A long time
ago in a galaxy far far away there were phones with bezels… Yes, it seems like
the devices we carry in our pockets or handbags with a low screen-to-body ratio
are becoming the song of the past. Every company in the smartphone industry is
trying to make the front of their phones to have as much of a screen as it is
possible. But there is a problem. We want to have a front-facing camera and
some sort of speaker to hear what the person we call is telling us. And whereas
the speaker can be placed on the top of the smartphone, the camera is a bit
tricky. And here comes the idea of the Notch.
If you
aren’t familiar with the term, notch is just this area of the screen that was
cut off for the purpose of the camera (and in some cases the speaker as well).
Apparently it has become a very popular pattern in recent year. If you haven’t
noticed, basically every single smartphone introduced over the last year has a
notch. Alright, maybe apart from Samsung devices which were bezel-less before
it was cool and
in fact Korean manufacturer was the precursor of the high screen-to-body ratio
design.
source: https://www.gizbot.com/img/2018/09/best-notch-screen-smartphones-buy-this-week-1537773420.jpg
Samsung
even made fun of Apple’s notch in one of their commercials:
But where
it did it all start? Who was the first to implement the notch? Some people may
say it was Apple with their iPhone X, but it isn’t true. The first phone with
this design was not too well-known Essential Phone, which was announced on May
30, 2017. And whereas we cannot deny that it was indeed before iPhone X, it was
rather Apple’s smartphone which popularised this design and after its release
more and more clones started arising. Apple’s design appeared to be so
influential that some companies copied it almost 1:1. Example
of it could be the new Motorola P30.
Essential
Phone
source: https://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/xlarge_wm_brw/public/field/image/2017/08/P8160330_0.jpg?itok=JK7fNmp3
Motorola P30
vs iPhone X
source: https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/5b75871f80eb35f5408b4bf7-750-375.jpg
This whole
trend in the smartphone design brought on very mixed emotions. Many people hate
it as it’s kind of destroying the symmetry and it just gets on their nerves.
Many Android-based phones actually give an option to disable it and just keep
there notification icons with black background. Apple has gone rather all-in
with the notch implementing the whole new system of phone unlocking Face ID, which is based on sensors placed within the
notch area and it doesn’t let you hide it in any way.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10538459/nexus2cee_DSC09812.jpg)
source: https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-iZHu0rSjhXHkXfWhibdUZk3OD8=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10538459/nexus2cee_DSC09812.jpg
But
couldn’t we get a true all-screen phone? Are we sentenced to the notch? Some
companies have already found their way around the notch and enabled user to
exert camera from the top of the phone (like in Oppo Find X). There are also
rumours that Samsung started developing new technology which would enable to place
everything under the screen. This concept sounds really interesting and it
could revolutionize the whole smartphone industry.
Personally,
the notch doesn’t bother me that much, but what’s your opinion on it? Would you
buy a smartphone with the notch? Or would you rather wait for a true all-screen
one?
Comments
2. I already have a phone with a notch and I do not regret of a purchase. I quickly got used to it, that I don’t even pay attention to non-disregard and it doesn't bother me. After Apple, many manufacturers started to produce phones with the notch seeing a success in this technology.
I saw that OPPO concept with the camera hidden in the phone and peeking out when used. Now that is disgusting, it breaks easily, and just does not look aesthetic! Implement the camera in the screen with the FaceId sensors just as you did with fingerprint scanner. And in the name of all Good, stop putting stuff on the back of the phone. Can't stand those abominations like Meizu Pro 7, and the most recent Huawei with three cameras. Please, stop.
p.s. Three cameras? I imagine, what the engineers were thinking: "Hmm, everybody does the double camera phones, they got depth of field and stuff. How can we best them? Hold my beer..." A tip for you, Huawei, on how to make the phone even cooler. FOUR CAMERAS
I also don't understand putting more and more cameras in the smartphones. Two are accceptable, but three is a bit too much. I actually like the one-camera design of Google Pixels or new iPhone XR. For me, one, but good camera is better than three.
When we have no limit of scrolling or have access to unlimited number of movie series we’re getting into it and lose the sense of time. I don’t have any apps which tells me to take a brake. I try to do it on my own. I know that I’m not addicted and have no problem with addiction this kind.
It was the first time in my life that I actually realized that there is something like "the notch". I am not bothered by that nor care about it. I would by any smartphone with good batteries and camera if I can afford it in reasonable price. I don't use it to watch anything longer then 5 minutes videos on YouTube nor do I play any games on my phone. My phone is for me a mean to connect with other people to communicate with them and "the notch" has no impact on this functionality.
Recently I bought a new phone, so my next purchase is not going to be soon. Therefor, I have no plans at all about that. It would be cool if there will be no need in notch, but I will be totally okey with it.
My personal phone is quite old and regular but at work I am using phones with notch very often and I like them better. I think the reason for that is just a bigger screen without extra frames for buttons or not used space. I would definitely prefere true all-screen but for now notch is fine and I am not saying 'no' to buying phone with it.
Yes, I would buy a smartphone from Notch. This is very popular now and I think this trend will continue for several years.
Yes, I am waiting for phones that will all screen.
I have no problem with buying a smartphone with the notch, but right now I am fully satisfied with my phone and most probably I hope my next purchase will be true all-screen phone.
No, I wouldn’t buy smartphone with notch, I prefer or all-screen or slider like Oppo Find X or Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. I waiting for that moment when phone producers will be able to put camera/cameras and all sensors under the screen.
You asked me in the article: „Would you buy a smartphone with the notch?” And my answer is Yes and I did it about two months ago. I bought my first smartphone with Notch, it was iPhone. In my opinion it will be better to have display on the all screen without the Notch but nowadays the role of the Notch is some different. I think that it’s just fashionable now like clothe’s colors in every season. People buy the smartphones to have this Notch to looks like the other people's phones but this fashion will be very short and very fast on the top will only the smartphones with display on the all screen.
The notch on iPhone X product family contains 6 things: video camera, infrared dot projector, infrared camera, speaker, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor. The reason the notch exists is that Apple doesn’t just have the technology to make all of them small enough to fit 4 mm of the bezel. I am sure they will make it one day.
I believe we’re now in a transitional phase between traditional and all-screen phones. The notch is only a temporary workaround. Therefore, I think your questions are not mutually exclusive — I’ve got a phone with a notch and, at the same time, am waiting for a true all-screen one.
P.S. The (unofficial) technical terms for the top and bottom part of traditional phones is „forehead” and „chin”. 😉
I do not have to wait until I have a good phone call.
I have an iPhone X, I bought it like a year ago, because it was something new and different. I never heard about Essential Phone before, so for me it was a completely new design. I got used to it quickly, but the problems with applications, which I described, were a bit annoying.
But yeaaah, I definitely still waiting for the all-screen, I believe, it would look very cool.
Although I look forward to has everything under the screen.
* Google Pixel 3 (too big notch)
* Shar Aquos R Compact (two notches (sic!))
I don't plan to change my smartphone yet because I have a LG G6 which meet my all requirements but in the future I am open for smartphones with notches. ;)
But with time I realised that it has some advantages... And it's cool when you get used to it.
So now I wouldn't had any problem with buying a new phone with notch but I'm also waiting for true all-screen phone.
I do not care if my phone has a notch or not. I only care about the performance if the phone is fast, reliable and the operating system is intuitive I am fine with it.
I do not put so much attention to the appearance of the phone because I do not spend much time with it, as long as it is a cheap and solid piece of electronics I am happy.
Yes I am patiently waiting for the first all-screen phone and I am curious about its price :)
Firstly, notch was something new in phone design but after few months it's classic feature. I am using iPhone 7 (without notch) now but when I will have enough money for iPhone XR I will buy it. I love gadgets and phone with notch is something what I really want.
I own a smarthpone with the notch, and it's okay for me. I think that people sometimes just need to talk about everything, a lot of them are seeing things like that very negatively. Why they need to hate it? I think that the notch is a sign of everything going in the right way - few years ago we couldn't have screens like now, so who knows what will be avalible in a next few years?
I personally have a phone which is not a full screen, meaning that I just have some area on the surface of it for button, speakers, camera and stuff like that. I think it’s the most optimal design. But if some big company like Samsung works on a new concept, where all of it will be hidden under a screen, I am really interested and eager to try it. This, no doubts, will look and feel differently, probably very futuristic. Hope to see it soon.
I has intention to by a phone with a notch but I still think about this because I have another reasons to wait and this has no connection with notch problem.
I don't mind the notch either and to be honest I really like the concept of it. Getting rid of bezels, which are useless, non-interacting parts of your phone screen is simply efficient idea. Personally, I have a phone with a notch for my own and I got used to it very quick, I think it is just a matter of time. About true all-screen phone, I would definitely try and probably buy one.
And I'll call it "smartphones fashion".
Yes, I already have one - the iPhone X.
When the Essential Phone introduced the notch I was quite fascinated about it. They significantly reduced the bezels and made the screen ratio much bigger.
When Apple introduced iPhone X I fell in love with it. It just looked so damn good, performance was amazing, but I wasn't sure about the notch and its possible functionalities. Right now I can tell, that it does its job. It has some cool functionalities, its appearance doesn't bother me and the screen ratio is still amazing.
But I'm definitely waiting for true all-screen one.
But I am kind of not a big fan of all-screen design.
I know, that many people want to have the highest screen to body ratio - I understand them. Notch is one of many solutions to that problem. I've seen many solutions to "notch problem" such as mechanical camera or even second screen on the other side of the phone -> just to take high resolutions selfies... Like I said, I'dont mind the notch, cause this type of phone never got enough of my attention - I like my small button, and camera and convinient screen. However, if I change my mind about my currently phone, I think, I would go with maximum STBR -> I'll wait for other solutions and then decide whether I want notch or don't.