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Google's Next Budget Phone Virtually Eliminates the Camera Bump

nostradumbass said:
Sensor size is more important than number of megapixels, as any pro photographer and cinematographer will tell you.

The Google spec talks about megapixels but not about sensor size. This is what all companies should be highlighting like camera makers do.
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It's a budget phone
This market isn't likely that concerned with sensor size -- they may not know anything about it at all
 
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I do miss the days of the iPhone 4S and its lack of camera bump. I'd love to see Apple take some design cues from Google, though. I really think Google's been knocking it out of the park with their 9-series as far as hardware design, and nearly eliminating the camera bump is great. I'd love to see Apple move the same direction.
 
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cmChimera said:
Most people do want better photography, it's one of the largest drivers of phone upgrades.
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Do you have evidence to back this claim, or are you just projecting your own priorities on to the billions of mobile phone owners that include many like my parents, and people who only have a phone because it’s the most convenient way to stay connected where they live?
 
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Mr_Ed said:
Do you have evidence to back this claim, or are you just projecting your own priorities on to the billions of mobile phone owners that include many like my parents, and people who only have a phone because it’s the most convenient way to stay connected where they live?
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I'm also skeptical

If I had to wager, I'll bet more/most people "upgrade" because their battery life has gotten bad and they may do the calculation on "cost for new battery" vs "just a get a new phone"
 
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Those corners, antenna bands and the back are giving me some slight SE1 vibes!
A shame it's going to be so big :confused:

s-l1200.jpg
Screenshot 2025-02-12 at 07.27.12.png
 
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I find it amusing that many of those complaining about form over function are essentially doing the same thing complaining about the camera bump, especially when most people have their phones in cases anyway for protection. My 16 Pro in a case with a few cards is already heavy enough. I wouldn’t want it any thicker or heavier.
 
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Rogifan said:
I find it amusing that many of those complaining about form over function are essentially doing the same thing complaining about the camera bump, especially when most people have their phones in cases anyway for protection. My 16 Pro in a case with a few cards is already heavy enough. I wouldn’t want it any thicker or heavier.
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There are people who use phones with no cases ;)

(I know 4 such folks myself)
 
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Rogifan said:
I find it amusing that many of those complaining about form over function are essentially doing the same thing complaining about the camera bump, especially when most people have their phones in cases anyway for protection. My 16 Pro in a case with a few cards is already heavy enough. I wouldn’t want it any thicker or heavier.
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Depends on the case, doesn’t it? Some actually extend the depth of the bump area to “protect the lenses”.
 
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Mr_Ed said:
Depends on the case, doesn’t it? Some actually extend the depth of the bump area to “protect the lenses”.
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And if a case is essential to the design so as to be needed to protect the lenses (or make it not wobble), shouldn't we be getting a case included with an iPhone purchase?

Or a voucher to select a case we'd like at the Apple Store -- included with the iPhone purchase?
 
neuropsychguy said:
What problems does the camera bump cause? I'm just wondering if it disrupts someone's use of smartphones with it? Are people using their phones in a way that require the phone to lie perfectly flat on their back on a surface?

Edit: Before people react with thumbs down or angry or whatever emojis, I'm simply interested if the camera bump is a functional problem for someone or if it's an aesthetic issue.
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The bump doesn't bother me at all. As photography is a huge part of my life, I'm all for it if that leads to having better cameras. For many, I suspect it's just something to complain about.

I'm looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. For me, overall thinner is better, and am OK with the bump.
 
Mr_Ed said:
I’ve said before I would gladly accept flatlining or even regressing a bit on camera specs if it meant the stupid bump goes away. Surely a multi-trillion$ corporation should be able to accomplish this.

Oh, wait . . . What am I saying? They can't even figure out how to respect your settings choices across an update.
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I would love a phone that could lie flat on a table and would take a massive regression in camera specs to achieve that

I only need to snap the odd document or take a photo to remember or communicate something

if I wanted to play photographer I would buy a real camera

.....

my wife is a hobbyist photographer, every few years when she gets a new iPhone she takes a few pictures and says something like "wow this is pretty good." then she continues using her cameras and the phone camera remains virtually unused
 
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nathansz said:
I would love a phone that could lie flat on a table and would take a massive regression in camera specs to achieve that

I only need to snap the odd document or take a photo to remember or communicate something

if I wanted to play photographer I would buy a real camera

.....

my wife is a hobbyist photographer, every few years when she gets a new iPhone she takes a few pictures and says something like "wow this is pretty good." then she continues using her cameras and the phone camera remains virtually unused
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That’s just it. I appreciate the convenience of the phone camera, but we (including phone makers) should stop pretending a multi-purpose phone device will ever be as good all around as an actual dedicated camera. The ergonomics will never be there.
 
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Mr_Ed said:
That’s just it. I appreciate the convenience of the phone camera, but we (including phone makers) should stop pretending a multi-purpose phone device will ever be as good all around as an actual dedicated camera. The ergonomics will never be there.
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Agreed

I'd like the phone makers to further divide the lineups

With "Pro" phones, go whole hog on cameras/huge lenses/etc --- let those folks really lean into that usage and pay for it and deal with the compromises

And then have the more "normal" and "budget" lines trim things down and be lighter and more streamlined

I fully appreciate that some are really into massive camera usage/specs/features on their phones, but for the rest of us, it'd be nice to not have to carry around a Chris Nolan IMAX iPhone
 
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cmChimera said:
It is a better idea. Most people would rather a thinner phone with a camera bump than a huge, heavy slab with none.

You're in a small minority. Most people, including myself, don't want worse cameras on their expensive, premium smartphone.

Most people don't care.

You're in the minority.

You're in an extremely small minority

An iPhone 16 Pro Max made thicker to eliminate the camera bump would be a heavy, massive phone. This is a terrible idea.

Most people do want better photography, it's one of the largest drivers of phone upgrades.
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You went through a lot of work to do PR for the trillion-dollar company apple. If the camera was such a driving force, more people would be upgrading sooner (data shows that is not the case). people are holding onto their devices longer and longer. Not to mention most can't tell the difference anyway when they post it to whatever social media platform they use anyway. Also, if the camera hump wasn't so damn ugly and protruding, they wouldn't have to make the whole device thicker like the size of a brick. Apple touts all these "advancements" yet if you did a blind test with the last 3-4 generations people wouldn't be able to tell a noticeable difference, yet every year the camera bump gets larger and apple claims some bs "improvement" from the previous year.
 
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FitzSitzQuitz said:
I do miss the days of the iPhone 4S and its lack of camera bump. I'd love to see Apple take some design cues from Google, though. I really think Google's been knocking it out of the park with their 9-series as far as hardware design, and nearly eliminating the camera bump is great. I'd love to see Apple move the same direction.
Click to expand...
They eliminated the camera bump on their ‘budget’ phone. Their flagship still has a huge bump.
1739370861126.jpeg
 
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cmChimera said:
It is a better idea. Most people would rather a thinner phone with a camera bump than a huge, heavy slab with none.

You're in a small minority. Most people, including myself, don't want worse cameras on their expensive, premium smartphone.

Most people don't care.

You're in the minority.

You're in an extremely small minority

An iPhone 16 Pro Max made thicker to eliminate the camera bump would be a heavy, massive phone. This is a terrible idea.

Most people do want better photography, it's one of the largest drivers of phone upgrades.
Click to expand...
Most people is not the same as everyone. If I want a better camera I would buy a camera rather than a smartphone. Apple should cater to the needs of all their customers not just the camera obsessives.
 
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citysnaps said:
The bump doesn't bother me at all. As photography is a huge part of my life, I'm all for it if that leads to having better cameras. For many, I suspect it's just something to complain about.

I'm looking forward to the iPhone 17 Air. For me, overall thinner is better, and am OK with the bump.
Click to expand...
Thank you for replying. I also value the cameras on iPhones -- they are a major reason I upgrade my phones.
 
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Expos of 1969 said:
In the US I would think that the crazy trade in and up "free" deals offered by the carriers plays a big part as well.
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For sure!

I'm skeptical that a wide swath of folks are looking at their photos and thinking "I need a new iPhone because I'd like even better photos"

I think we crossed a threshold several years ago now where the picture quality is all "great" from all the phones across the board
 
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