Best phones and cameras for recording AI training data

Good news on the gear front: you don't need anything fancy to get paid recording tasks for AI. A recent phone usually covers it. Below is what works, plus the handful of settings that keep your clips getting accepted.

Phones that work

A recent smartphone with a decent camera is the standard setup. Most programs accept an iPhone 11 or newer, a Pixel 6 or newer, or a Samsung Galaxy S21 or newer, since those shoot clean 1080p or better without fuss.

Own a phone from the last few years? Then you very likely already have what you need.

Action cams and GoPros

A GoPro or similar action cam shines for hands-visible footage. You can clip it to your chest or head and your hands stay in frame while you keep both of them free to work.

It's a nice-to-have, not a requirement. Plenty of people record perfectly good footage by propping or holding a phone, but an action cam can make the hands-visible angle more comfortable over a longer session.

The settings that matter

Shoot in landscape, never portrait, at 1080p or higher, with steady framing and your hands clearly in view. Lighting earns its keep here. Natural daylight or a well-lit room beats a dim corner every time.

Each task type ships with a short guide on framing and resolution. Following it is the single biggest thing standing between you and a recording that gets accepted, which is what you're actually paid for.