Xiaomi's latest kooky patent employs less smoke and more mirrors to give a potential Mi Mix 4 the camera-free display and unblemished rear it deserves

It was recently revealed that Xiaomi might finally release the Mi Mix 4, possibly in 2021, and being a member of the Mi Mix line should mean that it features some unexpected cutting-edge tech, or even just be a bit outlandish in general. Wraparound displays and foldable formats have previously been suggested for it, and with the glut of Xiaomi patents that have appeared over the last months that have focused on camera setups and frequently pop-up solutions, it could be that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 ends up sporting a pop-up camera of sorts.

This latest pop-up camera idea doesn't even really include an actual pop-up camera…it’s a “reflecting member” or a mirror that pops up when requested by the user. The camera sensors stay safely encased inside of the smartphone’s shell while the rotatable mirror does all the popping up and image-positioning work. This snazzy solution eliminates the need for both front-facing and rear-facing camera systems, which would give the opportunity to create a camera-free wraparound display for a possible Mi Mix 4.

Obviously, the pop-up mirror could have other uses, such as unlocking the smartphone. LetsGoDigital has created a couple of renders of how the device could look, with the pop-up part neatly appearing from the top edge of the phone without a camera lens in sight. As a bonus, owners of such a Xiaomi smartphone wouldn’t be lumbered with a disappointing selfie camera, as the rotating mirror utilizes the same in-built camera sensors no matter which way it’s facing. Definitely a device for a lover of selfie snaps.

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