Less camera more technology: The new era of mobile phones
The leak that Apple’s iPhone 7 would feature two cameras in a large model, what name is Plus, also heralded a new era. Perhaps this was the first thing that generated such excitement after the introduction of cameras to mobile phones: dual-camera phones.
This camera layout, in similar or modified forms, has been adopted by many manufacturers, especially Samsung, Apple’s biggest competitor in the same sector. Regardless of the quality offered, the phrase “dual camera phone” has found its way into the marketing communications of many mobile technology manufacturers.
Of course, the issue wasn’t limited to just two cameras; visionary (?) brands intent on offering more functionality (?) added more cameras to their phones, without much regard for the outcome. There have even been cases where five different cameras were integrated into a single phone as seen in Nokia’s 9. I must say that this Nokia model also triggered my tryptophobia.
Cameras are a key priority for smartphone manufacturers, and one they strive to improve with each new series. While some handle this task with truly superior hardware, others are opting for software and now, artificial intelligence.
However, the iPhone Air, following Apple’s new 16e, launched in 2024, signals a reduction in the size of camera modules, which once occupied a significant portion of the rear of phones. Both models feature only one camera.
The decline in phone cameras isn’t just a drive for aesthetic reasons or a design impasse. It’s also driven by cost reduction, increased repairability, sustainability, and, most notably, technological advancements in computational photography.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
In the history of mobile phones, the Apple iPhone 7 was one of the most important models that brought the dual camera to proliferation and popularity.
With these camera setups, photographic concepts like depth of field became more prevalent in our lives.
Nokia 9 PureView
With five cameras in seven different holes on the back, Nokia’s 9 Pure View, once a mobile technology giant, was one of the devices with the most cameras.
Developed in partnership with Zeiss, these lenses can also trigger tryptophobia when viewed from the front.
Samsung Note 20 Ultra
This phone is one of the most beautiful and masculine examples of its camera setup. Its main camera, resembling a mirrorless camera, took very sharp photos and zoomed well.
The only downside was that it was a bit heavy and difficult to hold, even for me.
Apple iPhone X
When Apple introduced the X model, which brought with it numerous design innovations, one of the most significant innovations that became an industry standard was the inclusion of dual cameras in standard-edition devices.
Following the XR model, which was included in the X lineup, all iPhone models (except the SE, which was never included in the main lineup) began to feature dual cameras.
New standards in camera setups
As concepts like wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, macro, and telephoto became more common, manufacturers began expanding their camera arrays, thus increasing the number of cameras they added to their devices.
The triple-camera array became standard for many manufacturers by 2025.
Apple began setting a new standard with the 16e
The design of the iPhone models from 12 to 15 was beloved and has a significant user base. The latest device to feature this design is the 16e, which can also be called the 4th generation SE.
Following the diagonally positioned dual camera array, this single camera, which presents a simple and clean image, is the first example of Apple’s software enhancement.
The change has begun again in the big screen variety
One of the most important models that helped popularize dual-camera phones was the Plus variant of the Apple iPhone 7 series.
Apple will apparently begin its transformation and camera reduction with the larger-screen model of its main lineup. The iPhone Air is the first example of this transformation.
Samsung also threw away a camera
Apple’s Air approach generated as much buzz as it did when it announced a dual-camera phone, and Samsung, of course, didn’t ignore it. It added a slimmer model to its top-tier S series lineup and released one with fewer cameras.
We know the Edge model from the curved-edge phone screens; this time, it used it to describe thinner phones.
Fewer lens, more advanced technology
Ultra-wide angle, wide angle, telephoto, macro…
These are concepts we frequently hear about in multi-camera arrays, each with its own distinct function and perceived as necessary to provide optical diversity.
Manufacturers are currently focusing on single, larger, and higher-end sensors that support multiple optical apertures, as well as varifocal mechanical mechanisms. The goal is to do less of the work required with multiple cameras, preferably with a single piece of equipment.
On the one hand, there’s a desire to minimize hardware, while on the other, photo quality remains the same, or even improves. This is where the need to improve photo quality with software comes into play.
Capabilities and techniques such as multi-frame stitching, AI-based image correction, scene recognition, depth estimation, and even lens emulation with software pave the way for versatile photography with a single sensor. For example, even photos taken with very simple lenses can be processed for portrait, night mode, or HDR.
For example, the Apple iPhone Air has a 48-megapixel camera on the back. A processing system called Fusion is used to capture high-resolution photos. This system optimizes the captured image for both detail and lighting, enabling powerful photos to be captured through techniques like pixel binning.
Another innovation from Apple is the front camera. The 18-megapixel center-stage camera can automatically expand and contract the frame, ensuring the user always remains in the center of the frame, both vertically and horizontally.
Apple’s rival, Samsung, is among those affected by this trend. The Edge, a new addition to the brand’s top-tier S series, uses the same 200-megapixel wide-angle sensor found in the Ultra.
This camera, which also features optical image stabilization, can focus quickly thanks to its versatile phase-detection autofocus system.
Just like the iPhone Air, it can capture detailed shots in low-light conditions with software-assisted pixel binning.
This is one of the main trends in investments in mobile imaging, and this is where growth is currently occurring.
Using technical parts more intelligently
One of the reasons why mobile phones are thicker and heavier is their camera modules. Samsung’s mirrored camera modules, particularly in its Note and later Ultra models, are more compact than handheld digital cameras, but still add significant thickness.
Using a single camera and placing it in a more intelligent position simplifies the phone’s design, making it more consistent and stable to hold. In short, it enhances the phone’s aesthetic appeal.
Invisible and hidden cameras, which I’ve already seen in some experimental models and expect to become widespread in the coming years, are good solutions for preserving the integrity of the device’s surface.
Fewer technical parts means less complexity in the production line. Fewer modules means less logistics and fewer tests to perform. However, a better, larger sensor and advanced optical mechanisms also mean higher costs.
It’s important to strike a balance and understand expectations well. This can be overcome by offering different quality products to different segments. For example, a good sensor and powerful software for the mid-range segment, and a powerful sensor and powerful optical hardware for the high-end segment.
How many cameras in a phone?!
Offering phone models with multiple camera arrays was a major competition and a good way to impress consumers. Then we started talking about megapixels and zoom, and brands like Samsung made headlines with their 5x optical and 50x digital zoom capabilities.
But today, the focus isn’t so much on how many cameras a phone has, how much zoom it offers, or how many megapixels it has, but rather on the product’s real-world performance, the quality of the resulting photos, and the software’s positioning within these areas. That’s why mobile technology developers are now trying to attract consumers’ attention by positioning sub-brands like Galaxy AI or Apple Intelligence alongside their products.
Why do I need four cameras to take a photo?
However, there’s something we often overlook: more cameras no longer means a higher quality product; and in my personal opinion, phones with more than two – maybe three – cameras on the back look quite cheap. Minimalist designs have a higher perception of being a premium product, especially in the upper segment.
Technologies to keep up with in the near future
- Optical sharing and movable prism modules that enable multiple focal lengths in a single sensor
- Display-hidden, invisible cameras that maintain design integrity
- AI and NPU accelerators within devices that operate in real time and perform advanced calculations
- Single, large-sized sensors that perform better in low-light conditions
…
It feels like just yesterday I heard the news that The new iPhone 7 will come with two cameras, and I still remember how curious I was back then.
Just as the idea of ​​putting two cameras on a mobile phone is a resonant and seemingly successful strategy, returning to a single camera can be interpreted as a simplification decision as technology, goals, and consumer expectations of a product evolve.
Technology is constantly evolving, and behind all mobile technologies lies sensor and optical engineering, artificial intelligence, production optimization, sustainability, and marketing strategies.
This approach, which is beginning to shift from hardware to software, clears the external appearance of devices of all unnecessary details, centers the software running inside the device, and makes the user experience more holistic from beginning to end, making the story more complete…
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