If recent reports are to be believed, Apple may be planning a smaller notch in the iPhone 13, but Android makers are increasingly turning to under-display camera technology to eliminate the need for anything that houses a front camera. And the next major phone to adopt such a feature could be the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4.

IceUniverse, a prominent leaker who has accurately reported many smartphone leaks in recent years, tweeted this week that the Mi Mix 4 will completely obscure the camera below the screen, making it "invisible to the naked eye."

Xiaomi spotlighted the technology behind the feature in 2019, showing that its own third-generation under-display camera can essentially capture light through the display's sub-pixel array. The company claimed at the time that the under-display camera would allow it to capture clear pictures from the front shooter without disturbing the screen in any way.

The previous model, the Mi Mix 3, took a unique approach to making the front-facing camera invisible; like the pop-up camera modules found on phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro, this was a clever innovation, but it never gained widespread adoption across the industry.

The first phone with a camera under the display, last year's mid-range ZTE Axon 20 5G, was not a mind-blowing phone - and selfies were not as good as the Google Pixel 4a 5G. Still, it's a very cool party trick, and performance is sure to improve as the technology matures across the industry.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 3 folding smartphone may also feature a 16-megapixel under-display camera if rumors are accurate. However, purported renderings of the smartphone shared by reliable leaker Evan Blass suggest that it is not as hidden as the rumored Mi Mix 4's under-display camera.

However, given that we are comparing the allegedly leaked renderings with unconfirmed reports, all of this is really just speculation at this point. The leaker has been cited numerous times over the years as having reported correctly, but we do not know if the reported specs will actually make it into the version that will ship, or if the images are legitimate.

Compared to the upcoming iPhone 13, Xiaomi's approach makes Apple's shrunken notch seem huge. iPhone 13 will have Apple move the earpiece to the top of the bezel, the front-facing camera to the left, and the Face ID sensor may be reduced by 50%. reportedly.

The notch is indeed smaller, but it is not comparable to having no notch at all. Granted, it is unclear whether Xiaomi's under-display camera will be capable of matching Apple's extensive Face ID system.

In addition to the under-display camera, Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 rumors suggest that a powerful new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus will power the phone. It could also feature a surprisingly fast 120W wired charging and 80W wireless charging capabilities. Xiaomi has previously demonstrated 80W wireless charging technology.

It is unclear if the rumored Mi Mix 4 or other upcoming Xiaomi phones will be released in the US, but given Xiaomi's past reluctance to do business in the US, it seems unlikely.