Xiaomi has published a new patent with the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration). As per the design, Xiaomi could be working on a phone that could fold vertically while the front cameras would be used as rear cameras.
See below screenshots for details:
Xiaomi patents a new Clamshell phone design with unique flip camera design
The schematics reveal a device with a foldable punch-hole display that has two camera sensors alongside an LED flash. The cameras will serve as a front and rear camera using a flip mechanism and a motor.
As usual with patents, it is not necessary to see a device that uses this solution as a commercial product in the market. The company has patented a design that showed a flip camera mechanism earlier but we did not see it until now.
Recently, Xiaomi’s latest patent shows that it is preparing another MIX Alpha looking phone. The Xiaomi patent shows that the display ratio of this device exceeds 100%. Recall that the Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha comes with a 180.6% display ratio.
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Just like the MIX Alpha, the Xiaomi patent shows a device with a display that extends to the rear. However, unlike the MIX Alpha, the display covers only a small part of the rear. Also, the camera is at the center of the rear.
For all we know, this is only a patent. The patent does not mean that it will ever hit the shelves. In fact, it may never go into mass-production. Many patents never see the light of day.
When the Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha was announced, the general impression was that this device will hit the market soon. Looking at its price tag, we all knew that only a few will be able to afford this device. However, many months down the line, we are yet to see this device.
