# Is there a "clean" Android phone with a wide angle camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clean-android-phone-with-a-wide-angle-camera/841988 "2019-10-19T05:00:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clean-android-phone-with-a-wide-angle-camera/841988/1 "2019-10-19T05:00:39Z")
I’ve been using Google’s Nexus/Pixel phones for a long time, and currently have a Pixel 2. The Pixel 3 and 4 are totally underwhelming and removed some of my favorite features from the 2. The only feature I want from a new phone is a (ultra) wide angle camera like the iPhones have, but Google doesn’t seem to want to add that. And I don’t want a phone with a bunch of manufacturer bloatware, like Samsung’s. Does anyone make an Android phone with a decent wide-angle lens, that gets timely updates and no OEM skin/bloatware? Back in the day, there used to be Google Play Edition Phones, but I guess that died. Is there anything comparable? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2019, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clean-android-phone-with-a-wide-angle-camera/841988/2 "2019-10-19T08:47:44Z")
I’m in roughly the same position as you, though I can wait a little longer for an upgrade from my Pixel 2 XL. The closest thing that seems to fit the bill is the OnePlus 7T. Ultrawide camera, fairly lightweight OS modifications, and a good feature set for the price. The main downsides as I see it: - Camera software stack not as good as the Pixel phones. Not bad, but really the Pixels are top-tier here and the OnePlus doesn’t quite match them. - I liked the back-facing fingerprint reader on the Pixel 2. A front reader isn’t a whole lot better than the face detection thing. I like being able to unlock my phone one-handed and as it’s coming out of my pocket. - Probably not as quick as the Pixels in getting OS updates. Still, they look pretty promising. ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clean-android-phone-with-a-wide-angle-camera/841988/3 "2019-10-19T22:56:56Z")
Are aftermarket smartphone lenses no longer a thing? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clean-android-phone-with-a-wide-angle-camera/841988/4 "2019-10-20T00:01:48Z")
I’ll second **Dr. Strangelove** ’s recommendation of the OnePlus 7T. While I won’t be upgrading this cycle, I’ve been with OnePlus since the first iteration. I’m not much of a picture-taker, so I can’t speak as to how camera’s, their lenses, and their software compares across products, but it ticks all your other boxes along with the wideangle lens. And while I understand that it is completely personal preference, I much prefer the software fingerprint reader on the screen over any on the rear.