The great sacrifice in the “war” of photography

There are many elements and Devices that have been eliminated from our daily life Because of smartphones. They are dozens without having to look for a research, but one of them is undoubtedly the most relevant. We refer to Photo cameraswho have been relegated to a niche of very affectionate users not only to photography, but to what ancientor professionals.

As the photographic capacities of phones have improved and expanded, Users have reserved devices that served exclusively to take photos. In fact, it is not uncommon to see professionals who use the cameras of their mobiles to take references from certain parts of their work.

But this improvement in lenses and sensors has physical limitationReal, which does not make us expect the material capacities of smartphones to reach those of cameras, at least short or medium term. Size is the limiting factor in the big leap forward of cameras in the mobiles.

Thicker phones

A new career is currently given for slimming in mobile phones. Samsung and Apple both work In models that are barely 5 mm thick. While in the past, we have seen even finer motives, with a little more than 4 mm, the reality is that the need for more battery and more space for higher components made that current mobiles do not stand out for their finesse.

And in part it is the fault of the camerasBecause a certain physical space is necessary to put not only the growing number of sensors, but also a certain thickness so that they have space to be able to make the lenses and the sensors sufficiently.

In photography, that The physical distance between the objective and the sensor is the key to achieving some of the most important functions In the same. And in a mobile, it is complicated by the small margin which is. This is why the periscopic zoom sensors were invented, which made this distance which should enter the thickness could turn and get in the open, much larger in any smartphone.

Camera module

The solution for which most brands are betting A mobile with two thicknesses: one for the terminal itself and another for the leaving the camera. It is not radically new, but the dimensions they arrive at. Indeed, whenever you can make faster and dense batteries that occupy less space, but we need more thickness for cameras.

So in recent years we have seen how Many brands, especially Chinese, create devices with a huge rear moduleEspecially in their high models, which are those which include the best cameras. This will be improved in the future, with models like the Living X200 Ultra.

This will make the photographic capacities of this model not only at the top of the best of the moment, but perhaps above. Not because of the thickness, but for what this implies for parts that can be used in your image system.

The problem is that This large camera module makes conviviality not as good as it shouldAnd the same goes for ergonomics. We have already tried certain mobile phones which have printed cameras, but who need to clean the module almost every time we take a photo because in daily use, it is very normal to pass the finger in front of them involuntarily and to dirty it. In addition, having a very unbalanced weight, we must be careful that the mobile does not fall into an unexpected turn.

Is Apple changing his mind?

Samsung and Apple for the moment have not joined the trendAnd were two of the brands that wanted to contain this change the most. Their mobiles have slight bumps on the back, but we have not seen any model with a particularly exceptional module, at least at the physical level.

However, the latest rumors speak of a Change of design for iPhone 17 which could include a kind of camera module which will slightly increase the thickness. This would cause larger sensors and systems that would occupy more size.

It is assumed that Samsung did not want to modify the Ultra S25 cameras compared to those of the Ultra S24 largely for this reason. I had better sensors but He didn't want his mobile to house an excessively large camera module. However, this could change in the future if space limitations allow competition to win.

External modules

A possible solution to this, although it does not seem to be something massively adopted, is Use external accessories, Like those who have shown Xiaomi and Realme in the MWC, for example. In this way, you subcontract the thickness and offer only users who really want to press the photographic component in aspects such as Zoom.

However, this adds other drawbacks, such as weight gainthe change of ergonomics and, above all, must transport a separate accessoryWith its case or bag, which makes you lose the simplicity of using the smartphone. And increase the price, of course.

To this trend, it seems that he will also be added alive with his ultra living X200, an even more powerful commitment to photography than that he made with the Living X200 Pro. It seems that the company would come out An external zoom module capable of giving a range of 8.7 increases to your main camera.

For the moment, this approach is almost experimental that Chinese companies achieve. Neither google, nor Samsung nor Apple seem interested in thatBut these tests which seem extravagant can give an advantage to Chinese companies.

In fact, for the moment, Apple and Samsung are sold well and do not seem worried about it, although certain brands already demonstrate that their photographic capacities are, at least, at the top of these two giants. Another problem is that the war of the future in the photographic section goes there and not because of artificial intelligence.