Under-display cameras are good enough for casual video calls if a nearly uninterrupted screen matters more to you than a crisp image. For clearer selfies or more dependable-looking video, a conventional front camera—or a foldable phone’s cover-screen camera—is the safer choice. Results vary by phone, image processing, lighting, and how you use the camera.
Why do under-display cameras look blurry?
A UDC takes pictures through the phone’s display. The screen’s pixel array and other structures reduce and scatter the light reaching the camera, which can soften detail or affect the image. A technical paper on under-display camera image restoration describes attenuation and diffraction in that array as causes of image degradation.
Software can improve the result, but it cannot remove the optical layer in front of the sensor. Samsung engineers say AI-based restoration was applied to video from the Galaxy Z Fold4 UDC; the technical paper also examines restoration methods for degraded images. Processing is therefore part of the picture, not proof that a UDC will match a conventional camera.
What does Samsung recommend using its UDC for?
Samsung’s support guidance for the Galaxy Z Fold4, Fold5, and Fold6 presents the inner UDC mainly as a convenient option for video calls and facial recognition. For a slightly clearer selfie or video, Samsung says the cover-screen camera is a good alternative. That is the manufacturer’s guidance, not an independent comparison test.
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The Fold5 specification sheet lists a 4MP under-display camera and a separate 10MP selfie camera. Those numbers identify the sensors’ stated resolutions; they do not, on their own, establish which camera produces the better-looking image. Clarity also depends on the optics, display layer, processing, lighting, and framing.
How do UDCs compare with conventional selfie cameras?
Available comparisons point in the same direction, but they do not establish a universal result for every phone. Android Authority’s 2022 testing found UDC selfie quality inferior to conventional flagship selfie cameras among the models it tested. In 2025, Tom’s Guide reported that the Galaxy Z Fold7’s conventional inner punch-hole camera showed visibly more detail and color than the Fold6 UDC. The latter is a model-specific review comparison, not a standardized test across brands.
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For a foldable, compare the hidden inner camera with the cover camera and, where practical, the rear-camera preview option. Consider detail and color, how the image holds up in dim or backlit scenes, whether the camera position feels natural for calls, and whether the uninterrupted inner screen is worth the image trade-off. Megapixels alone do not answer those questions.
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Should you choose a phone with an under-display camera?
- Mostly video calls, with screen aesthetics first: A UDC may be sufficient for casual conversations if a softer image is acceptable.
- Frequent selfies or calls where image clarity matters: Prefer a conventional front camera, or use a foldable’s cover-screen camera when available.
- Calls in challenging light: Do not assume a UDC will look clear in dim or backlit conditions. Check comparisons for the specific phone and the conditions that matter to you.
- Shopping for a foldable: Decide whether you will actually use the inner camera, cover camera, or rear cameras for calls and selfies. A hidden camera alone is not a reason to choose a particular phone.
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