27 Feb 2020
Selfie Camera Trends
Selfie photography has become hugely popular in recent years, reflecting ever changing user behaviour driven largely by social media.
Industry leading camera reviewers DxOMark began evaluating smartphone selfie cameras early last year. The highest scoring devices include AutoFocus (AF) actuators in their front cameras. CML expect there to be a broader industry drive to add both AutoFocus (AF) and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) actuators to selfie cameras to enhance image quality.
Current smartphone design trends favour full-screen displays. The selfie camera therefore presents a challenge to designers. Compromises to display size are minimised by making selfie cameras smaller and pushing them towards the top edge of the device. However, issues can arise from magnetic interference with sensitive 5G antennae. Unlike conventional electro-magnetic designs, CML’s actuators do not contain magnets and do not affect the antennae. This allows vendors to place selfie cameras near device edges to enlarge displays without compromising antenna performance.
CML previously reported that smartphone vendors are also exploring the use of under-display camera technology. This future trend makes selfie cameras invisible through their placement beneath displays, therefore allowing edge to edge uninterrupted displays. This places severe constraints on camera thickness and so favours technology capable of miniaturing camera modules. CML’s actuators are much thinner than conventional products and are particularly suited to under-display cameras.
CML’s non-magnetic, ultra-slim AF and OIS actuators are well matched to meet the requirements of next-generation selfie cameras.