Do you really need three cameras on your phone? Many users don’t think so

Your phone may carry three cameras, but one often stays unused. Here's why many users question the purpose of the ultrawide lens.

Open your photo gallery and scroll back a few years. You may notice something missing. Despite carrying a phone with three cameras, most people rarely use one of them. Smartphone makers keep adding more cameras, but many users may not need all of them. The third lens on the back of most phones, often the ultrawide camera, looks useful on paper. In daily use, it often sits idle.

Here’s why your phone may carry a third camera lens that you use far less than expected. (HT)

By MD Ijaj Khan

Ijaj Khan is a technology journalist and Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience covering the consumer technology industry. His work spans smartphones, laptops, wearables, gaming, appliances and AI - from hands-on reviews, comparison and buying guides to breaking news and in-depth features that help readers cut through the noise and make informed decisions. Before joining HT Tech, he worked with Jagran New Media, where he sharpened his instincts for fast-paced digital reporting. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Whether he's testing the latest flagship smartphone, tracking a major AI announcement, or putting a gaming laptop through its paces, Ijaj approaches every story with the same goal - making technology feel relevant and easy to understand for everyday users, not just enthusiasts. When he's not in front of a screen for work, he's usually travelling to a new city, hunting for great food, or keeping tabs on what's next in tech before everyone else catches on.

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This question came up while going through years of stored photos. Among thousands of images, very few came from an ultrawide camera. That discovery raises a simple point: if people rarely use a feature, does it deserve space on a phone?

How wide phone cameras already are

Most smartphones now ship with at least two rear cameras. One serves as the main camera, while the other offers an ultrawide view. Some phones also add a telephoto lens. What many users do not realise is that the main camera itself is already wide.

Early smartphones used wide lenses to cover more situations with a single camera. Devices such as the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S3 used lenses close to 29 mm in full-frame terms. In traditional photography, lenses under 35 mm count as wide. By that standard, phone cameras have always leaned wide.

When brands introduced dual cameras, they pushed this further. Phones like the LG G5 paired a main camera around 26 mm with an ultrawide lens near 9 mm. The goal was simple: fit more into the frame.

What ultrawide cameras promise

Despite this, many people still ignore the ultrawide option. One reason lies in output quality. For years, ultrawide cameras lagged behind main cameras in detail and colour accuracy. Even today, the gap remains on many phones.

Another reason involves overlap. Modern main cameras have grown wider. Current phones from major brands use main lenses between 23 mm and 26 mm. That small step to an ultrawide lens often does not change framing enough to matter for everyday shots.

A shift in camera choices

Some manufacturers have noticed this trend. Motorola released the Razr Plus (2024) without an ultrawide camera. Instead, it paired a main camera with a telephoto lens. Apple has taken a similar approach on past iPhone SE models and newer budget lines.

A different layout could make better use of space. A wide main camera combined with a telephoto system offering two zoom levels could cover more needs. This setup supports portraits, distant subjects, and everyday shots without relying on an ultrawide lens.