Is the all-screen phone finally here?

Reported by multiple sites, including Engadget and The Verge, we may be on the verge of a truly all-screen phone. Lenovo (owner of Motorola mobile) has announced the Z5 with a 95% screen-to-body ratio; the only non-screen aspect on the front of the device is a thin, metal bezel. Could the future be here?

IMAGE: IndianExpress

While details are scarce so far about the phone, the concept art of the phone provides a pretty good at what to expect which is just...screen. As shown, there is no discernible camera, speakers...or notch! The design seems to resemble the outer shell of an iPhone 7-8 with nothing glass on the top. While the idea of an all-screen phone may seem unrealistic, the technology exists to possibly manufacture the phone (obviously at a cost).

For most, the first question will be, "where is the camera?" Of course, Lenovo did not disclose this information, but there are several possibilities. Firstly, they could feature a pop-up selfie camera similar to the Vivo concept phone (technically, the first model "shown" with an all-screen display). This would hide the camera internally until needed thus eliminating the camera from the front. It is all possible they have accomplished the ultimate goal of embedding the camera under the screen which would then have the pixels go black when the camera is needed to let the camera "see" through the screen. Excellent AI software (such as in the Pixel) could also help clarify the picture that had to pass through the screen and digitizer.

In addition, the easiest hurdle to overcome could be the fingerprint sensor. These have been on the back of devices for years anyway, but also, newer tech has made it possible to embed the scanner under the display. Thanks Synaptics!

By far, the most challenging aspect of this phone will be eliminating the sensors at the bottom that have forced many manufacturers to feature either a chin or forehead. If only someone had figured out how to hide these sensors..oh wait, thanks Apple and Samsung displays. The iPhone X's OLED panel folds in on itself at the bottom of the phone to allow the screen to run from edge-to-edge; granted, this does come with a price.

So with speakers and a fingerprint sensor in the back, a folded-under OLED display, and embedded camera (or some other combination), an all-screen phone is theoretically possible, and it is possible that Lenovo has pulled this feat off. However, the more important question is whether this is something we should indeed want?

Believe it or not, bezels do serve a purpose. Not only do they allow the housing of phone-essential sensors and speakers, they allow greater convenience in handling, and they prevent incidental contact on the edges of our hands. In addition, the top and bottom bezels provided a comfortable grasping location when watching videos in full screen. Now sure, software optimizing could prevent accidentally touching the edges, and we could all learn how to better handle phones for viewing. But, that will require some more work on both the manufacturers end as well as ours to make it work flawlessly.

Personally, I am excited about the possibility of an all-screen device just  because it would be the crowning achievement of how far we have come in terms of display and design. The first to the bezel-less phone will be a trailblazer for the industry, and they will set the bar for what a flagship phone should look like...until the foldable phone unseats them next year.