Oppo and Xiaomi flex their respective under-display smartphone selfie cameras

Chinese tech brands Oppo and Xiaomi managed to achieve what its Western rivals haven't been able to do — demonstrate perfectly working under-display front-facing cameras that do away with smartphone notches for good. 

Oppo fired the first volley this morning on Twitter, with a clip of a working smartphone prototype that promises a truly notchless screen experience. 

Amazingly, it worked as advertised too, with the full screen going into selfie mode and appearing to take a picture through an unseen lens embedded underneath the top of the phone. The camera was even able to capture a finger when it was waved on top of the lens. 

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/FrqB6RiJaY

— OPPO (@oppo) June 3, 2019

Hours after Oppo’s tweet went out, Xiaomi flexed too. A demonstration of the Xiaomi Mi 9 with a front-facing camera underneath its screen was released online (also on Twitter), with footage that showed how a selfie can be taken. 

Do you want a sneak peek at the future? Here you go...introducing you to Under-Display Camera technology!#Xiaomi #InnovationForEveryone pic.twitter.com/d2HL6FHkh1

— Xiaomi #5GIsHere (@Xiaomi) June 3, 2019

Neither company has revealed details of their tech, nor when each respective phone will be ready for mass usage. But it's unquestionable that the future is here. The reign of notches, hole-punches, and pop-up cameras is over — long live under-display lenses. The flexing does say a lot about the state of technology today, considering that Chinese companies managed to come up with something innovative faster than its Western peers.

 

ilyas@asiaone.com