What do modern Android phones and the classic "Weebles" toys from the '70s have in common? They wobble.It's an epidemic of chunky, off-center camera bumps, and I'm trying to fix it.My first attempt was pretty good, but I'm back with a new and improved solution.
Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover If you're feeling out of the loop, allow me to explain.Many of the flagship Android phones from the last five years, especially those from Samsung, feature protruding camera bumps off to one side.These bumps can be nearly 5mm.
So, when the phone is placed on a flat surface, it wobbles like crazy.The problem is even worse on foldables There's a reason tablets aren't designed like this A few months ago, I came up with a solution for this problem.It was a 3D-printed ring and bumper that snapped onto the camera.
I called it the "De-Wobbler," and it was effective at balancing the protrusion evenly across the back of the phone.The before/after speaks for itself.I made the De-Wobbler for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but as you can see in the GIFs, it wasn't about using the phone unfolded.
That was a can of worms I wasn't ready to open yet.Balancing a phone with a thick camera bump is pretty simple — just stick something that's the same thickness across from the camera.However, for a foldable phone that's opened, "across from the camera" is on the front cover screen.
I obviously can't stick something there.A more clever solution was needed.As a side note, I find this situation to be even more inexcusable for foldable phones.
These devices are intended to do double duty as mini tablets, and you rarely ever see tablets with big, protruding camera bumps.People would be very annoyed if their tablet were bouncing all over the place while using it on a coffee table.Foldables should be designed the same way.
Related I finally fixed the annoying Samsung Galaxy camera bump wobble with a simple ring Samsung Galaxy phones have a dirty secret: the official thickness measurements do not include the camera bump.Most smartphones have this same secret, but Samsung’s design choices make it a particularly annoying problem.I set out to fix it.
Posts 15 By Joe Fedewa The answer was in the phone itself A more clever solution I had been thinking about this problem for my Pixel 11 Pro Fold (my review) when an idea hit me: what if the De-Wobbler simply folded open along with the phone? That would allow it to stretch further across the back of the phone when it's opened, but it wouldn't be in the way when the phone is closed.Putting a hinge on the De-Wobbler could solve one issue in theory, but it presented a new one in the process.Normally, when an object folds open, the two halves are, well, the total thickness of the closed object.
You can see what I mean below.That wouldn't work for the De-Wobbler.In order to balance the camera bump, it needed to match the thickness of the camera when closed .
So, I needed to design it in a way that would allow the folding half to sort of nest around the static half, while also keeping the total size to a minimum (no one wants a chunky accessory added to their already chunky camera bump).Long story, short: That's exactly what I did.Close The Foldable De-Wobbler has a hinge on one side and recessed corners on the other.
This design allows the corners on the folding half to be the same thickness as the camera.When folded open, it more evenly distributes the bump across the back of the phone, making it much less wobbly.See for yourself in the before/after video below.
Should I make more? My first Foldable De-Wobbler is for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.You can download the model from MakerWorld and print it yourself.If enough people are interested, I could also make a version for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8.
It would be a bit more challenging since those camera bumps are in a vertical stack (giving me less horizontal sprawl when opened), but I'm pretty sure I could figure it out.If there's a will, there's a way.Related I made a pocket EDC toolbox that fits 6 tools (and attaches to my phone) [Update: Smaller version] Those of us who are DIY-minded reach for a few common tools every day.
Screwdriver, utility knife, tape measure, pencil, tweezers, and more.I wanted to find a way to keep these tools nearby, so I designed a pocket toolbox with magnets.Posts 3 By Joe Fedewa
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