# Samsung's forgotten camera dreams

> Samsung built innovative mirrorless cameras a decade ago, then abandoned them for smartphones.
- Title: Samsung's forgotten camera dreams · Digital Camera World
- Summary: Samsung built innovative mirrorless cameras a decade ago, then abandoned them for smartphones. Samsung's NX camera line showed real innovation but failed…
- Keywords: samsung, mirrorless cameras, nx10, nx mini, nx1, camera abandonment, smartphone competition, lens mount, digital photography, camera industry, Samsung's, forgotten
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/samsungs-mirrorless-camera-lineup-started-with-the-nx10-and-showed-potential-with-the-nx-mini-i-believe-it-was-abandoned-too-soon
- Published: 2026-09-19T15:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: samsung, mirrorless cameras, nx10, nx mini, nx1, camera abandonment, smartphone competition, lens mount, digital photography, camera industry
## Samsung's camera ambitions
A decade ago, Samsung built a thriving digital camera range with innovations that competitors couldn't match. The company eventually chose smartphones over dedicated cameras.
## The NX10 started it all
Samsung launched the NX10 in 2010, beginning its interchangeable lens camera series. The line showed real promise with connected features and innovative designs.
## Android in a camera body
The 2013 Galaxy NX was the world's first mirrorless camera with a full Android operating system, letting users do almost everything a smartphone could except make calls.
## The NX Mini showed promise
Samsung's 2014 NX Mini featured a flip-up selfie screen and a one-inch sensor, proving the company understood what photographers wanted.
## The proprietary mount problem
Samsung created its own NX lens mount instead of adopting an existing standard. This forced buyers to invest in a proprietary ecosystem with limited lens options.
## Why Samsung lost the battle
Samsung couldn't win over enthusiast photographers while building its own lens ecosystem against established brands. Meanwhile, its own smartphones offered casual users a simpler alternative.
## The final cameras
The NX500 in 2015 borrowed the pro NX1's 28-megapixel sensor and 4K video. The NX300 introduced a tilting screen that remains essential on mirrorless cameras today.
## A missed opportunity
Samsung abandoned Android in cameras just as it seemed to be showing photography's future. No other manufacturer has seriously pursued that vision since.
## Key takeaway

Samsung's NX camera line showed real innovation but failed because it couldn't build a lens ecosystem or compete with established camera brands while its own phones offered a simpler alternative.