Best Mobile Lenses for iPhone and Android Phones 2026 - Top 5 Compared

The Moment Anamorphic 1.33x Mobile Lens stands as the definitive tool for creators seeking a genuine cinematic look from their smartphone. Its primary function is to squeeze a super-wide image onto the phone's sensor, which is then de-squeezed in post-production or via Moment's dedicated app to achieve a dramatic 2.40:1 widescreen aspect ratio. This process utilizes the sensor's full resolution, unlike a simple crop, resulting in higher quality footage. The lens is renowned for its ability to generate beautiful, elongated horizontal lens flares, available in either blue or gold tints, which are a hallmark of high-end film production. Constructed from aerospace-grade metal and featuring optical-grade glass elements, the build quality is exceptional, ensuring durability and superior image fidelity with minimal distortion or chromatic aberration.

Sharpness is maintained impressively across the frame, with colors remaining vibrant and contrast high. The lens is part of Moment's ecosystem, requiring a compatible case with a bayonet mount. This system, while an investment, offers a secure and precise attachment far superior to universal clips. The T-Series version is optimized for newer smartphones with larger sensors, though an M-Series exists for older models. While the need for a specific case and app adds steps to the workflow, the results are transformative, enabling smartphone users to capture footage with a professional, cinematic character that is otherwise unattainable with native phone lenses.

The Apexel 36x Telephoto Lens Kit provides an accessible entry point into extreme telephoto photography for smartphones. Its standout feature is the 36x optical magnification, which allows users to capture detailed shots of subjects that are far beyond the reach of any built-in phone lens, such as wildlife, sporting events, or architectural details. The kit's practicality is enhanced by its universal spring clip mount, which attaches securely over most smartphones and even many cases, eliminating the need for a proprietary mounting system. A critical inclusion is the sturdy metal mini-tripod, as handheld use at this magnification is virtually impossible without introducing severe motion blur. When mounted on this tripod, the lens can capture sharp, compelling images with a pronounced compression effect, flattening the perspective between foreground, midground, and background for a cinematic look.

The lens also creates a pleasing, soft background bokeh for isolating subjects. However, optical compromises are evident at this price point. Users should expect some chromatic aberration, visible as color fringing on edges, and a potential drop in overall sharpness, especially when used in conjunction with a phone's digital zoom. For videographers, the telephoto compression can yield professional-looking shots, but again, stability is non-negotiable. It represents exceptional value for a specific use case, offering capabilities that far exceed a phone's native hardware, provided its limitations regarding stability and optical imperfections are understood and managed.

The ShiftCam Videography ProLens Kit is a curated solution for mobile videographers seeking to elevate their production quality. The kit strategically pairs two critical lenses: a 1.33x anamorphic lens and a 60mm telephoto lens. This combination allows creators to shoot ultra-wide, cinematic scenes with the characteristic anamorphic look, including horizontal lens flares, and to capture tightly framed, compressed shots with the telephoto, all without relying on digital zoom which degrades quality. The anamorphic lens performs admirably, producing the desired widescreen aspect ratio and flares that can be de-squeezed in editing software like Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve to achieve a professional 2.40:1 frame. The telephoto lens complements this by offering clean optical zoom for interviews, detail shots, and background separation.

The kit provides two mounting solutions: a dedicated case for specific phone models and a universal adapter. Notably, the universal adapter often provides a firmer, more reliable hold. The build quality is robust, and the lenses are designed for ease of use, allowing for quick changes on set. While this kit opens the door to high-end visual styles, it does require a learning curve, particularly for the anamorphic de-squeezing process. It is an investment, but for those committed to smartphone filmmaking, it delivers tangible professional results that can compete with more traditional, expensive camera setups, making it an excellent foundational kit for serious content creation.

The Apexel 10-in-1 Lens Kit is the ultimate playground for budget-conscious photographers looking to expand their creative horizons. This package delivers remarkable value, bundling a wide array of optical tools into one portable case. The kit contains four core lenses: a wide-angle, a telephoto, a fisheye, and a macro lens, supplemented by six screw-on filters including a circular polarizer, starburst, and kaleidoscope effects. The 15x macro lens is a particular highlight, capable of capturing impressive close-up detail with attractive background blur (bokeh). The 198-degree fisheye lens creates dramatic, distorted perspectives ideal for artistic and action shots, while the polarizing filter effectively cuts through reflections and enhances sky contrast. The kaleidoscope and flow filters allow for unique, psychedelic and motion-blur effects not possible with standard photography.

The universal spring clip ensures compatibility with nearly all smartphones, making it highly accessible. However, the trade-off for this affordability and variety is in absolute optical fidelity. The lenses, primarily made of plastic, cannot match the edge-to-edge sharpness and color accuracy of high-end glass alternatives like those from Moment. Some elements, like the starburst filter, may produce softer results, and the 2x telephoto is often superfluous on phones with multiple built-in cameras. Despite a few weaker components, the sheer number of functional, fun tools makes this kit an outstanding entry point for experimentation and learning, offering tremendous creative bang for your buck.

The Moment Wide 18mm Mobile Lens is a premium accessory designed to significantly widen the perspective of a smartphone's primary camera. With an approximate 0.63x magnification, it captures expansive scenes, making it ideal for vlogging, landscape photography, architecture, and group shots where fitting more into the frame is crucial. The lens is distinguished by its exceptional build quality, featuring an aerospace-grade metal housing and optical-grade glass elements. This construction translates to tangible benefits in image quality: photos and videos remain crisp from center to edge with minimal vignetting, distortion, or chromatic aberration, preserving the natural colors and contrast of the scene. For content creators, especially vloggers, its lightweight and compact design is a major advantage, offering a high-quality wide-angle solution that is far more portable than a traditional camera setup.

The lens attaches via Moment's proprietary bayonet mount, which requires a compatible Moment case. This system ensures a secure, perfectly aligned fit but does mean users must commit to the ecosystem. Its relevance has evolved with smartphone technology; for users of newer phones with excellent native ultra-wide lenses, its value is diminished. However, for owners of older devices with only a standard wide-angle camera, or for professionals who demand the absolute best optical performance from an add-on lens, the Moment Wide 18mm remains a superb tool. It delivers reliable, high-fidelity results that uphold the premium standard associated with the Moment brand.