Xiaomi Unveils New Concept Phone With 'Waterfall' Display on All Four Sides

Xiaomi has announced a new concept phone featuring a display that curves around all four sides of the device, with no room for ports or buttons.


The "quad-curved waterfall display" refers to the phone having 88-degree "waterfall" curves not only on the left and right sides of the device, but also on the top and bottom of the handset. As the press release describes it:

The 88° hyper quad-curved screen design allows visual interfaces to flow over the phone's surface like water. Almost the entire frame of the smartphone is covered by screen, while its body carries no ports or buttons, bringing forward the futuristic unibody no-port design.

The sum total effect looks to include display-based touch controls on the sides and scrolling content that when viewed at eye level appears to sort of dribble down beyond the bottom of the screen. Based on the promotional material, the corners of the device don't exhibit the "waterfall" effect, and instead have rounded cutouts that lack any display features.

Xiaomi says the concept aims to "extend the limits of the display to infinity" and realize "a true, port-free unibody design." This feat is said to be a result of "countless breakthroughs in glass bending and laminating technology" and "an innovative screen stacking design adopted through our breakthrough 3D bonding process."

Thanks to 46 self-developed patented technologies, physical ports and buttons can have their functions replicated by more elegant alternatives. Groundbreaking technologies and engineering solutions – including ultra-thin piezoelectric ceramics, an industry-first flexible film display acoustic technology, third-generation under-display cameras, wireless charging, eSIM chips, pressure-sensitive touch sensors, and more – are seamlessly integrated together, forming a visionary yet intuitive device.

xiaomi waterfall display
It's worth mentioning that while this is being called a concept phone, Xiaomi has told The Verge that the device does actually exist and indeed, reassuringly, they've "used it themselves."

Xiaomi's recent decision to ship upcoming smartphones without a charger and its newly announced "Mi Air Charge" remote wireless technology would seem to make more sense given the lack of ports on this device.

That said, who knows whether it will ever make it to market. Xiaomi's 2019 Mi Mix Alpha phone had a display that wrapped around almost the whole of the device, and that hasn't become commercially available either.

Tag: Xiaomi

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Top Rated Comments

ProfessionalFan Avatar
52 months ago
Is there anyone that actually wants this? I don't see the point of a phone like that.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
52 months ago
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
52 months ago
Everyone: "phones have gotten so large and slippery they're kind of hard to grip".

Xiaomi: "got it! Let's make the edges a display so it's even harder to grip".


Why is innovation like this coming from China and not Cupertino?
This is an amazing technology and a daring concept. This is the kind of chance and expectation Steve gave us.

Get back in the innovation game, Tim!
Is this sarcasm?

What problem does this "innovation" solve?
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Moakesy Avatar
52 months ago
Looks lovely, but how do I put a case on it?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
apparatchik Avatar
52 months ago

Why is innovation like this coming from China and not Cupertino?
This is an amazing technology and a daring concept. This is the kind of chance and expectation Steve gave us.

Get back in the innovation game, Tim!
Apple doesnt show off concepts, or -for the most part- release half-baked gimmicks, doesnt mean they dont develop them in-lab, but they wouldnt release -say- a folding tablet/phone, just for the sake of it, it has to have a cohesive strategy and tangible benefit. They invest billions in R&D each year, but, thankfully, dont need to hype the media with their in-lab concepts. Just not the Apple way of going about it.

Just look at their Apple Silicon trajectory, is that not the most tangible actual innovation going on right now?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5232152 Avatar
52 months ago
Why is innovation like this coming from China and not Cupertino?
This is an amazing technology and a daring concept. This is the kind of chance and expectation Steve gave us.

Get back in the innovation game, Tim!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)