Last year, Xiaomi and Oppo showed some prototypes devices with cameras under the screens, but the quality of the images produced was still far from ideal, and they were often too dark. Since then, things seem to have evolved, as shown by a patent application filed by Xiaomi. The patent shows a smartphone in which the front camera would be behind the screen.

The patent was approved by CNIPA (China's Intellectual Property Administration) on the 24th of last month. The Dutch website LetsGoDigital created some rendered images of what the smartphone would look like, based on the images used in the patent application. The images show a smartphone with very thin bezels, in which the screen takes up practically the entire front.

The selfie camera could be on the left or in the center of the screen. It works simply: when the camera is activated, this area of ​​the screen becomes transparent. This allows light to pass through the glass to capture images. When the camera is not being used, the area is illuminated again and normally displays whatever is being displayed on the screen.

LetsGoDigital believes that since the patent application was filed on a smartphone, the technology could be practically ready. Therefore, it could be included in a real device by 2021. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it could possibly be the Mi 11, the new version of the Mi 10 (or 10 Pro) which is due to be released next year.

When the smartphone actually goes into production, it will be a great alternative to the notches, cutouts and pop-up cameras that we have seen on many devices released in recent years.

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