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Best Phone for Real Estate Photography: Top 7 Phones for Real Estate Photography in 2023
The best phone for real estate photography is without a doubt the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It has everything you need to capture great real estate photos right out of the box.
If you’re one of those ‘never Apple’ people, then the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the next best option.
This article will cover the best phones for real estate photography, including several high quality options for those on a tight budget.
Table of Contents
Best Phones for Real Estate Photography
The best phones for real estate photography are going to have at least these 2 things in common:
- A wide angle lens
- The ability to capture sharp and clear images
A wide angle lens and the ability to capture sharp and clear images are the minimum of what you’ll need if you plan to use a phone for real estate photography.
It’s a good idea to look for a few other features as well if you want to get the most out of the best phone for real estate photography.
- At least 4k video capabilities
- Lidar technology
The truly best phones for real estate photography will be able to film in 4k (or in some cases even 8k) and have Lidar in addition to a wide angle lens and the ability to capture sharp photos.
4k video is pretty self-explanatory; if you are going to be capturing mobile videos, you’ll want to be filming them in 4k so they are high quality.
Lidar on the other hand is not something that’s commonly talked about. Lidar stands for ‘Light Detection and Ranging’ and offers some pretty helpful qualities for professional real estate photographers.
The biggest reason to have a phone with Lidar is because it helps with focus accuracy and captures better photos and videos in low light. Additionally, it will make sure any floor plans that you capture using your phone are accurate and well mapped.
Currently, Apple is the only phone maker that is using Lidar technology in their new phones. Samsung used Lidar in the past, but none of their newest phone have the technology on board.
Although Lidar is definitely helpful, it’s not an absolute necessity to be considered one of the best phones for real estate photography. Having a wide angles lens and producing sharp and clear images are by far the most important factors to consider.
Finally, we decided to choose the iPhone 13 Pro Max as opposed to the iPhone 14 Pro because we think the difference in price is better than the difference in photo capabilities, which is minimal.
And now, on the the best phones for real estate photography!
Best Phone for Real Estate Photography: Top Options
IPhone 13 Pro Max
The best phone for real estate photography is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, no question. It’s an extremely powerful phone that comes fully equipped with everything you’ll need to capture great real estate photos.
All 3 of the lenses on this phone feature 48 megapixels and are of top quality build and design. It’s clearly the best phone for real estate photography overall and well worth the price.
Pros:
- Produces very high quality images
- Wide angle lens
- Top of the line build quality
- Works well in low light
- Uses Lidar technology
Cons:
- Expensive
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The best phone for real estate photography for those ‘never Apple’ people out there, this Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra measures up to the iPhone 13 Pro in just about every way with only a couple key differences.
It doesn’t have Lidar technology, which can be a big deal to some people, but it does have the ability to shoot 8k video. Without a doubt, it will capture beautiful photos.
Pros:
- Produces very high quality images
- Wide angle lens
- Top of the line build quality
- Works well in low light
- 8k Video
Cons:
- Expensive
- No Lidar
Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is making serious waves in the mobile camera world thanks to its “Magic Eraser” tool that actually works really well.
Being able to quickly edit out items in your photos is a welcome development for any real estate photographer. However, the wide angle lens only features a 12mp sensor, which is less than ideal.
Overall, it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to experiment with the Magic Eraser technology while still having one of the best phones for real estate technology.
Pros:
- Produces very high quality images
- Great lens quality and options
- Works well in low light
- Magic Eraser technology
Cons:
- Only 12mp for wide angle lens
- No Lidar
Best Phone for Real Estate Photography: Budget Options
IPhone 12 Pro
Waiting until a new iPhone comes out to buy last years version at a discounted price is a time tested strategy. The iPhone 12 Pro is a great camera for real estate photography in its own right, and with the arrival of the iPhone 13 and 14, it’s actually quite affordable.
The iPhone 12 Pro was the first phone that Apple introduced that uses Lidar technology, so if you consider Lidar to be important but aren’t looking to spend premium money, this iPhone 12 Pro is the answer.
Pros:
- Great image quality
- Perfect lenses for real estate photography
- More affordable than newer iPhones
- Uses Lidar technology
Cons:
- Key features missing from newer iPhones like longer battery life, HDR video recording, and image stabilization.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
A truly excellent phone, especially for the recently reduced price point, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a great choice for real estate photography.
It has 4 lenses, 2 of which are wide angles, so you will always have the prefect lens ready to go. And, like the S22 Ultra, it can film in 8k as well.
Pros:
- Produces high quality images
- Great lens quality and options
- Works well in low light
- 8k video
Cons:
- No Lidar
Samsung Galaxy S20
Similarly to the iPhone 12 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S20 had a nice price drop once the S21 and S22 versions came out.
The S20 is still an amazing phone and has some excellent camera features that will produce high quality real estate images.
Pros:
- Great image quality
- More affordable than newer Galaxy models
- Great lens options
- Not as good in low light as the Galaxy S21 or S22 Ultra
- No Lidar
OnePlus 9 Pro
For those of you willing to leave the Apple and Samsung brands, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the best option for another flagship phone.
Their lenses are made by Hasselblad, a premier name in lens production, so you know the images will be high quality.
Pros:
- 50 MP ultra-wide angle lens
- Affordable flagship option
- 8k video
Cons:
- Not many upgrades from past OnePlus models
- No Lidar
Best Phone for Real Estate Photography: Alternative Options
Moment Wide Angle Lens
Maybe you already have a solid enough phone camera, but it’s lacking a wide angle lens. There’s no sense buying a new phone just for the lens when you can purchase this Moment Lens instead.
Moment makes the best lenses for phones by a long shot and this one in particular is perfect for real estate photography.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Durable and well made
- Perfect focal length for Real Estate Photography
- Very Affordable
Cons:
- Need to buy Moment case in order to use it
- Wont be as good as the phones listed
- Will need to buy a new case every time you get a new phone
Recommendations on the Best Phones for Real Estate Photography
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is one of the best camera phones ever produced. It comes with everything you need to capture quality real estate photos and will provide you with great images for years to come. If you’re looking for the clear winner and best phone for real estate photography, look no further.
The best budget option is probably the iPhone 12 Pro. It has a very powerful camera, great lenses for real estate purposes, and is the super affordable when you consider all of the amazing features.
If you already have a phone that you like, but need a wide angle lens, the Moment Wide Angle Lens is the best on the market and will take your real estate photography to the next level.
Finally, check out our Gear page which has tons of articles featuring today’s best Real Estate Photography gear. Then check out our Beginners Guide for helpful articles and tips to ensure you’re taking the best real estate photos possible.
Additional Resources
Check out our article featuring 8 Tips on Real Estate Photography with a Phone so you can take professional quality images right away.
If you’re just getting started in real estate photography, check out our Beginners Guide. It’s full of helpful articles and tips that will guide you in the right direction as you begin your real estate photography journey.
You can check out our Gear section as well to see reviews and recommendations on the latest real estate photography gear.
If you’re more interested in other resources that can help your real estate photography business, check out our Business Resources page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take real estate photos with your phone?
Yes, of course you can. Although they won’t turn out as well as if you hired a professional photographer, the best modern phone cameras are very capable.
How do you take good real estate pictures with your phone?
Check out this article for phone real estate photography tips: Real Estate Photography with a Phone.
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