If you’re wondering why your selfies and videos don’t look quite as good as those you see on TikTok or Instagram, your iPhone is probably missing one crucial tool – a selfie ring light. Whether at home or out and about, it’s hard to find a photo spot with perfect lighting. Enter the iPhone ring light. This easy-to-use accessory is key to taking bright and well-lit photos.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about ring lights, and we’ll give you a list of the best ring lights on the market right now.
What is a Selfie Ring Light?
You might be thinking, what exactly is an iPhone ring light, and why do I need it? A ring light is a device that allows users to have a source of uniform light that evenly brightens up an image to flatter the subject. It can be made from a single circular fluorescent bulb or several small LED lights that form a circle. You can choose between warm light, cool light, soft illumination, or other lighting options to get the perfect selfie.
In the past, a ring light was reserved for professional photographers. Today, portable ring lights mean that more people are using them – from YouTubers to TikTok influencers to those who just want to level up their Zoom game. The lighting provided by a ring light can make the difference between a bad photo and a profile photo-worthy shot. They are also particularly popular with makeup artists and beauticians that need great promotional shots.
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How to Use Selfie Ring Lights with iPhone
Typically, a ring light can be used with an iPhone in three ways. The most common is a clip-on ring light. A smaller ring light can clip onto the top of the phone, placing the light source above the phone’s camera lens. If you usually take selfies with your phone, this is how you’ll use your ring light.
Other ring lights clip onto the iPhone (think at the back or on the side) and encircle the phone’s camera lens with light. Bigger ring lights come with a phone holder and a sturdy tripod, and you’ll mount the phone in the middle of the ring light itself. A ring light with a tripod is the perfect solution for those that need to replicate a studio setting on the go. In all situations, you, or your chosen subject, will be well illuminated.
How to Choose the Best Selfie Ring Light for You
When choosing the best selfie ring light for you, there are a few things you need to consider:
- Size: Selfie ring lights come in different sizes. The most popular options are 10-inch and 20-inch ring lights. If you’re looking for a more compact option, there are also 3.5-inch ring lights available.
- Brightness/Light Mode: Selfie ring lights come with different brightness levels. Make sure to choose one that’s bright enough for your needs but not too harsh on the eyes.
- Color Temperature: Most selfie ring lights offer three color temperatures-warm, natural, and cool. If you’re not sure what to choose, we recommend going for a ring light with adjustable color temperature so you can experiment and find the perfect lighting for your needs.
- Power Options: Selfie ring lights either come with a power adapter or rechargeable batteries. If you’re planning to use your ring light indoors, we recommend choosing one with a power adapter. If you’re planning to use it outdoors or on the go, choose a ring light with rechargeable batteries.
Now that we’ve looked at how to choose selfie lights that suit your needs, let’s take a look at our recommendations for the best ring lights. Check them out below.
Summary: The Best Portable Ring Lights
Which kind of ring light should you choose? It depends. Fortunately, there are now numerous options for ring lights for iPhones, depending on your needs, wants, and budget. If yours is a newer iPhone with three cameras, make sure to get a ring light that surrounds the three lenses on the back of the phone. If you use your phone mostly to take selfies, a ring light that attaches to the top of the phone that brightens your face directly is what you need.
Here’s a list of the best portable ring light options on the market:
- Ubeesize Selfie Ring Light (12-inch LED)
- Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light
- Neewer 20-inch LED Ring Light
- Littil Selfie One Ring Light
The Best Ring Lights for iPhone in Detail
Need more information? Here’s a breakdown of each recommended selfie ring light and just why they made our shortlist.
Ubeesize Selfie Ring Light (12-inch LED)
One of the most versatile and well-priced ring lights is the Ubeesize 12-inch LED ring light. If you’re looking for one that can instantly brighten up your Zoom meetings at home but is still portable enough to bring on an outdoor adventure, this model is great for you.
The Ubeesize ring light offers five color temperatures ranging from 3000K to 6000K and offers brightness adjustment from 10 to 100%. It comes with a 67″ phone tripod stand that switches from selfie stick to tripod stand. It also has a rotatable tripod head, adjustable phone holder, and comes with a Bluetooth remote control.
Some users have noted that attaching newer, heavier iPhone models to the phone holder takes a while. You may need to spend a few extra minutes connecting your iPhone before using the ring light. Even with this slight flaw, Ubeesize offers excellent value for money. No wonder it’s one of the highest-rated ring lights you can find online.
Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light
Neewer is a well-established brand for photography equipment that often comes up when talking about ring lights. The brand offers a variety of ring lights, but if you’re looking for a well-priced model for basic lighting needs, the 10-inch model fits the bill.
The Neewer LED ring light kit (10-inch LED) includes everything you need to instantly upgrade your selfies or Zoom calls. It comes with an adjustable tripod stand, a wireless remote, a phone clip, and a phone holder. It’s USB-powered, and you can set it up in just a few minutes.
This dimmable ring light has three light modes – white, warm white, and warm yellow and its color temperature ranges from 3200k-6000k. The tripod comes with a 3-way rotating head that can be moved to any angle. The phone holder that comes with the ring light is also compatible with most smartphones, including the iPhone. You’ll definitely improve all your images with the Neewer 10-inch LED ring light.
Neewer 20-inch LED Ring Light
If you’re an aspiring content creator looking for a ring light that provides professional-level lighting, look no further than Neewer’s 20-inch LED ring light. As mentioned earlier, Neewer is a trusted brand, and you can’t go wrong with its lighting products.
This user-friendly ring light offers a larger 20-inch diameter that makes a significant difference in lighting compared to smaller ring lights. It has 352 pieces of energy-saving SMD LED beads that provide a bright aperture. This gives a professional feel to photos and videos, even in dim indoor settings.
You can control the Neewer ring light kit via remote. The ring light’s color temperature ranges from 3200k to 5600k, and its brightness can be easily adjusted via a separate control knob. We love this ring light because it offers two power options – a power adapter that you can plug during indoor shoots and chargeable Li-ion batteries for shooting on the go.
Take note that this is bigger and bulkier than other options and it comes with complete accessories, including a rotatable phone holder and carrying case. If you’re planning to get one ring light that fits all your needs and you’re willing to spend a little more, we highly recommend the Neewer 20-inch LED ring light.
Littil Selfie One Ring Light
Are you looking for a convenient and portable ring light and don’t need a tripod, a case, and other accessories? The Littil Selfie One ring light gives all this and more. The brand was founded by social media influencer Maricia Magana when she realized a need for higher-quality lighting products specifically for mobile phones.
The 3.5-inch Littil Selfie One calls itself “the perfect selfie light,” and with good reason. It offers warm, neutral, and cool lighting and four brightness levels. It clips directly to the side or to the top of an iPhone, allowing you to encircle all three lenses on the back of your phone, maximizing your phone’s camera.
This handy ring light is rechargeable and offers 45 to 60 minutes of battery life per use. While this seems short, it only takes 15 minutes to fully recharge it via USB. The Littil Selfie also connects to laptops and tablets easily great to use for home shoots and during video calls. Lightweight, portable, and great lighting-the Littil ring light has it all.
Why Might I Need a Selfie Ring Light?
Selfie ring lights are great for taking pictures or videos in low-light conditions. If you’re planning to take a lot of selfies, a ring light will definitely come in handy. It will also help improve the quality of your photos and videos.
Here are some other reasons why you might need a selfie ring light:
- You want to take pictures or videos in low-light conditions: A ring light will help you take better pictures or videos in dimly lit rooms or at night.
- You want to improve the quality of your photos and videos: Ring lights provide even and flattering lighting that will help improve the quality of your photos and videos.
- You want a convenient and portable lighting solution: Most ring lights are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around with you.
What Ring Light Accessories Do I Need?
Ring light kits usually come with basic accessories that are essential for getting started. Here are some of the things that you should look for in a ring light kit:
- Tripod: A tripod is a must for any ring light setup. It ensures that your ring light is stable and won’t fall over.
- Cell Phone holder: A phone holder allows you to attach your phone to the ring light so you can take hands-free photos and videos.
- Carrying case: A carrying case is optional but helpful if you want to transport your ring light kit easily.
Whether you’re looking for a basic ring light to simply brighten up your next Zoom meeting or you’re pursuing your dream of creating online makeup tutorials, there’s a ring light that fits your needs. In any case, a ring light will instantly upgrade your iPhone images and you’ll never want to take another photo (or video) without one again.
