If you’ve ever held a modern Xiaomi smartphone and noticed a tiny round hole at the top of the screen instead of the usual “brows” or cutout, then you’ve already encountered Dot Drop technology. This design move has become the hallmark of many flagships and budget models of the brand, but not all users understand what it is better (or worse) than traditional solutions.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what a Dot Drop display is, how it appeared in the Xiaomi line, what technical nuances are hidden behind a miniature hole, and why the manufacturer chose this form factor. You will also learn which models to pay attention to if you want maximum screen area without compromise, and how to adjust the interface correctly so that the “hole” does not interfere with everyday use.
Spoiler: The technology has both obvious advantages (e.g., a 10-15 percent increase in screen area over bangs) and hidden pitfalls that manufacturers prefer not to mention. Let's get straight.
What is a Dot Drop Display and How Does It Work?
Dot Drop is a design solution for a smartphone’s front camera that fits it into a tiny circular hole right in the display matrix. Unlike a notch or U/V cutout, there is no massive tongue that occupies part of the screen. The hole diameter is usually 4-5 mm, and the camera itself is integrated into the top edge of the display.
Technically, the implementation looks like this:
- 🔹 Cutout Matrix: The manufacturer leaves a hole in the OLED- or IPS- panel in advance, where the front camera module is installed. This requires high precision when assembled.
- 🔹 Transparent substrate: A special transparent material is used around the camera to minimize visual distortion of the image.
- 🔹 Software cloaking: The MIUI system automatically “fluids” the hole with content, hiding it on dark wallpaper or in full-screen applications.
Xiaomi’s first Dot Drop model was the Mi 9 (2019), which was presented as revolutionary, and is now used in flagships (Xiaomi 13, Redmi K60) and even in budget series (POCO X5, Redmi Note 12).
Advantages of Dot Drop over Other Types of Cutouts
Why are Xiaomi and other manufacturers actively moving to Dot Drop, abandoning the "flash" or wide cutouts?
| Characteristics | Dot Drop | Notch ("fingers") | Notches (U/V-shaped) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen area | ✅ Maximum (90–93%) | ❌ Lost 5-10% | ⚠️ Lost 3-7% |
| Design | ✅ Minimalist, modern | ❌ Obsolete species | ⚠️ Compromise option |
| Comfort in games | ✅ Less commonly override the interface | ❌ Often interferes HUD | ⚠️ Depends on the game. |
| Cost of production | ⚠️ Higher by 10-15% | ✅ Cheaper. | ✅ Average price |
The main trump card of Dot Drop is the ratio of usable screen area to body. For example, in Xiaomi 13 Pro screen to body ratio reaches 93.3%, whereas in models with "brows" this figure rarely exceeds 85%, this is especially noticeable when watching videos or scrolling through social networks, where every pixel counts.
Another plus is the symmetry of the design, the hole is in the center of the top bezel, which is visually balanced. Unlike asymmetrical cutouts (like the iPhone with the bangs on the left), there is no sense of "curve." But there is also the flip side: when there is low brightness or on light wallpaper, the hole can be illuminated, creating a "halo" effect.
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If the Dot Drop hole is annoying in games, turn on the Hide Notice option in the MIUI settings (path: Settings → Display → Full-screen mode).
Xiaomi models with Dot Drop display: review of lines
Dot Drop technology is now used in all flagship and most mid-range Xiaomi smartphones. Here are the key series where it occurs:
- 📱 Xiaomi flagships: Xiaomi 12/13/14, Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Xiaomi MIX 4 (here the camera is hidden under the screen, but the principle is similar).
Interestingly, in the most budget models (for example, Redmi 12C) Xiaomi still uses “brows” – this is due to cheaper production. But in the POCO M6 Pro already appeared Dot Drop, which indicates the gradual displacement of outdated solutions.
If you want to see the maximum screen area, look for models with AMOLED-matrix and Dot Drop:
- 🔥 Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a flagship with 2K- resolution and adaptive frequency of 1-120 Hz.
- 🔥 Redmi K60 Pro is the best option in terms of price/quality ratio.
- 🔥 POCO F5 is the best choice for gamers (support HDR10+).
Which Xiaomi models have a hidden front camera (under the screen)?
Disadvantages of Dot Drop: What to look for before buying
Despite the obvious advantages, Dot Drop has some downsides that manufacturers prefer not to talk about, and these are the key challenges that users face:
⚠️ Warning: In some Xiaomi models (e.g., the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the camera hole is lit up against a white background at maximum brightness. This is due to an imperfect camouflage of the transparent area around the module. Check this point in the store by turning on the white wallpaper theme.
Other common complaints:
- 🎮 Problems in games: In some titles (e.g., PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact), the interface does not adapt to the notch, and important elements (map, health) may be hidden behind the hole.
- 📸 Selfie quality: Due to the miniature module, the camera in Dot Drop smartphones often has a smaller aperture (e.g., f/2.4 instead of f/2.0), which makes shooting in low light worse.
- 🔧 Repair difficulty: Replacing the Dot Drop display costs 20–30% more than the bang models because of the need for precise fitting of the hole.
Another nuance is the uneven wear of the matrix: over time, the OLED- screens burn out, and the area around the hole can age faster due to the more intensive use of pixels for masking, this is noticeable on older smartphones (for example, Xiaomi Mi 9 after 3-ZXXPH0003QXZ years of operation).
🔹 The quality of the hole camouflage on a white background
🔹 Adaptation of the interface in your favorite games/applications
🔹 Front camera resolution (better from 20 MP)
🔹 The option to “Hide the Notch” in the settings MIUI-->
How to set up a Dot Drop display for maximum comfort
If you already own a Xiaomi smartphone with Dot Drop, a few simple settings will help make screen usage more comfortable:
- Hiding the Notch in Games and Video: Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen Mode and turn on the Hide Notch option.This will darken the area around the camera, but may crop the picture slightly.
- Wallpaper customization: Use dark or abstract wallpapers, where the hole is less visible. MIUI has a built-in wallpaper gallery with Dot Drop support.
- Color calibration: In some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13), you can adjust the white balance to reduce the "halo" around the camera.Way: Settings → Display → Screen Colors.
It's helpful for gamers to know that MIUI has Game Turbo, which automatically adapts the game interface to the cutout, to activate it:
- Activate Game Turbo: Open Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo and add the games you want to play to the list.
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The Hide Notice setting doesn't work in all apps, like YouTube or Netflix, where you can cut the video, so you'd better turn off the option and put up with a small hole.
If you watch videos in landscape orientation often, look for models with a central Dot Drop location (such as the Xiaomi 13), where the cutout is not shifted to the edge, so less interference when viewing.
Dot Drop vs. Other Technology: Which Is Better?
In addition to Dot Drop, there are other front-facing camera solutions on the market, and let's compare them by key parameters:
| Technology | Pluses | Cons | Examples of models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dot Drop | ✅ Maximum screen area✅ Modern design✅ Cheaper than underscreen camera | ❌ Visible hole❌ Artifacts on light background possible | Xiaomi 13, Redmi K60 |
| Underscreen camera (CUP) | ✅ Fully hidden camera ✅ Perfectly flat screen | ❌ Worse quality selfie❌ 30-50% more expensive ❌ Visible grid of pixels above the camera | Xiaomi MIX 4, ZTE Axon 30 |
| Retractable camera | ✅ 100% full screen display✅ No cutouts | ❌ Mechanics may break❌ Increased thickness of the hull❌ Expensive repairs | Xiaomi Mi 9T, Oppo Find X |
| Notch ("fingers") | ✅ Cheap solution✅ Easy to repair | ❌ Outdated design❌ Takes up a lot of space | Redmi 12C, iPhone X |
Dot Drop is the gold standard for most manufacturers, including Xiaomi, and underscreen cameras are not perfect (selfie quality leaves much to be desired), and retractable mechanisms add fragility and increase cost. So if you want to balance price, design and functionality, Dot Drop is the best choice.
But if you’re willing to pay too much for innovation, look for the Xiaomi MIX 4 with a subscreen camera, and despite its flaws, it’s the only model of the brand that offers a truly bezel-less screen.
The future of Dot Drop: What’s next for the technology?
In 2026, Xiaomi continues to actively use Dot Drop, but is already testing new solutions. For example, in the prototypes of Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a hole diameter decrease to 3.5 mm (versus 4.1 mm in Xiaomi 13), This allows you to further increase the usable screen area.
Other possible innovations:
- 🔮 Dynamic camouflage: The AI will tailor the color of the area around the camera to the content (already being tested in MIUI 15).
- 🔮 Double Dot Drop: Two holes for the front camera and light sensor (as in the Samsung Galaxy S10+).
- 🔮 Hybrid solutions: Combining Dot Drop with subscreen sensors (e.g., under-display fingerprint scanner + hole camera).
However, experts predict that in the long run, Dot Drop will give way to fully subscreen cameras. Xiaomi has already patented Under-Screen Camera 2.0 technology, which promises improved selfie quality without visible artifacts on the screen.
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If you plan to buy a smartphone 3-4 years in advance, Dot Drop remains the most balanced solution. Underscreen cameras are still raw, and mechanical retractable modules are unreliable.