One of the biggest signs that makers are ratcheting up the competition in the smartphone market is the addition of multiple cameras. It seems like it is almost a race to have the most with some of the biggest names debuting cameras with not one or two but sometimes three or more cameras on their device.
And you might have thought that this was because manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, Huawei, and Apple are just desperate to differentiate themselves from one another – and that's probably true to an extent.
Because, let’s face it, the standard smartphone design aesthetic has remained largely unchanged for the past several years. How else can a company distinguish itself in such a crowded space?
While that might be one reason, a recent report also suggests that adding multiple cameras to your smartphone is not only a differentiating move but also a lucrative endeavor.
A report from Counterpoint Research cited by DPReview says that 42% of all smartphones sold now have multiple cameras (defined in this study as a dual or triple camera).
Further, Counterpoint Research expects this trend to grow in the future, seeing “multiple sensors in phones is the new battleground” in the smartphone tech wars.
The Korea Herald quotes Counterpoint, writing: “Most major smartphone makers, including Samsung Electronics, Apple and LG Electronics, are reportedly preparing to roll out smartphones fitted with three rear-facing camera modules in a bid to step ahead in the premium segment.”
This is because of the phenomenal growth of multicam smartphones coupled with nearly all of the major makers except Google joining in on the race to have the biggest, best, and most cameras on their phones. For its part, DPReview says that Samsung anticipates that at least 10% of its total camera output will be multiple camera smartphone models.