Best lenses for iPhone and Android camera phones
With the best lenses for iPhone and Android phones, you can significantly improve your smartphone photography and videography. Yes, smartphone cameras themselves are undoubtedly improving, especially in the big flagships. But there are still certain things beyond their physical limitations. A clip-on lens, or even better, a full clip-on lens kit, can open up many new possibilities.
Want to shoot macro images on your smartphone, or create anamorphic footage? A clip-on lens is your best bet, especially if you’re using one of the best budget camera phones. You can pick up multiple clip-on lenses as a kit, or just shop for ones that conform to your particular interests. We’ve compiled a list of the best you can buy, a mix of kits and single lenses.
One more thing: to note we’ve included a number of Moment lenses on our list. However, when you click through the links, make sure you buy the right mount interfaces series for your phone. The newer T-Series (3rd generation, launched 2023) is specifically designed for modern smartphones, with larger sensors and wider apertures, while the M-Series (2nd generation, launched 2017) remains the better choice for older phones.
Hannah specializes in portrait, fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. She is one of our go-to experts on all things to do with mobile photography.
The Quick List
Offering telephoto heft, the Apexel 36x telephoto is an excellent option for anyone who wants to use their phone for a bit of birdspotting. It also comes with a handy mini-tripod.
Read more below
Having used the Moment Wide 18mm lens for photo taking and YouTube content I would recommend it for anyone seeking a lightweight setup to start their vlogging career – or vloggers looking for a more compact solution over traditional cameras.
Read more below
3. ShiftCam 1.33X anamorphic lens
The ShiftCam Videography ProLens Kit includes a 1.33x anamorphic lens and a 60mm telephoto lens so that you can shoot ultra-wide and extra zoomed-in without degrading the image quality. Both lenses are really easy to use.
Read more below
4. Apexel 2-in-1 Clip-on lens
A simply solution that attaches to your phone like a giant clothes peg – offering both a 120° wide-angle lens, or a 10x macro close-up lens. You switch between the two by twisting the front part of the lens on and off.
Read more below
5. ShiftCam LensUltra Series
ShiftCam’s LensUltra series impressed our reviewer, and the basic kit includes a wide-angle and a telephoto – though you may find you prefer the more exciting options like the Long Range Macro.
Read more below
6. Apexel 10-in-1 lens kit
If you’re looking to experiment with creative effects without breaking the bank, the Apexel 10-in-1 kit is hard to beat. This comprehensive package includes four different lenses and six filters, all housed in a compact zippable case.
Read more below
7. Moment 14mm Fisheye lens
Great for creating a whole different perspective, fisheye lenses are plentiful on the smartphone lens market – and our pick is this one from Moment, which offers solid quality at a reasonable price.
Read more below
This set of clip-on lenses offer a choice of 100x, 150x and 200x magnifications to reveal a hidden microscopic details. Each has a built-in LED to ensure the subject is lit.
Read more below
Best lenses for iPhone and Android phones: the full guide
Why you can trust Digital Camera World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
Best telephoto lens for iPhone and Android
You can enjoy using a 36x optical telephoto lens on virtually any smartphone, thanks to the universal spring clip mount that ships with the Apexel 36X Telephoto Lens Kit. This gives the Apexel lens an advantage over Moment lenses as they require your smartphone to wear a Moment case.
The Apexel 36X Telephoto Lens Kit includes a metal mini tripod. This is an essential bit of kit as camera-shake is magnified significantly when using the telephoto lens handheld, leading to motion blur in your photos. When mounted on the supplied tripod we were able to capture sharp telephoto close-ups of birds feeding in the garden, though as it’s a relatively cheap lens we could see some blue colour fringes (chromatic aberration) around high contrast edges. These fringes where even exaggerated when we jumped from our iPhone 16 Plus’s 1x to 2x optical zoom.
Videographers will also enjoy using the Apexel 36X Telephoto Lens Kit as at 36x magnification enables you to capture cinematic-looking shots where the background, mid-ground, and foreground elements are compressed together. You also get a super soft background token behind your focused subject. Again the mini tripod is essential when shooting video as it’s impossible to avoid camera shake without it!
See our full Apexel 36x telephoto lens review
Best vlogging lens for iPhone and Android
Having used the Moment Wide 18mm lens for photo taking and YouTube content I would recommend it for anyone seeking a lightweight setup to start their vlogging career – or vloggers looking for a more compact solution over their traditional compact cameras.
Everything provided within the box gives off a premium feel and certainly makes you want to look after it. The lens is strongly built and provides crisp and sharp images that any vlogger or content creator would be proud to show off.
As we mentioned in the intro, make sure you choose the right mount interface when ordered this lens: the T-series is for newer phones and the M-series for older ones.
Read our full Moment Wide 18mm lens review for more details
Best anamorphic lens for iPhone and Android
Videography can be an expensive game to get into it after you’ve added up the cost of the best camera for video, the best cine lenses, and all the accessories you might need. However, smartphone lenses are getting so good these days you no longer have to spend an insane amount of money to invest in a kit that will help you shoot professional-looking films.
The ShiftCam Videography ProLens Kit includes a 1.33x anamorphic lens and a 60mm telephoto lens so that you can shoot ultra-wide and extra zoomed-in without degrading the image quality. Both lenses are really easy to use and can either be attached to the front of your phone using the phone-specific case mount or the universal adapter.
I actually preferred the universal adapter as I found the case mount moved around a bit and the universal one stayed firmly in place. I was pleasantly surprised with the horizontal lens flares you achieved with the anamorphic lens.
It was easy to de-squeeze the footage in Final Cut Pro (there is a handy video on YouTube that shows you exactly how to convert it) and it really does make everything you shoot with it look that little more pro.
Read our full ShiftCam Pro Videographers Kit review for more details
Best budget lens for iPhone and Android
This two-in-one kit from Apexel will work with the vast majority of smartphones, clipping snugly over cases to provide a quick and easy bolster to your image-making. The lenses included are a macro and a wide-angle; the 12.5x macro is excellent, making smartphone close-up photography an impressive reality.
The 0.45x wide-angle is decent enough, though some users have noticed slightly vignetting in the corners with some phone set-ups. Overall, this is a simple and highly-portable solution that works without the need to buy a special phone case to get it to work.
Read our full Apexel 2-in-1 lens review for more details
Best versatile lens for iPhone and Android
The ShiftCam LensUltra series felt like a bit of a refresh, and when we got our hands on these fine lenses to review, it’s fair to say we were impressed. The full kit gives you a huge suite of options: a wide-angle, a fisheye, two macros, two anamorphics and a telephoto, as well as a variable ND filter and a polariser. Of course, most users aren’t going to get absolutely everything, instead picking and choosing which lenses suit their style. Happily, the lenses can be bought individually, allowing you to pick and choose.
And we would recommend picking and choosing – the standard ‘Photography Kit’ is a pretty boring option, giving you just a 16mm wide-angle and a 60mm telephoto, which are options that more and more modern smartphones are equipped with anyway. You’ll have a lot more fun getting super-close with a long-range macro, or creating cinematic imagery with one of the anamorphic lenses. All of the lenses have fluorite crystals in their optical construction, enhancing color accuracy and reducing chromatic aberration.
Read our full ShiftCam LensUltra review for more details
The best value lens kit for iPhone and Android
For smartphone photographers and videographers looking to experiment with creative effects without breaking the bank, the Apexel 10-in-1 kit is hard to beat. This comprehensive package includes four different lenses and six filters, all housed in a compact zippable case.
The standout performers include the 15x macro lens which delivers impressive close-up detail with beautiful bokeh, the circular polarizing filter that cuts through reflections effectively, and the creative Flow and Radial filters that add motion blur effects for more dynamic portraits. The 198° fisheye creates dramatic distortion perfect for artistic shots, while the kaleidoscope filters offer psychedelic overlapping effects.
While not every component is a winner – the Starlite filter produces soft results and the 2x telephoto is redundant on newer phones – you’re still getting exceptional value. Even with a couple of duds, eight quality lenses and filters for under £25 represents outstanding bang for your buck.
The universal clip mount fits securely over most smartphones without requiring a special case, making this an accessible option for any phone user wanting to expand their creative possibilities.
Read our full Apexel 10-in-1 lens kit review for more details.
Best fisheye lens for iPhone and Android
If you’re looking for a phone lens that offers a completely different view from your phone’s built-in lenses, this is a great option. You can attach it to your phone in two different ways; either with the Moment, phone-specific case or with the universal mounting system that slides over the cameras.
Fisheye lenses are popular for shooting skate clips and music videos so if you want to get into either of these areas investing in a lens for your phone could be a financially economical way to do so. This isn’t the best fisheye lens we’ve ever used but it’s reasonably priced, well built, and costs a lot less than buying a fisheye lens for your camera!
As we mentioned in the intro, make sure you choose the right mount interface when ordered this lens: the T-series is for newer phones and the M-series for older ones.
Read our full Moment 14mm Fisheye lens review for more details
Best microscope lens for iPhone and Android
The Apexel PhoneMicro 5 Kit enables you to cross the threshold from macro to microscopic photography. The kit contains an easy-to-attach spring mount that clips onto most smartphone models. You then can adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the mount so that it overlaps your smartphone’s main camera with precision. You can then quickly clip in one of the kit’s three microscope modules and get a much closer encounter with your subject than you could using your phone’s native macro lens.
As its name suggests, the 3-in-1 Apexel PhoneMicro 5 Kit provides three separate microscope modules that enable you to enjoy a range of magnification – the 100x lens, the 150x lens and the 200x lens. We tested the lenses with an iPhone 16 Plus and a smaller iPhone 16 Pro and the spring mount clip fitted both devices. The 200x lens is not surprisingly the most impressive and it revealed textures, details and patterns that our iPhone’s Macro mode couldn’t when shooting subjects such as skin and hair. The 100x lens was particularly useful for adding a beautiful bokeh to product and toy photos.
One challenge smartphone users face when shooting macro photos is that the phone itself casts a shadow on the subject. If you place the phone against the subject, the shot will go black due to lack of light. The Apexel’s 200x and 150x microscope lenses have a built-in LED (which can be toggled between different brightness and color temperature settings), so they can be placed directly on top of your subject for a closer encounter.
See our full Apexel PhoneMicro 5 Kit review
FAQs
Are all lenses universally compatible with both iPhone and Android devices?
In a word, no. While some lenses may claim universal compatibility, it’s crucial to check the specific compatibility list provided by the manufacturer. Different phones may have variations in camera placement and size, affecting the fit and performance of the lens.
What factors should I consider when choosing between different lens types?
Consider your photography needs and preferences. For example, if you enjoy capturing landscapes, a wide-angle lens might be ideal. If you’re into close-up shots, a macro lens would be more suitable. Assessing your intended use will help you select the most appropriate lens type.
Do I need to invest in expensive lenses for good results?
While higher-priced lenses often offer superior quality and features, there are also affordable options that can yield impressive results. So basically, we’d recommend you balance your budget with your photography aspirations. Find the right balance of affordability and performance for your pocket and needs.
How to choose the best lenses for iPhone and Android
The world of smartphone lenses is frequently changing, and manufacturers come and go. If you’re just looking for a bit of snapping fun, there are plenty of cheap kits on the market that can deliver adequate results, but if the quality is your aim, stick to a serious brand like ShiftCam or Moment.
Besides that, consider what kind of photos you want to take? Wide-angle landscapes, close-up portraits, or magnified objects? Different lenses are suited for different photography styles, as detailed above. Compatibility with your specific phone model is also crucial, so check compatibility lists provided by manufacturers.
Finally, think about attachment type. Clip-on lenses are the most affordable and easy to use, but they can be bulky and inconvenient. Clamp-on lenses offer a more secure fit and better image quality, while lens housings provide the most protection and stability.
How we test lenses
We test lenses using both real-world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-world testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics. Phone lenses are not able to be lab-tested in the same lens but we do put them through some rigorous test shoots.
Read more:
The best camera phone
The best gimbals for your iPhone, GoPro and camera
Best tripods for iPhones and smartphones
Best throwaway burner phones
Best phablets
Best flip phones
link
