Smartphone manufacturers, let’s make a pact for 2025. You stop including disappointing and useless cameras on your phones, and we’ll stop complaining about them. Specifically, we’re talking about those ubiquitous 8-megapixel wide-angle and 2MP macro/depth cameras that, unbelievably, are still showing up on new devices as we enter 2025.
This isn’t a new conversation. In late 2022, we urged manufacturers to ditch the terrible 8MP wide-angle cameras. Earlier, in 2021, we also pleaded for an end to the awful macro cameras plaguing budget phones. Yet, here we are, starting 2025 with the same complaint. These subpar cameras persist, seemingly included to inflate mid-range phone specs and mimic the camera array of flagship devices, regardless of actual functionality. After all, if the iPhone has three cameras, every other phone needs three too, right?
Need proof? The 2024 OnePlus 12R, Poco X6 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy M35 all feature the dreaded 8MP wide/2MP macro combo. Many Motorola G series phones and the Realme GT 6 include an 8MP wide-angle, while phones like the Infinix Zero 40 still boast a 2MP depth sensor. While the OnePlus Nord 4’s 8MP wide-angle was a slight improvement, its limitations were still evident.
A close-up shot of the back of the OnePlus 12R.
The Courage to Prioritize Quality
The Nothing Phone 2
A quick glance at the spec sheet often reveals the truth: only the main camera is genuinely worthwhile. The supplementary 8MP/2MP lenses don’t enhance photography; they’re there for cosmetic purposes. Reviews often ignore the 2MP sensors entirely, while the 8MP wide-angle consistently disappoints. It takes courage to release a phone with fewer than three rear cameras, and few manufacturers have embraced this, opting instead for quantity over quality.
The Nothing Phone 2, with its dual 50MP main and wide-angle cameras, demonstrates a different approach. To illustrate the stark difference between a quality wide-angle and an 8MP offering, we compared the Nothing Phone 2 with the 2024 Redmi 13 Pro Plus, a phone featuring both an 8MP wide-angle and a 2MP macro camera, and a contender for the worst camera of the year. Both phones occupied a similar price point at launch, making this a relevant comparison focusing solely on the wide-angle lens.
The 8MP Wide-Angle: A Case Study
A photo taken using the Redmi 13 Pro Plus
A photo taken using the Nothing Phone 2
A cropped wide-angle photo taken by the Redmi 13 Pro Plus.
A cropped wide-angle photo taken by the Nothing Phone 2
1. Redmi 13 Pro Plus, 2. Nothing Phone 2 wide-angle, 3. Redmi 13 Pro Plus (cropped), 4. Nothing Phone 2 (cropped)
In a well-lit indoor shot, the Redmi’s 8MP wide-angle’s flaws aren’t immediately glaring. However, the Nothing Phone 2 exhibits superior color balance and exposure. Upon closer inspection, noise becomes apparent in the Redmi’s image. Cropping the photos highlights the dramatic difference: the Nothing Phone 2 delivers significantly sharper details and accurate colors, while the Redmi’s image suffers from excessive noise – a common issue with 8MP wide-angle cameras.
A photo taken using the Redmi 13 Pro Plus
A photo taken using the Nothing Phone 2
A cropped wide-angle photo taken by the Redmi 13 Pro Plus.
A cropped wide-angle photo taken by the Nothing Phone 2
1. Redmi 13 Pro Plus wide-angle, 2. Nothing Phone 2 wide-angle, 3. Redmi 13 Pro Plus (cropped), 4. Nothing Phone 2 (cropped)
Outdoor shots further expose the 8MP’s weaknesses. Noise pollutes the sky, edge enhancement struggles to sharpen details, and overall fuzziness obscures finer points. Cropping reveals the discrepancy in pixel count, with the Nothing Phone 2’s larger 50MP files capturing significantly more detail compared to the Redmi’s smaller 8MP images. Simply put, 8MP wide-angle cameras were inadequate in 2023 and are borderline unacceptable in 2025.
The Path Forward
The OnePlus Nord 4
Every camera on a phone should be usable and produce images worth revisiting. 8MP wide-angle cameras fail this test. The Nothing Phone 2 proves that manufacturers can incorporate quality wide-angle lenses without exorbitant price increases. In 2025, we hope to see manufacturers prioritize quality over quantity, ditching the subpar 8MP and 2MP cameras and focusing on genuinely useful lenses. If a 2MP depth sensor truly enhances portrait mode, omit it from the spec sheet; it’s not a camera users will actively utilize.
Disappointingly, 2025 has started poorly. The Honor Magic 7 Lite, the first phone announced this year, features a 5MP wide-angle lens alongside its 108MP main camera – a further regression in wide-angle quality. We urge manufacturers like OnePlus, Poco, and Redmi, who are expected to release updated models, to redeem themselves with decent wide-angle cameras. If they don’t, they should be held accountable. This isn’t a new issue; we’ve been voicing these concerns for years.
