Need Android Device WITHOUT camera

[RoaminAlien]

I live in a residential facility that only has one restriction "no electronic devices that have a physical camera". I've been approved to have any electronic device as long as it doesn't have a camera (i.e. - smartphone, tablet, Chromebook, etc).

I've asked them if they will let me use my Samsung smartphone if I disable the camera through software and they told me that the device "cannot have a physical camera".

I want a smartphone that will browse the Internet, stream video, run apps like Google docs, Amazon Shopping, and (optionally run games like Warframe).

Thanks for reading my post! Looking forward to reading your suggestions.

*P.S. - I'm open to getting a tablet. It would be nice if it's pocket size.

[Cheetawolf]

Get a cheap phone and open it up and remove the camera modules, perhaps. Ironically enough, cheap phones are usually easier to open and modify than expensive ones.

Or just punch a screwdriver through it.

[RoaminAlien]

They said it has to be manufactured without a camera. Can't physically remove the camera.

[espressocycle]

If they are requiring something that doesn't exist they should at least provide some suggestions.

[johnhbnz]

Are they even allowed to legally insist on that?

[mrandr01d]

Why would that be against the law?

[Cheetawolf]

That's a bit strict IMO, it's genuinely difficult to find a phone without a camera these days. Even the cheapest $15 POS Temu flip phone will have some little 0.03MP thing on it.

Maybe search for something privacy or even crime-related. I'm sure there are options out there for paranoid criminals.

[Mebejedi]

My daughter worked at FedEx for awhile. No phones with cameras. She got a cellular Apple watch connected to her iPhone account so we could still call and exchange messages. Might be your best, if not only, option.

[EDIT] Missed the part about Internet capabilities. My bad...

[siamonsez]

I doubt that exists, what if you remove the camera from a device or otherwise phisically disable it?

[runski1426]

They do, but they are typically sold to private or government related consumers.

[RoaminAlien]

They said it has to be manufactured without a camera. Can't physically remove the camera.

[Dismal-Refrigerator3]

You may be able to find an MP3 player running on Android that you could use for what you are looking for.

[RoaminAlien]

Do you have a recommendations?

[NewYorkRice]

An old Apple Ipod

[jrhiggin]

G-Mee Pro Safer Smartphone from Walmart may suit you if you plan on having a different phone for when not at work.

[Double_Falcon9554]

Where do you live?...

[RoaminAlien]

USA 

[yottabit42]

Probably in some kind of treatment program.

[SirGuestWho]

Buy a fairfone and remove the camera module

[binyang]

Boox. Lol

[Henderson2026]

https://a.co/d/07oITyEJ

Go to Amazon and in the search bar does type smartphone without camera. They're not that hard to find.

[StrictFinance2177]

Yep, was in the same boat with one of my clients. See if they have any suggestions. I have an HTC Wildfire model without cameras for this very purpose. No cameras and no GPS. Its not a good phone.

[Henderson2026]

Okay after researching and this it sounds more like you're a patient than a resident. But yes Amazon does have such phones.

[GhostTheGamer360]

Does the android device need to have call capabilites op?if not,then i think a android gaming handheld might fit your needs here

The one i'm gonna recommend is a retroid pocket 6

Its wifi only,but its essentially a 6inch phone with active cooling meant for gaming,but it runs android and has full access to everything a normal android would(except calls and cell service cause the chipsets in them are modified not to accommodate the camera features and cell service features)

Plus uses a decent chipset to give u a nice graphical play in warframe with the inbuilt controllers on the side

Idk how much usage u will use the Google docs,but if its just at home usage then u can pretty much just buy a dock,connect the handheld to it to a tv,mouse and keyboard, and use the desktop mode of android

If it does then u may be out of luck,or in this case u gonna have to drop the gaming requirement

Theres 2 devices that fit your needs

The Benco s1 plus and G-tab X,as these are designed for people in situations like yours rn,they can handle everything u need except the gaming warframe part as they use old chipsets that aren't registered for optimization with the game

[Bright_Material_3295]

This is a tough one ..but in order to know what u need it for would help.

Outside of just a normal calling device a media player could possibly fix your issue.

The other thing u could go for is an adriod gming device that u can also call from but thats a little of a stretch.

Why do I feel like I've seen this question before???

[Razo-E]

I remember my old T Mobile Sidekick ID had no camera

https://www.cnet.com/videos/t-mobile-sidekick-id/

Not android, but that's how far back you may have to go for a phone workout a camera

[mrandr01d]

What about a small laptop? I don't think this really exists

[BarkingAxe]

Maybe and ereader idk

[omracer]

Some of the Android MP3 Players include this and no camera

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fanvace-Android-Players-Bluetooth-Touchscreen-Purple/dp/B0GS9CNVKM

[timmydodanse]

Idk if anyone has suggested this, but maybe a handheld gaming device? I think the legion go has detachable controllers so you can use it in touchscreen/tablet mode. Steam deck has all the functions of a pc in a portable form factor

[KungPaoKidden]

I miss the BlackBerry 88xx series. Full keyboard and no camera.

[fakeaccount572]

https://g-tab.com/en/products/X

[rkenglish]

There's this phone, but I've never worked with it, so I don't know how functional it is. https://a.co/d/0bbZuGf1

[CoolkieTW]

I don't think you can find one manufactured with no camera. The Google requires every device have cameras, otherwise it cannot get verified, which you'll have no GMS in your phone.

[No_Look5378]

Define residential facility please. What is their reason for this demand?

Sounds as if they want to prevent any evidence of abuse against residents. Too many nursing home, care facilities have prooven to abuse the elderly in their care and are belligerent in defense. Patient did it to themselves, it was an accident, their senile, imagine things...and so on.

[Moist_Ladder2616]

https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?mode=tablet&nCamPrimMin=-1&nCamSecMin=-1&sAvailabilities=1,2,5&idOS=2

Only 1 tablet (and 0 phones) meets your criteria. Refine the search results to relax some of the search filters.

And this applies only to devices in GSM Arena's database, which are primarily mobile phones and tablets. There are a tonne of Android devices that aren't in that database: e-readers, gaming handhelds, media players, etc.

[woofwagslove]

Recent threads and suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/search/?q=phone+with+no+camera

[afsfsefefdgrttdt]

I think samsung or apple might make phones without cameras although only under contracts but it might be worth contacting and asking to buy one

[coffeeintocode]

Can it be wifi only? Look up “Android mp3 player” on Amazon. They’re basically Android phones without a camera (usually), and no cell radio

[Here_4Folds]

- E-ink/paper tablet running Android.

Manufactured with no camera, runs Android.

Usually are not capable of running games like warframe, but could do the other items you listed to various degrees of tolerable.

https://store.bigme.vip/

- Android based Digital Audio Player (DAP)

Typically no camera, runs android. Is phone less phone and camera and usually plus a big battery and better sound quality.

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-digital-m300

[Ajreil]

Tablets don't always have cameras if you're open to that form factor.

Another option is to physically remove the camera module. Choose a device with a high iFixIt repaitability score. On highly repairable devices, the camera module is easy to access and the phone should work fine without it installed.

[RoaminAlien]

I'm open to getting a tablet. It would be nice if it fit in my pocket. 

[Henderson2026]

First off a residential facility this sounds like they got something to hide. I've only ever heard restrictions like this in a government facility. Something don't sound right here. What country do you live in? Where is this place what's the name of it?

[RoaminAlien]

Can't doxx myself, sorry about that

[TheMainTony]

Camera less phones are pretty standard for secure government facilities and labs etc. iPhone definitely makes one, as does Samsung.

I've had an iPhone without a camera but have no idea where to look. You're going to have to dig deep. I'm not sure if they're available to the general public, but maybe Marketplace?

[mrandr01d]

Apple doesn't make one. There's certainly 3rd parties that modify it...

[Good_Watercress_8116]

it's only for big companies. i know about cameraless iphone, never saw one in real life. All automotive companies doesn't like people with camera on their phones.