Xiaomi wants to add headphones to its phones
Xiaomi is said to have the idea of integrating True Wireless headphones directly into its mobile phones. This would involve cutting holes in the phone and using swivelling earpieces.
Is it possible for headphones to be integrated into mobile phones? Dutch IT magazine LetsGoDigital has uncovered two Xiaomi patents that describe this novelty. The magazine has created a photo-realistic rendering where we can see a smartphone with small holes at the top right and left allowing headphones to be placed.
This rendering is based on two patents recently filed by Xiaomi. The first patent describes the smartphone and its two holes on the top for inserting headphones. According to the photo, the mobile phone has no notch, no hole for the screen and no pop-up camera. It will probably feature an on-screen camera. The second patent describes the earphones and in particular shows their retractable shape. One of the patents is registered in China, the other in The Hague.
In the same way that Samsung makes its S-Pen disappear into the compartment, Xiaomi would like to make the earphones disappear into the mobile phone.
The secret? Rotation
The special thing about these earphones with a rotating head is that they can be inserted into the mobile phone like a stylus. When the True Wireless earphones are in the mobile phone, their speakers pop out at the top of the phone.
Once flipped, the earphones can be put in the ear like normal earphones, according to the patent. The fact that the headphones are part of the mobile phone is very handy, especially if, like me, you tend to forget your headphones at home and only realise when a group of elderly, noisy hikers come to sit next to you on the train.
No need to carry your wireless headphones everywhere. And when you're not using the headphones, you can easily store them in the phone case. Practical!
A project still vague
Unfortunately, the patent does not contain any other information about the functions of this new type of earphones. We can assume that they will be able to connect to the mobile phone via Bluetooth, or even act as external speakers. Ideally, the headphones would be able to recharge on the mobile phone.
It's not yet clear whether Xiaomi is actually planning to launch a smartphone with built-in headphones. After all, the two compartments take up a lot of space in ever-slimmer mobile phones. Some components would have to be moved or replaced with smaller, lower-quality parts. It's not clear that this would make the phone attractive. It's also unclear how the pen-shaped earpieces fit into the phone, or how they can be removed without tweezers.
What are your thoughts on these earbuds built into the phone? Would you be interested in them? Or do you think it's a useless gadget?
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.