The best smartphones with an under-display camera in 2021

Today we are going to review the best smartphones that you can buy with an under-display camera in 2021. Smartphones with an under-display camera are on their way to becoming the ultimate solution for creating a display without a hole. Manufacturers have found a way to place cameras under the display of smartphones.

The best smartphones that have an under-display camera in 2021

According to our research and user reviews, these are the best smartphones with an under-display camera that you can buy in 2021:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
• ZTE Axon 30
• Xiaomi Mi MIX 4

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3

This device is Samsung’s most advanced foldable mobile phone to date. With the Galaxy Z Fold3, the South Korean company has demonstrated its capacity when it comes to innovation. This phone is the first foldable smartphone with an under-display camera in addition to being the first foldable smartphone with water resistance.

Galaxy Z Fold3 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, a 7.6-inch foldable inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate compatible with S Pen, and a 6.2-inch AMOLED outer panel.

It comes with a 12MP main camera, a 10MP outdoor selfie camera, and a 4MP under-display front camera.

The main disadvantage of this phone compared to other models is its price. Because it is more expensive than the other models because of the form factor.

Pros:

• The first foldable with water resistance
• Great specs
• Versatile camera setup

Cons:

• Too expensive

ZTE Axon 30

ZTE has more experience with under-display cameras when you think of the rest of the brands. This device comes with a new generation under-display camera, with a pixel array designed in a special way to improve the passage of light.

The sensor is hidden behind a huge nearly 7-inch diagonal Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, a 4,200 mAh battery with 65W fast charging support. It has a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP secondary sensor, a 5MP macro sensor and a 2MP portrait sensor.

Pros:

• The cheapest mobile phone with an under-display camera
• Good specs-price ratio

Cons:

• Too big

Xiaomi Mi MIX 4

Of course, Xiaomi didn’t want to be left out of the under-display camera trend either, Mi MIX 4 is its first device to have this feature.

This is the latest member of the MIX series, with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. The company has managed to hide a 20MP camera under the display.

This device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor and a  4,500 mAh battery with fast charging support.

The problem is, it will only be sold in China, and it does not seem like Xiaomi has plans to bring it to the rest of the markets.

Pros:

• Top-notch specs
• Great design

Cons:

• Only available in China

How do under-display cameras work?

Even though each manufacturer uses its own “approach” when developing these systems, the basics elements are always the same.

In most smartphones with this feature, in the area where the camera is hidden, we will see a small rectangle in certain situations, with less sharpness or a lower brightness level.

This is because the cameras need to have the most transparent material possible in front of them in order to capture the light and generate the image. In the case of smartphones with an under-display camera, a small rectangle using a semi-transparent material needs to be integrated over the camera. This allows the light to pass through the glass to reach the sensor. Each brand will use its own semi-transparent material technology.

In addition, in order for the light to reach the sensor, there must be gaps between the pixels in the area of the screen covered by the sensor. Given the size of these gaps, the pixel density, and therefore the sharpness of that area is reduced to some extent.