Vivo - the Chinese smartphone manufacturer that’s in the same family asOnePlusandOppo- is working on some unusual “reverse notch” designs as another creative solution to having an all-screen smartphone.
The images revealed in the patents were uncovered byLetsGoDigital, and indicate two unique possible designs. One features a gentle arch shape protruding from the top edge and housing two cameras, while the other has two individual protrusions, and looks quite frog-like.
The aim, it would seem, behind this move would be to have a phone with no interruptions on the screen panel at all. There’s no notch cutting into the top edge, or punch hole camera blocking out a small space in the corner.
Until now, the solution to this particular problem has been to build a pop-up mechanism of some kind. In fact, Vivo wasone of the firstcompanies to introduce such a mechanism.
We’ve since seen the approach taken by OnePlus and Oppo in devices likethe OnePlus 7 Proand theOppo F11 Pro, which both feature a small pop up camera that protrudes from the top.
Other approaches from the likes of Xiaomi and Honor have seen the return of the sliding mechanism, withthe Mi Mix 3and the Honor Magic 2.
What all of these have in common, however different the approach, is that they all mean there’s a smooth, seamless edge to the smartphone. With cameras protruding from the top in a fixed/permanent fashion, that no longer exists.
We don’t know much else about these smartphones Vivo is working on, or indeed, if they will ever become a final product available for consumers to buy. We’ll keep you update if more is revealed.
