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The best iPhone lenses in 2022

By Mike Prospero published 18 October 2022 The best iPhone lenses: Telephoto/zoom, macro and wide-angle lenses Included in this guide:1MomentWide LensCheck Price (opens in new tab)2MomentAnamorphic LensCheck Price (opens in new tab)3Xenvo Pro lens kitCheck Price (opens in new tab)4ZtylusRevolver M Series Camera KitCheck Price (opens in new tab) The best iPhone lens kits are a sure fire way to take your iPhone photography up a level. Sure, the new iPhone 14 Pro has a 48MP sensor, which sounds great on paper, right? Well, ask any professional photographer out there and they'll tell you lenses are usually way more important than sensor megapixels. You could have as many megapixels as you like, but without a decent lens to focus light onto it, your images won't look better. So, while today's iPhones have more advanced cameras and better lenses than ever, they're still hampered to some extent by the fact that they only have tiny lenses attached. By using one of the best iPhone lens kits, you can add a dedicated fisheye lens for ultra-wide shots; an anamorphic lens for beautiful, cinematic video; a macro lens for stunning close ups; or a long range telephoto lens to capture far away detail perfectly. Better yet, many of these lenses can be used with multiple iPhones and some eve with Android devices (although you'll need an adapter). So, if you've just got one of the best phones, no matter what brand it is, there's likely to be an external lens to suit. All you need to do now is read on to see our list of the best iPhone lens kits.

What are the best iPhone lens kits

After testing dozens of models across several price ranges, we think that Moment makes the best iPhone lens kits. These lenses are well built, produce some of the highest-quality images, and are easy to use. They're pricey, but the image quality you get is simply the best around. Currently, Moment sells a fisheye lenses, a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, and a macro lens. The company also makes an anamorphic lens for those who want to use their iPhone to shoot cinema-like videos. Individually, lenses cost around $95, but are often bundled with other accessories. Apart from the image quality, Moment's bayonet-style mounting system makes it easy to attach and remove lenses from your smartphone, so you're not stuck fiddling with an attachment and miss your shot. In addition to lenses, Moment also makes a variety of cases in a wide range of styles, and for a wide variety of smartphones, from the iPhone 7 and up, the Galaxy S9+ and up, and most Google Pixel phones. Moment also has new cases for the iPhone 14 range, including MagSafe-compatible options.

The best iPhone lenses you can buy today

(Image credit: Future) (opens in new tab)

1 Moment Lens

The best iPhone lenses overall

Specifications

Lenses: Wide, Telephoto, Fish-eye, macroWeight: 1.6 ounces (Wide), 1.7 ounces (Telephoto)Compatibility: iPhone 6 and higher, Samsung Galaxy S8 and higher, Note 8, Google Pixel XL, 2/XLToday's Best DealsView at Adorama (opens in new tab)View at Moment (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)

Reasons to buy

+Excellent quality+Works with later iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Note smartphones and Google Pixel+Can be used with both rear cameras

Reasons to avoid

-Expensive While expensive - each of its lenses costs between $80 to $130 - we think that Moment makes the best iPhone lens kits overall. Based on our tests with competing premium iPhone lens kits, the images from Moment's lenses are some of the best we've seen from any smartphone camera lens attachment. Moment makes a lens for just about every occasion: telephoto, wide angle, macro, anamorphic, and fisheye. And, the company makes cases for a wide range of smartphones, including the latest iPhone 14 range. Cases come in a variety of colors and finishes, and also include slim models and ones with extra batteries. In addition, Moment also sells a range of filters, including neutral density and circular polarizers; while they don't work in conjunction with its lens kits, you can use the filters with your smartphone's camera. Read our full Moment iPhone lens review. Moment Anamorphic (Image credit: Moment)

2 Moment Anamorphic

Best iPhone lens for video

Specifications

Lenses: 1.33 anamorphicWeight: 2.6 ouncesCompatibility: iPhone 7 and up, Android with universal adapterToday's Best DealsView at Moment (opens in new tab)View at Adorama (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Reasons to buy

+Allen bolt secures lens in place+Works with multiple iPhones and Android phones

Reasons to avoid

-More expensive than competitors After testing several models, the Moment anamorphic lens came out on top as the best iPhone lens for filmmakers. It can be oriented so you can hold your phone in either landscape or portrait mode, and, because it's locked in place, can't easily be jarred out of place. And, it helps you take some excellent video. However, the Moment Anamorphic lens is a little more expensive than the competitors: It sells for $149 but also requires that you purchase a case, which adds between $30 and $40 to the cost. That said, a current sale brings it down to $99 direct from Moment (opens in new tab). Sandmarc's Anamorphic lens ($129.99) (opens in new tab) is a good alternative, if you can find it for sale. (Image credit: Xenvo) (opens in new tab)

3 Xenvo Pro Lens Kit

Best budget iPhone lens kit

Specifications

Lenses: Wide, 15X MacroWeight: 4.8 ounces (entire kit)Compatibility: UniversalToday's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Reasons to buy

+Comes with two lenses+External LED included+Carrying case

Reasons to avoid

-Universal clip gets bumped easily After testing a number of inexpensive options, the best iPhone lens kit for those on a budget is the Xenvo Pro 2-in-1 system. The Xenvo 2-in-1 combination lens combines a Super Wide lens and a 15X Macro lens, and attaches to your camera using a universal clip, which can be used on any number of smartphones. The lens is encased in a relatively nice aluminum housing, and comes in a little semi-hard case with a round, rechargeable clip-on light with three different brightness settings. Both lenses are decently sharp in the middle of the photo, however get softer towards the edges. Taking a photo of a patterned chair revealed the threads of fabric looping together in each color. While the Xenvo produces acceptable images, it's no match for the more expensive lens systems that we have reviewed from Moment or Sandmarc. During our testing, we found that if the phone is not held still, the amount of detail in the photo was certainly lacking. Still, for $45, it is not a very risky investment if you are just getting into iPhoneography and want a better wide angle and macro lens combo. Ztylus M6 Revolver (Image credit: Ztylus)

4 Ztylus M6 Revolver

An innovative and inexpensive iPhone lens kit

Specifications

Lenses: 2X Telephoto Lens, Macro/Super Macro Lens, Fisheye/Wide Angle LensWeight: 3.27 ouncesCompatibility: iPhone 7/8, iPhone 7/8 Plus, iPhone X/XSToday's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Reasons to buy

+Secure magnetic connection+Clever mounting system+Inexpensive+Multiple case designs

Reasons to avoid

-Only works with iPhones If you own an older iPhone model then the Ztylus M6 Revolver is worth a look, because it includes a case for the iPhone X down to iPhone 7. In the middle of the case is a disc that the M6's lenses attach to magnetically. The actual lenses, six in all, are contained in a circular puck, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Depending on the size of your hands, it may get in the way of getting a secure grip on the phone, since it takes up a good portion of the back of the case. Images taken using the M6 Revolver's telephoto lens were good, and because it was magnetically attached to the case, made it much less susceptible to bumping or misalignment than traditional clip-on lenses. In addition to the telephoto lens, the M6 has a second telephoto, a wide angle, macro, super macro, and fisheye lens. And, because all are contained in the puck, they're much easier to carry around than clip-on lenses, and stay protected when not in use. The M6 Revolver is available with one of up to 15 different cases, from a simple wood grain or carbon fiber to colorful patterns and Asian-inspired designs with dragons to quirky designs with cats and fish. Quality is certainly not the same as more expensive lenses from Moment or Sandmarc, but should be good enough for most people.

How to choose the best iPhone lens for you

For the most part, smartphones lens accessories do an admirable job of allowing you to shoot photos that mimic some of the qualities you'll find in high-end cameras that accept interchangeable lenses. But it's important to remember, the expensive lenses you'd use with an SLR or mirrorless camera are pricey for a reason. In other words, you'll want to dial back your expectations when buying even one of the best iPhone lens kits. Here are four things to remember about most smartphone lens accessories, and where they come up short in comparison to high-end cameras. At best, image quality remains the same: Since these lenses, in almost all cases, are attached by placing them over the rear-facing lens on your phone, the quality, at best, remains the same. In other words, the sensor and lenses combo isn't improved. In some cases, with say a telephoto lens, the sharpness in the center may display modest improvement; however, it's in the corners of the photo where sharpness really needs to be tested. With these lenses, the sharpness almost always falls dramatically in the corners. Even the best iPhone lens kits will also usually introduce a host of other problems, such as distortion, chromatic aberration (producing conspicuous purple outlines around subjects), and light falloff (where the center is much brighter than the images at the edges of a photo). Most high-quality interchangeable lenses made for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are designed to significantly limit distortion, aberrations, and other optical defects. Telephoto lenses produce worse images and video than wide angle: No matter which telephoto lens you attach to your phone, it will produce blurrier photos and more jittery video footage than any wide angle or fisheye. That's because telephoto lenses are highly susceptible to handshake and vibration, and many smartphones, particularly older models, lack effective image stabilization. Our advice would be to get a tripod if you plan on shooting with a telephoto lens. Lower quality flash photos: Some smartphone lenses block a smartphone's flash, which further limits your ability to capture decent photos in low light. This is rarely an issue with an interchangeable-lens camera. Awkward designs and other limitations: Since these lenses need to fit snugly over your smartphone's lens, you'll need to remove the camera's case, or be forced to use a case that's only compatible with the lens. Additionally, once you attach the lens, it prominently sticks out from the phone, ruining its sleek design. Good luck slipping that into your back pocket! Lastly, these lenses lack the sophisticated apertures and other hardware you'll find on interchangeable lenses, which allow you to produce truly professional-looking images. Even the best iPhone lens kits can't compete with 'proper' camera lenses on this front.

How we test iPhone lenses

When we test iPhone lenses, the first thing that we naturally look at is how well they perform. Cheaper lenses - those made from plastic, for example - will cause the photos you take to have blemishes, such as chromatic aberrations (purple fringes around objects) and blurriness. This is most evident with fisheye and wide-angle lenses, where objects towards the edges will be much blurrier than those towards the center. We also evaluate iPhone lenses in terms of ease of use: how easy are they to attach and remove from your smartphone? If it takes longer than a second, you could miss that shot you wanted to get. We also look at the price, as not everyone has $100 to spend just on a single lens; often, you can find models that cost less, but deliver nearly the same quality. Lenses also get bonus points if they work with more than just iPhones; why can't Android owners have some fun, too? With all of those criteria considered, we're able to compile our list of the best iPhone lens kits. Be sure to check out all of our camera picks: Best cameras Best DSLR cameras Best action cameras Best waterproof cameras Best point-and-shoot cameras Best instant cameras Best mirrorless cameras Best cheap cameras Best GoPro camera Best GoPro accessories Best drones Best 360 cameras Best iPhone tripods DSLR vs. mirrorless Best Nikon accessories Best Sony a6000 accessories
The best apps and software for editing, managing, and sharing your photos:
Best photo organizer apps Best photo storage sites Best photo editing software Best photo editing apps Best photo collage appsRound up of today's best deals (opens in new tab)Moment Wide Lens (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$99.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Moment Anamorphic Lens (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$119.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Xenvo Pro Lens Kit (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$39.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Ztylus Revolver M Series Camera Kit (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$49.95 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricespowered by

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Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Mike ProsperoU.S. Editor-in-Chief, Tom's GuideMichael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom's Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he's not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he's probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight - or chagrin - of his family. More about apple The best tablets in 2022 The best iPads in 2022Latest It's possible to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a Tesla - here's howSee more latest ► Topics Apple Cameras iPhone See all comments (6) 6 Comments Comment from the forums lourson Archived comments are found here: http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/id-2309719/iphone-camera-lens-kits-2014.html Reply Tony_39 I have tried few lenses for my iPhone. I love Hitcase lenses, they are not bulky and easily fits in my pocket while travelling. Olloclip is portable, easy to carry around. It's hard to find place for them while I am on air travel. I personally like Hitcase snap lenses! Reply thurstonb95 Great stuff but when are we going to see a good telephoto lens for the iphone? Reply Aahana This is Good smartphone but i use Gretel GT6000 and this is a wonderful phone with Long Lasting battery 6000mAh and you know this phone also have dual rear camera. This is a Good Looking and feature reach phone. Reply roberto.zanconato Just upgraded my iPhone from 6 plus to 7 plus and now the Olloclip is scrap. Could they not sell a new plastic clip to host the old lenses? Reply fuzzyteq What about the hitcase lenses? Reply View All 6 Comments MOST READMOST SHARED1OnePlus Nord N300 5G might be the sub-$300 phone to beat2House of the Dragon finale delivered the fireworks I've been waiting for all season3The best tablets in 20224Daily Quordle #273 - answers and hints for Monday, October 245New on Netflix: New movies and shows week of October 241It's possible to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a Tesla - here's how2The best organic mattress in 2022: Natural mattresses for healthy sleep3MLB Playoffs live stream 2022: How to watch World Series baseball online4OnePlus Nord N300 5G might be the sub-$300 phone to beat5House of the Dragon finale delivered the fireworks I've been waiting for all season