Mirrorless cameras have all but won the camera technology wars. For some, that may mean there's no better time to get a DSLR as their prices drop, but if you want to enjoy the best that camera tech has to offer today—and tomorrow—you can't go wrong with a mirrorless camera.
While we firmly believe that you don't need the latest or greatest camera to take good photos or enjoy photography—and we even think DSLRs can be some of the best cameras for beginners—mirrorless cameras have a few advantages. They're typically more portable than traditional DSLRs, feature precise and responsive autofocus systems, and have electronic viewfinders that let you preview your exposure in real-time. They've come a long way in a short period, with a constantly expanding market that caters to a range of budgets and experience levels.
We've tested over 110 cameras in our lab, and below, you'll find the best mirrorless cameras to buy in 2025. If you're specifically looking for a full-frame model, check out the best full-frame mirrorless cameras we've tested instead. Alternatively, if you're buying your first camera, you might also want to look at our top mirrorless cameras for beginners or the best budget mirrorless cameras we've tested. Otherwise, you can check out the best digital cameras we've tested more broadly.
-
Best Mirrorless Camera
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography8.3Sport & Wildlife Photography8.8Vlogging7.5Studio Video9.1Action Video6.8Performance Usages: Raw Photo8.5The Nikon Z 6III is the best mirrorless model that we've tested. It sits in the middle of Nikon's Z lineup, but it's one of the most capable hybrid cameras at its price point. This isn't cheap by any means, but for pros or committed hobbyists, it has a lot to offer. It's an especially good choice for action and wildlife photographers, thanks to a partially stacked sensor that offers faster readout speeds for quick e-shutter burst shooting and reduced rolling shutter distortion. It also has a highly effective autofocus system with plenty of automatic subject-detection modes.
If you're a hybrid or video shooter, this is also one of the few cameras we've tested with internal RAW video capability, and it can record in up to 6k at 30 fps, with 4k recording at up to 120 fps, making it incredibly versatile. Beyond that, it's just a very well-built and comfortable camera to shoot with. It has a high-resolution viewfinder, in-body image stabilization (IBIS), and CFexpress card support. The one big downside we can point to is that Nikon's Z mount lens lineup is more limited than a competitor like the Sony α7 IV, but the Sony is a bit less capable for video and has slower burst shooting. All in all, the Z 6III is an impressive camera that can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
-
Best Mirrorless Camera For Video
Travel Photography8.0Landscape Photography8.7Sport & Wildlife Photography7.7Vlogging7.6Studio Video9.3Action Video5.6Performance Usages: Raw Photo8.9The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is one of the best mirrorless cameras for video for most people, thanks to high-end video specs like internal 10-bit 4:2:2 color and support for a wide range of recording formats. While it doesn't have some features offered on the pricier Nikon Z 6III, like internal RAW recording, you can't really beat the value it offers for the price. The original Panasonic LUMIX S5 is also a steal of a camera, so it's a great alternative if you need to save some money, but the S5 II improves upon the formula with a new phase-detection AF system that offers quicker and smoother autofocusing for those that need it.
The camera also has a fantastic IBIS system and a full-frame sensor that's well-suited to shooting in less controlled lighting situations. The Panasonic LUMIX GH7 offers some extra features for even more advanced filmmaking, like internal RAW recording, ProRes codecs, and 32-bit float audio capability. It's part of the Micro Four Thirds system, so there's also a wider range of affordable lens options. However, the S5 II's cheaper body price, larger sensor, and overall feature set make it a fantastic choice for the money.
-
Best APS-C Mirrorless Camera
Travel Photography8.2Landscape Photography8.1Sport & Wildlife Photography8.3Vlogging7.5Studio Video8.9Action Video6.9Performance Usages: Raw Photo8.1If you prefer the portability and smaller lenses offered by the APS-C format, the Fujifilm X-T5 is one of the best APS-C cameras we've tested. It has the highest-resolution APS-C sensor on the market, with a 40.2-megapixel resolution that captures stunning detail and gives you more leeway to crop your images. The camera's relatively portable design, tilting screen, and dedicated exposure dials are great for street photographers and make it easy to change settings on the fly. The camera even boasts impressive video features, like 10-bit internal recording and 4k capture at up to 60 fps.
If you can stretch your budget and don't mind giving up some portability, the Fujifilm X-H2S is another fantastic APS-C option. It's a more expensive camera, so the X-T5 is a better deal for most shooters, but the pro-centric design of the X-H2S and its stacked sensor make it a great fit for high-level action photography and video work. It has slightly better internal video recording specs, including support for ProRes formats, and suffers much less rolling shutter distortion. However, the X-T5 is a bit cheaper and more portable.
-
Best Mid-Range Mirrorless Camera
Travel Photography8.3Landscape Photography8.2Sport & Wildlife Photography8.3Vlogging7.8Studio Video8.3Action Video7.6Performance Usages: Raw Photo7.9The Sony α6700 is the best mid-range model we've tested. It's an impressive upgrade from Sony's older APS-C cameras like the Sony α6600, with a new sensor and processor, including a new AI-powered chipset that gives the α6700 one of the most effective AF systems on the market. The camera is also relatively portable, has IBIS, and includes some fairly advanced video features, including 4k at 120 fps (albeit with a significant crop) and internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording.
Another great choice in this price range is the Fujifilm X-S20. Its autofocus system isn't quite as reliable as the Sony's, and it can't record 4k video at 120 fps. However, it's still a very impressive hybrid camera, with 4k 60 fps recording. Unlike the α6700, it even supports open gate 6.2k video capability and RAW video output to an external recorder. Those who prefer a more hands-off approach to editing will also love Fuji's JPEG colors and film simulation profiles, but Sony's extensive lens options and ultra-reliable AF make the α6700 a better overall pick.
-
Best Entry-Level Mirrorless Camera
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography7.8Sport & Wildlife Photography8.4Vlogging7.5Studio Video7.8Action Video4.9Performance Usages: Raw Photo7.5The Canon EOS R10 is one of the best entry-level cameras you can buy. If you're looking for a well-rounded model that's accessible enough for newcomers but still offers more advanced features, the R10 nails that balance. It has great ergonomics, an intuitive user interface, and highly effective autofocus, plus quick burst shooting and excellent image quality for its class. Vloggers and video shooters can take advantage of 4k recording at up to 60 fps (with a crop), as well as a dedicated high frame rate mode for slow-motion recording at up to 120 fps in 1080p.
The Fujifilm X-S10 is another great choice at around the same price point. Unlike the R10, it features IBIS, which can help smooth out camera shake when shooting handheld. The X mount also has a more established lens lineup than Canon's RF mount. That said, the Canon camera has a significantly better autofocus system and more frame rate options. The X-S10 has also been discontinued, so you'd have to find one that's used.
-
Best Budget Mirrorless Camera
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography7.5Sport & Wildlife Photography8.0Vlogging7.9Studio Video7.7Action Video4.9Performance Usages: Raw Photo7.4If you're on a tighter budget, the Canon EOS R50 is one of the best bang-for-your-buck mirrorless cameras you can get brand new. Sitting below the Canon EOS R10, this is a great entryway into "serious" photography for those who've never used a camera before. It has a highly portable body that makes it easy to grab and go, along with simple controls and easy-to-use auto modes for beginners. Plus, its APS-C sensor captures excellent image quality, and this camera has a great autofocus system and video specs for the price.
Lens options for Canon's RF mount are still limited, but on the upside, the camera is compatible with both APS-C and full-frame RF lenses, which makes it easier to upgrade to a full-frame body down the line if you want to. If you'd like a more compact camera kit with more lens options, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a great alternative with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. However, its autofocus system isn't as reliable, and its ergonomics are somewhat lacking.
Notable Mentions
- Canon EOS R6 Mark II: The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is an excellent hybrid camera. Its autofocus is a tad more reliable than that of the Nikon Z 6III, but it has slightly worse internal video recording specs and a slower readout speed. See our review
- Canon EOS R7: The Canon EOS R7 is a fantastic mid-range camera and a great fit for sports and wildlife photography, with better ergonomics and faster burst shooting than the Sony α6700. However, it's also a bit pricier and has fewer lens options overall. See our review
- Fujifilm X-H2: The Fujifilm X-H2 is an incredible APS-C camera with the same high-resolution sensor as the Fujifilm X-T5. It offers more advanced video capabilities, including 8k recording, but it's pricier and less portable. See our review
- Nikon Z f: The Nikon Z f is a full-frame camera with a vintage-inspired design. It captures excellent image quality and has a very reliable autofocus system. However, its internal video recording capabilities fall a bit behind the Nikon Z 6III, and its ergonomics can take some getting used to. See our review
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II: The OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II is one of the best Micro Four Thirds cameras we've tested. It's a great choice if you need something more portable than the Nikon Z 6III. However, it isn't as well-rounded for video work and has less advanced internal recording capabilities. See our review
Recent Updates
-
We reviewed the picks and information in the article to ensure they're up to date, and the recommendations have remained the same.
-
We updated the text for the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II, adding a comparison to the recently-reviewed Panasonic LUMIX GH7.
-
Aug 21, 2024: We've moved the Canon EOS R6 Mark II to the Notable Mentions and replaced it with the Nikon Z 6III as our top pick because it offers advantages in areas like readout speed, internal video capabilities, and lens selection.
-
Jul 24, 2024: We removed the Nikon Z 6II from Notable Mentions, as it's since been replaced by the Nikon Z 6III.
-
Jun 26, 2024: We included some additional information to clarify that the Fujifilm X-S10 has been discontinued and brushed up some existing text for accuracy.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability (no cameras that are difficult to find or almost out of stock in the US).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our reviews for interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There is no single perfect camera. Personal taste, preference, and shooting habits will matter more in your selection.
Recommended Articles
Comments
Best Mirrorless Cameras: Main Discussion
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying recommendation from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.
- 65450
Awesome to see the new router category. I would love to see the Synology RT6600ax make its way to your testing bench.
- 32120
I’m curious why the eero is best for large homes? There are many if not all routers that support mesh.
- 32120
I’m interested in the Netduma R3 gaming router, particularly its software. They advertise that it can manage network traffic and prioritize applications for a smoother online gaming experience. Just wondering if you guys have plans to review it any time soon?
- 21010
I’m interested in the Netduma R3 gaming router, particularly its software. They advertise that it can manage network traffic and prioritize applications for a smoother online gaming experience. Just wondering if you guys have plans to review it any time soon?
Unfortunately, our current methodology doesn’t support gaming routers, so until that changes, we can’t consider buying and testing it.
Edited 8 months ago: clarity - 32120
Could you test ASUS RT-BE88U? (there’s no voting for next routers yet :( It seems like its better than your #1 TP-Link at similar price - at least here in EU)
- 43230
Would love to see how these compare to the really basic routers that come for free from your ISP when you take out a new broadband package. I’ve never really had any issues with the Now Broadband Hub Two that came with my NowTV broadband, other than a lack of certain features due to a limited firmware. I’ve sometimes been curious if there would really be much to gain from actually spending money on a router.
- 32120
By the end of the year it should be Wi-Fi 7 or bust. Most people only buy a router when there’s breaks or they move to a larger or different type of home. This means people have routers way beyond when they become security risks and they also become bottlenecks to connected devices. If that’s your case, buy a highly rated model with the newest technology you can afford.
Wi-Fi 7 routers are still a bit immature, and companies haven’t fully updated their lineups yet. That should be different by the end of the year.
Remember that along with faster peak speeds, WiFi 6E and 7 bring a new, EMPTY spectrum with tons of speed available, better handling of more simultaneously connections, and better security (newer connection encryption protocols). WiFi 5 is completely obsolete and should not even be considered.
Not mentioned in the article is security. I look at this from 2 angles.
- I do not trust Chinese electronics companies. No, i don’t specifically think they’ve created backdoors for the CCP to track your porn preferences (though it wouldn’t surprise me); they have a HORRENDOUS track record of caring about security, leaving obvious, hardening 101 holes in everything from routers to “smart” lights. Yes, way worse than non-Chinese companies.
- Consumer routers are ROUTINELY exploited by state-sponsored cyber gangs and controlled remotely in botnets commandeered to attack, ransom, and compromise state and economic enemies. This happens in a way where the owners have no idea (Internet services continue working even if sometimes very slow (i can hear the “Comcast sucks!!!” comments from here).
Point #2 can at least somewhat be mitigated by keeping your router’s firmware up to date, but #1 means they don’t have the proclivity to do so.
I’ll end my string of consciousness by saying not to purchase TP-Link products (Chinese)- instead buy the latest, well reviewed non-Chinese brand router models, and always always always keep your firmware updated.
~15 year network administrator that recently oversaw $1 million network upgrade project, including enterprise access points.
Edited 1 month ago: misspellings and clarifications - 10-11-1
I’m curious why the eero is best for large homes? There are many if not all routers that support mesh.
Hi tentes,
Apart from the eero Max 7, the eero Pro 6E is the highest-scoring router for multi-level homes that we tested. While it’s true that almost all of the standalone routers we tested are compatible with some form of mesh networking, we didn’t test that functionality because we had to limit and control our variables.
Apart from its performance, the eero is easy to use and very easily expandable since it’s specifically designed to work as a mesh system, making it our pick for large homes where you might need to add a third access point if you still have deadzones.
Thank you for the question! Feel free to comment if you have any more thoughts or questions.
- 32120
Did you know that everything is made in china. Especially electronics.
- 32120
You haven’t tested enough routers yet. The eero max WiFi 7 mesh is the most bloatware/adware infested solution of all manufacturers. Since Amazon acquired eero, they have continually charged extra for software while they store and use data for targeted marketing.
I’d suggest that the WiFi 7 solutions from ASUS (ZenWiFi), Netgear (Orbi), and TP-Link (Deco) are all better than Amazon (eero). Some are significantly less expensive depending on the bandwidth capacity (TP-Link), while others like ASUS are also expensive yet without requiring annual or monthly subscriptions for antivirus/VPN/anti-malware software. ASUS includes all of these areas as part of the purchase price for their system.
My personal bias is in favor of ASUS router solutions. Yet I have used Netgear, TP-Link, and LInksys as well. They all have strengths and weaknesses that may fit a particular use case.
I have a hard time seeing eero as the best router in any class, be it WiFi 6, 6E, or 7. This list is incomplete at best and misleading at worst. Keep testing!!!
- 21010
You haven’t tested enough routers yet. The eero max WiFi 7 mesh is the most bloatware/adware infested solution of all manufacturers. Since Amazon acquired eero, they have continually charged extra for software while they store and use data for targeted marketing. I’d suggest that the WiFi 7 solutions from ASUS (ZenWiFi), Netgear (Orbi), and TP-Link (Deco) are all better than Amazon (eero). Some are significantly less expensive depending on the bandwidth capacity (TP-Link), while others like ASUS are also expensive yet without requiring annual or monthly subscriptions for antivirus/VPN/anti-malware software. ASUS includes all of these areas as part of the purchase price for their system. My personal bias is in favor of ASUS router solutions. Yet I have used Netgear, TP-Link, and LInksys as well. They all have strengths and weaknesses that may fit a particular use case.
I have a hard time seeing eero as the best router in any class, be it WiFi 6, 6E, or 7. This list is incomplete at best and misleading at worst. Keep testing!!!Hi Criketopia,
Thank you for the feedback and for taking the time to reach out! We’re planning on testing more routers in the future. Do you have any specific models in mind that you’d like to see us test?
As for the eero routers, I hear you, and we’ve had the same concerns as you and discussed them at length at the office. We ended up deciding to recommend the Pro 6E because we believe that for most people, its performance, ease of use, and price outweigh the annoyances of having to cough up a subscription fee for parental controls and being forced to agree to eero’s privacy policy. But with that in mind, I’ll make those concerns more clear in the text so folks can get a better idea of the big picture so they can make an even more informed decision!
Thanks again for reaching out! We really value your feedback.
Update: We’ve reviewed this article to ensure the picks are still readily available and made some minor text changes for clarity and conciseness.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
Are there any plans to expand router reviews to include more information than simply the range and speed of a router? Other product reviews on this site are very comprehensive in covering all aspects of a product, but the router reviews are very limited in scope, and thus limited in usefulness.
What about parental control features? Can I create static-time or frequency based access limitations? What about the router settings interface? How well does the router identify connected devices in the client list? Does it correctly identify the names of devices or does it only show IP address? Can I set conditional data limits for specific client devices? Can I specify which websites can be accessed by individual devices at specific times? How well does the router perform with VPN services? Which ones is it compatible/incompatible with? Does the router have built-in anti-virus? Can I access the router settings remotely? Is there an app, and if so how good is it?
- 21010
Are there any plans to expand router reviews to include more information than simply the range and speed of a router? Other product reviews on this site are very comprehensive in covering all aspects of a product, but the router reviews are very limited in scope, and thus limited in usefulness. What about parental control features? Can I create static-time or frequency based access limitations? What about the router settings interface? How well does the router identify connected devices in the client list? Does it correctly identify the names of devices or does it only show IP address? Can I set conditional data limits for specific client devices? Can I specify which websites can be accessed by individual devices at specific times? How well does the router perform with VPN services? Which ones is it compatible/incompatible with? Does the router have built-in anti-virus? Can I access the router settings remotely? Is there an app, and if so how good is it?
Hi brilder,
We do have plans to add more tests to Routers. At the moment no test have been decided for the future but we are in the early stages of defining what the next step is. As we do this we will consider all the feedback we’ve received so far and prioritize the next step based on the tests that were most requested or those that we find might provide the biggest help for users when shopping a router.
Every point you suggested here will be considered when we closer to locking the next test list.
Thank you very much for the suggestions, most of them have been requested often so there’s a good chance they will be prioritized.
Update: We’ve reviewed this article and haven’t changed any of our picks. Throughout the article, we’ve added links to our other router recommendations.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
I’m having a super hard time figuring out how your selection criteria works
The BE3600 is $119 - a WiFi 7 router with two 2.5 gps ports - a way better value than anything you’ve listed here - your budget option is $80 and both your upper and mid range routers are ~$200
On another note, do you consider privacy at all when making your selection? If you’re not careful in setting up the amazon option, it phones home and shares your internet browsing info (or at least some)
Just curious if you’re planning on reviewing more routers - might be a good idea to hold off in any official recommendations until then
- 21010
I’m having a super hard time figuring out how your selection criteria works The BE3600 is $119 - a WiFi 7 router with two 2.5 gps ports - a way better value than anything you’ve listed here - your budget option is $80 and both your upper and mid range routers are ~$200 On another note, do you consider privacy at all when making your selection? If you’re not careful in setting up the amazon option, it phones home and shares your internet browsing info (or at least some) Just curious if you’re planning on reviewing more routers - might be a good idea to hold off in any official recommendations until then
Hey gsa113, that’s a great question and I’m happy to answer as best as I can!
We haven’t tested the TP-Link BE3600 (Archer BE230) just yet, but we’re planning on testing it soon. The specs and price look really promising, and if it performs well, we’ll absolutely consider putting it on the list. That said, it doesn’t have a 6GHz band, which very likely leaves performance on the table.
As for a router’s privacy; we don’t evaluate it in an official capacity, but we try our best to keep our ear to the ground and listen to the community if any privacy violations are happening. If we see that any company is mishandling user data in a way that the community deems unacceptable, we’ll certainly pull any recommendations for that product, and make that information as clear as possible in the review. Frankly, most router manufacturers collect data from their users in some capacity as per their privacy policies.
If you want to see a table of every router we’ve reviewed, you can check it out here. Also, if you want to vote on which router you’d like to see us review next, you can do that here.
Update: We’ve verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices. We also made edits throughout for clarity and concision.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know