Xiaomi patent shows modular phone with removable rear camera

patent In the past, we have seen a Xiaomi executives teasing a foldable smartphone. However, it looks like the company is considering other unique form factors and unusual designs for handsets as well.  One of them has now been revealed in the latest patent - detachable camera module design. With a removable camera module Xiaomi seems to be attempting to solve the problem of edge-to-edge display. The patent describes the device can house a removable camera at the back that can also be attached to the top of the screen to click selfie images. 

In the number of illustrations in the patent (via 91 Mobiles), we can see that the example used here has two lens in a module that can be removed from its usual housing at the back and can be attached to the top of the screen using magnets.

The patent also adds that the camera can communicate with the smartphone wirelessly making use of connectivity options like Wi Fi, Bluetooth or NFC. 

Also read: Xiaomi Mi 11 to launch globally on Feb 8

It's worth mentioning that adding a magnetic camera to a smartphone is not something that we haven't seen before. In 2016, we saw Motorola collaborating with Hasselblad for its magnetic motor model, which offered 10x optical zoom. In addition, we have seen Essential Phone with a 360-degree camera module that attaches to the handset using metallic pins. However, in Xiaomi’s case, the major difference is that this is not an accessory but the main camera itself.

Using this kind of modular design also raises a question if the camera will work fast enough and if it can avoid any lags. However, on the brighter side, it can deliver some really good images while giving you an all-screen display, something that many smartphone makers have been struggling to do sinc past couple of years. 

We have also seen some companies trying out modular designs for the smartphones but weren’t successful in making it mainstream. This includes devices like LG G5 and Motorola's Project Ara, which was later acquired by Google, but didn't reach the masses. 

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization Patentscope online database, the company applied for this intellectual property at least six months ago. It also applied for the same patent in the United States, China, South Korea, Europe and some other countries in the past few weeks. This gives us a hope that this idea might become a reality in the coming years.