Xiaomi’s doorless phone may be just a concept, but there is little doubt that it caused confusion. The absence of basic elements such as buttons or side frames is audacious even for a company known for exceeding its limits. Virtually all phone design ‘rules’ have been thrown away, and this is making some people angry.
As with the portless phone prototypes of before, however, Xiaomi’s example raises a question: who really asked for this? It is easy to say “nobody”, but the truth is more complex than that. Although you may not be enthusiastic as a user, there is a reason for the existence of this phone … and it can be useful even if nothing like it hits the market.
It’s not the users
It is safe to assume that ordinary users did not ask Xiaomi to make their phone without a door and without a frame. Many people are still upset about the disappearance of headphone connectors, let alone ports, buttons and bezels. It’s also easy to find phone enthusiasts who despise cascading monitors on existing phones, and Xiaomi’s square design screen would only make things worse. Some Apple fans are hesitant to think of an iPhone without a port – imagine how Android fans used to feel with secure connectivity.
See too: Xiaomi Buyer’s Guide
Simply speaking, Xiaomi is opposing the practical realities of using the phone. If Huawei’s foldable phones with an external screen look excessively fragile, Xiaomi’s quad-screen is an expensive accident waiting to happen. Buttons, bezels and SIM card slots offer comforting experiences, even if they are not strictly necessary. And while wireless charging and sync has improved, they are still behind the speed and reliability of their wired equivalents.
It wouldn’t be all bad. State-of-the-art sub-display camera technology would create a perfect experience when browsing the web or watching movies. Still, it is clear that Xiaomi’s doorless phone is more of a theoretical exercise than a reflection of sincere demand.
A phone without a port still helps Xiaomi move forward
However, it is the very act of conducting a theoretical exercise that makes all the difference. At a minimum, this concept helps Xiaomi determine whether a phone without a door, especially with a screen, has a receptive audience. He still learns something, even though the answer is a resounding “no”.
Consider the response to the original Mi Mix. Its almost entirely on-screen design was polarizing at the time, and that bottom-mounted selfie camera was ultimately a mistake. But it taught Xiaomi more than a few things about the design of the phone, and the lessons it learned were useful for both Mi Mix sequences and the company’s general phone line. What seemed radical in 2016 became relatively common several years later.
There are design skills that can be useful in this case. As Xiaomi explained, the cascade display with four curves required custom glass processing equipment and new techniques. He also had to rethink the internal parts of a phone without applying the usual restrictions. Xiaomi can use the know-how obtained from making its portless phone to build much less exotic products.
Expect more experiments
Given these benefits, it won’t be surprising if Xiaomi continues its portless project with more experimental phones, no matter how outrageous they may seem. The company has very little to lose. Any money invested in development can easily pay dividends if the general product line is more interesting. The concept can also enhance Xiaomi’s reputation as a forward-thinking brand, in the same way that a “halo” supercar can take you to a dealership.
This is not to give the company a free pass. You will be within your right to complain if Xiaomi launches a phone with some painful mistakes, be it without a door or covered with curved glass. But it’s not necessarily a problem if you didn’t order this device – what matters is that Xiaomi leaves this project with the right ideas.