topic Re: Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phones the ne.. in Other Smartphones

Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phones the next thing?

Chappell101 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:43:03 GMT

The AI Robot phone pop up gimble camera.

Honor is launching a smartphone with a built in responsive gimble in 2026. Honor's (Very Ai) promo video is playful and an interesting idea but I imagine it would be very easy to accidentally brake and be quite the camera bump.

Honors teaser video.https://youtu.be/YB6j8tsFFkc

?si=ThE1_VXv4GkVgkxa

Samsung experimented with a rotating pop up camera with the A80 but the idea never stuck around due to the less desirable addition of moving parts and risk for dust ingress. I know One+ & Asus also had a go from memory. If that's better handled on phones like the Fold 7 now does that mean moving part ideas like this could come back?

Some crazy innovation ideas like the early Nokia/Samsung days would be really fun they just aren't always the most practical.

The same full quality cameras both sides was a nice touch

https://news.samsung.com/global/the-era-of-live-starts-now-galaxy-a80-available-today

Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried the A80, could gimble phones be a thing?

Tomisverycool — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:10:53 GMT

Like you said back then pop up cameras were finicky and broke easily, and moving parts in phones were rare and considered niche. Nowadays the technology is alot more modern, and samsung is leading in that tech, so its completely possible that samsung can bring something like this back, but heres the question: will they? Theyve been removing features trying to 'fit in', the applification of samsung makes me feel that this is something theyd not be too interested in. We can only hope.

Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phones the next t..

Star_girl — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:56:01 GMT

I believe this phone will have it's own niche of customers, but many like me, will still prefer classic phones. I am taking my phone everywhere, so if I had to install a camera somewhere I would just install a camera not leave my phone to watch. Just my thoughts.🤭

While watching the video there was an 💡 which crossed my mind, why bother with a mini gimbal and not just install a drone on the phone and release it to film or take pictures from wherever length? Also reminds me of SPen like a very distant cousin now.

Regarding privacy, it just felt weird. The world is evolving though. These are my thoughts on this matter.🥸

Re: Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phones the ne..

Chappell101 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:41:26 GMT

I still rate the durability of an established slab phone too but that doesn't mean i'm not impressed by more adventurous concepts. When things have slowed at lot at the big 3.

I'd imagine you would be able to control the gimbal camera handheld too like we do now? It's just Honors concept for interactive AI that can also help take photo/video. Kind of gives me Walle vibes.

Be interesting to see if it's actually demoed on Mar 2nd next year at mobile world congress in Barcelona.

You would struggle to shrink a drone down that small into a phone I'd imagine. This is just folding articulating arm and sliding cover so it would be easier to implement.

Hopefully the AI 'robot' gimble only comes on when requested. It's smarter than a action cam but they are built for durability something I feel the small arm won't have on this product.

You're right the world is changing be interesting how the west respond to robots as in places like China and Japan they are much more accepted. Google is trying to make Gemini more human to interact with where we are now.

Re: Re: Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phones th..

Star_girl — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:16:07 GMT

I am sure this phone will be in March in Barcelona, the Chinese don't play lol I have also seen some other crazy Chinese projects along the years. I guess it's good for innovation to try different stuff.

I wonder what kind of CPU or little engine this will have to use and were will it fit on the phone, what will the phone be made of, how it will maintain low temperatures and how much will it heat up.🤭

Re: Re: Re: Re: Are popup cameras back? Sammy tried with A80, are gimble phone..

Chappell101 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:33:34 GMT

Be a Snapdragon or Mediatek. I'm not as big on the CPU thing as I don't find phones slow even a few years in (Video rencoding can be at times but thats about all). If I emulated games it would matter to me maybe or if a good version of photoshop and illustrator could run 4k via Dex it would matter a lot to me.

I can't see the motors being that hot running as it's not offseting balance of a heavy load like we use now with phone rigs/mirrorless. It's likely they would be more magnet driven motions where possible as it's much more efficient.

Wonder who will make the sensors? Samsung 😂

Part of me wants Samsung to possibly dealy the S26U if needed and hopefully put it's own new sensors in it. It's flagships should compete on a level playing field. Cameras aren't a niche feature with near 45% of users it's the top one. Only battery ever tops it in surveys.