More people should know about this surprising risk to your phone’s camera
Some users are learning the hard way about the dangers of filming a laser show or the lidar sensor on a car.
Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
- A car’s lidar sensor can permanently damage your phone camera if you point it directly at it.
- A Galaxy S24 Ultra owner reported similar damage after attending a laser-heavy light show.
- Experts warn that a laser can be safe for the eyes but still harmful to phone camera sensors, especially at close range.
Smartphone users used to be most concerned about the risks of dropping their devices or getting them wet. However, with the improvements to durability and waterproofing in flagship devices, perhaps you should be more concerned about whether you’ll accidentally fry your phone camera with lasers.
As highlighted by The Drive, some Volvo EX90 owners are learning the hard way that the SUV’s roof-mounted lidar sensor can seriously mess with your phone camera. A Reddit user shared a video showing exactly what happens when the device’s infrared laser hits a phone’s lens — fried pixels and visible damage that doesn’t go away. The video is worth a watch to see the damage occurring in real time.
