This Lenovo Z5 concept is basically a screen with a phone on its back

Lenovo VP Chang Cheng has teased a smartphone featuring an almost entirely bezel-less (full-screen) display. Called the Lenovo Z5, the device appeared in a sketch on Cheng's Weibo account (via PhoneArena) earlier today.

It's unclear if the phone is actually in the works or if this is just a rogue design; however, the post's accompanying text (machine translated) suggests that recent technological breakthroughs have made such a device has been made possible.

Cheng refers to a "new national flagship declaration," and links to a second Weibo post — including the render at the bottom of the page — that also references design challenges and breakthroughs. Further, Cheng polled users on smartphone display proportions and hinted at a handset with a 95% screen-to-body ratio.

Take a look at the Lenovo Z5 sketch below.

Weibo

The pictured handset lacks typical front-facing smartphone features such as the camera sensor and speakers. The antenna lines on the side of the unit also suggest the device would have a metal unibody, rather than a glass rear-housing.

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Aside from structural- and antenna-related issues, a major hurdle for truly bezel-less smartphones is how to incorporate the aforementioned audio and camera components.

One possibility is embedded camera technology, but it's yet to be commercialized, while another is a pop-up camera system concealed within the device body until required. Piezoelectric audio transfer has also been attempted where speakers aren't in place, though the quality isn't great. As for proximity sensors, we've seen these successfully incorporated under the display glass.

 

A concept render uploaded by Lenovo VP Chang Cheng

Weibo

We don't know exactly what Cheng is suggesting with the comments and images, but the industry has been heading in the direction of full-screen displays for many years and the Vivo Apex, demoed at MWC 2018, shows how close they are to fruition. It seems like only a matter of time before a manufacturer finally delivers on it.

What do you think? Are we going to see the Lenovo Z5 show up in the near future? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

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