Is It Possible for a Phone’s Front Camera to Have a Flash? Would It Be Cool?

Yes, it is entirely possible for a phone's front camera to have a flash. Depending on the smartphone model, a front-facing flash can be implemented using a screen flash or a dedicated LED flash. This feature is particularly useful in low-light conditions, enhancing the quality of selfies and video calls.

Two Different Ways to Achieve a Front Camera Flash

The implementation of a front camera flash varies widely across different smartphone models. Here, we discuss how it is achieved in two primary ways:

Screen Flash

Smartphones with a bright enough screen can use it to serve as a flash. As phone screen peak brightness pushed higher, exceeding 1000 nits and sometimes even 2000 nits, these displays became incredibly bright, providing a more even and softer glow to your face when taking a selfie. This method allowed manufacturers to omit the hardware LED flash on the front, improving the aesthetics of the device while still allowing low-light front camera photos.

Dedicated Hardware LED Flash

In some cases, phones feature a dedicated hardware LED flash on the front of the phone. While uncommon due to the unsightly nature of phone bezels, this feature had its niche applications. Phone screens were still not universally bright enough to act as a flash in early days, rendering the dedicated hardware LED necessary.

Examples of Front Camera Flash Implementation

Let's take a look at some examples of phones that showcase the use of front camera flashes:

Hardware-Based Front Flash in Older Phones

Moto E: This phone featured a dedicated hardware LED flash on the front, improving selfies in low light. ZenFone 4: Another model with a front-facing dedicated hardware LED, enhancing photo quality in dim environments. Bootleg of a Mate 30 and Wish Knocks-Off: These devices also included a hardware-based front flash, further demonstrating the emerging trend in front-facing flashes.

Display-Driven Flash in Modern Phones

The best implementation of a display-driven flash can be seen in the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Unlike other devices that briefly flash the entire screen white, the Xiaomi 12 Pro's camera app brightens the edges while the impressive 1500 nit display does not require the entire screen to change color, providing a more even and softer illumination for the photo. This method is much cooler as it eliminates the issues associated with too bright or washed-out photos, red-eye, and other issues.

Conclusion

Integrating a front camera flash in smartphones is a cool and practical feature. While screen-brightening technology is becoming more common, hardware-based flashes still have their place. Whether through a screen or a dedicated LED, a front camera flash improves the quality of selfies and low-light video calls. As technology advances, we can expect to see more innovative solutions in this space, enhancing our mobile photography experiences further.