Vivo has recently filed two patent applications with the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration). One of the patents reveal a smartphone with an Apple iPod like design while the second patent implies that the company might launch a new Zen series phone as well.
The design of the smartphone in the patent looks quite similar to the iPod Classic. In other words, we can observe that the handset has a physical clickwheel, which occupies half of the front panel. This wheel can be found on the lower half, while the display panel taking up the rest of the front side. This is rather odd in the market considering smartphones are able to perform clickwheel tasks without the need for the physical buttons.
Furthermore, it is not an iPod like product since the CNIPA website clearly mentions this device as a mobile phone. Meaning, this might a unique and quirky device or just a phone that has a very specific purpose. Looking at the patented images, we can see that the clickwheel only has four buttons, which is a pretty standard design with what appears to be a metallic frame.
Arriving at the second patent, the Chinese handset maker is apparently also working on a new Zen series smartphone as well. This device sports a circular camera module on the rear while the front houses a punch hole selfie camera. The only notable aspect is the Zen branding on the rear panel of the device. Since it only appears to has a single camera on the rear, it is likely a budget or entry level device in the Zen series. Keep in mind that this is still just patents and we have no way of knowing if the brand is actually working on these patents as of right now.
