However it seems that the company thinks of it as a temporary solution as they work towards creating a smartphone that could ditch the hole completely. Speaking to the Yonhap News Agency (via AndroidPIT), Samsung’s Vice President of the Mobile Division’s Screen Research and Development Department Yang Byung-duk revealed the company’s plans where they’re working towards a display which will allow the front-facing camera to reside beneath it.
He was quoted as saying, “Though it wouldn’t be possible to make (a full-screen smartphone) in the next 1-2 years, the technology can move forward to the point where the camera hole will be invisible, while not affecting the camera’s function in any way.” The company has previously shown off such concepts but based on what Yang said, it could be a while before we see it materialize.
Other smartphone makers such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have turned to slideout/popup cameras as an alternative to the notch and hole-in display, although we’re not sure if that’s necessarily a very good design either.