The evolution of the smartphone has come a long way since it was first introduced.
From the first camera phoneswith a small black and white screen which could only store 20 images, to today’s pocket-sized smartphoneswith more than 90% screen-to-body ratio,capable of capturing high quality images that could rival a professional camera.It is undeniable that the tiny device sitting in our pockets today has become more than just a communication device. It has become a digital companion for us to connect to the world and express ourselves through words, pictures and videos.
For companies like Vivo that strive to makecutting-edge technology accessible to everyone, developing technology and designing handsets that fit around our lives has never been so important. Smartphones today have a significant role creating new trends and even shaping our culture.
Now is an exciting time in the smartphone world, with technologies that before we could only dream of, turning into reality. As an innovative smartphone brand popular among young consumers, Vivo made the headlines in 2018 with its cutting-edge technology and design, such as the world’s first Elevating Front Camera, as well as new features with AI capabilities.With 2018 being a year full of surprises, we can only expect 2019 to be another year full of even more mind-blowing innovation, and withcool emerging trends like Elevating Front Camera becoming more mainstream.
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Elevating Front Camera Up. Notches, dead.
Consumersare seeking more from their smartphones to not only to help them solve day to day tasks, but also to act as an accessory which complements their style. This striving for the best of both worlds will become even more evident in 2019, through technology upgrades and smartphone designs.
Most smartphones in the market today havetheir selfie cameras placed on the front screen itself, impacting thephone’s overall aesthetics, and reducing the size of the viewable screen.
To address this and achieve a true full-screen experience, Vivo’s engineers developed an innovative elevating front camera which is housed under the display. This world-first design was debuted in Vivo’s APEX™ Concept smartphone and was later made available to consumers on Vivo’s NEX in June 2018.
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With an elevating front camera, the selfie camera is ‘hidden’ within the phone’s display - increasing the phone’s screen-to-body ratio by removing the regular notch. For those seeking a bezel-less screen, this is the perfect option.
When entering selfie mode, the front camera isautomatically elevated, and when you’re finished, the camera will instantly retract. It can also withstand strong pulling and torsion force, and the front camera will automatically retract upon detecting an external force.
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Vivo, being one of the pioneers to achieve the ultimate bezel-less display,has become an inspiration for future smartphone designs. In 2019 we can only expect new feats of smartphone design innovation in the pursuit ofbezel-lessnotch-free displays, and also making it available to mid-range smartphones, beyond the premium series.
The Pursuit of Super High-Quality Selfies
Apart from realizing the ideal bezel-less design, smartphone brands are also working to push the boundaries of mobile photography to bring clearer and better photos to consumers. In 2018, we have seen brands like Vivo introducing phones with front cameras ranging from 8 to 24 megapixels. With selfies already an important part of youth culture today, in 2019, we can expect front cameras with even higher quality to enable super high-quality selfies with every snap.
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Professional Photos with the help of even more advanced AI technology
In 2018, we saw the emergence of AI on high-end smartphones. This year we predict that AI-technology will no longer be the preserve of high-end phones, but will become more accessible. We can also expect to seeeven more advanced featurescome to market.
AI-enhanced cameras will move from gimmicky features such as face recognition stickers and emojis to features that will naturally enhance photos.For instance, Vivohas launched a unique AI Face Beauty mode in their smartphones this year that will subtly enhance your facial features using 3D modelling. We are quite excited to see how this personal makeup artist can improve and evolve for the better in 2019.
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AI technologies can also help consumers take photos like a professional in any situation. In conditions like low light, most smartphones suffer from blurry, low-resolution dark images. Recent advancements in AI imaging algorithms mean smartphones can calculate the exposure and recognize light sourcesto capture great photos with detail and precision in low light conditions. We have already seen Vivo introduce AI-enabled low light photography technology to its smartphones last year, so we can only expect even more advanced versions to show up on smartphones in 2019.
In the past year, the smartphone industry has been coming up with an explosion of cool and futuristic features. In 2019, let’s hope brands will continue their commitment to consumers by making cutting-edge technologies such as the Elevating Front Camera more accessible, allowing consumers from all walks of life and from different countries to experience the power of smartphone technology.
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