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Pop-up cameras deliver notch-free, full-screen displays for immersive viewing.
Key brands include OnePlus, Xiaomi, vivo, OPPO, and Honor.
Pop-up smartphones blend mechanical innovation with selfies and design flair.
With under-display and hole-punch cameras being the norm nowadays, smartphones featuring pop-up camera mechanics are still an interesting page in smartphone design history.
From OnePlus 7 Pro to Honor 9X, these devices have captured the imagination of consumers who don’t necessarily need raw performance but something more.
Although the majority of contemporary device users prefer functionality, pop-up camera smartphones are still valued for their unobstructed displays, novelty, retro feel, and experimentation in design.
The pop-up camera is the smartphone design world’s answer to the problem of having a full-screen display without any notch or hole-punch cutout. The manufacturers ensure a visually clean full-front display by tucking away the front-facing camera inside the device.
Beyond being quite the feature to look at, the motorized mechanism lends an air of futuristic ingenuity that sets these devices apart in a competitive market. The device also offers end users some privacy, as the camera remains concealed when not in use.
Pop-up camera phones are an aggressive experiment, and a few devices turned iconic. Each, a reflection of its brand’s design ethos and target market:
Thrust into the limelight in 2019, OnePlus 7 Pro is blessed with a 16-megapixel motorized pop-up front camera and a 90Hz AMOLED display that ensures a silky-smooth user experience for smartphone gamers. The high-end phone with its pop-up selfie camera really showcases design innovations.
Redmi K20 Pro features a 20MP pop-up camera, a Snapdragon 855 processor, and a beautiful AMOLED screen at affordable prices, placing the device among the top smartphones with camera functionalities within reach of many people.
Renowned for selfie-based innovation, the 32MP pop-up camera on V15 Pro is capable of taking high-definition and sharp selfies, which also give a wide screen experience to media and games, making the gadget one of the best smartphones with a pop-up camera.
9X pairs a 16MP pop-up camera with a notch-less screen for an affordable yet fashionable choice for younger consumers. Featuring on the list of top smartphones with a pop-up camera, the phone is a favorite among price-sensitive buyers.
These five phones show that smartphones with pop-up camera tech are not just a gimmick; they demonstrate mechanical ingenuity optimized for various user requirements.
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Here are a few advantages that pop-up mechanisms provide:
Full-screen Immersion: A Screen without a notch or a hole-punch offers users a full-screen view when watching films, gaming, or surfing.
Aesthetic Innovation: The motorized design brings a futuristic, premium look.
Increased Privacy: Owners can rest assured as the camera stays concealed when it is not active.
Conversation Starter: The pop-up movement becomes a unique characteristic that acts as an icebreaker in social situations.
Attractive as they are, pop-up cameras have definite drawbacks:
Risks to Durability: Mechanical components are subject to wear and tear, particularly with extensive use.
Added Thickness: The mechanism takes up additional space, making phones marginally thicker.
Water Vulnerability: Few have official IP ratings, raising the stakes for water damage.
Slower Unlock: Motorized cameras have the potential to slow face unlock from fixed-position options.
All brands mentioned below use pop-up design to create a unique identity through performance, value, selfie ability, or looks. These brands create some of the best smartphones with pop-up camera technology.
OnePlus: Performance, speed, and innovation.
Xiaomi: Interjects premium features at affordable prices.
Vivo: Selfies and camera innovation.
OPPO: Fun and design-oriented differentiation.
Honor: Targets young budget buyers with fashion-friendly options.
While mainstream popularity may have decreased over time, pop-up cameras still have their mark on smartphone design by breaking the rules in mechanical engineering and design. For collectors and tech enthusiasts, these phones are a reminder of innovation with a tangible and visual experience, something that today’s under-display cameras cannot match.
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Pop-up camera phones capture the first pioneering moment in smartphone history. They show how a manufacturer can blend mechanical innovation, design bravado, and practical innovation.
While the spotlight currently shines on under-display cameras, pop-up phones still intrigue fans with their unique charm, design innovation, and retro factor. They remind us how smartphone technology has come a long way and why they remain part of the conversation of the best smartphones with camera functionality.
1. What are pop-up camera smartphones?
A pop-up camera is a motorized front camera that rises from the body, thus preventing interruptions on full-screen displays, whether by notches or hole punches.
2. Are pop-up cameras durable?
They may last, but the mechanical parts wearing down with time shall make the user think twice about dropping it often or exposing it to dust or water.
3. Which brands manufacture pop-up camera phones?
OnePlus, Xiaomi, vivo, OPPO, and Honor have launched some of the best phones with pop-up camera technologies.
4. Are pop-up cameras better than under-display cameras?
Pop-up cameras, though unobstructed and novel, are less durable and water-resistant than are under-display cameras.
5. Are pop-up camera phones still being sold in 2025?
Maybe. Even though newer models are out, older models like OnePlus 7 Pro, Xiaomi K20 Pro, and OPPO Reno 2Z remain on sale online.
