What sensors do we have in our Smartphones? What are their use?

What sensors do we have in our Smartphones? What are their use?

Nowadays , a smartphone comes with various types of sensors such as  Gyroscope, Accelerometer Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Barometer Sensor, Magnetometer Sensor ,Pedometer Sensor, Light Sensors, Thermometer, Biometrics sensor etc. to give us multiple smart features.

Now to a newbie user, it is very easy to get confused about all these as they don't know what purposes these sensors serve .

But there is no need to be worried ! This article covers all the info  you need to know about sensors. So keep reading!

 1.  Proximity Sensor :-

Every smartphone has this sensor. Whenever you make or receive a call , this sensor gets turned on and when you put your phone to your ear , it turns the screen off and whenever you remove it from your ear, the screen gets turned on.. A very essential feature.

There are other apps like wave music and ....... which make use of this in unique ways.

 2. Accelerometer :-

To describe it in simple terms , this sensors renders the orientation of your device. It means when you turn the 'Auto-rotation' option in your notification panel, it rotates the screen according to the way you hold your phone, be it in Portrait or vertical mode and Landscape or horizontal mode in order to provide you the best view of your choice.

 3. Gyroscope. :-

It's a sensor designed to measure angular velocity. In simple terms , like the Accelerometer it determines the orientation,the movement of your device . It's like the Accelerometer sensor but it's more advanced and accurate.
Here we can take the example of a car racing game where you have to change your device's direction frequently from right to left and vice-versa to move your car. It becomes possible only because of this sensor.

 4. Light sensor:-

Another important sensor of our smartphones. Whenever we turn our " Auto-brightness " on , in the display settings, it lowers our screen's brightness in low light conditions such as in our homes so that it doesn't hurt our eyes and whenever we go out in the sunlight, the screen's brightness gets increased automatically, so that we can get a proper view in the bright sunlight.

 5. Magnetometer :-

This sensor enables a device to determine the direction i.e. acts as a Compass.

Sometimes in a new place we wonder which side is north or east or west or south . In this sort of situations this feature if your comes in really handy.

 6. Barometer :-

 Tracks the altitude or the distance from the sea-level of your device which in turn helps to determine the exact location of the device. It is also used to measure air pressure and any sudden weather changes.

7. Biometrics sensor :-

This  is one of the most important sensor that your phone should have as it is related intrinsically to the safety and security of you and your device . All the lock and unlock mechanisms like Fingerprint impression, Face unlock , Iris scanner except pin and patterns, is based on this sensor to improve the security of our devices on the go.

 8. Thermometer sensor:-

As is evident from the name, this sensor measures the temperature of your device as well as of outside .

 9. Pedometer sensor :-

If you have this sensor your phone , it will serve the purpose of accurately counting your steps when you walk or run and therefore can be an aid in your quest for fitness.

Thanks for reading! I hope this article cleared all your doubts about the sensors in our Smartphones and if you really got to know something new, share this with everyone you know as more views will motivate me to write more such informative articles for you!

Subhajit Surai

Author & Editor

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