On June 20th, Gizcoupon reported that Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. in Beijing had been granted a patent by the National Intellectual Property Administration of China for a “mobile phone” design.
The abstract of the new patent for Xiaomi highlights the key design feature of a circular curved screen. Both the front and rear cameras of this model adopt under-screen camera technology. Additionally, the product showcases a borderless design on the front and sides, with no protruding decorations on the back screen.
Based on the patent images released by the National Intellectual Property Administration of China, the front of the device features a single opening for the front camera. At the same time, the back has three openings reserved for rear cameras. Additionally, a panel with a smaller size separates the middle part.
Gizcoupon noted that Xiaomi previously unveiled a similar surround-screen phone, the MIX Alpha 5G, in September 2019. It boasted an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 180.6%, supported dual SIM with full 5G network compatibility, and featured a 100-megapixel triple camera system. The MIX Alpha 5G cost approximately $2,786 and was scheduled for release in December. However, in August 2020, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun stated on Weibo (a Chinese social media platform) that “it was a research project that successfully achieved its research goals. However, mass production proved to be extremely challenging, and ultimately, the decision was made not to proceed with production. Xiaomi will focus on the next generation of MIX.”
In addition, the MIX Alpha 5G concept phone eliminated the traditional receiver, front camera, and side buttons. However, the patent images presented this time indicate the inclusion of the front camera and side buttons. It remains unclear in what form these components will emerge, as this is merely a patent filing.
