HMD to Finally Move Camera Module to the Center?
HMD started its own brand, but the first batch of phones were designed like most generic phones, with the camera module placed on the left. Nokia’s Lumia phones used to have centrally positioned camera modules, and HMD initially continued this trend when reintroducing Nokia phones to the market. However, to keep the business sustainable, they switched to using predesigned motherboards, which placed the module on the left.
It’s unclear who started the trend—possibly Samsung—but many manufacturers adopted the left-side camera placement for their mid-range and low-end smartphones. Centrally positioned camera modules are typically reserved for flagship devices, as manufacturers usually invest more in design and advanced camera technology for these models.
The last HMD phone with a centrally positioned camera module was the U.S. version of the Nokia X100 (known elsewhere as the Nokia G50 and XR20). The shift to the left started with the Nokia G21 and G11 models. Despite borrowing from past design trends, like the Fabula design, HMD stuck with the left-side orientation.
Leaker Smashx_60, who previously shared images of HMD devices, recently revealed a photo of an HMD phone with a centrally positioned camera module, reminiscent of Nokia Lumia’s design. While the device’s specifications are still unknown, the camera sensor layout suggests it could feature a more advanced camera system than what was seen in the Skyline model.
However, the key question remains: Does this hint at HMD returning to past Nokia design trends and positioning camera modules in the center for its 2025/2026 models, or is the company developing a true flagship with enhanced camera technology?
According to the render, the device may also include pins for smart accessories. While the design is promising, it remains to be seen if the hardware specs will match the excitement.
