It is rumored that Apple is preparing to launch a smartphone that completely gives up physical ports, such as the Lightning connector, but it is possible that other companies will do this faster. We have already seen concepts like Vivo Apex 2022 and the failed Meizu Zero experiment last year, which proposed phones without ports, and now it is rumored that Oppo will be the first company to bring such a device to market. However, the fact that it will not have visible ports does not mean that it will not have a charging port, and the Chinese company could integrate other new technologies in the new device.
Oppo could integrate many advanced technologies into its new portless phone
According to Digital Chat Station, a constant source of “leaks” on the Chinese social network Weibo, Oppo could launch in the near future a smartphone without a visible USB port. However, this does not mean that the phone will have to be charged exclusively using wireless technologies. Apparently, it will be possible to connect cables to it, but the port will most likely be hidden by a hinged door. It could also be a series of magnetic contacts, which could ensure charging on the cable.
Other information about this device suggests that Oppo may be one of the largest manufacturers of phones that adopt screens that can hide the front camera behind the screen. Currently, the only model on the market equipped with such a screen is the ZTE Axon 20 5G, launched late last year.
And since it was all about “hiding”, Oppo would like to hide the cameras on the back of the device. Last year, I also saw a OnePlus smartphone concept, equipped with electrochromic glass, which darkened to create the impression of a completely black area, under which the camera lenses could no longer be seen. This Oppo model could also use the same technology.
Some design decisions may be controversial
A not very inspired decision would be the one related to the buttons on the sides of the phone, which could be replaced with pressure sensors. This is not the first time we have seen the removal of buttons on a mobile device. HTC tried unsuccessfully to replace the mechanical buttons with physical push buttons on the U12 +, while Huawei removed the volume buttons on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and replaced them with a software solution. I also saw a similar concept on the Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha (photo), with virtual buttons on the sides of the curved screen.
This model, which is rumored to be in development, could still remain a simple prototype, as we have seen in the past, but certain technologies used to make it could gradually reach the company’s top models. Of course, Oppo could sell this model at a higher price than its regular variants.
