Robert Triggs / Android Authority
2023 is here, and we’ve seen the launch of the first flagship phones from the likes of OnePlus, Vivo and Xiaomi. These devices undoubtedly bring some respectable camera credentials to the table among other selling points.
But as we head into the new year, we’re excited to find out what improvements our readers will most want from smartphone cameras in 2023. So we threw this question at you, and here’s what you answered.
What do you want to see from smartphone cameras in 2023?
Results
At the time of writing, more than 1,200 votes had been cast, and the top pick by a slim margin was “High Definition Zoom.” This poll holds 24 percent of the vote, and we can understand why. High-end flagships from the likes of Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi certainly offer great zoom capabilities, but lower-end flagships and midrangers often leave a lot to be desired. In addition, flagship phones from Apple, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus also lag behind in zoom quality.
Meanwhile, the runner-up by just one percentage point was “better low-light shooting” (23%). Low-light photography has made great strides thanks to modern night modes, but it’s clear there’s more to gain. There is still room for improvement in this regard, especially when it comes to budget phones.
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“Improved Video” rounded out the three with 12.1% of the vote. We can understand this stance as Apple iPhones still have a reputation for outperforming Android devices when it comes to video quality. If it’s any consolation, Android makers adopted video features like super still video, 8K video, 4K/120fps slow motion and more long before Apple.
The “other” option takes up 7.3% of its height, and comments indicate wishes like smaller camera bumps, more accurate previews, overclocking, and an improved bottom camera.
Comments
- roaduardo: fast shutter speeds. Fast shutter speeds. Fast shutter speeds.
- Andrew Farris: I’d like to see a better overall process, imo phones are heavily supported for denial and compromise. By comparing images captured with apps like “Motion cam” that use its own camera pipeline, you can see more detailed and higher resolution jpegs from the app than stock camera apps.
- : I would like to see a “return” mode. Trying to capture the sometimes fleeting moments. Let’s say you want to catch a lightning strike. When you see the lightning, it’s too late to push the shutter. Same thing if I’m trying to catch my son blocking a shot in volleyball. On rewind, the camera will have a buffer containing the last two seconds, say of a series of ten shots.
- Albin: I’d mainly like to see premium features like optical telephoto and OIS pushed down and become standard on mid-range and budget models. That said, while I haven’t seen “blurred HDR” comparisons, it does seem to have a lot of potential.
- For!: Other (Leave a comment) – UDC Perfect.
- Joe Black: Better color/white balance on any smartphone and a feature to eliminate all skin softening or over-sharpening in general.
- Andreas Larsen: I want more accurate previews in the viewfinder and less post processing.
- EasyCare: Stick to the basics. Better low light performance. Reduce camera bloat. Improve selfie camera quality. Personally, I’d add that we should end the super long zoom race. A standard 28 to 35mm focal length prime camera and a simple 2x but high quality lens is better than a 3x, 5x or 10x lens.
- Eric Koop: Better quality zoom, especially on mid-range phones. I don’t want to pay a million dollars for a Galaxy Ultra or an iPhone Max. Throw that on the Pixel A or Galaxy A series, which isn’t much worse than using digital zoom on the main shooter.