The Nokia 9 PureView will be a one-off

HMD Global hoped that the Nokia 9 PureView would redefine smartphone photography with its five rear-facing cameras, but the device fell well short of expectations by all accounts. HMD Global had developed the ambitious camera system with Light, the start-up behind the sixteen lens L16 camera. Sony and Xiaomi had announced partnerships with Light, too.

However, Light has now confirmed to Android Authority that it is "no longer operating in the smartphone industry." Android Authority posits that we are unlikely to see OEMs release any new smartphones with Light-developed camera systems. Light has removed all references to its smartphone partnerships from its website, too. Instead, the company boasts that it is "pioneering a real-time 3D depth perception platform" for vehicles.

There have been rumours about the Nokia 9.3 PureView featuring five cameras, including a 108 MP primary sensor. However, the confirmation by Android Authority also effectively dashes any hopes of the device featuring Light cameras. That may not be a bad thing though, as HMD Global seems incapable of delivering its long-promised camera update for the Nokia 9 PureView. In fact, many people now think that the company has basically abandoned the device altogether.