UnderDisplayKameras

UnderDisplayKameras, or under-display cameras, refer to camera sensors that are positioned beneath the surface of a device’s display. This arrangement aims to provide a full-screen front experience without notches, holes, or pop-out mechanisms. The concept has been applied to smartphones and, in some cases, to foldable or multi-panel devices, where part of the display or the inner display must allow light to reach the camera.

Technically, the camera sits behind a transparent or semi-transparent portion of the display. When the user activates the camera, the area above or around the lens is designed to transmit more light, while in other modes the display remains normal. Advancements in display materials, pixel-level transparency, and image processing help improve brightness, contrast, and noise reduction. Some implementations also rely on AI-driven editing to compensate for any residual display-induced artifacts. The goal is to balance a high-quality front-facing image with minimal impact on overall display quality and brightness.

History and development have seen several manufacturers experiment with under-display cameras since the early 2020s. ZTE released one of the first commercially available models featuring an under-display camera, with other brands such as Oppo, Xiaomi, and Samsung following with their own iterations on later devices. Variants include cameras embedded under the main display of a traditional smartphone and cameras beneath the inner display of foldables. Current generations continue to improve image quality, though the technology often trades some brightness, color fidelity, and detail for a seamless front screen.