New Xiaomi patent hints at company's future smartphone design traits

Xiaomi is well known for pumping out patents for quirky, novel designs, but the devices outlined in its latest filing seem pretty normal. Spotted by LetsGoDigital, the Chinese firm has filed documentation for three new smartphone designs.

The first design seemingly envisions a future flagship. It employs a camera module in a similar position to the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. It also occupies a sizeable portion of the phone’s rear complete with four sensors. The top camera protrudes slightly from the camera module, suggesting it could house the headlining sensor. While the two middle snappers seem similar, the bottom lens is housed in a rectangular body. This hints at its use as a periscope snapper. Interestingly, what seems to be a large flash also runs alongside the second and third lenses.

We also look at the phone’s edges, including a USB-C port mounted on the phone’s bottom right corner flanked by a long indent. A microphone also features, too.

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Xiaomi’s second design packs an oval camera array with two large sensors and three additional camera elements. It’s unclear if these are three cameras or two snappers and a flash. Nevertheless, this design also features a vertical line that runs alongside the camera module. It could be a visual element, and the patent drawings don’t make this clear.

Finally, the third design is arguably the most reserved of all. It packs a large camera up top, with two additional sensors beneath.

Xiaomi’s future phones?

We’ve seen previous patents from Xiaomi pack rotating under-display cameras and crazy speaker-smartphone hybrids. There’s a low chance that we’ll see these designs make their way onto consumer-ready devices. However, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to imagine the latest three designs debuting on Xiaomi phones. Xiaomi filed the patent in March 2021, so it would suggest the designs are in active development.

Of course, it’s unclear which Xiaomi model lineup would sport these designs or if the company plans to use any of these shortly. However, don’t be too shocked if a future Xiaomi smartphone features any of these design elements.