You don’t necessarily need specialized gear for close-up shots; top camera phones are quite effective for macro photography, according to Amy Davies.
If you’re interested in trying it out without purchasing new equipment, this guide highlights our top-rated smartphones for capturing small subjects. Phones clearly have advantages in terms of convenience and cost compared to traditional cameras, which usually require a lens designed for macro capabilities, whether for close focus, magnification, or both.
Recently, clip-on macro lenses and loupes for smartphones were available to purchase. However, these were often of low quality, cumbersome to use, and generally became outdated as soon as you upgraded your phone model. Nowadays, many flagship and mid-range smartphones come with built-in macro features as a standard, making it a significant selling point for numerous devices.
If macro photography interests you and you’re considering a smartphone upgrade, look at the models mentioned here. Although these high-end smartphones carry a matching price tag, you can find more affordable options by considering last year’s models and confirming that they have macro functionality.
How does phone macro work?
Typically, smartphones employ their ultra-wide-angle cameras for macro shots. The device often recognizes you’re attempting a close-up and automatically shifts to macro mode.
For instance, in the iPhone 14/15 Pro, you can focus as closely as 2cm from your subject. The phone will crop the image to match the perspective of a standard 1x lens for a more natural look. Since this involves switching to a different sensor and lens, some scenarios, particularly low-light situations, may see a drop in image quality.
Most smartphones allow you to disable macro focusing for each shot if you choose to use the standard lens, but you’ll likely need to step back from the subject to gain focus.
There are exceptions like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 14 / 14 Ultra, Vivo X200 Pro, iQOO 12, OnePlus Open, and others that utilize their telephoto lens for macro photography. While some phones boast dedicated macro camera units, these often don’t perform very well, especially if their resolution is low (some are only 2 megapixels).
Best smartphones for macro photography at a glance:
Keep reading to find out how we evaluated these smartphones and the reasons behind our selections.
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Overview:
- 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
- 48MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
- 12MP 5x telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
- 6.3” Super Retina XDR OLED display
- Titanium body
- iOS 18
- Processor: A18 Pro Chip
- Price: from $999 (128GB) – $1,499 (1TB) / from £899 (128GB) – £1,399 (1TB)
The iPhone 16 Pro features a triple-camera system with 1x, 0.5x ultra-wide, and 5x telephoto lenses, enhancing its capability for macro photography compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, which only has a 3x telephoto lens. This camera arrangement is also seen in the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Additionally, the ultra-wide sensor has been upgraded to 48MP from 12MP in its predecessor, with a lens equivalent to 13mm f/2.2. The main sensor remains 48MP with a 24mm f/1.78 lens, appearing unchanged from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro. The 5x telephoto lens is similar to that found in last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max.
A standout feature for macro photography is the new “camera control” button, designed to enhance the user experience to feel more like operating a “real camera.” This complements the “Action Button” introduced in the 15 Pro, making it excellent for close-up shots. Hence, this device emerges as the best camera phone for macro photography.
Read our complete review of the iPhone 16 Pro
Vivo X200 Pro
Vivo X200 Pro Overview:
- 50MP main camera, 23mm equivalent, f/1.6, PDAF, OIS (1/1.28” sensor)
- 50MP ultra-wide, 15mm equivalent, f/2.0, AF (1/2.76” sensor)
- 200MP periscope 3.7x zoom, 85mm equivalent, f/2.7, PDAF, OIS, macro (1/1.4” sensor)
- 32MP f/2.0 20mm equivalent selfie camera
- 8K 30fps / 4K 120fps video recording capabilities
- 6.78-inch display, 120Hz, 4500 nits peak brightness, Armor Glass LTPO AMOLED
- 6000mAh battery with 90W fast charging and wireless charging
- Mediatek Dimensity 9400 processor
- 12/16GB RAM options
- Android 15
The Vivo X200 Pro excels as an overall performer, yielding impressive results. Its main downside is limited availability in certain regions, but if you locate it, it’s highly recommended for macro photography. In addition, its zoom capabilities are among the best available, and the camera app is extensively featured, possibly a bit overwhelming.
It utilizes three Zeiss lenses, starting with a 50MP main camera accompanied by a larger-than-average 1/1.28-inch sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 200MP telephoto camera with several specialized “telephoto capabilities” such as Telephoto HyperZoom, Telephoto Macro, Telephoto Portrait, Telephoto Nightscapes, and Telephoto Sunset.
Now, regarding macro mode, you can choose two options: either approach your subject closely and let the automatic macro mode activate—which typically uses the ultra-wide camera cropped by default—or manually activate the Super Macro mode. The latter choice offers superior results using the 3.7x 200MP telephoto camera, optimized for macro and product photography. Additionally, keeping your distance helps prevent shadows from interfering with or disturbing sensitive subjects like butterflies or insects. This mode can yield sharper, more detailed macro images than some dedicated macro lenses found on other phones.
Read our full review of the Vivo X200 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Overview:
- 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
- 12MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
- 12MP 3x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 77mm equivalent
- 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED screen
- iOS 17
- Price: from $999 / from £899
The iPhone 15 Pro, similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, has a triple-lens configuration that includes standard, ultra-wide, and a 3x telephoto lens. The primary lens boasts 48 megapixels (with a standard output of 24 megapixels through pixel binning), while the other two lenses each have 12MP sensors. If you prefer a larger device, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a triple lens setup, featuring a 5x lens rather than the 3x. However, the specifications for macro functionality remain consistent.
The standard version of the iPhone 15, like its predecessors, does not support macro functionality.
Apple has introduced macro capabilities in its smartphones for the third time now. This feature lets you zoom in on subjects closely by automatically switching to the ultra-wide-angle camera. You can capture both videos and photos in this macro mode, and you even have the option to use Apple’s ProRAW format while it’s activated.
If you notice diminished image quality, especially in low light, you can disable macro focusing and revert to the standard camera. While you can still take close-up shots with the standard camera, it performs well only if the subject isn’t too small.
Another technique you can use on the iPhone is to activate Portrait mode, which creates a shallow depth-of-field effect. This method is more effective for subjects that are not too tiny, such as larger flowers. Keep in mind that there’s no macro focusing or RAW format available in this mode.
If you’re interested in an iPhone with macro capabilities but want to save money, consider opting for the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max. The second-hand market might also offer great deals.
Check out our complete review of the iPhone 15 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Overview:
- 200MP wide camera, 24mm, f/1.7, 1/1.3” sensor, PDAF, OIS
- 50MP ultrawide camera, 13mm, f/1.9, PDAF
- 10MP telephoto camera, 67mm, f/2.4, 1/3.52” sensor, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
- 50MP periscope telephoto camera, 111mm, f/3.4, 1/2.52” sensor, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
- 12MP f/2.2, 26mm selfie camera with AF
- 6.9-inch 3120×1440 pixel AMOLED, 2600 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Armor 2
- 8K video at 24/30fps, 4K video at 30/60/120fps
- Android 15
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm / 218g
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship camera smartphone, building on features from the S24 Ultra. It boasts a four-camera system at the back, with three high-resolution cameras, the ultrawide lens now upgraded to 50 MP from 12MP.
The enhanced AI technology enhances image capture, improving aspects like low-light photography, noise reduction, zoom clarity, and HDR performance. AI is also key in on-device and cloud editing features, such as the Reflection Removal Tool. The S25 Ultra features an exceptional display with an anti-reflective coating.
When you aim the camera at a close-up subject, it automatically switches from the main to the ultra-wide-angle lens, which can lead to cropped and lower-quality images in dim lighting. For clearer results, switch to the 3x camera, where images are cropped from the 1x camera, resulting in pixelated yet decent photos. Choosing the 5x or 10x options similarly crops from the 3x camera, resulting in pixelation as well. While this can be frustrating, the 5x option seems to provide the best results, unlike other smartphones that offer impressive telephoto macro capabilities using the periscope lens instead of just cropping.
Read our complete review of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro Overview:
- 50MP main camera, f/1.68, OIS (1/1.31inch)
- 48MP ultra-wide, f/1.7, with macro AF (1/2.55inch)
- 48MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x zoom, OIS (1/2.55inch)
- 42MP f/2.2 selfie camera with AF
- 4K video recording at 60fps
- 8K video through cloud-based “Video Boost” (upscaling)
- 6.3-inch, 1-120Hz, 2000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 4700mAh battery with 45W fast charging, wireless charging
Macro capability was first introduced in the Google Pixel lineup with the 7 Pro, and the Pixel 9 Pro continues with the triple-lens array, featuring standard, ultra-wide, and telephoto (5x) options. The main 50MP sensor yields images at 12.5MP. Notably, the ultra-wide camera now has a 48MP sensor and macro autofocus f/1.7.
The Pixel 9 Pro automatically switches to macro mode when focusing on close subjects, allowing you to get as close as 3cm. You can disable this if necessary, although it may limit how closely you can focus.
You can capture both video and images in macro mode, and you also have the option to shoot in RAW format. Additionally, a Pro mode allows for control over exposure, shutter speed, and white balance.
Portrait mode is also available, providing options for shallow depth-of-field images with macro subjects under suitable conditions, although it works best with subjects that aren’t exceedingly small.
Read our complete review of the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
OnePlus 12
OnePlus 12 Overview:
- 50MP f/1.6 23mm equivalent 1/1.4” Sony LYT-808 camera
- 48MP f/2.2 14mm equivalent 1/2” Sony IMX518 camera
- 64MP f/2.6 70mm equivalent 1/2” OmniVision OV64B camera
- 32MP f/2.74 1/1.274” Sony IMX615 selfie camera, fixed focus
- 8K video up to 24fps
- 4K video up to 60fps
- 6.2-inch, 3168 x 1440 (QHD+), 4500 nits peak brightness, 120Hz display
- Operating system: Android 14
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
- Starting at $620 / £769
This flagship model from OnePlus reaffirms its commitment to providing premium specifications at reasonable prices. It features a remarkable triple-camera setup, industry-leading display technology, and 8K video capabilities, all offered at a more competitive price than comparable options from brands like Apple and Samsung, and even better than recent Google devices.
With its macro mode, you can capture detailed close-up shots. This feature is particularly valuable for mid-range phones, as it is often overlooked at this price point. It excels with subjects like flowers and other small items.
Read our complete review of the OnePlus 12.
Xiaomi 14 Pro
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Overview:
- 50MP f/1.6-4.0 camera (23mm equivalent) with a one-inch sensor
- 50MP f/1.8 ultrawide camera (12mm equivalent)
- 50MP f/1.8 telephoto camera (75mm equivalent, 3x zoom)
- 50MP f/2.5 periscope telephoto camera (120mm equivalent, 5x zoom)
- 8K video at 30fps maximum
- 4K video at 120fps maximum
- 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 pixels display, peak brightness of 3000 nits, 120Hz LTPO AMOLED
- Operating system: HyperOS, based on Android 14
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Price starting at $750 / £570
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the brand’s latest flagship smartphone, features four high-resolution 50MP cameras equipped with Leica Summilux lenses, renowned for their quality. Notably, the main camera sensor is a large one-inch type, far exceeding the sizes found in most other smartphones, including those from major brands like Samsung, Apple, and Google.
For photographers, this device offers several impressive features, such as special coatings to minimize glare and macro capabilities across three of its four lenses, allowing for creative close-up photography. It offers lossless zoom at six different focal lengths, while the 2x and 10x options utilize the sensor’s center for optimal images (known as in-sensor zoom). Additionally, digital zoom can be extended up to 120x, surpassing even the Samsung S24 Ultra’s 100x zoom.
Xiaomi has collaborated with Leica for a significant time, previously working with Huawei. This model sees the debut of high-end Summilux lenses from Xiaomi, a branding that has appeared on prior devices like the Huawei P40 Pro.
However, such premium features come at a cost. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is priced at £1,299, aligning it with other flagship devices like the Samsung S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Check out our complete review of the Xiaomi 14 Pro.
8 Tips for Macro Photography with Your Smartphone
Enhance your macro shots with these handy tips for better smartphone photography.
1. Know When to Turn Off Macro Mode
Sometimes, leaving the macro mode off can yield better results, especially if you don’t need to get extremely close. Experiment by starting with the primary lens and see how it performs first.
2. Capture in RAW Format
Shooting in RAW format (alongside JPEG/HEIF in most cases) provides the flexibility to edit your macro images later using apps like Snapseed. Note that not all smartphones allow RAW capture in macro settings.
3. Try Out Digital Filters
Most smartphones come with built-in digital filters. Experiment with options like black & white when capturing macro shots to see what works best.
4. Modify Exposure Settings
Smartphones, even those without full manual controls, often allow some adjustments. Using the on-screen slider to increase exposure can enhance the brightness of your close-up subjects.
5. Flip Your Phone Upside Down
Rotating your smartphone so that the screen faces down can help you get closer to subjects. While it seems simple, this tip can significantly improve your angle.
6. Utilize a Smartphone Tripod
To minimize camera shake, consider using a smartphone tripod or an adapter for a regular tripod. You can also leverage the smartphone’s self-timer (typically set for 3 or 10 seconds) to avoid touching the device while capturing an image.
7. Incorporate Portable LED Lights
Using portable LED lights can brighten up your scene, particularly for very close shots. This is especially beneficial in low-light situations, aiding in the clarity and sharpness of your images.
Explore the top camera phone accessories.
8. Make Use of the Telephoto Lens
If your smartphone lacks a dedicated macro lens but does have a zoom lens, using the telephoto capability can help you achieve a close-up effect.
Check out more tips for macro photography with smartphones.
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