iPhone vs. Android: Which is Better for Video Production?

The battle between iPhone and Android is as old as smartphones themselves. The two operating systems and their legions of die-hard fans, are locked in a perpetual arms race, each trying to outdo the other. Much has been written evaluating the different features of each, but smartphones are being used in more ways than ever before.

In the past, artists would shoot video on expensive cameras before taking them to a studio to be edited. Especially in places like Utah, where film production is a big part of the economy, this process could take months. Today, however, an increasing number of video makers are shooting and editing their films using nothing but their smartphones.

Smartphone-only production is so popular that it has spawned a number of film festivals across the nation, like the popular Pocket Film Festival in Utah. So between iPhone and Android, which phone best caters to this growing niche market?

Android presents an interesting problem because it doesn’t refer to any specific phone. A number of different phone makers use the operating system, although Samsung is probably the most prominent.

The new Samsung Galaxy phones have very good cameras. The videos they produce tend to look a little warmer than those taken by iPhones, but the image quality and tonality is the same. The only problems begin when light starts to wane. In comparison to the iPhone, Samsung’s cameras struggle during low-light conditions.

Unfortunately, Android doesn’t offer many video-editing apps. Not good ones, at least. Kinemaster Pro, the most complete video production app for Android, costs upward of $40 and has a confusing interface. However, the finished videos look beautiful on Samsung’s incredible high-resolution screens.

But what about Apple’s offering?

Since its release in 2007, the iPhone has basically been the benchmark for smartphones. Video production has always been a focus, so the cameras on iPhones are very impressive. The new models are able to shoot 12 megapixel photos and record ultra high-definition video. They make casual footage of a vacation in Utah look like something shot by Kurosawa.

Even better, the Apple store features dozens of powerful video editing apps, many of which are free. From iMovie to Pinnacle Studio, they give both casual and professional video editors the tools they need to work movie magic.

Although both iPhone and Android phones are impressive, they’re unevenly matched in some areas when it comes to video production. For someone looking to win a smartphone film festival in Utah, the iPhone would be a much better choice.

Tanner Wadsworth writes for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. He writes for many other clients as well. Follow on Twitter