Underdisplay

Underdisplay refers to the placement of functional components beneath the surface of a display, rather than in a visible module or bezel. This approach is used to maximize screen area and create a seamless front face on devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. In practice, the term covers technologies and sensors that operate behind the display, including cameras, fingerprint readers, and, to a lesser extent, audio or touch components.

Under-display cameras are designed to capture images through the display by combining transparent or translucent regions with advanced optics and image processing. Early demonstrations and prototypes appeared in the late 2010s, with consumer devices adopting the approach in the early 2020s. Key challenges include image quality, exposure and color accuracy when the camera is obscured by pixels, and the need to balance display performance with the camera aperture in the same area.

Under-display fingerprint sensors enable a phone's front face to be fully screen-based. They come in optical and ultrasonic varieties. Optical sensors use light passed through the display to read a fingerprint, while ultrasonic sensors transmit sound waves to produce a 3D map. Since the late 2010s, many high-end smartphones with OLED screens have adopted one of these sensors to replace physical home buttons or capacitive scanners.

Other under-display integrations include speakers and haptic devices, where sound or feedback is produced via components beneath the display. The technology aims to preserve aesthetics and improve durability by avoiding notches or punch holes. Ongoing development focuses on improving transparency, reducing visual artifacts, lowering power use, and maintaining performance across lighting conditions and wear.