HMD Arc Camera Review: Basic. Balanced. Better Than Expected.
It won’t win any photography awards, but the Arc’s camera punches above its price with smart software and honest color.
Let’s be honest – camera expectations in a sub-12K smartphone are usually pretty grim. Washed-out images, laggy shutter buttons, and “AI” modes that make things worse, not better. So, that’s what I had in mind when I got the HMD Arc. But after a couple of days of shooting for this HMD Arc camera review, something surprising happened: I started to enjoy using it and not because it was secretly amazing, but because it is reliably okay in a world where affordable devices often are not.
Camera Setup
The HMD Arc’s camera setup is modest, and you get:
- A 13MP primary camera
- A 5MP front-facing camera
- No ultrawide, macro or telephoto lens
- No 4K and no gimmicks
You get a kit that benefits from the right balance of light software, tuned sensor, and design philosophy that doesn’t try to fake what it can’t do.
Surprisingly Solid Daylight Performance
In good lighting, the Arc will take well-exposed, decently detailed photos with more natural colours than what you’d expect from a budget Android smartphone. While many low-cost smartphones lean on heavy contrast and overcooked HDR, the Arc takes a more measured approach, and that helps it stand out.
The Arc avoids heavy-handed image processing, which makes the photos look more real, even if they lack some pop.
Shutter lag is minimal in bright scenarios, and the basic autofocus is quick. Tap to focus and manual exposure controls give you just enough power when shooting in mixed scenarios.
Portrait mode: Don’t expect miracles
The phone comes with portrait mode, and the edge section is a hit or miss. When it works, it actually looks decent, especially for shots in good light. It will blur some parts for some shots, but that’s not unusual for budget Android devices.
This mode will perform well with clear separation between the subject and background. It does well for people and some objects, which is typical in this price segment.
Low-light shots: Manage your expectations
When it gets dark, that’s when the Arc starts to show its limits, as you’d expect for a phone under 12K. You, however, get a Night mode that will be decent enough to produce usable shots, which is a small win.
Selfies: Just enough
The Arc’s 5MP selfie camera takes acceptable shots and portraits, too, with fair skin tone and okay sharpness. Dynamic rhange is narrow, so expect blown-out skies.
For casual video calls and snaps, it’s enough.
Video: It works, but that’s it
Video recording is capped at 1080p 30fps for both main and selfie cameras. You’ll have to stay still, and autofocus will tend to hunt a bit.
Bottom line – the camera works just for casual video, like short clips.
Verdict
Here’s the thing: the Arc’s cameras don’t try to do too much, and that is somehow its superpower. In this HMD Arc camera review, I found that it delivers realistic photos in good light, a passable selfie camera, and just enough flexibility to capture daily life without frustration.
The phone skips the over-processing trap and doesn’t fake flagship features, and manages to offer a consistent smartphone camera experience at a price that many phones can’t touch.
If you need a reliable camera smartphone on a budget, the HMD Arc quietly does the job.
Pricing and Availability
HMD Arc is available starting from Ksh 11,000, and you can purchase it from HMD’s website, Kilimall, FoneXpress, Avi Communication, and PhonePlace Kenya.
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