Why My Heart Yearns for an Under-Display Camera

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 eliminates the under-display camera that was present in earlier versions of the device. While many critics view this as an improvement, I personally regret Samsung stepping back from this innovation—I’d love to see under-display cameras become more widespread, not fade away.

Form Is Its Primary Function

An under-display camera is a front-facing lens embedded beneath the phone or tablet’s display. Currently, it doesn’t sit directly under the full screen but is placed beneath a small, semi-transparent section of the display that allows sufficient light to reach the sensor.

This technology debuted on the ZTE Axon 20 5G, with companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, and Vivo later adopting similar designs. In the US, Samsung has been the most prominent advocate, first introducing the feature on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and continuing its use through the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The main advantage of under-display cameras is the seamless screen appearance they offer. Whether you're watching videos, viewing photos, or navigating with maps, there's no hole-punch cutout interrupting the visuals. As someone who frequently reads digital comics on a foldable device, I find this uninterrupted display incredibly valuable. For me, the best front camera is one that stays invisible.

That said, the technology isn’t without drawbacks. The industry’s hesitation isn’t unfounded. The under-display camera area never fully blends in, and some users find the slightly pixelated patch more distracting than a clean black cutout. Additionally, photo quality suffers. There’s no denying that an under-display camera delivers weaker performance. But for me, that’s a trade-off worth making—because the front camera simply isn’t a priority.

I Rarely Use a Selfie Camera

Honestly, I could count on two hands the number of times I’ve used a front-facing camera for anything beyond video calls—across every phone I’ve ever owned. While that might sound exaggerated, it reflects reality: I almost never take casual selfies. When I do need a photo of myself, I usually want it to be high quality, something most front cameras—even today’s—still struggle to deliver.

To me, the front camera has mostly been a visual obstacle. That persistent black dot interrupts my screen experience multiple times a week, all for a feature I might use a few times a year. I’d much rather enjoy a flawless display every day than optimize for rare selfie moments.

When I do use the front camera, it’s usually for video calls. In those situations, image quality differences are negligible. I’m just one small tile among many on someone else’s screen. And the 4MP under-display camera on my current device still outperforms the 1.3MP webcam most people use on their laptops.

Foldables Have Two Other Cameras for Selfies

I currently use a Galaxy Z Fold 6, a device unmatched in the US market for its versatility. That’s why I care deeply about the design choices in upcoming models.

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I’m impressed by the Fold 7’s slimmer build, larger displays, and upgraded chipset.

PostsOn book-style foldables, the internal front-facing camera is far less critical than on standard phones. If I need a high-resolution selfie, I can simply flip the phone and use the 50MP rear camera (or the 200MP one on the Z Fold 7!), using the outer screen as a viewfinder.

Alternatively, I can use the front camera on the cover display. A folded Z Fold functions like a regular phone—easy to hold or mount. On my device, this front camera also has higher resolution than the under-display one.

For the large inner screen of a foldable, the front camera is the least essential component—especially when two other, higher-quality options are already built in.

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Disliking the under-display camera is a valid stance. Most users quickly adapt to a standard cutout at the top of the screen. After all, the iPhone dominates US sales despite having the largest front camera notch in the industry. On average, people prioritize function over form, and I’m not suggesting otherwise.

But I do hope there remains at least a few devices for users like me—those who value a clean, unbroken display. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7 dropping the under-display camera, there are few alternatives left, whether on foldables or traditional smartphones. If engineers can perfect a truly invisible under-display camera without sacrificing photo quality, I believe this technology could make a powerful comeback.

##### Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

8/10

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 for Galaxy

Display

7.6-inch AMOLED inside display, 6.3-inch AMOLED cover display, both with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

If you miss the under-display camera, the Z Fold 6 remains an excellent choice.

Battery

4,400 mAh

Ports

USB-C

Operating System

Android 14 / One UI 6.1.1

Front camera

10MP cover camera, 4MP under-display main screen camera

Rear camera

10MP 3x optical zoom, f/2.4, 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 50MP main camera with autofocus, f/1.8

Connectivity

5G, 4G LTE, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4GHz 5GHz 6GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB

Dimensions

68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1mm (folded); 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6mm (unfolded)

Colors

Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Crafted Black, White

Weight

239g

Charge speed

25W wired, 15W wireless, Wireless PowerShare

IP Rating

IP48

Stylus

S Pen for Galaxy

$1900 at Samsung$1900 at Best Buy Expand Collapse

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