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The first true all-screen smartphone design just leaked and it looks like it’s going to be amazing

Published Jul 25th, 2019 7:11PM EDT
Vivo Nex 3
Image: Ice Universe

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Earlier today, reputed leaker Ice Universe tweeted a photo of what may very well be the Vivo Nex 3 design. The Nex 3, if the photo is accurate, boasts an intriguing form factor with extremely curved sides, ultimately resulting in a device with the “highest screen-to-body ratio” we’ll see all year.

“The vivo NEX 3 is probably the highest screen-to-body ratio phone in 2019,” the tweet notes. “The Screen-to-body Ratio is over 100% based on the “display area/projected area” calculation method.”

The front of the device will essentially be all screen, with Ice Universe noting that there’s no notch a la the iPhone or hole-punch camera a la Samsung devices.

Now as to how taking selfies would work on the device, recall that the original Vivo Nex S incorporated a clever design featuring a camera module that popped up from the back of the device. In essence, the front-facing camera is there when you need it and completely inconspicuous when you don’t. It admittedly sounds a bit out there, but reviews of the device found the pop-up camera to be surprisingly robust and fast.

Is it possible that the pop-up camera design is a solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist? Of course, but that’s beside the point. In a smartphone market where devices are seemingly indistinguishable from one another, it’s nice to see a company try something creative, if not a little bit “out there.”

All in all, Vivo has made a number of interesting moves in the mobile space in a relatively short period of time. Just last month, for example, the company unveiled a device with 120W fast charging. It’s mind-boggling by every measure and, to put that into context, the battery technology would be able to fully charge a premium smartphone in just 13 minutes and reach a charge of 50% in just five minutes.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.