Google applies for a patent for an "under-screen camera", and future Pixel phones are expected to be equipped with related technology

On August 9, according to foreign media PhoneArena, Google has submitted a patent application titled "Under-screen camera system and device" to the European Patent Office. The patent shows an "under-screen camera" technology, and Google is expected to equip its future Pixel phones with this "under-screen camera" solution to compete with Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S series phones.

Image source: Screenshot of Google's related patent

It can be noted from the patents submitted by Google that the "under-screen camera" technology currently developed by Google is roughly the same in principle as its competitors, both of which "allow external light to enter the under-screen front camera module through an extremely fine 'grout' in the screen."

In fact, ZTE has already equipped its Axon series models with similar "under-screen camera" technology, but Google's version has certain improvements. It is equipped with two "under-screen cameras", similar to the "color + black and white" solution used in early rear dual-camera mobile phones. The phone will combine the image information captured by the two camera modules, and after algorithm processing, it will output higher quality photos and videos.

Foreign media said that it is still unknown which of Google's future machines will be the first to be equipped with related technology. However, the ID designs of Google's Pixel 8 series to be released in October this year and the Pixel 9 series to be released next year have been finalized, so it is not expected to be equipped with this hardware feature. If Google decides to use under-screen cameras in its Pixel phones, the first phone to be equipped with it should be the next-generation Pixel Fold.