Quick Tip 11 - iPhone Filmmaking on a Budget: The Best iPhones under $1000

The single best way to level up your filmmaking in 2025 is to learn how to shoot on your iPhone. Nothing forces you to master the fundamentals quite like making cinematic images on a camera that fits in your pocket. If you want the full deep dive on why iPhone filmmaking is essential, you can read it here.

That said, not everyone can drop over $1,000 on a phone — totally understandable. So here are the best budget-friendly iPhones for filmmakers that are more than enough to film with and learn the craft on, all under $1,000:

Let’s dive into the ranking first. (I’m only covering the Pro models here and excluding the Max versions, since they offer nearly identical specs but at a higher price.) Detailed explanations follow below.

Second place: At around $200 (depending on your region), this is the most budget-friendly iPhone with solid camera performance. Its 12MP sensor and 4K video at 60fps make it more than capable of capturing impressive footage.

Pro tips: stick to the standard 1x camera whenever possible. The quality drops noticeably on the ultrawide and telephoto lenses, so for your best results, keep it simple.

Only shoot in bright conditions, this camera isn’t strong in low light.

Fifth place: It’s very similar to the 11 Pro but comes with a higher price tag of around $280. It performs a bit better in low light and has an HDR feature — though for video, I wouldn’t recommend using it.

If you’re thinking of buying one now, I’d pass. But if you already own it, it’s still a great device, I use mine regularly.

Here’s a video I shot this summer on my 12 Mini, one of my favorites.

Third place: For the first time, this model introduced the ProRes video codec, which allows for higher image quality and far more flexibility in post-production. Other improvements include a larger sensor, better low-light performance, and enhanced image stabilization, all helping you capture smoother, sharper, and more professional-looking footage.

Last place: The reason is simple — the difference from the 13 Pro is minimal, while the jump to the 15 Pro is huge. Yes, the main camera got a notable upgrade from 12MP to 48MP, but if you’re already spending around $400, why not invest a little more and get the iPhone 15 Pro?

Hands down the best value for the money, and a well-deserved first place!
At around $450–$550, the iPhone 15 Pro is the first model to feature Apple’s LOG color profile, a huge leap in dynamic range and grading flexibility compared to previous generations. Pair that with ProRes HQ and an improved sensor, and you’ve got a genuinely powerful pocket-sized camera.

The jump in image quality and camera control from the 14 Pro to the 15 Pro is surprisingly big. If you can stretch the extra ~$100, this upgrade is absolutely worth it.

Once again, the difference between the iPhone 16 Pro and 15 Pro is minimal. You do get upgrades like the 0.5x ultra-wide lens and 4K 120fps recording, but in my opinion, they don’t justify the higher price. That said, if you know you’ll use these features regularly, the 16 Pro can definitely be worth it.

For most of this year, the 16 Pro was my main camera, mostly because I happened to buy it for other reasons tho. You can check out some of my favorite shots taken with it here or have a look at the still frames below.

If you are looking for the best possible camera settings for social media that I use all the time check out this post!

Basically, there are two options for you to choose:

1. The budget-friendly choice: Go for the iPhone 11 Pro. It has a great overall camera, with some limitations you’ll need to work around like low light capabilities and image stabilization, but it’s still a reliable tool for learning and improving your filmmaking skills.

2. The more advanced option: Go for the iPhone 15 Pro. You avoid the steep price of the latest 17 Pro model, but still get all the tools and specs you could ever need. I can confidently say you can shoot almost anything on it!

Thanks so much for being here, I genuinely appreciate every single reader.
If you ever have questions or ideas for future issues, feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram!

Until next time,

Stefan

Minimal tools. Maximum creativity.