quadcamera

Quadcamera is a term used to describe a camera system that integrates four separate imaging modules within a single device. In consumer electronics, quad-camera arrays are most commonly found in smartphones, though variations exist in tablets and action cameras. The four lenses are typically arranged to provide different focal lengths and imaging modalities, such as a primary wide-angle lens, a secondary ultra-wide-angle lens, a telephoto or periscope lens for optical zoom, and a fourth sensor that may function as a macro, depth (bokeh) sensor, or monochrome sensor.

Functionally, quad-camera setups expand the device’s shooting options without requiring digital zoom. They enable higher zoom quality, wider field of view, macro capabilities, and improved depth estimation for portrait effects. Software processing, often described as computational photography, fuses data from all sensors to improve exposure, detail, and noise performance across scenes.

Advantages include versatility, richer creative options, and enhanced subject separation. Drawbacks include increased hardware size and cost, higher power consumption, potential inconsistencies in image quality between lenses, and more complex calibration and repair.

Adoption has grown as manufacturers moved from dual and triple cameras to four-lens modules in flagship and mid-range devices. While not universal, quad-camera designs are a common feature in several prominent smartphone lines and reflect a trend toward multi-lens sensing combined with AI-driven processing.