Do smartphone users really want a pop-up camera?

In the past couple of months, more and more smartphone vendors are coming out with entry to mid-range level smartphones that feature a pop-up camera. This feature used to be exclusive to high-end or flagship devices last year.

This quarter, it seems like pop-up cameras are the new “IN” thing. We’ve been asked by several brand reps before what we think about pop-up cameras and my answers remained the same.

So, let’s gather together and answer this question — are pop-up cameras what customers really want with their new smartphone? Do they solve a real problem? Do they add value?

Not really. We’ve shared our opinion with several brands and we explained why:

• Pop-up cameras add an unnecessary mechanical break-point for a fragile device like a smartphone. Users are already worried about scratches, cracks or broken screens and potential water damage. A pop-up camera will be prone to mechanical failure or damage. Imagine taking a selfie and the phone drops with the pop-up camera in shooting mode.
• In connection to the issue above, pop-up cameras are also prone to penetration by dust and other minute particles. Also, it’s hard to make a phone water-resistant if it has a pop-up camera.
• A pop-up camera introduces delays in shooting, sometimes even as long as 0.5 seconds. That’s quite a lag if you’re talking about taking a photo.



• Smartphone users are more concerned about more important features — like smartphone quality, performance and battery life — way more than what a pop-up camera intends to solve (i.e., the notch).

Smartphone brands need to look for something more valuable or meaningful for the common user other than a pop-up camera.

Sure, it is considered an innovation but we think it’s a solution that will just add a problem rather than actually solve one.