Hall Effect Sensor
A sensor that can detect a magnetic field.
In phones, its most common use is detecting the proximity of a magnet embedded in an attached accessory, such as a flip cover or VR goggles.
For example, with a flip cover, a small magnet embedded in the flip cover is positioned so that it aligns with — and triggers — the Hall Effect sensor when the cover is closed. When the sensor is triggered by the magnet, the screen shuts off or switches to a special idle mode.
Last updated Nov 8, 2019 by Rich Brome
Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
