Samsung unveils bizarre new phone with 'world's first quad camera'

The smartphone maker says the Galaxy A9 is 'optimised for the Instagram generation'

The four camera lenses of the Galaxy A9 (Samsung)

Samsung has doubled down on the dual-lens smartphone camera trend by placing an array of four separate lenses on the back of its latest device.

The Samsung Galaxy A9, set to be released at some point next month, is designed with social media in mind, with the South Korean firm saying it is "optimised for the Instagram generation."

At £549, the mid-range smartphone sits below the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 phones, and puts it in competition with the similarly-priced OnePlus 6 and Honor 10.

The four-camera setup may be eye-catching in an increasingly crowded market, but it comes just two days after Google also bucked the dual-lens trend by deciding to stick with just a single lens for the highly-impressive camera on its Pixel 3.

Alongside its 24 megapixel main lens, the Galaxy A9's so-called Quad Camera comes with a lens for zooming, a lens for capturing wide angles and a lens to enhance the photos' depth of field.

There is also, of course, a front-facing camera that makes up for its lack of multiple lenses by cramming in a 24 megapixel sensor.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 features four rear cameras (Samsung)

“As a global leader in smartphone innovation, we understand the demand for meaningful innovation in a fast-paced world driven by visual communication,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung.

“Building on our legacy in smartphone camera development we’re introducing next-generation technology across our entire Galaxy portfolio to give more consumers the opportunity to experience cutting-edge innovation. We’re excited to deliver on this promise and debut world leading smartphone camera technology with the Galaxy A9.”

The phone also features a 6.3-inch screen, 6GB of RAM, a 3,800mAh battery, 128GB of internal storage and 512GB of expandable memory.