As supply shortages continue to haunt the smartphone industry, a study reveals that rear cameras are continuing to climb in quality, delivering higher resolution images.
Supply shortages have severely affected smartphone sales across the board, with the third quarter of 2021 having witnessed the brunt of financial distress. While mid-tier brands are doing well enough for themselves, higher tier and lower tier products are suffering as consumers refuse to either spend too much or too little when it comes to purchasing phones. Makes sense, really, since retailers are driving up prices in order to compensate for the overall supply shortages. No one wants to be stuck with a shoddy phone, or spend what is currently an inordinate sum on a very high quality one.
All of this is expected information, and nothing out of the ordinary for the overall situation. What is interesting, however, is that despite parts being difficult and expensive to scrounge for, smartphone rear cameras are continuing to improve in quality. A report from CounterPoint states that Q3 2021 saw an increase of 38.7% from Q1 2021 in sales concerning smartphones with 48MP or higher camera quality. That’s a very impressive number, especially within a time period that’s little more than 6 months. So, what seems to be the big secret? How are retailers and companies continuing to improve camera quality and sales? Well it may have to do with the afore-mentioned point about mid-tier smartphones.
As I have previously mentioned, mid-tier mobiles phones are doing relatively well for themselves as sales figures continue to remain stable, as opposed to increasing or decreasing. That means such mobiles, typically around the USD $200 to $300 price limit, can afford to keep improving camera quality to something above 48 MP without going too far out of the overall price range they’re in. As for low tier smartphones, with camera qualities ranging around 8 to 12 MP, upgrading to anything even near 48 MP without also driving up prices is more or less impossible. Therefore, such companies refuse to upgrade to anything more than 12 MP (although improvements are being made as retailers adjust to the new market conditions). Accordingly, no one wants to spend much money on such products. It’s an unfortunate loop for retailers to get stuck in; one in which they can’t improve their products without driving up prices, and no one wishing to purchase their products if prices are driven up.
Read next: Which countries have the most (and least) digital freedom?
Supply shortages have severely affected smartphone sales across the board, with the third quarter of 2021 having witnessed the brunt of financial distress. While mid-tier brands are doing well enough for themselves, higher tier and lower tier products are suffering as consumers refuse to either spend too much or too little when it comes to purchasing phones. Makes sense, really, since retailers are driving up prices in order to compensate for the overall supply shortages. No one wants to be stuck with a shoddy phone, or spend what is currently an inordinate sum on a very high quality one.
All of this is expected information, and nothing out of the ordinary for the overall situation. What is interesting, however, is that despite parts being difficult and expensive to scrounge for, smartphone rear cameras are continuing to improve in quality. A report from CounterPoint states that Q3 2021 saw an increase of 38.7% from Q1 2021 in sales concerning smartphones with 48MP or higher camera quality. That’s a very impressive number, especially within a time period that’s little more than 6 months. So, what seems to be the big secret? How are retailers and companies continuing to improve camera quality and sales? Well it may have to do with the afore-mentioned point about mid-tier smartphones.
As I have previously mentioned, mid-tier mobiles phones are doing relatively well for themselves as sales figures continue to remain stable, as opposed to increasing or decreasing. That means such mobiles, typically around the USD $200 to $300 price limit, can afford to keep improving camera quality to something above 48 MP without going too far out of the overall price range they’re in. As for low tier smartphones, with camera qualities ranging around 8 to 12 MP, upgrading to anything even near 48 MP without also driving up prices is more or less impossible. Therefore, such companies refuse to upgrade to anything more than 12 MP (although improvements are being made as retailers adjust to the new market conditions). Accordingly, no one wants to spend much money on such products. It’s an unfortunate loop for retailers to get stuck in; one in which they can’t improve their products without driving up prices, and no one wishing to purchase their products if prices are driven up.
Read next: Which countries have the most (and least) digital freedom?