As edge-to-edge displays become increasingly common on handsets, smartphone makers have adopted multiple solutions for creating all-screen, bezel-less handsets.
Physical home buttons have been phased out, while fingerprint sensors have been dispensed with or slung around the back. At CES 2018 we even saw the first functioning in-display fingerprint sensor.
The remaining obstacle is the array of necessary sensors at the top of the devices, namely the all-important selfie camera.
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Apple chose to deploy a controversial ‘notch’ for the iPhone X, while Samsung’s latest phones still have a thin strip above the display to house the sensors.
However, judging by a recently revealed patent, Samsung may be edging closer to an all-screen fascia.
The patent (via Neowin) showcases a multiple examples of a full-screen display, with holes for the various sensors, essentially allowing display them to sit beneath the display.
More in-display fingerprint hints
While Samsung’s iteration shows the selfie camera in its normal position at the top of the handset, the company could conceivably place it anywhere, should the technology come to fruition.
You could take selfies and take part in video calls simply by looking directly at your own image on the screen rather than at the camera itself.
Other iterations show a notch like the iPhone X, but all versions showcase an in-display fingerprint sensor, which reveals where Samsung’s thinking lies in that respect.
The patent entitled “Electronic apparatus having a hole area within screen and control method thereof” was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization in May 2017, but is only seeing the light of day now.
While we wouldn’t expect this tech to emerge within the next couple of years and can’t guarantee it’ll ever materialise, this does provide hope for a notch-free future.
Is this the tech that will eventually bring us to full-screen, bezel-less smartphone heaven? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
