The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra was launched way back in 2021 and features a small secondary display embedded into its camera island. At the time, the idea did not quite catch on, so the brand nixed the concept for its later phones. Now, it seems the company might be bringing it back for an upcoming release.
While the first whispers of the rear display emerged last month, a recent hint comes straight from Xiaomi’s software. The latest version of HyperOS features code referring to a device with the name “Pandora” and model code “Q200”. A string of code explicitly mentions sub-screen display support.
At the moment, there are no further details on this supposed secondary display, but if Xiaomi is revisiting the type of screen found on the Mi 11 Ultra, we can probably expect it to come with similar functionality. This means that in addition to serving as a viewfinder for selfies, the rear display could be used to display notifications and other alerts. It could possibly be used to show images or custom text.
Of course, this is all speculation given the fact that we still have little information on Pandora. A leak suggests that it could be the top-of-the-line variant of the Xiaomi 16 series. It is also said to launch in September along with the base Xiaomi 16 and the Pro model. Since Pandora will be an experimental model, it is likely that it will be exclusively launched in China, with a global release being contingent on feedback.
It is worth noting that Xiaomi is not the only company testing the waters with a rear display. The newly launched Nothing Phone (3) also sports a secondary screen on the back panel, albeit in its own way. The phone’s Glyph Matrix displays alerts and can be used as a viewfinder, but incorporates pixel-based graphics for a quirky aesthetic.
(Source: XiaomiTime via GizmoChina)
