Phones can be weird sometimes. For example, a flashing dot on the screen of a Samsung phone has puzzled many users. However, shaking the device and hearing a noticeable clicking sound can seem much more frightening and anxiety-inducing, as the maraca-like clicks can remind you of loose or other components. Fortunately, Samsung phone clicking noise is completely normal.
This is actually a net positive. Clicking indicates that your phone has optical image stabilization, or OIS. This nifty feature can detect if your hands are moving, and if so, it automatically corrects the problem by moving the lens in the opposite direction to counteract the shake. Naturally, OIS helps your photos look sharp even in low light, which is why models with this feature (like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra) come with some of the best phone cameras money can buy. So when you think about it, you can consider yourself lucky if you spotted this particular oddity.
Why does the OIS vibrate?
Javi_indy/Getty Images
The entire OIS system floats freely, allowing elements to move in all directions. By reading the motion sensors, the phone combines that information with OIS and makes slight adjustments to the lens (or, in some models, the sensor), neutralizing your trembling hands. The floating design keeps your photos sharp, but it can also cause a clicking noise when the small component collides with the body.
This often happens when the camera is turned off, and depending on the model, you may notice differences in volume. Not all phones use the same size parts for OIS, so if you have a larger device, the clicking noise will likely be more pronounced. Besides the clicking sound, you may also notice your photos becoming blurry if you place strong magnets next to the camera. This is just another quirk of the OIS, as the magnets can cause temporary malfunction.
Comments in the Samsung subreddit (r/samsung) show that many users are annoyed or intrigued by the clicking noise. Some were afraid it was a defect, and others thought they had broken their phone somehow. If you’re still worried about noise, open the camera app and do a quick shake test. If the sound disappears, you’re probably in the clear.
