Third of TikTokers say camera quality is the most important aspect of their phone

Over a third (35%) of TikTok users believe that the quality of their camera is the most important aspect when buying a phone, a new survey suggests.

A survey of 1,000 UK residents, commissioned by online mobile phone retailer and part of the AO Group, Mobile Phones Direct reveals how smart phones are influencing our photography habits and how we’ve adapted what we take photos of over the course of the pandemic.

With the ever-growing popularity of social media, Gen Z are prioritising camera quality on phones, with 42% changing phones for one with a better camera and almost half (46%) being inspired by their smartphone to actually invest more time and money into photography as a hobby.

And it’s not hard to see why. New handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, with its quad rear camera (ultra-wide, wide and dual tele-lenses) and 108MP pro sensor allow people to capture studio quality images wherever these are. These devices are being used to flood social media with pro-grade content across platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

TikTok has seen a massive rise in users over the course of the past year, with 17 million active users in the UK* alone. Almost three quarters (73%) of TikTok users believe smartphones have made it easier for them to take professional style photos, with 74% saying their skills have improved over lockdown with having more time to focus on getting quality photos.

Looking at what we’ve taking photos of in lockdown, almost half of (47%) of Gen Z say they’ve replaced their holiday snaps with pictures of their pets, 44% actually set up an Instagram account for a dedicated subject with one in ten being purely dedicated to their fur babies.

The most popular dedicated subject for Instagram accounts set up by Gen Z’s over the past year were those relating to fashion as just under a third (32%) of people aged 16-24 set up a dedicated Instagram account sharing their styling tips and tricks.

Furthermore, despite not being able to explore new places over the past year, 32% of Gen Z’s also set up an account dedicated to travel.

Anne-Marie Beardmore, Trading Director at Mobile Phones Direct commented on the study:

“With the nation having less to do and photograph over the past year, we were interested to see what Brits have been filling their social media feeds with, and the creative ways in which we’re using our phone cameras to pass the time.

The rise of TikTok has made us all, especially Gen Z, look to perfect our photo and video skills in an attempt to be as entertaining as possible. With the quality of social media imagery and content rising every year, it’s no surprise we’re all focused on making sure we have the best camera possible on our phones.

New releases such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, with its quad rear camera (Ultra-wide, Dual Tele-lens) and 108MP Large Pro Sensor are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to new heights.”