Xiaomi smartphone with built-in wireless earbuds is the latest curious patent innovation from the Mi Mix maker

Xiaomi certainly has plenty of critics but you cannot deny the company comes up with some innovative concepts and patents for future smartphones. Back in June, we reported about a patent for an iPhone-esque Xiaomi smartphone that had two circular features on the top edge, which we suggested could be for a pop-up camera setup. However, it appears the truth has now been revealed: The circular features are actually part of wireless earbuds that are housed inside the Xiaomi smartphone!

LetsGoDigital has provided some great renders showing how the wireless earbuds would fit into this potential Xiaomi smartphone. The audio device could be completely removed to be used as earphones, or it seems the parts could somehow be connected to the smartphone directly and then utilized as speakers. As has been pointed out, the earbuds shown here are not entirely dissimilar to the design of the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones but have a hinged head for inserting into the ear or returning to the smartphone housing.

It’s arguable whether Xiaomi would risk putting such a device into production, even as part of the famously daring Mi Mix line that often features innovative features for a smartphone. There could be hygiene issues with the earbuds being constantly inserted into the ear and then into the phone, and of course, Xiaomi would have to make quite a bit of space on the inside for the housings. The smartphone in the patent does look quite wide (and reminiscent of an iPhone), so perhaps the Chinese OEM has already taken the internal arrangement issue into consideration. The Xiaomi smartphone/wireless headset combo device also appears to come with an under-screen selfie camera.