A Display ‘Window’ is Apple’s Unusual Solution to Hide its Selfie Camera

Apple has recently patented an unusual method for dealing with the much-maligned "notch" that contains its front-facing camera. Rather than use a system that places the camera under the display, Apple instead has designed a moving "window" that can open to reveal a camera behind it.

As noted by Patently Apple, the expandable display that scrolls open thanks to a motor hidden under the display is shown as hiding the camera area and notch when it is not in use. Apple describes it as a window region that overlaps on a movable portion of the display. When closed, the moving portion overlaps the window and the pixels in the moving display can act as if they were part of the complete display panel. When open, the moving portion is lifted away from the display so that the optical component can pass through without obstruction.

One image included with the patent shows a small cog located under the display that turns an arched, geared piece that is connected to a folding section of the display. When opened, the camera can peek through the opening and allow it to gain an unobstructed view.

The patent also describes a "rolling" display window that uses the same concept, but instead of relying on a hinge, the display is "rolled" back to reveal the camera.

Whether it is a hinged flap or a flexible roll, Apple seems to want to avoid having its cameras look directly through a display screen so that image quality can be its best.

As PetaPixel has covered in the past, multiple companies in the mobile space are working on a solution to the problem of the notch or hole-punch for a front-facing camera that will interrupt an otherwise edge-to-edge display. Under-display cameras appear to be the most popular choice, as both ZTE and Samsung have released consumer products that feature the tech.

Unfortunately, under-display cameras have their downsides. Because the camera is under a panel, the camera is physically encumbered by the pixels which can be visible in the image, especially in backlit conditions. Images also tend to be quite soft. Samsung's recently announced Galaxy Z Fold 3 does exhibit this issue, but it is strongly mitigated by heavy post-processing that seems to help fix the problem in several possible use cases, though it's still noticeable.

Both Xiaomi and Oppo have introduced solutions to this problem as well, and each claims to have solved the main issues with under-display technology. Xiaomi recently announced the Mix 4 which will feature the tech, and Oppo showed off its prototype solution as well. Both promise to be hugely improved over what Samsung and ZTE both have attempted.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 | Screen Capture via MKBHD

Another issue with under-display cameras is that the pixels over the camera itself appear imperfect. Google has attempted its own design that will use a second OLED screen under the main screen along with a prism that it believes will help alleviate this issue.

Even though all these other companies have different methods for addressing the same situation, they all have one thing in common: few to no moving parts. Apple appears to be willing to risk the implementation of physical moving gear that directly bends the display, which is notable. Not only do moving parts mean more places that could break, but it also means that the device will take at least a bit of time to prepare itself to take a photo or video.

If Apple does ever use this patent, it likely won't be for some time. The Silicon Valley giant is known for playing the long game and being the last to add new technology into its devices. Under-display tech is still so new that Apple is unlikely to take a risk on anything unless it is far more proven, unlike Samsung, Xiaomi, or Oppo who enjoy positions as testers of bleeding-edge technology.

Apple's full patent can be viewed on the U.S. Patent Office's website.

Image credits: Aspects of header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

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Samsung’s First Under Display Camera Appears to be a Mixed Bag

As part of its Unpacked event yesterday, Samsung announced two new folding smartphones. While there was a lot to "unpack" about each, one feature in the company's new flagship Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn't appear to have flagship performance: its under-display camera.

Under-display cameras, or camera under-display (CUP) as they are sometimes called, are seen as the natural evolution of front-facing cameras in smartphones, as they eliminate the need for a notch or "hole punch" that breaks up a seamless display. The idea of hiding the camera under the display isn't new, but multiple companies have shown different design approaches to trying to solve a consistent problem with under-display cameras: the fact that there is a display in between the image sensor and the object that it is trying to image.

The first consumer smartphone to feature an under-display camera was the ZTE Axon 20 5G. As shown below by Marques Brownlee in January, while the camera is indeed mostly hidden under the display, it is still visible if you are looking for it and the image quality suffers mightily because of its position under the display.

Photos and videos taken with the ZTE's under-display camera are not only notably soft, but the pixels of the display are clearly visible in shots. So while the device was first to market, it was obviously first-generation.

Both Oppo and Xiaomi have recently announced under-display cameras that look worlds better than what the ZTE offers. While Oppo's is still a prototype, Xiaomi's a full-fledged finished product. There is clearly a new bar, which is what makes Samsung's integration of its first under-display camera a bit of a letdown.

In early testing from Linus Tech Tips , results from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 look very much like what was expected out of the ZTE smartphone, especially in backlit conditions.

However, Samsung seems to have implemented some serious software-based corrections into its device that makes it much more usable when lighting conditions are more favorable. In side-by-side comparisons, Linus found that the Z Fold 3 was heavily sharpening footage in real-time, which was visible when he moved slightly in frame. This does help fix the issue of softness with the under-display camera, and as long as no light is directly visible in the frame, appears to make it much more usable than what the ZTE offers.

Below are two similar shots using a front-facing camera. One uses the Z Fold2's hole-punch camera while the other uses the new Z Fold3 under-display camera. The difference appears minimal in this ideal use case.

Sammobile reports that in its opinion, Samsung did a valiant effort here, but it is undoubtedly a first generation result.

"At the end of the day, it’s the first generation Under-Display Camera from Samsung, and so far, it looks like a very promising and viable, albeit imperfect, technology," the publication writes.

As I said before, we need to face reality. In terms of the display of the under-screen camera, Fold3 is indeed the worst. But I believe the effect of taking pictures will be better. pic.twitter.com/UqTfRY3KST

-- Ice universe (@UniverseIce) August 11, 2021

The Verge also notes that it is quite obvious that there is a camera hidden in that spot, but it happens to be more noticeable in photos than in real life. Still, it's an imperfect solution. While certainly better than what came out just a few months ago, it's still not quite the replacement for the notch or hole punch many are after.

Image credits: Header image is a screenshot from Marques Brownlee's Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Impressions.

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