A tipster named “FixedFocus” shows an image of an alleged Xiaomi smartphone with redesigned front-facing pop-up camera
The pop-up camera was a popular feature on smartphones a few years ago, but it has since fallen out of favor due to reliability concerns. However, Xiaomi may be bringing the pop-up camera back with its new smartphone.
The last time Xiaomi released a smartphone with a pop-up camera was the Mi 9T series in 2019. The pop-up camera was a unique design that allowed for a full-screen display without any unsightly cutouts or bezels. However, the motorized mechanism for the pop-up camera was prone to failure, and Xiaomi eventually discontinued the feature.
Fast forward to 2023, and Xiaomi is reportedly working on a new smartphone with a pop-up camera. This time, the pop-up camera is much longer than the one on the Mi 9T series. This is likely to accommodate multiple sensors, such as a wide-angle and ultrawide camera. A similar design was also seen before on the vivo NEX 3.
It remains to be seen whether Xiaomi’s new pop-up camera will be more reliable than the one on the Mi 9T series. However, if it is, it could be a popular feature on future smartphones.
Xiaomi has filed a new patent for a pop-up camera that is designed to be more compact and reliable than previous iterations. The new design is based on a “Hidden Electronic Device and Hidden Camera” concept, which promises to reduce the space occupancy of the camera module. This will allow for slimmer and lighter devices, while still providing a full-screen display.
The patent also describes a retractable reflective component that is said to play an essential role in protecting the camera module. The reflective component is designed to reflect images onto the camera module, which can improve pixel quality and reduce the need for a large camera sensor.
The popularity of pop-up cameras has waned in recent years, as many phone makers have opted for punch-hole or under-screen cameras. However, Xiaomi’s new patent suggests that the company is still seeing potential in this technology. If the new design is successful, it could help to revive the pop-up camera as a viable option for future smartphones.
