I have never taken a selfie in my entire life. The feature is entirely pointless for me. Are there any smartphones that don’t have a front facing camera?
Painting a small black dot over the front facing camera caused me issues on my previous phone, so I suspect some cameras cheap out on the proximity sensor and use the camera instead.
You’re thinking of the gyroscope, but no. Some phones have a dedicated proximity sensor for things like detecting if you’re in a call and have the phone up to your ear, but more and more phones (especially the budget ones) these days use a “virtual” proximity sensor which utilizes the front camera to perform the same function.
that’s interesting… wouldn’t that kind of sensor consume a lot of battery? turning the camera on and off every time you use it, and to determine the distance I assume it’s autofocus?
I was actually looking for the same thing - having a camera constantly pointing at me gives me anxiety (to the point where I’ve perfected the “cover hold” where I always have part of my thumb covering it), but gave up when I realised the compromises on other features I would need to make in order to get a phone without one (in the case of the Poco F2 Pro - an IP rating).
So I bought a “regular” phone and I’m now instead waiting for a delivery of some vinyl camera cover stickers, you can get them pretty cheap online (if you want to avoid amazon you might need to look a little harder, but they are available). My only concern is the other sensors in the camera notch that might be impacted (the always on display thinking the phone is in bag/facing down and not displaying for example), but am hoping I can find workarounds for those issues.
Privacy in general isn’t something phone manufacturers are going to be catering for since they make a ton of their money selling data and/or access to it, so it’d be counterproductive in their eyes.
Which I know isn’t really what you were asking, but I thought I’d let you know in case you came to a similar conclusion as me.
You could go to a cell phone repair joint and ask them to physically disconnect the camera’s data connections, or if that’s not easy (perhaps it’s soldered directly onto the motherboard) they could break the camera for you in a controlled manner. Probably wouldn’t cost much for an expert to shove a needle into exactly the right place.
My pixel has a setting that displays a green dot in the notification/status bar whenever an app is utilizing my camera/microphone. And I can disable that for each app that I don’t want to access my camera.
No mass market phone will come without selfie camera. And any special purpose phones will be too expensive. Maybe just buy one without notch and put a tape on it?
How about the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro it had a flip around camera which made the normal camera the selfie cam aswell. Or maybe the Xiaomi Mi 9T not really without a front camera but it had a pop up camera so you won’t see it when you don’t use it.
@between2boobies @pm_me_your_trash
I am currently using the Xiaomi Mi 9T for the exact reason that it was one of the last phones to not have a hole in the display for the camera.
Yes, Xiaomi stopped giving it software updates, but you can install Lineage OS if you want to upgrade to newer Android versions.
Apart from that the phone still runs very smooth with everyday use and there is not much I am missing.
This is like saying you don’t want an apartment/house with a bathtub because you don’t take baths. Most people choose based on features they want regardless if it has one feature they won’t use. It’s just not generally worth the tradeoff of limiting your options when it’s such a common feature. If you absolutely can’t use a phone with a front facing camera though, then good luck with your search (genuine, not sarcastic).
I’m typing this on my Xiaomi Mi9T which also has a popup camera. This phone is on its last legs, I’m not looking forward to having to get a new one with a typical selfie camera. A popup camera just makes so much more sense.
I miss my OnePlus 7 Pro for this and for just being an all around amazing phone. It’s a shame OnePlus didn’t continue with that pop up selfie cam on their devices.
I use my front facing camera to see under things all the time. It’s very useful, even though I don’t take selfies. I’m an engineer though so I probably spend more time looking under things than most.
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I don’t think of it as a selfie camera, I think of it as a camera for video calls.
For me it’s a giant hole in my screen that doesn’t serve any purpose.
It has purpose. The billionaires use it to spy on you
It’s often also used to detect if you’re holding it to your ear, which allows the phone to switch off the screen when you’re in a call.
@Hyperreality @stebo02 no, there are extra proximity sensors for that feature.
~~Not always. More and more phones in the budget range utilize a “virtual” proximity sensor which actually uses the camera for the same function.~~
Painting a small black dot over the front facing camera caused me issues on my previous phone, so I suspect some cameras cheap out on the proximity sensor and use the camera instead.
i thought that was just the gravity sensor (holding the phone vertically vs slightly tilted)
You’re thinking of the gyroscope, but no. Some phones have a dedicated proximity sensor for things like detecting if you’re in a call and have the phone up to your ear, but more and more phones (especially the budget ones) these days use a “virtual” proximity sensor which utilizes the front camera to perform the same function.
that’s interesting… wouldn’t that kind of sensor consume a lot of battery? turning the camera on and off every time you use it, and to determine the distance I assume it’s autofocus?
look, if you cant figure out what to do with holes thats your problem
Instructions unclear, dick stuck in charging port
I was actually looking for the same thing - having a camera constantly pointing at me gives me anxiety (to the point where I’ve perfected the “cover hold” where I always have part of my thumb covering it), but gave up when I realised the compromises on other features I would need to make in order to get a phone without one (in the case of the Poco F2 Pro - an IP rating).
So I bought a “regular” phone and I’m now instead waiting for a delivery of some vinyl camera cover stickers, you can get them pretty cheap online (if you want to avoid amazon you might need to look a little harder, but they are available). My only concern is the other sensors in the camera notch that might be impacted (the always on display thinking the phone is in bag/facing down and not displaying for example), but am hoping I can find workarounds for those issues.
Privacy in general isn’t something phone manufacturers are going to be catering for since they make a ton of their money selling data and/or access to it, so it’d be counterproductive in their eyes.
Which I know isn’t really what you were asking, but I thought I’d let you know in case you came to a similar conclusion as me.
You could go to a cell phone repair joint and ask them to physically disconnect the camera’s data connections, or if that’s not easy (perhaps it’s soldered directly onto the motherboard) they could break the camera for you in a controlled manner. Probably wouldn’t cost much for an expert to shove a needle into exactly the right place.
Seems like overkill in my case, but maybe perfect for some.
Tape
It’s not smart but I remember there used to be a flip model of LG than had the camera in the hinge and you could roll it to either side.
My phone, Poco F2 Pro has a motorized selfie camera, and as I barely use it it is almost as if it didn’t have one.
It is awesome to have a full display of 6.67" with no notches or punch holes of any sort.
In a similar vein, the One Plus has a selfie camera which retracts. For all intents and purposes as close as you’ll get
The retractable cameras are fun, as you always know when an app uses it.
I’ve had it two times now, that I sat on the shitter and wanted to search something on the builtin chrome browser, and voila! Front cam pops up!
Wasn’t even anything with video or images.
My pixel has a setting that displays a green dot in the notification/status bar whenever an app is utilizing my camera/microphone. And I can disable that for each app that I don’t want to access my camera.
Yup, one of the perks!
Which model?
I believe it’s only the 7 Pro and the 7T Pro, and I also believe they’re both no longer sold and out of support.
No mass market phone will come without selfie camera. And any special purpose phones will be too expensive. Maybe just buy one without notch and put a tape on it?
Unfortunately, the target market is largely one of narcissists.
Or, I actually like to take a photo of myself and my partner somewhere without having to ask someone once in a while.
edgy
How about the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro it had a flip around camera which made the normal camera the selfie cam aswell. Or maybe the Xiaomi Mi 9T not really without a front camera but it had a pop up camera so you won’t see it when you don’t use it.
They look pretty interesting, but they were released 3-4 years ago. Is there anything more recent?
@between2boobies
@pm_me_your_trash
I am currently using the Xiaomi Mi 9T for the exact reason that it was one of the last phones to not have a hole in the display for the camera.
Yes, Xiaomi stopped giving it software updates, but you can install Lineage OS if you want to upgrade to newer Android versions.
Apart from that the phone still runs very smooth with everyday use and there is not much I am missing.
Just don’t use it, or put some sticker on it.
yea, but you’re still paying for it
You’re not. You’re getting it as a free bonus to the personal pocket computer that also has all the phone functions and some more.
I’d rather not have it at all tbh.
Some banking apps are asking for live-selfies for authentication, so it’s not entirely useless.
Put a sticker on it and pretend it does not exist.
Not sure why it bothers you so much. Any benefit you’d have by not having it is practically negated by your limited choices for phones.
Like I said, it’s a feature I never use. The selfie camera is completely pointless for me and I’d rather not have it.
This is like saying you don’t want an apartment/house with a bathtub because you don’t take baths. Most people choose based on features they want regardless if it has one feature they won’t use. It’s just not generally worth the tradeoff of limiting your options when it’s such a common feature. If you absolutely can’t use a phone with a front facing camera though, then good luck with your search (genuine, not sarcastic).
I think it’s more like putting selfie cameras in computer monitors. That would also be a completely useless feature for me.
How do you check for stuff in your teeth tho
If we’re lucky, someone might eventually invent some sort of reflective wall we can look at
Personally I don’t always carry a mirror but snark noted
Alexa, what is a mirror?
A mirror is a thing I don’t always have in my pocket. My phone, however…
ITT: people who are never more than 2’ from a mirror, apparently. Wtf y’all live and work in fucking Versailles?
Not exactly the same but I bought a used OnePlus 7 Pro when they started cutting holes in my display.
It has a pop up selfie camera so you can a) see when it is active and b) don’t have any notches on your screen.
Also makes for a great party gag.
I’m typing this on my Xiaomi Mi9T which also has a popup camera. This phone is on its last legs, I’m not looking forward to having to get a new one with a typical selfie camera. A popup camera just makes so much more sense.
Maybe get one used? I replaced the battery and backplate on mine and it’s like new.
I wish the popup feature went mainstream, I too dislike a peephole in my screen.
I wonder if they didn’t catch on because it made spying on people more difficult.
I assume most people don’t care about a notch for the front facing camera so OnePlus didn’t continue it since it adds complexity.
You are most likely correct, it’s a mechanism that can fail. Apple normalised notches and people buy them no matter what, so the others follow.
I miss my OnePlus 7 Pro for this and for just being an all around amazing phone. It’s a shame OnePlus didn’t continue with that pop up selfie cam on their devices.
I use my front facing camera to see under things all the time. It’s very useful, even though I don’t take selfies. I’m an engineer though so I probably spend more time looking under things than most.
I know the Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 Lite didn’t have one but it’s an old phone.