2018 has become the year of the notch, just as last year was the year of the shrinking bezels. Surely the next innovation due to arrive in the smartphone world is a full display phone with no notch, and Vivo seem to think so, aiming to be first to market with such a device.
Vivo have been teasing the world with the fully functional entirely bezel-less phone, the Vivo Apex, with no notch and an under-display fingerprint sensor for a while. Originally it was a concept phone as captured by The Verge but now it looks set for a release to market in the next month.
The phone has popped up (pardon the pun) showing its popup selfie camera and half-display under-display fingerprint sensor in ads set to be aired during the FIFA World Cup next month. The ad is a generic Vivo ad but does show the Apex in hand and on a bench, showing the entire lack of bezels of any meaning at the top of the device. There is also a frame showing the selfie camera popped up — something that could well be the next innovation to take the smartphone world by storm.
Vivo have shrunk the bezels down to just 1.8mm on the top and sides and the chin bezel to just 4.3mm — which it wants to shrink even more in the future. There are hidden proximity and ambient light sensors and an elevating 8MP selfie camera to alleviate the need for a notch — the selfie camera is ready in 0.8 seconds from the beginning of the opening process.
Of course, it is only fitting that the Vivo Apex arrives with a hidden fingerprint scanner — it is the next generation under-display (AMOLED) fingerprint sensor that encompasses almost half of the display. If you want to see it in action check out the video below:
Not only is the Apex popping up in TV ads a well known leaker has taken to Twitter to say that the Vivo Apex will launch next month:
vivo APEX will be released next month. This is the most aggressive smartphone ever designed. pic.twitter.com/R31ScBuwAx
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 23, 2018
Of course Vivo are yet to launch a phone into Australia but given that they share the same owners as OPPO and OnePlus we would not rule it out in the future. It is very unlikely this phone will officially land in Australia but you can be sure that the other manufacturers will be watching it very closely for their design plans in the coming year(s).
What are your thoughts on this? Would this be the perfect phone for you?
