The Light Phone 3 adds a better screen, a camera, and new ways to replace your smartphone

The camera setup on the Light Phone 3 is quite different from typical smartphones. While most smartphones nowadays feature multiple cameras for various purposes such as ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses, the Light Phone 3 has a more minimalistic approach. It features just a single rear-facing 50-megapixel camera and a front-facing 8-megapixel camera, both with fixed focal lengths.

The main purpose of the Light Phone 3's camera is not high-quality photography but rather to provide basic functionality such as scanning QR codes and video chatting. The camera is designed for documenting moments without the need for editing or sharing options. The device also has a dedicated shutter button, which is intended to make shooting with it feel more like using an old film camera than a modern smartphone.

This simplified camera setup aligns with the overall philosophy of the Light Phone 3, which aims to offer a less distracting and more focused user experience compared to mainstream smartphones.

Users gave up on the previous Light Phone models mainly due to two reasons: the E Ink display and the lack of a camera. The E Ink screen had a slow refresh rate, which made it difficult for almost 50 percent of users to get used to it. The absence of a camera was another major reason that led users to abandon the Light Phone 2.