6 best smartphones for video recording and content creation

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find bad cameras on smartphones these days. Even if you purchase a low-end phone, chances are you’ll experience a decent set of shooters. However, there are smartphones that are better suited for videography.

This list focuses on phones that offer advanced video recording features and well-rounded specifications. We narrowed it down to six, from relatively affordable to the cream of the crop. You can’t go wrong with any of these options but remember: it’s how you use the cameras that matters more.

POCO X3 Pro

  • Specifications and Price:
  • 6.67-inch 1080p LCD at 120Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage and microSD slot
  • 48MP (main), 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (macro), 2MP (depth) rear cameras
  • 20MP front camera
  • 5160mAh battery
  • PhP 12,990

Although the POCO X3 Pro prioritizes near-flagship-level specs at an affordable price, it still delivers a solid camera experience. It can record up to 4K resolution at 30fps, and there’s a 3.5mm port for plugging in external audio peripherals. In addition, the large 5160mAh battery and expandable microSD storage should extend your recording sessions.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Google Pixel 4a

Specifications and Price:

  • 5.81-inch 1080p OLED
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • 12.2MP rear camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3140mAh battery
  • PhP 22,990

If you don’t mind an older device with lower-end hardware, the Pixel 4a is a great straight-to-the-point video shooter. It has a single rear camera with optical image stabilization, as well as a 3.5mm audio port; more importantly, it comes with Google’s image processing software which you can’t find on other brands.

It’s a no-frills package, but the 4K video quality is exquisite at 30fps and its smaller dimensions make it easier to handle during recording.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

RELATED: 5 best affordable tablets for online classes and WFH (2021)

ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.67-inch 1080p Super AMOLED at 90Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB storage and microSD slot
  • 64MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 8MP (telephoto) front and rear cameras
  • 5000mAh battery
  • PhP 39,995

The Zenfone 8 Flip is unlike any other smartphone on this list because of its flipping set of cameras. The mechanism allows the three lenses to act as both rear and front cameras, making both sides equal in quality.

This is vital in recording yourself and your surroundings interchangeably. On top of that, this Zenfone has some of the best specs around, including the high-end Snapdragon 888 5G chipset which can produce 8K video at 30fps or 4K at 120fps.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S21

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.2-inch 1080p Dynamic AMOLED at 120Hz
  • Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB storage
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 64MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 10MP front camera
  • 4000mAh battery
  • PhP 43,990

Samsung’s most recent non-folding flagship series ticks all the boxes: top-end processor, lots of RAM and storage, plus three rear cameras that go from ultrawide to telephoto. We recommend the standard S21 because it keeps up with the S21+ in terms of video recording capabilities, and it’s significantly cheaper. You can learn more about it in TMC’s full camera review.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

RELATED: 5 best affordable laptops for online classes and WFH (2021)

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 120Hz ProMotion
  • Apple A15 Bionic processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 12MP front camera
  • Undisclosed battery capacity but Apple says it’s double the iPhone 12’s life
  • PhP 63,990

The recently released iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have similar specs but we prefer the smaller variant for its easier handling and comparable camera quality. The iPhone 13 series introduces ProRes recording and a new Cinematic mode that are tailor-made to mobile videographers.

Put together, the triple-camera combo gives you 4K video recording at up to 60fps. Once you’re done shooting, you’ll have iOS’s suite of apps to edit that footage.

You’ll have to wait to get one, though, as it’s only for pre-order for now.

Sony Xperia 1 III

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.5-inch 1644p OLED at 120Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 12GB RAM
  • 256GB storage and microSD slot
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 8MP front camera
  • 4500mAh battery
  • PhP 61,990

If you want a truly video-centric smartphone, you must go for an Xperia.

The Xperia 1 III is the latest from Sony, and it rocks all the high-end specs you’d expect out of a 2021 flagship. The triple-camera setup covers the important focal lengths, and watching your footage on the 4K resolution OLED is a delight.

It also comes with a 3.5mm port for audio accessories and a dedicated shutter button for old-school users. As long as you can stomach the high asking price, it doesn’t get much more complete than this.

Get it here: Lazada, Amazon

Honorable Mentions

ASUS Zenfone 7

In case you can’t score a Zenfone 8 Flip, the Zenfone 7 is the next best thing.

It’s significantly cheaper now and does the same camera flipping trick as the newer Zenfone. Besides the slower processor, the Zenfone 7 pretty much matches its newer counterpart, from the physical dimensions and screen to the battery capacity and overall weight.

Get it here: Lazada, Amazon

OnePlus 8T

OnePlus isn’t known for stellar camera performance, but they do continue to offer older flagships at attractive prices. At the moment, 2020’s OnePlus 8T can be bought for as low as PhP 22,990.

It provides a clean and fast interface, as well as a solid set of cameras. While it may lag behind the options above in terms of videography, it’s still a pleasure to use.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Huawei P40 and Mate 40 series

Even though Huawei’s recent flagships lack Google Play Services, they still pack a punch when it comes to video shooting. The P40 and Mate 40 lineups have complete camera setups, high-end displays and processors, plus 5G connectivity to quickly upload your footage.

As long as you can find the video-editing apps you need, they’re certainly capable.

Get it here (Huawei P40): Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Get it here (Huawei Mate 40): Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Final Thoughts

We could give the Xperia 1 III the crown and call it a day, but its price and lack of official local support make it one of the less practical choices.

With that in mind, the Zenfone 8 Flip has the best combination of video recording and value. Whether shooting surroundings or yourself, you get the same quality on both ends, and it manages a wide range of resolutions at high frame rates. Best of all, it isn’t as expensive as its closest competitors.

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JBL Bar 1000: The soundbar to beat?

04/11/2023

Content consumption has evolved throughout the years. You can now watch or stream your favorite TV shows and movies wherever you are just by using your laptop or even your phones.

Although, of course, if you want the complete, immersive experience, the movie theater is still your go-to.

What if you want to bring that same experience to your home? That’s when home theaters come into play. And when talking about full immersion, audio plays a big part.

What we have with us is the JBL Bar 1000 — a soundbar with 7.1.4 channels that deliver true surround sound. It also features Dolby Atmos sound with MultiBeam and DTS:X that all aim to deliver rich, natural-sounding surround experience.

And one of the coolest parts? There are two detachable speakers that you can place around you to literally put you in the middle of what you’re watching and make it feel like you’re part of each scene.

Setup and design

Setting up is a no-fuss process and once you bring out the soundbar and connect the necessary cables, you’re pretty much halfway done.

The company knows that every room where you’re setting up the soundbar is different so a quick calibration is necessary to fully take advantage of the speakers.

This is easily done by either pressing the calibrate button on the remote or by downloading the JBL One app that shows a more detailed way of calibration. It shows you what to do and does the calibration all by itself and you just need to reposition the detachable speakers twice. After just a few minutes, the speakers are ready.

In terms of design, things are pretty straightforward. It comes in a traditional soundbar form factor but is quite long when you look at it from end to end since, as mentioned earlier, it comes with detachable speakers that you can place around you.

The package also comes with rubber covers that you can use so they still look nice without exposing their connectivity points.

Going back to the main speaker, you have buttons up top for volume and power, and on its face is a small panel that shows all the information you need.

Turn it around and you see its available ports for multiple HDMI inputs and even one that supports eARC for enhanced audio. You can also use an optical cable if you prefer and for wireless connectivity, there’s Bluetooth pairing.

Taking care of the lows is a massive 10-inch wireless subwoofer so you can place it anywhere that’s convenient and out of the way. If you want to hear just how massive the bass is on these speakers, be sure to watch the video above for some audio samples.

The package also contains a remote control, of course, wall brackets for the soundbar, wall mounts for its detachable speakers, and side caps, along with manuals and warranties.

Features

For its features, it comes with more than a handful to ensure quality and enjoyment while watching or playing music.

Headlining its array of features are Dolby Atmos, Harman’s MultiBeam, and DTS:X audio codec all designed to provide theater-quality 3D surround sound. Additionally, it also comes with PureVoice technology that enhances dialogue when you watch movies to ensure you get an immersive experience.

Other features include built-in WiFi with AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music and Google Chromecast built-in so you can easily throw music or your favorite podcast from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Plus, you can even do that with simple voice commands as the soundbar is compatible to work with voice assistant-enabled speakers.

Performance

Now, for its performance, JBL isn’t joking when they say it can deliver a theater-like audio experience. Because it simply does.

Sound quality in itself is top-notch and the 10-inch wireless subwoofer does deliver powerful, low kicks that can effortlessly fill up the living room of our 70sqm apartment unit. Dialogues are easily understandable when watching movies and vocals are clear when you switch to playing music.

Although I noticed that at low volumes (for when it’s late at night and we don’t want to disturb people in the next apartment) dialogue could be softer compared to when sound effects are in full swing like in an action scene.

Compressing the dynamic range on the TV helps, but dialogues still come up a bit soft for our liking. But on full blast, it’s truly just a satisfying experience.

Moving on to its detachable speakers, putting them behind you does deliver a true surround performance that elevates your movie-watching experience. You can hear explosions going around you, cars speeding by, and even hear the radio playing in the background when the scene is in a restaurant, for example.

You can even adjust the volume of these speakers to suit your preference. I usually just go for the second level right here as, for me, it gives the right balance of sound without overpowering the main speakers.

And speaking of adjustments, there’s one each for bass level and ATMOS that you can tweak. Again, depending on your preference or what kind of content you’re playing.

Having all these working together simply brings content consumption to a whole new level.

It’s having that spatial awareness of what you’re seeing on your screen. You know where almost every sound is coming from whether you’re watching movies or playing games.

For gaming, it actually helps a lot when you’re playing as you can hear where enemies are coming from so that’s another advantage to these speakers.

Final thoughts and price

If you’re on the lookout for your next home theater speakers, this is one great contender that you should check and include in your list.

The sound quality is nothing short of impressive and the surround system definitely puts you at the center of each and every scene you’re watching. And with its additional convenience feature of being able to throw audio content from your mobile devices and even use voice commands, it’s an invaluable piece for your living room or home theater.

The JBL Bar 1000 is priced at PhP 59,999 but at the time of writing, you can get it for only PhP 53,999. It’s available at any OnWard store in the Philippines so do check it out or even try it at the experience area of the store.

You can also grab it online through Onward’s official e-commerce channels (Shopee PH, Lazada PH). For US customers, it’s now also available on Amazon. 

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