OPPO Unveils New Smartphone With Retractable Rear Camera

• OPPO has published a video that demonstrates the camera capabilities of one of its smartphones.
• It shows the smartphone's primary camera is housed on a retractable module.
• The video is being released ahead of OPPO's annual Inno Day event, where the company often introduces new technologies.

Every year, all the major smartphone manufacturers release their flagship models that feature cutting-edge technology. OPPO presented a teaser video of a new device, focusing mainly on the phone's main camera module, although the device name is still unknown.

Some smartphone brands boast the latest chipsets in their flagships, and others add an entirely new feature that hasn't been seen before, so OPPO is developing a smartphone with a special aspect that will separate it from the rest - a retractable rear camera.

The primary shooter is mounted on a retractable camera module on the rear that extends horizontally. OPPO refers to this feature as 'OPPO Retractable Camera' and claims it uses self-developed camera technology.

It is attached to a mechanized system, which probably operates when a user activates a particular shooting mode in the camera app. While its retracted form makes the device slimmer overall, it might still trigger upon opening the camera app.

The video showed a drop test where the camera retracted while falling to protect itself. OPPO also showed it's waterproof by presenting water splashed on it when raised, so this is an effort to clear up any questions regarding its practicality from the design perspective. A retractable camera system may also allow the image sensor to have a better optical/hybrid zoom capability. 

As we can see on the camera module markings, the sensor is 1/1.56 inches, and the lens is 50mm-equivalent with an f/2.4 aperture. This means it should be around two times longer than the primary lens - a larger sensor than you typically find behind telephoto lenses.

Unfortunately, there is still not enough information available since the company has yet to divulge more information regarding this technology. However, it states that more details will be announced during the Inno Day event on December 14 and 15.