What you need to know
- OPPO is working on an phone with the camera embedded in the display.
- The teaser gives us a first look at how the camera is integrated into the panel.
- The first phone with an embedded camera is likely to debut sometime later this year.
In-display fingerprint sensors are now common, with even budget phones offering the feature. OPPO is now experimenting with integrating the front camera underneath the display, eliminating the need for a cutout or a retractable lens module. The Chinese manufacturer showed off the tech in action in a short teaser video, and it looks pretty incredible. The video shows off a phone with an all-screen front, but can make out that there's a sensor embedded beneath the display as soon as the camera launches.
For those seeking the perfect, notchless smartphone screen experience – prepare to be amazed. 📲
You are taking a very first look at our under-display selfie camera technology. RT! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FrqB6RiJaYFor those seeking the perfect, notchless smartphone screen experience – prepare to be amazed. 📲
You are taking a very first look at our under-display selfie camera technology. RT! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FrqB6RiJaY— OPPO (@oppo) June 3, 2019June 3, 2019
Optical in-display fingerprint sensors use a camera module to map the grooves and ridges of your finger, and it's likely OPPO is scaling up the tech to add a higher-res module underneath the screen. The phone in question is clad in a protective case that's designed to hide any distinguishing features, but it is possible OPPO will launch a phone with an in-display camera module sometime this year.
Who's excited?
Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
