Xiaomi Patents An In-Display Camera Design For Its Smartphones

It seems like all smartphone makers are looking to maximize the screen acreage by reducing the bezels and putting the selfie camera elsewhere. To increase the screen-to-body ratio, many solutions have been introduced, from the pop-up mechanism, notches, second screen, punch-hole, to rotating camera.

These inventions have brought certain success to their makers. For example, OnePlus 7 Pro with its pop-up selfie snapper has helped the company achieved the full-screen users had been looking forward to have. Plus, this smartphone from OnePlus is competing for the best-of-the-year throne of 2019.

However, these are nothing compared to what Xiaomi is researching.

Recently, a patent has been leaked on the Internet showing that the company is working on an in-display camera. There has not been a detailed translation of the patent, but from what we can make out, there will be two display layer with one under the other. It will be in front of the light sensor and front camera.

What Xiaomi is after is a snapper that can show up when users need and disappear when they have no use for it anymore. These are what the patent conveys, and many people project that there is a lot more we have not yet understood.

A similar idea was introduced by Samsung, and the Korean phone maker also wants to place the front camera under the display. This design can bring two main benefits; one is that the phone can be truly notch-free, and the other is the IP ratings for water-resistant of the device will not be affected. Samsung’s plan has been announced by Yang Byung-Duk, the company’s vice president and confirmed by Korean media outlets.

If Samsung and Xiaomi succeed with the design, they will probably raise the bar for smartphone display as well as render the pop-up mechanism and notches obsolete.