OPPO Patented a Smartphone with a Removable Camera Module

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has filed a patent for a removable camera module on a smartphone that connects to it via USB-C or wirelessly. Patent published in the database of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

In the back of the smartphone there is a recess for the camera module. This module, if necessary, can be removed and connected using USB-C to the device – this will allow you to take a selfie on the main camera, while seeing the screen. In addition, the module can be equipped in different variations with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controllers and an NFC chip – this will allow using it at a distance from the smartphone, as well as connecting with other devices.

The patent states that the removable module contains two cameras and a lithium-ion battery that powers the module. It is not yet known how this will be implemented, and whether a smartphone from Oppo will come out with a similar technological solution. However, in theory, the company’s devices could enable users to change the camera module of their smartphones without replacing the entire device – for example, in the event of a breakdown or for upgrading. In this case, the company can start selling camera modules separately, and users will simply need to install a new unit.

In November, Oppo introduced the X 2021 smartphone with a stretchable screen – its diagonal can increase from 6.7 inches to 7.4 inches when the window is opened. As in the case of the removable camera module, it is not known whether the smartphone will go on sale – the company said that this is just a prototype.