Mobile phone front camera: Goodbye

Since the introduction of the notch screen on Apple iPhone X, mobile phone manufacturers have never stopped exploring technologies to increase the screen-to-body ratio.

The most critical factor affecting the screen-to-body ratio is naturally the front camera. To solve this problem, mobile phone manufacturers have used various methods. Some use electric lifting front cameras, while others use push-pull sliding covers.

However, whether it is a mechanical lift or a sliding cover body, there are inevitable problems such as increased failure rate, increased body thickness, and easy accumulation of dust.

Compared with the above solutions, under-screen camera technology is the best solution at this stage. In early June this year, domestic mobile phone manufacturers Xiaomi and OPPO announced their own under-screen camera technology almost at the same time.

Xiaomi said that the hidden screen is Xiaomi's innovative technology. The new screen is a small transparent screen in the front camera area. This small transparent screen has the characteristics of low reflection and high light transmittance. The transparent screen can display the screen content normally when not taking pictures, and becomes transparent glass when taking pictures.

The technical principle of Xiaomi's under-screen camera

The full screen effect can be achieved

同一时间OPPO副总裁沈义人，在微博上曝光了自家的屏下指纹工程机，从工程机来看，OPPO采用的是曲面屏下摄像头方案。

OPPO under-screen camera technology

Although OPPO did not introduce the relevant principles and technologies in detail, after summarizing various online news, we roughly learned that OPPO's under-screen camera technology also divides the phone's screen into two areas. The screen area above the camera has the characteristics of high light transmittance, and lens technology is also used to increase the amount of light entering.

Is the under-screen camera reliable?

Some netizens expressed concerns about the under-screen camera technology. They believe: "Although Xiaomi uses a high-transmittance and low-reflection screen, and OPPO has added a lens, it is still an extra layer of barrier in front of the camera, which will inevitably affect the entry of light and cause a decline in image quality, especially in low-light environments, and there is no front fill light."

In fact, to improve the brightness and details of photos, we can start with the sensor and imaging algorithm. Improving the sensor's sensitivity to light and the post-correction of the image algorithm become the key.

Given the current performance of image sensors and the soft power of manufacturers in portrait shooting, there is no need to worry too much.

Personally, I think it’s no problem for the under-screen front camera to achieve such a selfie

After all, we don’t use the front camera very often. Most of the time, we only use it for simple selfies and video calls, and selfies will naturally be taken care of by the beauty mode.

Is the price very expensive? Is the thickness of the body increased?

Some netizens also expressed such doubts: "From the currently published information, whether it is Xiaomi or OPPO, the under-screen camera technology divides the screen into two areas, one is the ordinary area and the other is the high light transmittance area. So will the overall cost of this screen be much higher than that of an ordinary screen, thus causing the price of the whole machine to be too high? Or will the use of a new screen increase the thickness of the body?"

Regarding the price, it is indeed unknown and will only be known after the manufacturer releases the product. As for the thickness issue, OPPO staff said in a communication with netizens that the new screen and technology will not significantly increase the overall thickness of the body.

The author also believes that the under-screen camera technology does not have the mechanical parts of the lifting camera and sliding body, so the overall body should at least not become thicker. Because the screen and camera are two independent parts, even if the screen is damaged by accident, it will not affect the front camera.

The screen and camera are independent components

Overall, since Xiaomi and OPPO have both announced under-screen camera technology, and Huawei, Samsung and other manufacturers are following suit, I believe that this technology is reliable and practical.

We will also continue to pay attention to related technologies and products and bring you more detailed reports.

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