The number of smartphone cameras is falling
According to a market researcher, the number of cameras in smartphones is decreasing. The resolution of cameras, on the other hand, is increasing.
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Less is more? The number of camera lenses built into smartphones has apparently fallen. In the second quarter of this year, smartphones worldwide had an average of 3.19 camera lenses on board, compared to 3.37 in the second quarter of last year. Rear cameras account for the majority of the decline, as most smartphones only have a front camera anyway. This is according to a report by the analysis and consulting company Omdia.
The proportion of rear cameras in smartphones sold fell to an average of 2.18 in the second quarter of 2025, compared to 2.37 in the previous year. Rear cameras reached the peak of their popularity in 2021, with a value of 2.89. The value has fallen steadily over the past three years.
Mid-range smartphones with two rear cameras are the most popular
Smartphones with two lenses are the most popular this year, accounting for 41% of shipments. These are typically entry-level and mid-range models. Three rear cameras follow with 36%. Smartphones with only one camera rise to 21%. Apart from Apple's iPhone 16e, low-cost devices in particular only have one lens. The upcoming thin iPhone 17 Air is also expected to have only one rear camera. Omdia also lists the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge here, although this model has two rear cameras.
This trend cannot be observed with premium devices: Models such as the iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 10 Pro and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, for example, have at least three rear cameras.
"The reduction in camera lenses not only lowers costs but also frees up space for larger batteries," says Jusy Hong, Senior Research Manager at Omdia. "With advances in AI-driven photography, the number of lenses will continue to decline."
The trend is towards higher resolution
While the number of cameras appears to be decreasing, the resolution of sensors is increasing. In the second quarter of 2025, cameras with sensors in the 50-megapixel class accounted for 58% of deliveries, while sensors with more than 100 megapixels accounted for nine percent. The 50-megapixel class refers to variants that are roughly in the resolution range.
Cameras with a resolution of less than 15 megapixels have fallen from 54% to 12% over the last five years. This illustrates the trend towards ever higher resolutions that manufacturers like to advertise.
(mma)
