A sketch shared by Lenovo VP Chang Chen on Chinese Twitter-equivalent Weibo hints what the next smartphone flagship from the company looks like-- a true all-screen device lacking in bezels and camera notch.
Lenovo is still to confirm the actual details behind the device, but the sketch does follow the release of a partial image of a similar, all-screen device. The post by Chen claims the device has a screen-to-body ratio of 95%, the highest in the industry so far, and features no less than four, as yet unspecified, technological breakthroughs together with "18 patented technologies."
But can Lenovo truly make an all-screen smartphone? The latest batch of smartphone does come close to the dream, if with some limitations. For example the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has a screen-to-body ratio of 91.3%, but has a bezel along the bottom housing the front-facing camera (as opposed to a notch up top). Meanwhile the Vivo Apex concept phone has the front-facing camera pop up from behind the display, but the OLED display controller still requires a bottom bezel.
Apple managed to fold the OLED panel back underneath itself in order to hide the controller, but had to come up with the notch for the front-facing camera. It also had to replace the fingerprint sensor with IR-based facial recognition, but smartphone makers now have the option of in-display fingerprint sensors.
We will know if Lenovo manages to wow the world with a true all-display smartphone whenever it actually launches the device.
