There are many patents that Xiaomi submits to certification bodies every year. In the last period we have seen a beautiful (and unlikely) Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 with secondary screen or even one soap-style smartphone whose references to Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha they are very clear. But we want to talk about this one that recalls the Mi Mix Fold what time ago did we dream? In short, our beloved brand is always with its hands in the dough and even today it brings us a patent that combines two of the most popular trends: that of one folding smartphone and pop-up camera Mi 9T style.
A new Xiaomi patent shows a full-screen folding smartphone with a pop-up front camera
Directly from China, from the Chinese social network that is now known to us, these images arrive which import a prototype of Xiaomi full display smartphone, but without cameras. You got it right: it has neither front nor rear cameras. The front ones are replaced by a Redmi K20 style pop-up mechanism (aka Xiaomi Mi 9T) while the rear ones are really absent. The reason is unclear, but as with any patent the prototype doesn't even see the light.
In these first two photos we see the device closed and then open. Unlike the Mi Flex, this it closes like a book with one central fold and not two. Clearly the design it has no curved edgesotherwise it would be too fragile. In the upper part we see a hole: this represents the pop-up mechanism inside which the front camera is housed: we could assume that, if the Xiaomi folding smartphone had a screen also behind it, then the rear cameras are not needed, but we are not sure. Also, on the right side, the device is equipped with a single physical button, probably the volume rocker.
This other photo is instead from above: the housing of the pop-up mechanism is quite large and this may suggest the presence of two sensors. This size is further clear from the flare that the body has. But if this flare is in the position we see in the photo, does it mean that the display has a "sketch"? Probably the display is not the one inside, but the one outside and here it would be our theory that no rear cameras are needed at all.
In this last image we see the folding device when closed. Important to note are i minimal edges all around, which guarantee an experience very close to that of a tablet for this folding smartphone (in terms of display size).
