video by shooting regular video at 30fps and then converting it to something outrageous like 480fps.
Practically speaking, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s powerful chipset delivers faster and smoother performance in every task. Users can expect fast app launches, smooth video editing, and lag-free gaming experiences. This combination of processing power and efficiency promises a responsive and enjoyable user experience.
2. iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s cameras can shoot high-quality 4K Apple ProRes video in a logarithmic colour profile, which is a huge help for video production. With the A17 Pro chip, six-core GPU, and updated camera specs, the iPhone 15 Pro Max not only captures high-quality images but processes them efficiently and gives video professionals the features they need to legitimize the iPhone. camera.
iPhone 15 Pro Max offers ultra-fast transfer speeds of unprecedented 20z thanks to the phone’s USB 3 support. For in-house teams, this means a quick transition from filming to editing. Gone are the days of time-consuming data transfers.
When it comes to transferring video between devices, Frank pointed out another way to streamline your workflow using your iPhone and iPad.
3. Sony Xperia 1V
The Sony Xperia 1 V is one of the best video editing phones you can buy in 2024, and it comes with some inspiring features. First, it has a 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 10-bit colour support, making it perfect for watching your content after editing on a cinematic widescreen. The videos look incredibly vivid and clear.
The smartphone has three rear cameras: a 52MP primary lens, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. These pixel counts may seem low on the surface, but the sensor performs well even in low light, producing noise-free images with a wide range of colour tones.
You also have a choice of 16mm and 24mm lenses, and the telephoto option offers a true optical zoom of 85-125mm. This allows for various shooting options and enables you to capture a wider scene area.
All three cameras offer 4K HDR 120fps video recording, Eye AF, and object tracking for easy focusing. The Xperia 1 V can stream video directly from your phone to a video streaming service using Sony’s Videography Pro app.
The Xperia 1 V has features like SteadyShot stabilization and an AI-assisted autofocus system. Both features help video creators get the most out of their footage. Lastly, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, providing smooth performance when editing and viewing videos.
Overall, the Sony Xperia 1V is the best phone for those who want one smartphone for making and editing videos on the go.
4. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is another impressive option for video editing. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen and 1440 x 3200 resolution provide an incredible visual experience, and the quad-camera system with laser focus technology allows you to shoot videos in 8K quality.
The power of an Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 processor (depending on region) and generous RAM of up to 16GB ensures optimal video editing performance.
Additionally, integration with the Samsung Video Editor app lets you edit videos professionally through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
5. iPhone 14 Pro Max
The jewel in Apple’s crown, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is one of the best phones for video editing. Equipped with the powerful A15 Bionic chip and up to 1TB of storage, this device lets you edit 4K resolution videos smoothly and seamlessly.
The video editing features in iOS are some of the most advanced on the market, allowing you to make precise adjustments and create high-quality productions.
Compatibility with professional video and photo editing applications like iMovie and LumaFusion provides various creative tools and options.
6. Motorola Edge+
Motorola Edge+ is a smartphone with an immersive video editing experience. Featuring a 6.7-inch OLED screen and an advanced camera system, this device provides all the tools you need to edit videos with precision and high quality.
The fluidity of the screen and the efficiency of the Snapdragon 865 processor ensure an uninterrupted and agile editing experience.
Additionally, integration with the Moto Video Editor app gives you various creative options to personalize your videos and give them a unique feel.
7. iPhone SE 2022
At just under $300, the iPhone SE is a great budget option for video editing with high-quality cameras and excellent battery life. The Apple-developed A15 Bionic chip provides a powerful processor that lets you stream and edit video smoothly without lag or stuttering.
Meanwhile, the SE’s only 12-megapixel camera may seem ordinary compared to Huawei’s quad-camera array or 108-megapixel offerings from the likes of Samsung. But all this aside, the 4K video is sharp, noise-free, and full of rich colours.
Additionally, this device has excellent battery life. Up to 15 hours of video playback on a single charge. This makes it ideal for long shooting and editing sessions.
The iPhone SE is a solid choice if you’re looking for a powerful, user-friendly device to handle your everyday video editing needs without breaking the bank.
8. Sony Xperia 1 III
The Sony Xperia 1 III is designed with audiovisual creators in mind. Featuring a 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display and a state-of-the-art Zeiss camera system, this device is ideal for video editing and capturing cinematic content.
The Xperia 1 III comes with the Cinema Pro app. The app lets you shoot video in 4K resolution at 120fps and manually adjust settings to get customized results.
Additionally, 120Hz playback and support for professional video formats such as 10-bit HDR provide a high-quality viewing and editing experience.
9. OnePlus 9 Pro
The OnePlus 9 Pro is a powerful and versatile smartphone that excels at video editing. This device has a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED screen and Hasselblad camera system, which gives you the tools you need to create high-quality content.
Screen fluidity and colour accuracy ensure an immersive editing experience while integrating OxygenOS applications provides a fast and easy-to-use operating system. It can also record video in 8K resolution for high-quality, detailed results.
10. Google Pixel 6 Pro
Google Pixel 6 Pro stands out for its impressive AI-based processing capabilities. Tensor chips and an advanced camera system enable efficient, high-quality video editing, while the 6.7-inch P-OLED screen ensures an immersive visual experience.
Integrating machine learning technology into video editing makes it easy to achieve professional results by automatically adjusting lighting, focus, and stabilization.
Compatibility with the Adobe Premiere Rush app gives you access to advanced editing tools and various effects and transitions.
Cheapest Phone for Editing Videos 2024
Need something a little cheaper? If you’re looking for an older smartphone, some fantastic budget options can still produce great videos.
11. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is an innovative option for video editing. With a 6.81-inch AMOLED screen and an advanced camera system, this phone provides the best visual and video editing experience.
With the ability to record video in 8K resolution and real-time video editing, you can get high-quality results directly from your mobile device. Integration with the MIUI Video Editor app gives you various creative tools and options to unleash creativity.
12. Infinix Smart 6 Plus
The Infinix Smart 6 PLUS has impressive specs for the price. With a whopping 6.82-inch HD+ display, it’s one of the largest screen sizes available on the phone. This budget phone offers a great view of the video editing workspace. It may not be able to do colour-accurate work, but it can handle other video editing projects just fine.
It also features a rare 2GB built-in RAM and 2GB virtual RAM for your multitasking needs. 64GB of storage is also high for a phone at this price but may not be enough for some photo and video editing tasks.
Fortunately, you can use a microSD card with this phone to add even more storage space. Unfortunately, the CPU, GPU, and chipset types of this phone have not been revealed by Infinix. But at least knowing that it has an octa-core 12nm processor could be helpful for video editing tasks on the phone.
Overall, it’s an affordable and practical option for beginner video editors who don’t yet have the budget for a higher-end phone.
13. Infinix Note 12
The Infinix Note 12 has some very impressive specs that are rare in this price range. The 6.7-inch FHD actual colour AMOLED screen means plenty of room to work comfortably on even the most complex video editing projects.
A 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut means you can handle colour-sensitive projects that previously had to be rejected. But the real winner here is the large RAM and storage.
With 8GB of RAM, you can have multiple apps open simultaneously without worrying that it might affect your phone’s performance.
Even 256GB of storage is a steal at this price point. With this much space, you don’t need to spend money on microSD if you can manage your files well.
The processing power and camera are also impressive. It’s hard not to recommend a budget phone with these specs for video editing. The Infinix line continues to impress as a budget phone in this price range.
How do you choose the best smartphone for video editing?
You can choose almost all phones to edit or record videos these days. Still, the best smartphones for video editing will primarily be flagship models from brands like Sony, Apple, Samsung, Google, and Motorola.
In addition to these brands’ flagship models, their mid-range models also typically boast excellent video shooting capabilities. A manufacturer’s signature technologies trickle into their product lines over time.
For the truly budget-conscious, some brands like Motorola and OnePlus have released lower-cost models that don’t offer any frills in some areas (such as screen size or resolution) but include high-quality video editing features.
What valuable features should a video editing phone have?
If you want to create professional-quality videos, here are the features you should look for when buying a budget phone for video editing.
Processor, Chipset, and GPU: The combination of your phone’s processor, chipset, and GPU affects your video’s processing and rendering speed. It will also help you avoid the “There was an error saving this video” pop-up from appearing.
RAM: Multitasking is part of a video editor’s regular workday. You may need to edit photos, create effects, and link footage from other apps. Having enough RAM will make switching between all the apps you use smoother and faster.
Storage Space: Video editing takes up a lot of storage space on your device. This is because videos typically have large file sizes; the higher the resolution, the larger they become. Therefore, you need a lot of storage space so the app can access the videos it needs to work. Look for a budget phone that lets you expand storage using microSD.
Display Size: A more prominent display size means you have more space to work with when editing videos on your phone. This will allow you to easily navigate all the buttons and windows of your video editing app. It is also essential to view the edited video as others see it. So, it’s necessary to have a screen that can emulate that experience.
Colour Gamut: A measure of how accurately a screen displays the colours of photos and videos. For basic video editing, you don’t need to worry too much about this. However, there are video editing projects that are color-sensitive. For that job, you need a phone that can display a wide colour gamut of nearly 100%.
What apps should your video editing phone be able to handle?
CapCut is an advanced video editing app with complex effects, transitions, sounds, chroma keys, and other valuable features. It is a popular app used by famous vloggers and YouTubers worldwide, so it is an excellent app to learn as a professional video editor. We recommend having at least a 2.4GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and 4GB storage.
InShot is a simple and powerful video editing app perfect for beginners. We recommend you have at least 2GB of RAM for the app to run correctly. Faster specs help ensure the stable and immediate processing of videos.
Mojo is an animation effects app that you can add to your videos to make them look more professional. Widely used for social media videos, this app is perfect if your customers are businesses looking to boost their presence on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
These video editing smartphones are also compatible with the best video editing apps such as GoPro Quik, Filmora, PowerDirector, Adobe Premiere Rush, VN – Video Editor & Maker, VivaVideo – Video Editor&Maker, KineMaster, and iMovie.
Can I edit a 4K video on an iPhone?
Yes, the iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 4K resolution video recording and editing. However, editing 4K video requires more processing power and storage space.
Can I add music to my videos using the iPhone video editor?
Most iPhone video editing apps offer the option to add background music to your video. You can choose from a pre-loaded music library or use your audio files.
Can I apply filters and effects to my videos on my iPhone?
iPhone video editors often include a variety of filters, effects, and colour correction tools to enhance the visual appearance of your video.