A recent leak from tipster FixedFocus has unveiled the render of Xiaomi’s possible upcoming phone featuring a pop-up front camera. This intriguing design aspect isn’t entirely new but represents a renewed trend in the smartphone industry. Introduced to the world in 2018 with the Vivo NEX, the pop-up camera was initially developed as a solution to the problem of incorporating a front camera without compromising on-screen real estate. It has always been a subject of debate, with its pros and cons from an aesthetic and functionality standpoint.

Reviving the Pop-Up Camera: Xiaomi’s Bold Move in Smartphone Design

Xiaomi’s implementation, however, is based on their “Hidden Electronic Device and Hidden Camera” patent, which promises reduced space occupation, leading to a thinner and lighter device compared to previous pop-up front camera models. This advanced design aims to eliminate some of the shortcomings associated with the earlier models, such as the increase in the device’s weight and size.

The patent granted by the National Intellectual Property Administration confirms the inclusion of a housing, camera module, and retractable reflective component. The reflective component plays a vital role in protecting the camera module, reducing space usage, and improving pixel quality by reflecting images onto the camera module for imaging.

Over the past few years, the popularity of pop-up cameras has seen highs and lows, with many brands opting for hole-punch cameras or under-screen cameras for a sleeker design. While Apple with their iPhone 14 Pro series adopts a dynamic island design, and Huawei’s Mate60 series is rumored to follow a similar path. However, Xiaomi’s return to this design showcases the resilience and potential for innovation in the pop-up camera technology.

The phone’s design with this revived and re-engineered pop-up camera presents a true full-screen effect with invisible front bezels if it adopts a four-curved design. This promises an even more immersive experience for users, showcasing the full potential of the screen without any obstructions.

The return of the pop-up front camera could bring a fresh direction to the mobile phone industry, offering users an innovative and visually appealing option.

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(Via)

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Xiaomi has filed a new patent for the pop-up camera module in smartphones. The concept of pop-up cameras isn’t any new thing in the smartphone market, however, the one patented recently by Xiaomi has an altogether different kind of working mechanism. The new mechanism allows the full-screen display of the device to be utilized properly without any harm. Let’s further dive deep into the information to check what really Xiaomi is planning for!

Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. recently obtained authorization for a new patent, which was then approved and published on the China Patent Publication Announcement of the State Intellectual Property Office with the permitted announcement number CN217883600U, according to a recent report shared by ITHome. It was listed as “a camera mobile mechanism and electrical equipment” in the patent.

According to the description, the current disclosure relates to electronic devices and a moving mechanism for cameras. A transmission mechanism is a part of the camera-moving mechanism. A connected power input end, a planar linkage mechanism, and a power output end make up the transmission mechanism. The driving part is used to drive the power output end to move between the first position and the second position through the power input end and the planar linkage mechanism, driving the camera to move. The driving part is used to drive the power output end to move between the first position and the second position.

The complete screen of the electronic device can be realised while still allowing for normal use of the camera without endangering the integrity of the display panel. The mechanical construction used to move the camera is straightforward and dependable, and it also has an easy-to-use interface and cheap operating costs.

Since the transmission mechanism uses a planar link mechanism to transmit power, the overall movement of the transmission mechanism is located in one plane, according to the patent specification, which reduces the thickness of the electronic device using the camera moving mechanism and helps to realise light and thin electronic equipment.

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Vivo is apparently working on a new unique new smartphone. The company has patented a device that features a detachable pop up camera mechanism that houses camera sensors on the front and back.

According to LetsGoDigital, the Chinese smartphone maker filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that was published earlier this month. The patent describes a smartphone with a pop up camera mechanism on the top right corner. While pop up camera usually house a camera module for taking selfies, this version also houses dual cameras on the rear that function as the primary rear sensors. While this is already a notable aspect, the most highlighting part about the patent is the fact that the entire pop up module can be detached.

Once removed from the main body, the camera system can now be used independently and the users can even position the camera system in different manners thanks to a hinge mechanism built into the detachable pop up module. Furthermore, the cameras can even capture different field of views since it has a camera on either side. Notably, the company’s patent also details this detachable module, which houses a battery that enables it to function separately.

While users can detach the camera to use it independently, it can still communicate with the parent smartphone as it houses a Wi-Fi module as well. In other words, a possible application could be that the user detaches the module and places it at an angle to take a picture. The preview could be displayed on the smartphone’s display while also offering support for different functions like night node. Unfortunately, this is still just a patent and we have no way of confirming if the company is actually working on such a device.

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Vivo has just filed a patent for a new smartphone. The patent depicts a unique smartphone that has a superzoom lens that will allow for impressive magnification, which is housed in a pop up  mechanism.

According to a LetsGoDigital report, the Chinese smartphone maker filed this patent with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) under the title ‘Camera module, electronic device and camera module control method.’ As per the patent’s description, modern day smartphones only support ‘low multiple zoom.’ But, the latest technology from Vivo would enable its handset to offer ‘high multiple zoom.’ In simpler terms, the brand has patented a new camera technology that would offer zoom magnification with a notable range.

As of right now, the company already offers certain smartphone models with a zoom lens on the back. This includes the likes of the Vivo X30 Pro, which sports two telephoto lenses that support 2x and 5x magnification. Notably, the report from LetsGoDigital also offered renders of the patented device that will house the superzoom pop up camera, which was made by graphic designed Technizo Concept. The most highlighting aspect about this superzoom camera module is its unique pop up mechanism.

Multiple lenses are housed in a single module that extend out, and collapse into the base. In other words, its like a pyramid like design with the top most lens having the smallest surface area while the base houses the sensor and all the other lenses alongside it. Looking at the patent, there are four lenses in total, with additional lenses popping up as per the magnification needs of the user. Additionally, these lenses can also overlap allowing for longer zoom range. While the patent does not reveal the amount of optical zoom, it does state that it will be a lot more powerful than current smartphones with zoom lens.

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Huawei has an event scheduled for July 29. While the big announcement is for the P50 series, there will be other products too one of which is an educational smart display for kids which the manufacturer just teased.

We first learned of the Huawei smart display for kids from a leak early this month. The source had listed a number of products Huawei has scheduled for launch this month and among them is a smart display and a smartwatch for kids.

Huawei already makes tablets for kids but this will be its first smart display specifically for kids. Apart from the fact that it will run HarmonyOS out of the box, the device has carried over a feature we have only seen on smartphones – a pop-up camera.

The smart display has an aluminum build and a thick flat frame with buttons on the side for power and volume. The overall appearance of the device looks like a tablet with a kickstand. The design is a clever one as Huawei has put the speakers in the triangle-like space created by the “kickstand”.

The pop-up selfie camera is a 13MP sensor and it has a hinge that allows it to be bent forward (and possibly backward). This isn’t the only camera on the smart display. There is another one visible at the top right corner of the bezel.

The specifications of the device are unknown and so is the price. So we will have to wait until next week when it is announced to find out these details.

The manufacturer is also expected to announce the Huawei Children’s Watch 4X Pro, the Huawei band 6 Pro, and new smart TVs on July 29.

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Despite being the market leader in terms of foldable smartphones, Samsung continues to file design and utility patents related to this kind of phone. This shows the company’s dedication towards what’s said to the future of smartphones. That said, now another Samsung foldable smartphone utility patent has emerged describing the usage of pop-up cameras.

As always, the new utility patent by Samsung Electronics was spotted by LetsGoDigital. The company filed it with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) titled ‘ Foldable electronic device including sliding structure and method for controlling the same’. The patent got approved and published on October 22.

The 79-page documentation for this patent talks about using pop-up cameras in 4 different ways in a foldable smartphone that looks like the Galaxy Z Fold2. We don’t think that the South Korean tech giant will ever adopt this but still it is worth taking a look at.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung patents a Smartphone design with Flexible Display and a Pop-up Speaker mechanism

In the first type, the pop-up module contains sensors for selfies and video calls like on traditional smartphones. Hence, this module resides inside the left-wing of the phone. Whereas, in the remaining three types, the pop-up module sits inside the right-wing.

In the second type, the pop-up module is dedicated to rear cameras so that the back panel of the device can be kept clean. However, in the third type, the pop-module includes microphones and flash for rear cameras as well as the entire suite of front-facing sensors. Lastly, the fourth type houses both the rear and front cameras together.

Having said that, as we mentioned in the beginning, Samsung may never use this utility patent as under-screen cameras are expected to take over in the coming years.

UP NEXT: Samsung patents three foldable smartphone designs with cutout for inner cameras

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Smartphone manufacturers keep working on new designs to make their devices stand out from the crowd and offer something unique to the users. With people wanting bezel-less phones, companies come up with several different designs, including pop-up cameras and under-display cameras to increase the screen-to-body ratio.

The technology of the under-display camera has been in the works for quite some time. ZTE recently launched the Axon 20 5G as the world’s first smartphone to have an in-display camera sensor and other brands are expected to follow the suit next year.

Amid this, companies keep working on new design ideas. In line with this, China-based Xiaomi has filed a patent application for a smartphone design that includes two pop-up cameras aimed to work as both rear and front-facing snapper, reports LetsGoDigital.

The concept images attached to the patent application showcases a flat-screen smartphone with very narrow bezels. There are no camera sensors visible on the front panel or on the backside of the device. Instead, the company has opted for a pop-up mechanism for housing camera sensors.

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Both the camera sensors pop-up at an angle, similar to what we’ve seen on OPPO‘s Shark-Fin camera. Since there are sensors on both sides of the pop-up mechanism, the phone packs four camera lenses in total — two at the front and two on the back.

The LED flash has been placed towards the top of the smartphone on the backside, right below the area from where the camera sensors pop-up. The phone also has stereo speakers and a USB-C port at the bottom.

Xiaomi already has a few smartphones using a pop-up mechanism for the front-facing camera under its Mi as well as the Redmi lineup. It will be interesting to see if the company actually goes ahead and launches a phone with a dual pop-up mechanism for the front as well as the back camera module.

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A few phone manufacturers are developing AR glasses and Huawei is one of them. A pair of AR glasses with a feature found on phones has been patented by the Chinese manufacturer.

The patent for the AR glasses was recently approved by the China National Intellectual Property Office and sketches of the device have popped up online. The diagrams show that the AR glasses will have a motorized pop-up selfie camera similar to the one found in smartphones including those made by Huawei too, but it doesn’t stop there.

While the pop-up camera for most phones only serves as the front-facing camera, the one for Huawei’s AR glasses can rotate and also capture images from the left side and the rear of the wearer.

The patent’s documents also mention that there is an app that can be used to control the camera. You can use the app to activate the camera and also to change its direction. If you don’t need the camera anymore, you can turn it off via the app and it will slide back into the frame of the glasses.

There is no news yet regarding when Huawei will launch the AR glasses. There is even no guarantee it will end up as a commercial product. The company may decide to launch a pair of AR glasses with a different design entirely, so we advise you not to raise your hopes.

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(Source, Via)

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A new Xiaomi patent has just surfaced online. While the Chinese tech giant has been seen covering all bases in the past with unique designs and more, the new patent is actually quite grounded with a pop up camera.

Xiaomi Files New Pop-Up Mobile Patent. I Think This One Will Launch Around 15-17K. pic.twitter.com/Sy4127AkPQ

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) June 10, 2020

This patent was filed back in August 2018, which is during the time when smartphones with pop up cameras actually took off in the market. However, since then, the popularity has seemingly worn off with flagship models already shifting towards punch hole cameras and research and development being put into under-display sensors as well.

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One notably flaw of the mechanized pop up camera system was that it made waterproofing the smartphone harder for OEMs. Thus, we may never actually seeing the handset as detailed in the patent. Although, we have no way of confirming that either. Looking at the patent images, the smartphone has the pop up camera linked to its rear camera module.

In other words, the front and rear systems seem to be linked, with the pop up mechanism probably hiding behind it when not in use. On the bottom, a USB Type C charging port can be found which is flanked by a lone speaker grill. The regular features like antenna bands and mic can also be found, but the camera position is uncommon. A triple camera system can be observed on the rear with a periscopic lens, which was relatively rare in 2018, along with the primary lens and depth sensor. Unfortunately, it is unknown if Xiaomi will actually develop or launch such a device, but stay tuned for any updates regarding this handset.

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Smartphone manufacturers have adopted numerous methods to achieve a full screen body on the front. One of the more popular ones was the popup selfie camera system, which had a raising mechanism that housed the image sensor. Now, a new report suggests that a new Sony Xperia device might also feature this technology, with its popup housing both a speaker and a camera system.

According to a recently published patent, Sony is considering adopting the retractable mechanism, which has been adopted by quite a few companies, especially from China. Looking at the patent details, we can observe that the company has not only offered a popup camera but a pop down speaker as well. The latter is lowered from the bottom chin of the smartphone and houses a front facing speaker.

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The top also houses a speaker, but with a lone selfie camera near the right corner. Sony had applied for the patent back in 2018, which was finally granted earlier this month and published by the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office). The patent images reveal a Sony smartphone with negligible bezels on every corner and a full screen body at the front. Just a narrow chin and notch are noticeable, which are the region which raises and lower.

This means that the Sony Xperia device will have a dual speaker system. These speakers also rise and fall according to the task being performed. The bottom and top portion are raised during a call, but only the top will rise for a selfie. In other words, these two mechanisms are completely independent and activate automatically. Unfortunately, this is just a patent and we have no way of currently knowing whether Sony is actually building such a smartphone or simply covering all bases.

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(Via)

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In recent years, notches in a smartphone have become a thing of the past. Nowadays, it is much more common for most smartphones in any category, ranging from budget to premium flagship, to arrive with bezels, chins, and notches, which are a lot less apparent than what was previously the norm. However, this, in turn, has also led to the development of supplementing technologies like mechanised pop up cameras and in display fingerprint readers. Now, Oppo is seemingly taking the new developments to another level with 6 next designs of sliding smartphones.

In the patent, multiple images can be found that detail the schematics of 6 different smartphones with a unique sliding mechanism. The design isn’t completely out of this world and new, and seems more like an extension of what we originally saw with the Oppo Find X. In other words, unlike the prominent curve on the top portion of the smartphones, various different patterns are found in place of it.

Examples of this include a zigzag pattern, a triangular pattern, a semi circle curve, a wavy structure and even a slanted straight line that highlights the portion that slides out. What unique functions these distinct designs hold are unknown and maybe more aesthetical in nature than in function. Meaning, it could possibly just be a variation of the Find X and not serve any purpose in and of themselves.

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Notably, the patented designs each sport a dual camera setup with a third cutout for the LED flash. On the front, an additional four more cutouts, which is likely for crucial sensors and another dual camera setup for selfies. One particular smartphone that stood out in the Oppo patent revealed a very interesting design. Its pop up mechanism for the dual camera module for both the front and rear slid out from the side rather than the upper regions.

Apart from this, the only other discernable elements are the USB Type C charging port flanked by two speaker grills on the bottom of the device. Unfortunately, finer details and more information regarding these patents are currently unknown. The smartphones in the Oppo patent might just be an attempt to cover every base by the company rather than being actually seeing official development, meaning they might not ever be launched.

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(Source)

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Smartphone manufacturers compete in an industry that has stiff competition. To stay relevant, each brand needs to innovate and improve their offerings. So, people quite often discover patents for future handsets that are either planned or in the works with special and unique features. Now, patents of Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant, have surfaced online showcasing three unique new pop up camera designs.

The patents were found in the China National Property Administration (CNIPA) and were for the selfie camera of an unknown smartphone. It can be surmised that the patent is for a new pop up mechanism as the first features a dual front and rear facing camera setup. On the other hand, the rest of the patents detail dual, triple and even a penta camera setup.

The designs are strictly for the camera module as the rest of the smartphone design as seen in the patents remains the same, only the number of camera cut outs differentiate them. Notably, the patents reveal a unique pop up camera design where both the rear and front facing cameras are housed in the same mechanism, on either side. This is currently unheard of since these may sensors have never been crammed into such a small space.

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Although it will be a technical marvel and other brands would soon seek to include the technology if it sees the light of day; but unfortunately, it is unknown is Xiaomi actually plans to follow through and develop this. As of right now, no official confirmation has been made but the interesting feature could be useful in future smartphones.

Many smartphone OEMs are shying away from the pop up camera mechanism. The same extends to buyers with doubts regarding durability. However, Chinese companies like Xiaomi seem to be taking a different route as suggested by such patents.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi patents two new smartphones with wrap-around surround displays

(Source)

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Starting about 3 years ago, Elephone adopted an expansion plan that would help the company expand beyond the Chinese domestic market. Sticking to the plan that seems to be working well, Elephone will be officially launched in the Pakistani market on December 8th. During the same day, the Chinese manufacturer will be holding a conference in Islamabad. The press conference will be attended by Pakistan area media reporters, business partners, as well as government officials.

Elephone will introduce all its latest flagship models to the new market including its pop-up camera series that includes the latest Elephone PX. Also, its waterdrop display phones, as well as 3D screen phones, will be available.

According to the company officials, the Pakistani market is very important part of Elephone’s future plans in the Mid-East market and it comes together with the beginning of the new year that is expected to be very promising for the company.

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Elephone PX has finally hit the market after a long period that included a crowdfunding campaign cancellation and a product redesign. The new pop-up camera phone from Elephone appeared in the first unboxing and hands-on video a while back as we had only seen it in photos.

As you can see in the video, the device looks just beautiful and the Crystal Cream color is one of the best we’ve seen so far. The box includes the phone, a SIM ejector, a protective case, as well as a charger and charging cable. The pop-up camera means that the display is clean of any notch and offers an immersive full-display experience. As for the performance and build quality there isn’t much we can say by just seeing a video but it looks snappy and well-built.

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Featuring a 6.53″ FHD+ display and the 16MP pop-up selfie camera, the phone sports a fashionable design and notch-less display. The rear camera is a dual setup with 16MP/2MP sensors and right below it lies the fingerprint sensor. The phone is powered by Helio P23 SoC backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage upgradeable up to 256GB more via the microSD slot. Also, there is a 3300mAh battery inside. You can find out more about it on the official product page and buy it at a discounted price on Gearbest.

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Xiaomi’s Mi CC9 Pro and Mi Note 10 launched last week with a penta camera system, counting the selfie camera, you get a total of six sensors on both phones. But, what if you have those five rear cameras doubling as selfie cameras? Awesome, right? That may just happen based on a recently published Xiaomi patent.

According to the patent which was published on November 8, Xiaomi may make a foldable phone that has five pop-up cameras. The foldable phone has an outward-folding screen, and depending on how you hold it, the five cameras can either be your rear cameras or front-facing cameras.

When the device is unfolded, the cameras are on the left side which is thicker and is home to the battery and the other components that make up the phone.

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It is important to state that even though there is a patent for the design, it doesn’t mean we may see a real product anytime soon or if at all.

Xiaomi is yet to announce its own foldable device, though we have seen videos of a working prototype. Back in September, the manufacturer announced the Mi MIX Alpha, a phone with a flexible display that wraps around the device. Xiaomi says it will sell a limited quantity in the future.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi patents 4 unique looking handsets with dual front cameras

(Sources: 1, 2)

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Elephone PX debuted about 2 weeks ago with a promotional price of $129.99 and it made it to the top of the most affordable pop-up camera smartphones. Since the promotion was over, the price went up to its official price of $159.99 but that was until today. In cooperation with Gearbest, Elephone is offering another discount for those who missed the initial promotion so now you can get it for just $139.99 until November 4th.

Featuring a 6.53″ FHD+ display and the 16MP pop-up selfie camera, the phone sports a fashionable design and notch-less display. The rear camera is a dual setup with 16MP/2MP sensors and right below it lies the fingerprint sensor. The phone is powered by Helio P23 SoC backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage upgradeable up to 256GB more via the microSD slot. Also, there is a 3300mAh battery inside. You can find out more about it on the official product page.

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Elephone PX made its debut in the market on October 14th at just $129.99 which was $30 off the official price and sales were pretty high. After all, this amount of money for 4GB/64GB, as well as a dual rear camera and a pop-up selfie shooter, is a bargain. Even if the low price promo came to an end on October 16th, the phone is discounted and now sells at $139.99 on Aliexpress.

All this is great but the problem is that we’ve only seen the device in renders and a photo of the real thing would be useful for someone who is thinking of buying it. The company released today a real photo showing the back cover of the device in the beautiful Crystal color. The design of smartphones has evolved so much that even smaller manufacturers are able to release amazing-looking phones as you can see for yourselves. If you want to learn more details about the budget pop-up camera Elephone PX, visit the official product page.

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It seems that October 14th is a day of many new smartphone models hitting the market. One of them is the Elephone PX, the company’s affordable pop-up camera phone that went on sale on Aliexpress at the incredible promo price of $129.99. The low price will be available until October 16th so it’s a narrow time frame if you are interested in grabbing the deal. To learn more about the Elephone PX, just visit the official product page.

In addition, a photo of the device in the beautiful Crystal color surfaced alongside a new U Series member that should hit the market soon. The mystery device adopts a different design language than the PX as the camera setup on the back is placed on the top left corner instead of the center-placed setup on the pop-up device. This is the first real photo of the device that is supposedly going to come with a glass-free 3D-capable 6.5″ display and a dual 48MP camera on the back that will focus on 3D image shooting. Also, the new U Series member will come with a hole-punch front camera.

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After a cancelled Indiegogo campaign and the redesign that the phone went through, the Elephone PX pop-up camera phone is finally here and today the company kicked off the Giveaway campaign. The event will last a whole month and will end on October 30th so this time it’s hard to miss. To participate, all you have to do is claim as many entries as possible through the Gleam platform here.

Now, as far as the full specs of the device are concerned, the mystery remains as the Chinese manufacturer hasn’t revealed much until today. The only specs we can confirm are those that are mentioned on the official page. So, the device will come with a 6.53″ display that covers the most part of the front panel. Of course, it comes with a pop-up camera and judging from the press photos, a dual rear camera will be available as well as a rear-placed fingerprint sensor. We expect the disclosure of the full specs to take place soon.

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Last month we informed you about the redesigned Elephone PX smartphone that is set to follow the U2 in the pop-up camera series of the company. The original Elephone PX that was announced about a year ago never made it to the market due to manufacturing problems so the company decided to reimburse all the backer of the Indiegogo campaign.

It seems that the reason behind the delay of the redesigned PX is the control of supplier resources from first-line brands like Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi that have or are about to introduce their pop-up camera phones. Eventually, the phone will hit the market and judging from the photos that surfaced today, it will be soon. The new photos reveal the color choices made be Elephone and they look stunning.

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As you can see, there are 2 gradient colors and one solid color with lumia effects on the back. To keep up to date with future Elephone products, you can visit their official website.

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It seems that Elephone is determined to make the Elephone U2 its best-selling device to date as after Aliexpress and Banggood, the company is now offering the pop-up camera mid-range flagship on Geekbuying with a promotional price until July 16th. The activity started today and it is exclusively for the 6GB/128GB version in Black and Gold. The final price is $249.99, unprecedented for this amount of RAM and storage.

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode.

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Also, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9.0 Pie. Learn more on about the phone on the official website.

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All good stuff come to an end and so is the Giveaway for the Elephone U2 that the Chinese manufacturer has been running for quite some time. The lucky winner will receive the new pop-up camera mid-range flagship from Elephone and the results will be announced on the company’s official page on Facebook.

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode.

Also, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9 Pie. Visit the official website to learn more about the device.

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Elephone U2 is still selling like hotcakes and to reward its fans, the Chinese manufacturer has decided to extend the promotion on Aliexpress until July 7th. The promotion gives you the chance to get the pop-up camera mid-range flagship for just $199.99 for the 4GB/64GB version and $239.99 for the 6GB/128GB version. At the same time, the ongoing Giveaway event is also ending on July 7th so you should act fast if you want to participate.

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode.

Also, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9.0 Pie. Visit the official product page to learn more about the device.

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It seems that Elephone U2 may prove to be the Holy Grail for the Chinese manufacturer as it is selling like crazy both on the Aliexpress first sale and the Banggood promotion that is ongoing. Of course, the price that the company decided to put on the device plays a big role and for that reason, the company decided to extend the promotion on Aliexpress for another 5 days to allow for more users to buy one. The promo will end on July 6th and you can get the 4GB/64GB version for just $199.99 and the 6GB/128GB for just $239.99. At the same time, you can participate in the Giveaway to get one for free.

In the meantime, a photo sample shot on Elephone U2 surfaced and looks stunning with excellent dynamic range and color reproduction. Also, details are crisp thanks to the triple rear camera.

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode. Also, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9.0 Pie. Visit the official product page to learn more about the device.

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The company’s first pop-up camera phone, Elephone U2, has already hit the market and was on presale on their official Aliexpress store for a while. Thankfully, those who didn’t get the chance to grab one during that period will now have another opportunity since the phone is on promotion over at Banggood. And the price is the same as before meaning that you can get the 4GB/64GB version for just $199.99 and the 6GB/128GB for just $249.99 from June 24th to July 1st!

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode.

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On the inside, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9.0 Pie OS. Also ongoing is the Giveaway that you can still participate in. Learn more about the phone here.

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Elephone U2 is expected to become the new best seller for the Chinese manufacturer as preorders went through the roof during the presale on Aliexpress but the deadline was until June 12th. So, for those who didn’t catch the deal in time, Elephone is moving the presale to Banggood and extends the presale from June 24th until July 1st! Both versions are available with the 4GB/64GB version costing just $199.99 while the 6GB/128GB version comes at $249.99. At the same time, the company is holding a Giveaway event so you can try your luck there as well.

Elephone U2 comes with a 103% Wide-Gamut, 500nit Brightness 6.26″ FHD+ full display with a 93,1% screen/body ratio thanks to the pop-up front camera and ultra-narrow bezels. The pop-up camera hosts 2 sensors with 16MP/2MP configuration while the rear camera is a triple setup with 16MP/5MP/2MP sensors and f/1.6 aperture with Super Night mode. On the inside, it is powered by Helio P70 SoC backed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/128GB memory configuration. The battery capacity is 3250mAh and supports fast charging while there are face & side fingerprint sensors and comes with Android 9.0 Pie OS. Find all the details on the official product page.

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Under-screen cameras are the next big thing in smartphones. The technology is still being developed by a number of smartphone manufacturers in the market right now, including OPPO. In fact, OPPO revealed its under screen camera prototype a few days back. While we saw the real phone in action, we didn’t get any specific details about the technology. Today, OPPO’s R&D team engineer sheds some more details about the development of this next-gen technology.

For those seeking the perfect, notchless smartphone screen experience – prepare to be amazed.

You are taking a very first look at our under-display selfie camera technology. RT! pic.twitter.com/FrqB6RiJaY

— OPPO (@oppo) June 3, 2019

According to an engineer working for OPPO, the company started studying under-screen cameras as early as 2017. To recall, the industry’s obsession with full-screen displays really kick-started after the launch of the Xiaomi Mi Mix around late 2016. There have been multiple solutions for a truly bezel-less smartphone since then, with the recent emergence of pop-up front cameras. But it’s clear that under-screen cameras are the future of smartphones. And it’s only a matter of time until we see a commercial device sporting this technology.

OPPO’s engineer reveals that the biggest challenge in implementing this technology is that no one has actually managed to successfully do it yet. He compares its development to crossing a river by just feeling the stones under it as there are numerous difficulties associated with bringing it to a commercial smartphone.

The under-screen camera has to work with other hardware flawlessly and algorithms are needed to perfect the camera experience. But if implemented properly, the under-screen cameras will perfect the smartphone screen experience. The engineer adds that it doesn’t add any weight to the body and even the display area above the camera functions perfectly. So, there’s no need for any ugly notches or moving parts to bring a truly full-screen experience.

Unfortunately, it looks like it will still take some time before someone manages to perfect the technology. We know companies like OPPO, Xiaomi, and Honor are working on a prototype, but what they revealed last week was just a proof of development. It’s similar to how Xiaomi demoed the 100W fast charging technology earlier this year. It’s still in development and a commercial release is at least a few months away.

So for now, it looks like companies will focus on tweaking existing pop-up camera solutions similar to what we saw in the Zenfone 6.

UP NEXT: 8 New Xiaomi Products Heading Your Way At Tomorrow’s Launch!

(Via)

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OPPO launched a new product line last year, which focuses on online marketing, called K series.

OPPO K1 impressed us last year with its design, color and in-display fingerprint. This year, OPPO launched OPPO K3, which has an update on the predecessor. Let’s take a look.

Design:

Difference from the other budget phone, OPPO K3 comes with full screen and pop-up front-facing camera.

The pop-up mechanism is set on the middle of top side. The front-facing camera of OPPO K3 will rise when taking selfies and unlocking the phone by face in 0.74 second.

OPPO claims that the pop-up mechanism module of K3 can be used over 200,000 times. On average, it’s used 100 times a day for five years.

Although the handset comes with pop-up mechanism, OPPO K3 is capable of water repellent, which is enough for daily use.

OPPO K3 comes with a 6.5-inch Samsung AMOLED screen having the resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, which rivals most of the mid-to-high end smartphones.

The screen of OPPO K3 shows cool tone normally, and users can manually adjust the color tone in setting.

OPPO K3 keeps bezel-less, although the bottom bezel is a little wider, the screen-to-body ratio of K3 is up to 91.1%.

In addition to the amazing screen, OPPO K3 ships with in-screen fingerprint coupled with compensation transmission, which is to gain clearer fingerprint image.

OPPO K3 comes with one of the best in-screen fingerprint tech at the marketing, which is faster than OPPO K1 and as same as OPPO Reno.

Because of the marketing target and pricing, OPPO K3 adopts plastic body instead of metal and glass body. Through higher level of processing, OPPO K3 still achieves a good look.

The middle frame and back cover of the handset are processed separately. Look at the image, the middle frame of Nebula Purple variant adopts mat processing, and the gradient color corresponds to the back cover.

Look at the back cover, OPPO K3 uses 3D stereo technology. The two sides of the handset is obviously cured, which looks thinner. The rear camera is set at center with little protrusion, and the protective ring around the camera is slightly higher than the back cover.

In addition to Nebula Purple, OPPO K3 also offers Black and Morning White variant.

Performance:

OPPO K3 is powered by Snapdragon 710 processor, and arrives with 6/8GB of RAM and storage between 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. The operation system is ColorOS 6.0 based on Android 9.0.

OPPO K3 also retains full software optimization capabilities, including GameBoost 2.0 which has a certificate of TÜV.

OPPO K3 reserves 2×2 Wi-Fi, keeps 3.5mm earphone jack, and supports Dolby Atmos.

OPPO K3 is fueled by 3765mAh battery with VOOC 3.0 flash charging, which is enough for daily use. It can charge 55% in 30 minutes.

Camera:

OPPO K3 ships with 16MP front-facing camera with IMX 471 sensor, which has AI capabilities.

In the rear camera, OPPO K3 chooses a dual camera design of main camera and depth of field lens. The 16MP camera with IMX519 and f/1.7 aperture is one of two in the main setup on the back.

This sensor is first launched at OPPO R15, which can’t get an edge on night shot.

In order to optimize the night shot mode, OPPO K3 comes with handheld night mode. The handheld shots take longer than OPPO Reno, and it need to take at least 4s in low light.

The camera samples below are shot in auto mode by OPPO K3.

[envira-gallery id=”256532″]

Conclusion:

OPPO K3 is priced at about $269 (6+64GB) and $319 (8+128GB). If you want to get a budget phone with excellent screen, you should consider OPPO K3.

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Meizu, the China-based company which is all set to launch its Meizu 16s smartphone in its home country in the coming days, is reportedly working on a smartphone with a pop-up front-facing camera design.

The company has applied for a patent design to the China Intellectual Property Office in which the smartphone is carrying a pop-up mechanism that houses the front-facing camera. The patent describes the usage of a few components for this mechanism, including a cover, camera, middle frame, and a motor.

While this design is not unique, but its good to see that Meizu is also planning to jump on the experimental smartphones bandwagon and start working on a smartphone with a pop-up front-facing camera.

Vivo was the first smartphone company to come up with such a design with its Vivo Apex smartphone, aiming to offer a higher screen-to-body ratio. Later, the phone was launched commercially as the Vivo NEX.

Recently, Oppo and Vivo both launched their premium mid-range smartphone with a pop-up camera design — Oppo F11 Pro and Vivo V15 Pro. Next month, OnePlus is also expected to launch the OnePlus 7 Pro with similar pop-up camera mechanism.

However, the patent design does not mean that it’s final that the company will actually launch a smartphone with such a design. It’s just an indication that the company is exploring the idea of a smartphone with pop-up camera design.

Read More: Meizu 16s confirmed to come with 48 MP primary camera sensor, OIS, and anti-shake feature

Meanwhile, Meizu is currently gearing up to launch its Meizu 16s smartphone on 23rd April in China. Today, the company confirmed that the smartphone will come with a 48 MP primary sensor in the triple camera module with OIS and anti-shaking support.

(Via)

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We still have about three months at the earliest before the launch of the OnePlus 7 but we already know what it looks like thanks to 3D renders and a 360° video of the phone that leaked last week. Today, we have gotten our hands on an official render and live photos of the phone’s case and they further confirm the phone’s design.

The render of the case shows the next OnePlus flagship will have triple rear cameras arranged vertically. There is an opening at the top of the case for the pop-up selfie camera. The left and right sides of the case have two cutouts – there is a small one on the left for the volume rocker while the wider one on the right is for the Alert Slider and power button.

The real case images show a slightly different design. The cut-out on the right is divided into two for the alert slider and power button. It also has a cut-out at the top for the pop-up selfie camera. Unlike the render above which seems to be a mix of leather and plastic, the case in the live images is made entirely of polycarbonate.

[envira-gallery id=”240626″]

READ MORE: OnePlus short film contest can win you a prize of $10000: Know more details

The OnePlus 7 will have a Snapdragon 855 processor, a 6.5-inch display with an in-display fingerprint scanner, and support for fast charging. It will also be covered in glass on both sides with a metal frame in the middle.

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A couple of days back, Vivo released its new gaming flagship, the Vivo IQOO. However, the company seems to be busy preparing another smartphone for launch this month, the Vivo X27. The phone, expected to be the successor of the Vivo X23 model that was launched last year, hasn’t been in many leaks. However, Vivo had a sure way of getting our attention by showcasing the phone at a popular TV Game show in China.

The Vivo X27 was spotted in the TV show called Happy Camp in China yesterday. The show is extremely popular in China and has been airing since 1997. So seeing the phone in the hands of the show’s host was a definite way of teasing it before launch.

One of the highlights of the Vivo X27 is its pop up camera. The camera housing at the back is the same as the Vivo 15 Pro that was launched a few days ago in India. The tease also confirms Topaz Blue gradient color option in China.

• RELATED: Vivo V15 Pro launched with notch less camera and pop up camera!

A couple of days back, Vivo models, code named V1829T and V1829A were spotted on the TENAA certification. While images were not available, the specs of the models hinted that it was most likely going to be launched as the Vivo X27 in China. The phone came with an octa-core 2.2GHz processor (likely to be the Snapdragon 710) along with a triple camera setup (48MP+13MP+5MP). The front camera is a 16MP shooter. The battery is of 3920mAh, which is bigger than its predecessors. Expect an in display sensor on board, which has become a standard in this lineup.

Vivo is yet to reveal any official details about the X27. But considering how the phone has popped up on a popular TV show, an official launch is very near. According to an earlier leak, Vivo X27 is expected to be released around late March.

(Via)

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The Vivo NEX was the first smartphone to launch with a pop-up selfie camera. In a few weeks, Vivo will launch its second commercially available smartphone with a pop-up camera – the Vivo V15 Pro. However, it likely won’t be the only pop-up selfie camera phone we are getting from a top manufacturer this year. It has been reported that the Samsung Galaxy A90 will also have a pop-up selfie camera. Concept renders of the device have now surfaced online.

The pop-up selfie camera design is supposed to result in a phone with a very high screen-to-body ratio. For the Galaxy A90, it will be interesting to see if it has a higher screen-to-body ratio than the Galaxy S10 which has a punch hole display or as Samsung calls it, an Infinity-O display.

These renders show that there is still a lower bezel though not a thick one. There are actually two designs for the pop-up selfie camera: one has the camera positioned on the left of the phone’s display just like that of the Vivo NEX while the other has the camera positioned in the middle.

The phone has an in-display fingerprint scanner which has already been reported to be a feature of three Galaxy A-series phones scheduled to launch this year. The Galaxy A90 is one of the devices, so it is no surprise that the designer has included it in these renders.

On its rear, the concept Galaxy A90 has three cameras stacked on top of one another and positioned in the middle of the device. The sensors all share the same housing and there is an LED flash below the setup. The manufacturer’s branding sits a few millimeters beneath it.

The images show the phone in a gradient purple finish but a leak from a few weeks ago said the Galaxy A90 will come in black, silver, and gold color variants. It has also been reported to come in only one storage configuration – 128GB.

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 series price, storage variants and color options leaked

The Galaxy A90 will probably not launch anytime soon but we expect more details to surface in the weeks or months leading up to its eventual arrival.

What do you think of these renders? Let us know in the comment box.

(Via)

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The Vivo NEX is known for its pop-up front-facing camera as a solution to its full-screen display. There are other smartphones that have copied the design but a new info surfaced today, revealing that Xiaomi considered it at a point. There are even images of a prototype.

In the build-up to the launch of the Mi MIX 3 which launches on October 25, Xiaomi’s spokesman, Donovan Sung, revealed details about the Mi MIX series’  development. In a tweet posted today, he said Xiaomi applied for a patent for a pop-up camera back in 2015. They even made prototypes which he shared images of.

Background on Mi MIX: As early as 2015, we applied for a patent for a popup camera, and made some test devices.

We ultimately chose the sliding form factor for #MiMIX3 to lay the groundwork for an even better full screen display experience, especially for photography.#Xiaomi pic.twitter.com/P7PBrGrpTK

— Donovan Sung (@donovansung) October 18, 2018

As you can see in the images, the phone does have a pop-up camera similar to that of the Vivo NEX. Though, there are differences. For example, the pop-up camera in the Vivo NEX is closer to the edge of the phone but that of this Xiaomi prototype sits close to the center.

[envira-gallery id=”217742″]

There is also a photo of the phone’s rear with the back plate off. Notice that there is no camera on the rear. It’s understandable since this is a prototype. If you look closely at the pop-up camera setup, you should see a rubber seal for protection against dust and water. You can also see the pistons that raise the camera up when needed. This prototype also has a has a 3,400mAh battery like the Mi MIX 2 and Mi MIX 2S.

READ MORE: Xiaomi’s Pocophone F1 smartphone goes up for pre-order in the US

Xiaomi eventually settled for the sliding form factor for the Mi MIX 3 but it will be interesting to know why it ditched the pop-up design. We also want to know if it will adopt it in future phones, maybe its less expensive models, only if it has solved whatever issues it had with the design.

(Source)

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Elephone, the China-based local smartphone manufacturer, is all set to jump on the pop-up camera bandwagon that was started by Vivo. The company is working on Elephone PX smartphone, featuring dual front-facing elevating cameras and the phone’s images have now surfaced online.

The image reveals that the phone will come with an elevating mechanism for the front-facing camera, which houses two camera sensors. While the design concept for elevating mechanism is similar to that of Vivo NEX, the company has opted to change its placement position. In the Elephone’s device, the pop-up camera is placed in the center instead of the left side.

Due to the elevating front-facing camera, there’s no need for a notch on top of the display to house the sensors. Further, the device offers higher screen-to-body ratio with minimal bezels surrounding the display.

The leaked images also reveal that the smartphone will come with triple camera sensors on the back. The back camera setup seems similar to that of Huawei P20 Pro, which is the first smartphone to feature a triple camera setup. There are two sensors with an LED flash in between. Below the dual-camera setup, there’s another camera sensor. The entire setup is placed on the top-left corner.

The phone also comes with a fingerprint sensor mounted on the back panel, thus it’s confirmed that the phone will not come with an in-display fingerprint sensor which most of the devices with elevating mechanism offers.

We recently reported about the Elehone PX’s pop-up camera mechanism. It has a spiral axis that starts turning when the front camera button is pressed, making the camera module move upwards. The camera module is also equipped with a spring, probably for stabilizing and smoothening out the movement of the module.

• Read More: Elephone SX smartphone’s specifications and pictures leak online

Currently, there’s no information available about the phone’s specifications, but we are expecting that the device will pack high-end specifications. It seems that the phone’s launch is not far away but there’s no official announcement from the company yet.

(Source)

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We have to come to a stage where smartphone users are split into two groups: those who hate the notch and those who don’t mind it. I still haven’t come across someone who said he or she was a big fan of the notch design, but I’m sure there are people who love the notch design too.

But why are smartphone companies obsessed with this infamous notch? Despite the strong criticism, more and more smartphones are shipping with the notch design and the numbers are only going to increase in the coming months.

If you are thinking that mechanical sliders from OPPO and Vivo phones are going to replace the notch in the long run, think again. For reasons that I’ll mention down below, I doubt mechanical sliders are the future. They are cool without doubt, but may not be something that you would like to see on a smartphone and here’s why.

Before I start rambling about what’s wrong with mechanical camera sliders, I would have to clear this one thing: I find them really cool and futuristic. Yes, they look futuristic but they are likely not going to be on your future smartphones.

I would have to agree that OPPO and Vivo have really wowed us this year. They have managed to do what even the big conglomerates like Samsung, Apple, and Sony couldn’t do. At an age where smartphone design innovation has become more or less stagnant, OPPO’s Find X and Vivo’s Nex models have refreshed our imaginations.

Who would have thought sliding cameras were the future and we would see it on flagships in 2018? But our obsession with full screen displays really necessitated something like this. And both OPPO and Vivo have managed to implement this design pretty well. After all, how cool is it to see your smartphone automatically pop up the camera and put it back in, all within a second or two. The overall process is seamless and credit has to be given where its due! Well done OPPO!

A sliding camera that pops up automatically and goes back in seamlessly looks really, really cool and it’s something that you would love to showcase it among your friends. But is it really better than the notch?

I think not.

First let’s see what sliding cameras bring to the table.

1. An amazing and beautiful full screen display on the front.
2. A cool and futuristic looking unique design.

Now, let’s see what it takes away from the phone. It’s much more than you can imagine.

Durability:

What are the chances that your camera breaks off from your phone? Wait, you didn’t think this was a possible scenario right? If you think the chances are rare, think again! Just think how many times has your smartphone almost slipped off your hands while using the camera. I consider myself to have pretty sturdy hands but even I have managed to drop all of my smartphones at least a couple of times during my usage.

Not only that, a moving part is always going to be less durable and that’s a fact. Considering how we are using our smartphones nearly 10-12 hours a day at least, we want our smartphones to be sturdier and less susceptible to any kind of damage. Heck, recent smartphones are even waterproof / water resistant, even when the possibility of water ruining our phones are quite rare. So, we like to be safe right? But with a sliding camera, it looks like we are going a step behind.

Not to mention the possibility of dust accumulating in the sliding component. Remember, these are all automatically controlled by software, so what happens when the slider stops working for some reason? Do we stop using the camera?

Now I know that both OPPO and Vivo must have really tested their sliding components for durability. They must have considered a lot of scenarios and I’m sure these designs have passed their stress test. The sliders worked pretty well in the units that were sent for review, but when you mass produce the same designs, we’ll have to wait and see what issues crop up with these sliders. I’m not expecting manufacturing defects in general, but there are a lot of factors at play with a sliding component, and we’ll have to wait and see how durable they in your everyday usage.

Battery Life:

Any added motorised component puts a strain on your battery. And in case of smartphones, saving juice is of utmost importance. But with a motorised sliding camera, we’ll have to see how their batteries perform. Specifically for the OPPO Find X, which has to slide up the camera housing anytime you want to unlock your phone and when it could be as much as hundreds of times in a day, it must really take a toll on the battery life. Unlike the Vivo Nex, the housing is pretty big on the Find X, so battery life is something that we’ll have to keep a close eye about the device. To make matters worse, there’s no fingerprint sensor (Vivo Nex has an in display sensor), so Face Recognition is a must for unlocking the device! Every single time you unlock you phone, there camera housing has to pop and go back in again.

Camera Sensor:

Sliding cameras are cool, but can they really keep up with the huge sensors on phones like the Huawei P20 Pro or the Galaxy S9+?

The internals of a smartphone have to be really optimised to make sure you can cram in the best components without taking too much space. For example, it isn’t the case that we don’t have sensors that can take DSLR like photos on a smartphone too. But they come at a cost — these sensors are large and would take up a lot of space inside, which isn’t practically optimum. This is the same reason why we don’t have gigantic 5000mAh battery on every phone out there (well, we do have a few but they are basically phones that focus on maximising battery life and not really flagships).

With a motorised sliding component in the picture, the already tight space inside a smartphone gets even more cramped. This means smartphone manufacturers have to make room by cutting out somewhere to ensure everything fits in this tight space. Now you know why we have protruding cameras… But with the Vivo Nex or the OPPO Find X, the camera sensors cannot be too large, at least not as large as the competition. So, it remains to be seen how the cameras on these sliding components perform in day to day usage, especially in comparison to other premium flagships. On paper, the camera setup on the Find X looks pretty good, but we know specs are just a small part of the equation. Only real life camera samples will show us the real camera prowess.

So, it really boils down to what you are willing to give up for a full screen design. OPPO Find X and Vivo Nex have revolutionary smartphone designs but they are not without their own set of flaws. For a full screen display, you might have to sacrifice on a few essential areas like battery life, camera quality and even durability. Personally, despite being a big fan of the Find X’s design, I would prefer a display with thin bezels but with an amazing camera, long battery, and most of all, durability. If I am going to shell out nearly y$600 or more on a phone, I would want to keep the phone around for a few months at least. Considering how this design makes it really hard to add a case to the phone, it further increases my scepticism of its durability.

All this being said, I would have to conclude by saying that OPPO Find X and Vivo Nex takes our dream of having full screen smartphones a lot further. Once you get used to seeing full screen design on smartphones, it’s only a matter of time until other manufacturers really work hard to get this design right!

But we are not there yet. We still have a long way to go to get the right full screen design but until then, I would prefer a notch over a motorised pop up camera slider on my smartphone for the above mentioned reasons.

What’s your take?

The post Opinion: Camera Sliders May Not Be Necessarily Better Than The Infamous Notch appeared first on Gizmochina.

In other to achieve the high screen-to-body ratio of the APEX, Vivo found a workaround to the components housed in the top bezel. For the speaker/earpiece, it uses a technology it calls Screen Sound Casting which vibrates the display causing it to work like a speaker. And for the front camera, it pops up from the top side of the metal frame. Latest report says we may see the pop-up camera show up in the Vivo Xplay7 too.

The Vivo Xplay7 first appeared in the news last year when alleged renders and specs surfaced online. The renders posted then showed the Vivo Xplay7 with a very thin profile and a camera integrated in the display. It appears Vivo is ditching the integrated camera for a pop-up one.

It has also been revealed that Vivo actually filed a patent for the pop-up camera in July 2017, though it is still a year after Essential filed its own. The patent for the pop-up camera describes the setup as a camera with an electric motor that extends or retracts into the phone’s case (body).

There are concerns about the durability of mechanical parts in a phone, but it appears Vivo has found a way to make it work seeing as it will be using it not only the APEX but also the Xplay7.

READ MORE: Vivo X21 To Launch March 19 With Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner

Apart from a pop-up camera, the Xplay7 is expected to come with dual rear cameras, a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

(Source)

The post Vivo Xplay7 May Feature The Apex’s Pop-up Camera appeared first on Gizmochina.

The Vivo APEX has been getting lots of attention following its surprise MWC reveal. The phone’s unique feature is its over 90% screen-to-body ratio. To achieve that, Vivo decided to remove the camera from its usual position and make it pop up from the top, thereby providing more space for the display. It turns out that Essential already owns a patent with the same pop-up camera design.

https://twitter.com/RitterRav/status/969419186417016834

Yes Rafael, I saw it. Check this: https://t.co/v5DuJxP0qI https://t.co/HvbWEmwjYm

— Andy Rubin (@Arubin) March 3, 2018

The public reveal of the patent was done in an unusual way. A fan had called Andy Rubin’s attention to an article of the Vivo APEX and the CEO of Essential replied with a link to their patent with the same design.

The patent reveals it was filed back in May 2016 before we knew about the company’s existence, and it was granted in August of 2017.

One version shows the camera will pop-up from the right hand side of the top of the phone. It will protrude when the camera needs to be used and retract when inactive. In the image above, we can see the phone doesn’t have a notch and the screen reaches to the top. We can also see the outline for two rear cameras. The patent also says the retractable camera can be a front facing camera, a back facing camera, or even a 360° camera.

READ MORE: Essential Phone Could Soon Launch In India As Amazon-Exclusive For Rs. 24,999

In another version, the patent says the camera is integrated into the display as a camera icon at the top left corner. The camera serves two functions in this case – as a camera icon which when selected activates the camera, and also as the camera for taking pictures and recording videos.

While there is no confirmation, there is a chance we may see any of the two designs surface in the next Essential Phone.

Which of the two designs you prefer? Pop-up camera or integrated camera?

(Sources: 1, 2 |Via)

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