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Under-display cameras give you a screen without a visible camera cutout, while punch-hole cameras leave a small opening in the display but give the lens a clearer path to light. That difference usually favors the punch-hole design for selfies and video calls, all else being equal; the under-display design favors an uninterrupted viewing area. The actual result depends on the phone’s camera hardware, display construction, image processing and lighting.
How each camera design works
Punch-hole cameras leave an opening for the lens
A punch-hole camera sits behind an aperture in the display panel. The camera opening is visibly absent from the screen, but the camera lens does not have the full display pixel stack in front of it. The rest of the display remains active.
The hole has a display-side tradeoff of its own: manufacturers must manage how the screen looks around the aperture. Samsung Display described work on image uniformity at the hole’s edge in its OLED “hole display” explanation (Samsung Display). Its account reported a UL assessment of the camera-hole periphery on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G and Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: color, brightness and saturation were measured at 12 points, with reported deviations of two or less Delta E. That result applies to those named older panels, not every punch-hole screen.
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Under-display cameras shoot through a modified screen area
An under-display camera (UDC) places the lens and sensor behind a display region designed to admit light. Light passes through transparent gaps between pixels, but OLED pixels and other parts of the panel still block or scatter some of it. Manufacturers can modify pixel density, layout, wiring or materials in that camera region to increase light transmission.
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Samsung says the UDC region on the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Fold5 uses a lower pixel density to let more light through. That localized change helps explain the central compromise: the camera is less visible while the screen is in use, but the camera must capture an image through display material and the screen area may look different from the surrounding panel.
The technologies therefore solve different problems. A punch-hole preserves a more direct optical path for the camera by accepting a visible interruption in the image on screen. A UDC tries to make the camera disappear from view by placing display material in its path and adapting that portion of the panel. Neither design is simply a hole versus no hole: each involves choices about the screen, and in a UDC those choices affect both what you see and what the camera receives.
Which design usually takes clearer selfies?
A punch-hole camera has the optical advantage because its lens does not have a display layer in front of it. A UDC’s screen can attenuate and diffract light, contributing to softer detail, flare, haze, glare, color or saturation shifts, and lower signal-to-noise ratio. CVPR’s 2021 work on UDC image restoration and a 2024 CVPR Workshops paper on under-display array cameras discuss these image-degradation effects (CVPR 2021 paper; CVPR Workshops 2024 paper). Samsung Research has likewise identified low light transmittance and diffraction as core UDC challenges.
This is a design-level tendency, not a guarantee that every punch-hole phone takes better pictures than every UDC phone. Sensor size and quality, lens design, exposure, image processing and lighting also affect the result. The cited materials do not establish a neutral, controlled, cross-device statistic for current UDC and punch-hole phones, so a universal image-quality gap cannot be quantified from them.
Why low light and video calls can expose the difference
When less light reaches a UDC sensor, the camera has less image information to work with. The display’s optical effects can also show up as reduced detail, haze or flare. Those limitations matter most when the front camera is important to you, particularly for regular video calls or selfies in less favorable lighting. A punch-hole’s open optical path avoids this specific display obstruction, though it cannot overcome limitations in a particular phone’s camera hardware or processing.
“Better in low light” should not be read as an unconditional verdict on every model. The underlying reason to favor the punch-hole is narrower: there is no modified screen area between that camera and incoming light. A phone’s sensor, lens, exposure and processing still influence the final image, and the cited technical materials do not provide a controlled, current model-to-model test that isolates the camera layout. If you take most selfies in good light, the practical difference may matter less to you than it would to someone who regularly uses the camera in dimmer conditions or for calls.
Processing can help, but does not prove parity
Phone makers use computational photography to compensate for UDC artifacts. Samsung describes AI image restoration and multi-frame processing for the Galaxy Z Fold4, including restoration in preview and video. OPPO’s 2021 prototype announcement described diffraction-reduction, HDR and automatic-white-balance algorithms. These are descriptions of manufacturers’ engineering approaches; they are not independent evidence that a UDC matches a punch-hole camera in image quality.
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That distinction matters when reading product claims. Restoration and multi-frame processing are ways to address effects introduced by the screen; they do not change the physical fact that light has passed through display material before reaching the UDC sensor. A manufacturer’s description can explain what processing is intended to do, but it cannot, on its own, establish how the resulting photos compare with a punch-hole phone in different scenes. For a purchase decision, look for samples or tests of the exact models you are comparing rather than treating the presence of an algorithm as proof of equal results.
Which design looks better while you use the screen?
The UDC’s main advantage is visual continuity: there is no obvious camera aperture interrupting the display area. That can be useful when watching video, gaming, reading or working on a large inner screen. Samsung describes the Fold4 and Fold5 UDC as mainly intended for video calls and facial recognition, and notes that a cross-hatch pattern in the camera region may be visible on a bright screen or when the screen is off.
A punch-hole remains visible, especially against some content, but it avoids the specially modified pixel region required by a UDC. An under-display camera therefore trades a visible aperture for a screen area whose construction may differ from the rest of the panel. Whether that trade improves your experience depends on what you notice more: the cutout during viewing, or the camera-region pattern and compromises during camera use.
The UDC does not make the camera area literally identical to the rest of the display. Samsung’s note about a possible cross-hatch pattern is a useful reminder to inspect the whole screen, not just a product image with the camera hidden by dark content. The pattern may be most apparent in the specific conditions Samsung identifies: a bright screen or the screen-off state. That is a local display-appearance consideration, distinct from the camera’s image quality.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Punch-holes have a different local-screen consideration. There is a visible aperture, and the panel’s appearance around its edge must be managed. Samsung Display’s reported Delta E result is evidence of a particular effort on two named older panels; it is not a blanket guarantee that every hole is invisible in use or that all screens have the same uniformity. In short, compare the actual display behavior of the phone you plan to use rather than assuming that a given layout will look perfect under every condition.
What named phones and manufacturer figures show
| Example | What is documented | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold4 and Fold5 UDC | Samsung India lists 4 MP resolution, f/1.8 aperture and fixed focus. Samsung says to use the cover-screen camera when a slightly clearer image or video is needed. | These specifications and advice apply to the named models, not all UDCs. They illustrate why a foldable owner should compare the inner-screen camera with the alternative they will actually use. |
| OPPO under-screen camera prototype (2021) | OPPO announced a 400 PPI camera-area display and claimed its compensation approach kept chromaticity and brightness deviation to about 2%. | These are vendor claims about a prototype, not independent comparative benchmarks or specifications for a currently available phone. |
| Samsung Display hole-area assessment | For the camera holes on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G and Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Display reported deviations of two or less Delta E at 12 sampled points. | This manufacturer-reported assessment concerns specified older panels and does not establish a result for all punch-hole displays. |
| ZTE Axon 20 5G (2020) | ZTE announced it as an under-display-camera smartphone and described special materials, display circuitry, pixel matrix and selfie algorithms. | This is a historical manufacturer-described example, not a current-buy recommendation or comparative test. |
Samsung’s product-specific information is in its support article, “A look at the Under Display Camera (UDC) on the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Fold5,” updated October 21, 2023 (Samsung India support article). Its figures should not be generalized to other devices. Likewise, OPPO’s prototype figures and Samsung Display’s hole-area assessment describe particular manufacturer projects, not a head-to-head test.
The figures are useful when kept in their proper context. The Fold4 and Fold5 specifications show that those inner cameras are 4 MP, f/1.8 and fixed focus; they do not describe every UDC. Samsung’s advice to use the cover camera for a slightly clearer image or video is especially practical for a buyer comparing the two cameras on those specific foldables. OPPO’s 400 PPI and roughly 2% deviation figures describe a prototype and its claimed compensation approach, not a universal technical standard. The older Samsung hole measurements likewise say something about sampled points on two specified devices, not all punch-hole panels.
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ZTE’s 2020 Axon 20 announcement is another historical milestone: it described special materials, display circuitry, a pixel matrix and selfie algorithms for an under-display camera. That confirms that UDC designs involve the display and imaging systems together, but an announcement is not a controlled comparison, nor does it establish whether the model is available to buy today. No current stock, prices or regional availability were published for the examples, so they are best used to understand the technology rather than as a present-day shopping list.
How to compare phones in practice
Because the layout alone cannot predict the full result, compare the specific phone models and the camera you expect to use. A useful evaluation starts with your priorities, then checks the camera, screen and any alternative camera on the device:
- Decide how you use the front camera. If you take frequent selfies or make regular video calls, front-camera performance deserves more weight. If you use it only occasionally and care most about uninterrupted viewing, the UDC’s screen benefit may matter more.
- Compare image samples under relevant conditions. Look at the exact phones you are considering, and pay particular attention to detail, flare, haze and color. If low-light calls or selfies are part of your routine, do not rely only on bright, ideal sample images.
- Check the display region as well as the camera. On a UDC phone, look for the camera-area pattern on bright content and with the display off, since Samsung identifies those as conditions in which a cross-hatch pattern may be visible. On a punch-hole phone, decide whether the visible aperture and the appearance around it bother you.
- Read the camera specifications for the exact model. Resolution, aperture and focus details can describe a named camera, as Samsung’s Fold4 and Fold5 figures do. Do not treat one model’s specification as a general rule for all UDC or punch-hole cameras.
- Account for processing without overreading claims. Restoration, HDR, white-balance and multi-frame processing may be part of the UDC approach. Manufacturer descriptions explain the approach, but independent samples or tests are still needed to judge the output against another phone.
- Check for another camera you would actually use. On a foldable, compare the inner UDC with the cover-screen camera and consider whether you typically use the phone folded or open for calls and selfies.
This is not a lab protocol or a substitute for a controlled head-to-head test. It is a way to keep a shopping comparison tied to your use rather than turning one engineering feature into a universal ranking. The cited technical materials do not identify a neutral cross-device statistic, and results can vary with model, display construction, processing and lighting.
How to choose between them
Choose a UDC if screen continuity matters more
- You watch video, play games, read or work on the display and want to avoid a visible camera opening.
- You use the front camera only occasionally, or the phone gives you another camera you prefer for calls and selfies.
- You are comfortable checking how the camera region looks on actual content, including bright screens and the screen-off state.
- You understand that hiding the aperture means the camera looks through a modified display region, and that processing may be used to reduce resulting image defects.
Choose a punch-hole if front-camera performance matters more
- You take frequent selfies or rely on video calls and want to avoid the optical obstruction a UDC adds.
- You would rather accept a small visible cutout than have the camera shoot through a modified display area.
- You are comparing actual phones, not just camera layouts: sensor, lens, processing and display quality can outweigh the broad design tendency.
- You are willing to live with a visible aperture in exchange for a less obstructed optical path, while still evaluating the phone’s camera as a whole.
For foldables, compare the camera you will use
Some foldables pair an inner-screen UDC with a cover-screen camera. Samsung specifically recommends the cover camera on the Fold4 and Fold5 when a slightly clearer image or video is desired. If you are considering a phone with both options, decide based on whether you will make calls or take selfies with it folded or open, rather than treating the inner UDC as the phone’s only front-camera choice.
That practical alternative can change the tradeoff. Someone who mostly uses a foldable closed may be able to rely on the cover camera, while someone who regularly uses the large inner screen for calls may care more about the UDC. These are usage choices, not a guarantee that one camera will suit every situation. For the named Fold models, Samsung’s own guidance is to use the cover camera when a slightly clearer image or video is needed.
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The named product specifications, manufacturer claims and technical papers explain the tradeoffs, but they do not establish a universal score for which design takes better selfies across current phones. Results depend on each model’s camera hardware, display construction and processing, and availability varies by market and time. Treat a particular phone’s samples and specifications as more useful than assumptions based only on whether it has a UDC or punch-hole.
The named product information and technical papers do not establish a current, controlled comparison across representative UDC and punch-hole models, or a general price premium for either design. Product availability and pricing are market- and time-dependent, and the cited figures are tied to named products, a prototype or specific older panel tests. There is no special accessory, replacement part or tool needed simply to explain or use either camera arrangement; the decision is about the phone’s display-camera tradeoff.
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When weighing claims, separate three kinds of evidence: a technical paper that describes optical effects, a manufacturer’s description of its own engineering, and a comparative test of the finished phones. The technical papers and manufacturer materials describe the first two and specific manufacturer figures, but they do not provide the third across current representative devices. That is why the safest conclusion is about tendencies and tradeoffs, not an absolute winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are under-display cameras better than punch-hole cameras?
Neither is better for every user. A UDC offers a less interrupted viewing area, while a punch-hole avoids placing display material in front of the camera lens, which tends to favor image capture when other factors are comparable.
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A punch-hole camera has the optical advantage because its path is not blocked by the display layer. But the sensor, lens, processing and lighting also matter, and the cited technical materials do not establish a universal cross-device quality gap.
Do under-display cameras work in low light?
They can, but less light reaches the sensor through the display region, and attenuation or diffraction can contribute to noise, softness, haze or flare. The exact result depends on the phone and its processing; there is no universal low-light score for all UDCs.
Can processing make a UDC as good as a punch-hole camera?
Manufacturers describe restoration and other processing intended to reduce UDC artifacts. Those descriptions show engineering approaches, but they are not independent proof that a UDC matches a punch-hole camera.
Can you see the UDC area on the screen?
Sometimes. Samsung notes that a cross-hatch pattern in the Fold4 and Fold5 camera region may be visible on a bright screen or when the screen is off. This is product-specific information, not a guarantee about every UDC.
What should I check when comparing phones?
Compare samples from the exact models in lighting relevant to your use, review front-camera specifications, inspect the display region, and consider image processing. For foldables with both an inner UDC and cover camera, compare the camera you expect to use.
Are there current prices or a universal cost premium for UDC phones?
The cited product information and technical papers do not establish current prices or a general cost premium for either design. Availability and pricing vary by market and time, so check current listings for the specific models you are considering.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Choose an under-display camera if a more continuous screen matters more to you and front-camera use is occasional. Choose a punch-hole if front-camera clarity is a priority and you can accept a visible opening. A punch-hole has the less obstructed optical path, but the phone’s camera hardware and processing still matter. For foldables, compare the inner UDC with the cover camera you will actually use.
Quick Recap
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