The smartphone has certainly come a long way. Starting off from the most basic of mobile phones that are only used for making calls, smartphones now also function as video game devices, personal assistants, mini-computers, and many more roles depending on the apps installed.
One other way that smartphones are being used today are as video cameras, and with a multitude of models already incorporating 4K video recording capabilities, smartphones being used as video cameras will surely continue as a trend into the near future.
For users that are looking to purchase a new smartphone with 4K video recording in mind, here are the best ones to choose from.
Apple iPhone 6s / iPhones 6s Plus
Apple's iPhone 6, along with the bigger iPhone 6s Plus, features 4K video recording with 3,840 x 2,160 dimensions at 30 frames per second. The iPhone 6s Plus, in addition, features optical image stabilization for video.
The video camera functions of the smartphones also support slow-motion video recording for 1080p at 120 frames per second and 720p at 240 frames per second, time-lapse video recording with stabilization, continuous autofocus video and the ability to take 8-megapixel pictures while recording 4K video.
The maximum capacities of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, however, are 128 GB, which could be a problem for hardcore video users that would like to have more memory capacities for their devices.
Samsung Galaxy S6 / Galaxy S6 edge / Galaxy S6 edge +
Samsung's Galaxy S6 line of smartphones all feature 4K video recording, with videos displayed on the quad HD Super AMOLED screens of the smartphones.
Similar to the iPhone 6s devices, the smartphones in the Samsung Galaxy S6 line are limited by a maximum capacity of 128 GB. While there are rumors that the company will be bringing back the expandable memory feature for the Galaxy S7, users that choose the current flagship smartphones of Samsung will have to get by with the fixed internal memory capacity.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 follows with the same features of the Galaxy S6 line in terms of the camera, with 4K video recording that can be viewed on the company's quad HD Super AMOLED screen. The device also has the same limitation of only up to 128 GB of memory.
In terms of features for video recording, the Galaxy S6 devices and the Galaxy Note 5 are basically the same. The difference would be in the extra features, With the Galaxy S6 edge smartphones featuring dual-edge display and the Galaxy Note 5 coming with Samsung's S Pen stylus.
The Motorola DROID Turbo 2 is a Verizon-exclusive smartphone that features 4K video recording plus slow motion video capture and video HDR for 4K and 1080p recordings. The smartphone also has a massive 3,760 mAh battery, which will allow users to capture more video before the device's power runs out.
Memory capacity is not a limitation for the DROID Turbo 2 in comparison with the Apple and Samsung smartphones. The device, has an internal memory of only up to 64 GB, but it features microSD card support for extra memory of up to 2 TB.
The LG G4 will soon be replaced by the LG G5 as the company's flagship smartphone, but it is still a very capable device for 4K video recording. The smartphone is also capable of sending 4K video directly to HDMI-enabled TVs.
The smartphone also supports microSD cards for up to 2 TB of extra memory, which is great for storing as many 4K videos as possible.
Google's latest Nexus devices are both capable of 4K video recording, with slow motion recording capabilities at 120 frames per second for the Nexus 5X and at 240 frames per second for the Nexus 6P.
The Nexus 5X only has a 2,700 mAh battery and up to 32 GB of internal memory though, which would make the Nexus 6P with a 3,450 mAh battery and up to 128 GB of internal memory a better choice as a 4K video recorder among the two Nexus devices.
