How can smartphone cameras work thru scratched lenses?

My smartphone takes reasonably good pictures despite a smeary slightly
scratched protective lens window. (It's not actually the optical surface
of the lens).

I used to caregully clean my 35mm Nikon SLR lenses every time I took the
camera out.

What is it about the optics on a smartphone which allows it to get away
despite such neglect?

Perhaps it's to do with something like the focal length or depth of focus?

In article , maurice
wrote:

My smartphone takes reasonably good pictures despite a smeary slightly
scratched protective lens window. (It's not actually the optical surface
of the lens).

I used to caregully clean my 35mm Nikon SLR lenses every time I took the
camera out.

What is it about the optics on a smartphone which allows it to get away
despite such neglect?

it's built to withstand it, usually with a sapphire crystal lens cover
or similar.

Perhaps it's to do with something like the focal length or depth of focus?

mostly because digital is much better than film, particularly when it's
mixed with highly sophisticated image processing.