OPPO Vice President Brian Shen took to Twitter to post a video showcasing a prototype smartphone with an under-display selfie camera yesterday. Rival Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has now revealed that it too is working on similar technology.
The video posted by Xiaomi on its social media pages shows the selfie camera on the prototype device stays completely hidden under the display panel. Xiaomi says this is made possible thanks to a patented method that involves making the display transparent without reflecting light even when the screen is completely black.
Xiaomi’s under-display camera technology will allow the company to equip its future smartphones with a 20MP resolution selfie camera with a 5P lens right under the OLED display panel. Needless to say, this approach will provide a much better viewing experience when compared to the punch-hole displays that we have seen so far. Once more companies come out with similar technology, we may finally be able to say goodbye to notches and punch-holes in smartphone displays.
The company hasn’t announced any details regarding exactly when it plans to launch a smartphone featuring the technology. It is possible that the under-display camera technology may be integrated into the Mi Mix 4, which is expected to be made official sometime in the fourth quarter of the year.