LG is the only one getting dual-sensor camera right

When buying a new smartphone, there are a lot of factors to consider. Many of you are looking for the best performance possible while others want a device that can last a day or two under heavy usage. But one thing that we can all agree on is that a good camera is a must-have feature on any smartphone. In order to offer a better camera experience, manufacturers have turned to dual-sensor camera systems over the past few years. While adding a second sensor doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a better picture, you typically get the option to have pictures with a blurred background.

Originally, the second sensor was added simply to capture depth information in order to distinguish between the foreground and background, but manufacturers soon realized that the second sensor could be used for a lot more. Some manufacturers increased the resolution of the second sensor, claiming it would add lossless zoom, others chose to equip the second sensor with a 2x optical zoom lens to enhance the “portrait mode” feature and then there are those who use a second monochrome sensor to capture more light and enhance every image that the phone captures.

While all of these options have their advantages and drawbacks, my personal favorite is the approach LG has taken. The new LG G7 is equipped with a dual-sensor camera which offers a 16mm wide-angle lens on its secondary sensor to complement the standard 30mm lens on its main sensor. This setup still gives you the ability to take portrait-style photos with a digitally blurred-out background, but it also allows you to capture images that no other smartphone could capture. The 16mm lens on the secondary sensor gives you a wide-angle view of your scene, mimicking the field of view you might get with an action camera or a wide-angle lens on a DSLR.

Of course, the camera sensors that LG is using on the G7 aren’t as good as what you get with the HTC U12+, the Pixel 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S9, but in my opinion, the end results are worth the tradeoff. Take a look at the shots in the gallery and let me know what you think in the comments.