The idea of a camera under the display of a cell phone has been floated many times in recent years, but the closest any device has ever shipped is the now-standard hole-in-the-wall camera.

Now, a true full-screen cell phone is on the horizon, but it will not be launched by a major manufacturer like Samsung or Apple. Instead, ZTE will launch its first phone with an in-display camera on December 21.

The ZTE Axon 20 5G was originally announced in September, but at the time was exclusive to China. However, ZTE has now announced that the phone will be available globally. No word yet on a North American launch, but it will be available in the UK, EU, Japan, and other key regions.

There have long been rumors that the Samsung Galaxy S21 would feature an under-display camera, but these were quashed months ago with news that Samsung would not release such a device until late 2021 at the earliest. Since then, all rendered images and leaks of the Galaxy S21 have shown a conventional hole-punch camera, like those found on other notch-free devices.

Having an under-display camera means that the ZTE Axon 20 5G will have a full-screen display. While we have not had any issues with the pop-up lens, the risk of mechanical failure is significant. Given that it is literally covered by an OLED panel and a single sheet of glass, we will have to wait and see how good this camera is.

As for other specs, there is much to like about the Axon 20 5G: 6.92-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765 chip, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and 4,220mAh battery. It also has a quad rear camera with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth and macro sensor. While not flagship specs, it is definitely at the high end of the mid-range.

Pricing has not yet been announced, but the Axon 20 5G is expected to cost more than the 2,498 yuan (£284/$382) it will sell for in China.