Best camera for TikTok: cameras and phones to make great videos

The best camera for TikTok can be many different things. A smartphone might seem like the obvious choice, but there are many advantages to having a 'proper' mirrorless camera, or a waterproof action camera. In this guide, I've included a range of options to help you boost the production value of your TikToks.

TikTok, of course, is a lot deeper and more varied than just people talking to the front cameras of their phones. You may well find that a dedicated camera will do a much better job of capturing the kind of footage you're after than a smartphone will. Many modern cameras are also well-optimised for filming vertically – a reflection of how TikTok has changed the game for video content.

On this list, I've aimed to balance a selection of phones and cameras that represent the best value for TikTok right now, based on DCW's testing and reviewing process – every camera on this list has been fully tested by our team. If you need more to complete your TikTok setup, check out the best LED light panels and best ring lights!

The quick list

The best camera for TikTok

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Best phone overall

The latest Galaxy flagship continues Samsung's hot streak of producing what are arguably the best camera phones around right now. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, its big offer for January, faces more competition than ever before from not just Apple and Google but the likes of Xiaomi, Nothing, Oppo and more. Despite this ever-busier market, we'd say that Samsung's offering is still the best option for TikTok users.

It's an easy-to-use phone that produces excellent-looking footage that's ready to upload, but also if you prefer, you can take advantage of the new Pro Video mode, which allows you to capture Log footage that can be extensively colour-graded. The selfie camera, which most TikTokers will likely use most of the time, is generally excellent, benefiting from autofocus and holding up well when the light gets low.

Of course, as this is a 2025 phone, you will get lots of AI-powered features thrown at you. How useful these are is debatable to say the least, though there are some like the AI Audio Eraser (for filtering out background noise in video recording) that could be useful for TikTok. Ultimately though, this is just a slick, smart handset that shoots fantastic looking video, and a TikTok user doesn't need a whole lot more than that.

Best iPhone

It's not cheap, but it's the top-of-the-line iPhone – Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers powerhouse performance and a best-ever camera system that's ideal for creating TikToks. With a triple main array consisting of a wide main camera, an ultrawide and a telephoto, as well as a reliably lovely 12MP TrueDepth front camera, this performs just as well as you'd expect from an iPhone, with punchy colours and plenty of detail.

Those who are serious about video can take advantage of ProRes 4K capture at up to 60fps (though you'll want to plug in an SSD via the USB-C port). We were also particularly impressed by the quality of the 4K 120p slow-motion video in this year's offering, which is great for anyone who likes to incorporate a bit of slow-mo into their TikToks. Battery capacity has also improved and is among the best of flagship smartphones right now, and the display is also gorgeous, of course.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a little more versatile, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max has that delightful iOS smoothness that many users just can't live without. There's not a lot in it, and anyone who prefers iOS to Android will find the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be a brilliant tool for TikTok.

Best budget phone

The Google Pixel 8a is one of the most cost-effective smartphones you can buy – a budget-friendly version of Google's previous flagship line. While it has only a double rear camera array rather than the triples and quadruples of Apple and Samsung flagships, it makes for an excellent option for TikTok. It records video at up to 4K 60fps, which is realistically more than enough for most TikTok purposes. As you might be aware, Google is going all-in on intelligent AI features for its phones, and video shooters benefit from Magic Editor and Audio Eraser, adding a few computational strings to their bows.

Google's smart processing helps bolster the camera's capabilities beyond what its hardware is capable of, and so while the Pixel 8a is not incredible in low light, it does a credible job nonetheless. The battery comfortable lasts a day of moderate use – if you're a dedicated scroller you may find yourself running short, but fortunately the charging is nice and quick.

Best camera overall

The Sony ZV-1F is tiny, only weighing 229g, which makes it a very pocketable camera for streaming and TikTok videos. It's a cheaper, beginner-friendly alternative to the popular Sony ZV-1 and Sony ZV-E10, but it's still got 4K/30p video, as well as 5x in slow-motion or 60x for hyper-lapse content.

The camera is simple and easy to use, and the body itself is made from recycled materials. The new ZV-1F offers a wide 20mm f/2 lens, which is fixed (so you can't change it) but better for fitting more people into the frame for group shots.

Best stabilised camera

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a gimbal camera built around a three-axis motorised staboliser, making it excellent for capturing handheld footage on the move. While it does represent a price jump from previous entry the Pocket 2, it adds a number of significant upgrades and features that make it worth the investment for TikTokers.

For one, the larger 1-inch sensor delivers improved low-light performance and dynamic range for overall better-looking video; while it's not up to the quality of the mirrorless cameras and premium compacts on this list, it's still pretty impressive. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 also has a well-sized 2-inch screen that makes it easy to monitor what you're filming. What's more, the camera is well-optimised for shooting TikTok-friendly vertical video – the screen even rotates to facilitate it!

Best wearable camera

The Insta360 GO cameras have been built around the concept of being small, light and wearable – equipped with a powerful magnetic mount for hands-free shooting. The third iteration in the series threw something new into the mix: an Action Pod housing that essentially converted the thumb-sized camera into a GoPro-lite. However, with middling 2.7K video, it was lagging significantly behind its contemporaries.

The Insta360 GO 3s, its successor, corrects this with much-improved video and photo quality, able to capture great-looking 4K at up to 30p. It's a good choice for TikTokers who want to capture 'slice-of-life' footage, but also want the option for GoPro-style waterproofing. It's nice and easy to use too, with an excellent app and intuitive UI.

The field of view is narrower compared to the standard action camera look, though for TikTok content which is delivered in vertical format, this is actually more of an asset than a drawback. The GO 3s still does have some limitations compared to the competition – the stabilisation system isn't the best, and it struggles even more in low light than a GoPro.

Best mirrorless camera

Sony's excellent vlogging camera makes for an ideal buy for anyone who wants to make their TikToks look a little better. The Sony ZV-E10 II is a mirrorless camera, meaning you can swap out Sony E-mount lenses at will, and it shoots excellent 4K video for a pretty reasonable price tag. While it does have a jack for an external mic, it's one of the few cameras where the built-in mics do a pretty reasonable job, augmented by the included clip-on windshield, which provides an easy way to block out unwanted noise.

There's no built-in stabilization, so you don't get the super-smooth effect of the DJI Osmo Pocket. However, having an APS-C sensor really expands your shooting versatility in different light conditions, and having an articulated screen makes it really easy to film from all sorts of different angles. This later version also improves upon the original ZV-E10, fixing many of the reservations we had, such as the crop on 4K video and the poor battery life. There's a revamped menu system that flips easily into a vertical orientation – great news for TikTok, as you'll be shooting in that orientation a lot.

Best waterproof camera

The GoPro Hero 11 Black is the TikTok-ready action cam. The new sensor captures virtually square 5.3K content that can easily be cropped to create native 4K clips in a host of aspect ratios. That means whether you're a 9:16 TikTok fan, you can grab this video format from one 8:7 video.

The camera's software has been simplified successfully, and GoPro's companion app, Quik has also been improved. With best-in-class stabilization and great-looking video in all but dimly-lit and dark scenes, as well as some fun new modes like light painting, the Hero 11 Black is an excellent camera for TikTok.

GoPro has since released several successors to this camera, including the GoPro Hero 12 Black – a fairly minor upgrade, adding some high-end video features like log recording, Bluetooth mic compatibility and HDR video. After that, we saw the GoPro Hero 13 Black, whose major innovation was a new system, of modular lenses – while very cool, these add considerably to the cost of the camera. For most TikTok users, the much cheaper Hero 11 Black will likely be perfectly suitable.

Best compact with a zoom

The G7 X Mark III was the first camera of its kind with a microphone input – vital if you want clean audio, not to mention the ability to live stream straight to YouTube and TikTok. This means that even if you’ve got an expensive cinema camera if you also have a G7 X Mark III you can create a fuss-free live setup without any expensive capture cards and a PC.

With its flip-out screen, the G7 X III also gives you a clear view of yourself when you shoot, and thanks to its 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor and Digic 8 processor it’s also able to capture great stills, so your stills can pop nicely too.

Best premium compact

This is something of an anomaly on our list, a camera that's not just good for making content for TikTok, but also owes a lot of its popularity to TikTok. An explosion of interest in retro cameras capable of producing images that 'look like film' saw a huge spike of interest in this camera'a predecessor, the X100V, and this newer version has proven just as popular in the time since its release – to the point where you're going to have be patient and ready if you want to get hold of one.

Fujifilm's original X100 was the camera that sparked people's obsession with Fujifilm's retro-styled modern cameras. With the same exceptional build quality as all Fujifilm cameras in a small, pocketable version, the X100VI has the same 40MP X-Trans sensor as the likes of the X-T5. The X100VI is an advanced, APS-C fixed lens camera and is certainly aimed at enthusiasts, but it can be used for TikTok videos too. If somehow you get hold of one, you're not going to be disappointed.

Best wireless gimbal

The FeiyuTech Pocket 3 brings a fresh twist to the compact vlogging camera scene with its unique detachable gimbal head and magnetic base — a design that offers genuine flexibility and sets it apart from competitors like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. Its significantly lower price tag is a clear attraction, though it does come with trade-offs. The camera’s image quality is serviceable but underwhelming, especially in low light, due to its smaller sensor. It also lacks pro-level features such as 10-bit log, advanced slow motion, and the extensive accessory range found in DJI’s ecosystem.

Still, the Pocket 3 has some surprising advantages. Battery life is excellent, the wide 16mm equivalent lens captures an immersive field of view, and the autofocus and face tracking are impressively responsive. The detachable gimbal opens up creative shooting options, and its wireless performance is more dependable than you might expect at this price point.

Handling isn’t flawless — the small screen, lack of weather sealing, and no external mic input mean it's not the most versatile choice for demanding shoots. But for casual creators and mobile vloggers, it’s compact, intuitive, and fun to operate in the right conditions.

While it won’t match premium rivals in terms of sheer image performance or pro features, the FeiyuTech Pocket 3 earns its place as an affordable, inventive tool for content makers who prioritize convenience, portability, and creative freedom.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly vlogging companion that dares to be different, the Pocket 3 is well worth a closer look.

How to choose the best camera for TikTok

The first decision you'll make when choosing a camera for TikTok is whether to go for a proper camer at all, or stick with your phone. The best camera phones for TikTokers offer much greater convenience, partly because you'll always have yours on you, and partly because you can instantly upload and edit in the app.

However, there are a number of dedicated cameras that work well for TikToks, including mirrorless models, compacts and action cameras. There are many benefits of creating TikToks on a dedicated camera, including the ability to change lenses (or use optical zoom with a compact). Dedicated cameras also have larger sensors than smartphones, for better low-light performance, and the option to shoot with a shallow depth of field.

Some specialised cameras also offer other physical advantages that smartphones can't, whether it's the waterproofing of GoPro action cameras, or the optical stabilisation of DJI's Osmo Pocket gimbal cameras.

How we test the best cameras for TikTok

We've physically seen and reviewed every single camera and smartphone in this guide, to ensure that we can give you informed, honest, and in-depth buying advice. We've analyzed the design of each model, how easy it is to use for TikTok videos, and how the camera performs for video recording.

Find out more about how we test and review at Digital Camera World.

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