Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has been granted two new patents on foldable phone designs, with one of them featuring a pop-up camera setup with Penta-rear camera system.
The application of the first patent was submitted on August 20, 2018 and it was announced on November 8, according to a document seen by cnTechPost from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
The images show the left side of the device is thicker than the right when it is straightened out. This is because that is where the pop-up camera and probably the battery are.
Here is the straightened-out image:
The front in normal status:
The back:
pop-up camera:
The second patent application was submitted on September 5, 2018 and it was also announced on November 8. The images show it has a triple camera setup.
Last month Xiaomi was also granted a new patent which features a split display that folds right and left to the back, ensuring the shape of a normal smartphone.
At the rear, there are at least two cameras that sit far apart when expanded. It appears that these sensors sit close to each other when the device is folded.
This should no surprise because at the beginning of this year, Xiaomi teased a foldable device that speculations claims will be called Xiaomi Mi Fold or Mi Flex.
Reports back then said Xiaomi's foldable smartphone will be priced $999 in the US, €999 in Europe, and INR 74,999 ($1,087) in India and the company plans to launch the phone sometime between April and June.
The report further states that Mi Fold/Flex will cost almost half of Galaxy Fold because Xiaomi will use OLED displays made by Visionox Technology as per its requirements.
