Best Vlogging Phone and Vlogging Camera 2023: All the tech you need to get started
There’s a lot that goes into making the perfect vlog, so if you want the right tech to get you there then we have you covered with our round-up of the best vlogging tech and accessories.
With ever improving cameras on smartphones, not to mention the increasing amount of bells and whistles on action cameras and compact shooters, it’s never been easier to create your own following with eye-catching, fly-on-the-wall content.
Unlike our usual round-ups, like the best smartphone and the best laptops, this will include devices from a range of markets, but all of them play an important role in building the essential kit for any budding vlogger. However, you can be assured we have thoroughly reviewed and tested each of the products we have listed below.
Best vlogging tech at a glance
- Best phone for vlogging: iPhone 13 – Check price
- Best phone gimbal: DJI OM 5 – Check price
- Best action camera: GoPro Hero 10 Black – Check price
- Best 360 camera: Insta360 X3 – Check price
- Best compact camera for vlogging: Sony ZV-1 – Check price
How we test
Every product featured in our best vlogging tech round-up has been tested over a period of at least one week.
Our testing also involves comparing the performance of these products against their predecessors and any immediate competitors. This way you can be sure that each product is truly the best in its category before you buy.
- Much improved battery life
- Bright, vivid OLED display
- Excellent main camera
- No ProMotion
- No optical zoom
- Simple controls and set-up
- Excellent companion app
- Lighter than older OM models
- Not a huge upgrade over OM 4
- UI is speedier than ever thanks to the GP2 processor
- Higher fps rates across the board
- HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation is a technological marvel
- Eye-catching footage
- Struggles in low light
- Very steep price tag
- New, larger touchscreen is a game changer
- Me Mode can obtain some really impressive shots
- Fast UI with easy to read menus and icons
- 360-degree and single lens footage looks incredible
- Single lens shooting still bested by GoPro, but only just
- Professionals will still want to use an external mic
- Unbelievable mic quality
- Top-tier autofocus
- Instant bokeh mode
- Can overheat indoors
- Convoluted menus that are a pain to use
- Micro-USB rather than USB-C
iPhone 13
Best phone for vlogging
Pros
- Much improved battery life
- Bright, vivid OLED display
- Excellent main camera
Cons
- No ProMotion
- No optical zoom
In the current age of flagship smartphones, having just two cameras might seem like a setback on paper but the iPhone 13 still manages to sit head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to video quality.
The rear-facing dual-cameras can capture 4K Dolby Vision footage up to 60fps, and not only does the footage in question boast outstanding colour vibrancy, but it also remains stable for any walking shots.
There’s even Cinematic Mode which manages to seamlessly move the focus from one subject to another as they come in and out of the frame. While the mode is unfortunately capped at 1080p 30fps, it’s still an impressive bit of software and one that makes the filming process even easier for total beginners.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: iPhone 13 Review
DJI OM 5
Best phone gimbal
Pros
- Simple controls and set-up
- Excellent companion app
- Lighter than older OM models
Cons
- Not a huge upgrade over OM 4
With drones, pocket cameras, wireless mics and more in its wares, DJI has been catering to all aspects of the vlogging experience for quite some time, and the company has used that expertise to develop its latest smartphone gimbal: the DJI OM 5.
Using the same magnetic design as its predecessor, the clasp of the OM 5 can be removed and packed away so that it doesn’t catch on anything during transit, and there’s even an adhesive magnet that can be placed on the back of your phone so that you can quickly attach your handset and get to filming right away.
While the accompanying DJI app is as good as it’s ever been, the big new feature of the OM 5 is its extendable arm which allows you to get more height on your viewpoint and achieve those all-important landscape shots that make for a great thumbnail.
Reviewer: Sam Kieldsen
Full review: DJI OM 5 Review
GoPro Hero 10 Black
Best action camera
Pros
- UI is speedier than ever thanks to the GP2 processor
- Higher fps rates across the board
- HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation is a technological marvel
- Eye-catching footage
Cons
- Struggles in low light
- Very steep price tag
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that GoPro’s latest action camera sits at the top of this category. Even with some fierce competition from Insta360, GoPro still remains as the go-to brand for adventurers and thrill-seekers.
Thanks to the all-new GP2 processor, the GoPro Hero 10 packs an impressive performance boost over its predecessor as you can jump between modes and various menus with ease.
On top of the performance boost, 5.3K footage taken on the Hero 10 looks nothing short of incredible, and the bright front-facing screen makes it a Godsend for any vloggers who have trouble lining up their shot when filming to-camera segments.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: GoPro Hero 10 Black
Insta360 X3
Best 360 camera
Pros
- New, larger touchscreen is a game changer
- Me Mode can obtain some really impressive shots
- Fast UI with easy to read menus and icons
- 360-degree and single lens footage looks incredible
Cons
- Single lens shooting still bested by GoPro, but only just
- Professionals will still want to use an external mic
The GoPro Max long held this crown but the Insta360 X3 has swooped in and snatched it up with several features that vloggers will love. For starters, the new Me Mode setting allows you to catch drone-style/camera crew shots simply by holding the camera away from you on a selfie stick, which it also erases from the picture using AI.
The larger 2.29-inch screen is also a marked improvement over the man-hole display of the Insta360 One X2. It’s easy to read when shooting outdoors, and its vertical design makes it ideal for any 9:16 content that’s posted to Instagram or TikTok.
If you don’t have much experience in editing 360-content then you’ll get on well with the accompanying Insta360 app. The app simplifies the process and can offer up social media-ready content in just a few minutes.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Insta360 X3 Review
Sony ZV-1
Best compact camera for vlogging
Pros
- Unbelievable mic quality
- Top-tier autofocus
- Instant bokeh mode
Cons
- Can overheat indoors
- Convoluted menus that are a pain to use
- Micro-USB rather than USB-C
If you’re not tied down to a budget and you’re looking to turn your vlogging into a profession then the Sony ZV-1 is easily one of the best dedicated cameras out there. Its compact design makes it easy to carry around, and the swivel screen is always a must-have, but there’s so much more under the hood that vloggers will love.
For starters, the autofocus is impeccable. If you’ve ever shot some footage and realised afterwards that you were out of focus the entire time then the ZV-1 is the antidote to those nightmares.
The three-capsule mic does a tremendous job of honing in on your voice, even in busy areas, but the Product Showcase feature is perfect for any vloggers who incorporate a review segment into their videos. Just hold a product up to the camera and the focus will immediately shift to it without any fuss – it’s as simple as that.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Sony ZV-1 Review
What should I do about lighting?
Oftentimes, budding vloggers focus so much on the tech they need to get started that they overlook one of the crucial components of filming: having the correct lighting. Whether you’re filming outdoors or indoors, the impact of the light around you should always be on your mind.
It should go without saying that bright, natural light always provides the ideal set-up, but if you’re shooting in an area where natural light cannot reach then it’s worth investing in some proper kit.
If you’re shooting at home then softbox lights can always help to add some warmth to your shots whilst highlighting your features and providing some separation between yourself and the background. There are tons of options available from the likes of Amazon and Jessops, so it’s best to shop around and see which one suits your budget and the amount of space you have to work with.
The one problem with softbox lights is that they are cumbersome, and aren’t exactly made for being transported unless you have a car. For a more portable lighting alternative, the Zhiyun Fiveray FR100C is small enough to fit in certain backpacks and it has a handle at the bottom so that it can be held whilst filming.
With an RRP of £199, the Fiveray is more expensive than a lot of softbox lights but it’s a worthy investment if you do plan on travelling to locations that suffer from a lack of natural light, particularly as it can max out at an impressive 100 watts.
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Specs for all the products featured
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.