Slashdot Asks: Should Android OEMs Adopt the iPhone's Notch?

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Google was currently working on a "dramatic redesign" of its Android OS -- one that embraces the "notch" made popular by the iPhone X. A couple weeks after that report was published, Mobile World Congress was happening, and the biggest trend among Android OEMs was the introduction of a notch in their smartphones. The Verge's Vlad Savov argues that Android smartphone manufacturers are straight up copying the iPhone's design with "more speed and cynicism" than ever before.

Should Android original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) adopt the iPhone's display notch? A display notch can offer a greater screen-to-body ratio, for example, but lower overall aesthetic value. It can also create a headache for developers who need to update their apps to account for the notch that eats into the actual display area. What are your thoughts on display notches? Should Android OEMs adopt the iPhone X's display notch in their devices?

If you're not a fan of notches for aesthetic reasons, you may like the solution that OnePlus has come up with. The company will soon be launching their notch-equipped OnePlus 6 smartphone, but will allow OnePlus 6 owners to "hide" the device's notch via software. Users will have the option to black out the background of the notifications and status bar if they so desire.

Comments

I don't care either way

[HalAtWork]

All I care about is if I can hold the phone at the sides without my hands triggering the touch screen. If it helps them maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio then it's fine, it's hidden by a black status bar anyway. If they want a notch because they're looking to expand the screen vertically to 18:9 then no thanks. I don't like the candy bar form factor.

Re: dont you mean

[RandomFactor]

This.

I had no idea what a friggin 'notch' was and had to go search for it, thinking I had missed out on some significant innovation. Not so much.

Essentially it is a small non-display 'cutout' in the display screen for things like front facing camera and speaker

----_o_(*)_----

That said, this is nothing particularly new or innovative, was not first developed by Apple, and having a trivial amount of additional asymmetrical screen space around the notch is not of significant value. I also doubt the additional complexity and transition costs for devs is worthwhile.

If a concept already failed to gain traction in the Android marketplace but Apple adopts it later, why must Android manufacturers suddenly bandwagon it? I swear the Android space is driven by fear of missing out as much as innovation at times.

Re:Popular?

[jellomizer]

I wouldn't call the Notch popular. It was a design decision. There is a bunch of hardware Apple wanted to put on top of the screen. Dot Projector, Speaker, and Camera. That equipment didn't fill up the whole top of the display, So apple decided to extend the screen around the free spots. To put mostly the notification information, vs the normal title bar which normally has a lot of white/black space.

  The iPhone X is my primary phone, but I have no real love for it. It is just there, If other makers do not need the notch because their hardware they want to cram up top, is thinner, then all the better. While I don't hate the notch either, some Applications it does get in the way, and Most programs are built around the idea of a rectangle screen.

Should Android phones put in the notch? It depends if they need it or not. The Galaxy S9 doesn't, and it is a nice looking phone, it doesn't look like a lot of screen space is wasted with bevels or chins. But it is a tall phone, compared to the iPhone. So if Samsung wanted most of the same screen space and a little shorter, then they may want to use a notch in its design.

The notches popularity is like hinges on Laptops. Some times they are out of the way and not visible, (usually limiting the screen rotation area) some time they are just sticking out there getting caught on strings in your bag. But you laptop screen and flip 180 degrees. They are not there because of a deep love in hinges, but the fact it is a practical aspect of the device.

Just what IS the notch? Well I'll tell ya...

[thewolfkin]

When did "notch" become a technology thing we're expected to know? Maybe explain what it is for people who don't have any Apple friends FFS.

To me when I hear the word notch, I assume that means that there is part of the phone cut out; but that doesn't make any sense and I can't imagine why anyone would want that.

A "notch" in phonespeak must be something than a notch? Maybe a section of the screen that is left blank for some reason- or to be prefilled with ads for other apple products or something equally obnoxious.

The only notches I want are on my bedpost.

In short for someone reading this far and still confused.

The idea of the notch is based in bragging numbers. I don't know what the bezel did to phone developers. I assume the bezel slept with phonedev's mother, but they hate it with a passion. SO much so that not being content so have the screen go all the way up to the front facing camera and wraping around the sides of the phone and pushing out the home screen button on the lower side. The screen is now expected to go all the way around the camera. Creating the effect that the camera made a notch in the phones display and stuck a camera in it. Now phone makers can claim their screen is another centimeter longer if you discount the whole notch in the middle.

The whole thing is stupid because that notch is just screen you can't use, no one wants to watch a video with a camera sized black space on the left side. Thus they start attaching gestures to each side of the notch. and now they're touting it as a feature. "Look at our screen it's a full cm longer AND you get cool new gestures that no one asked for."

I swear some phonedevs won't be satisfied until the entire phone is screen and you have no possible way to hold it without activating the screen.

Re:Popular?

[BronsCon]

Simple. They could have reserved the notch for system use (notifications, clock, etc) rather than letting applications use that space, a decision which means many applications that put interactable items in the middle of the left or right edge now have two orientations in which they can't be used without some rework.

LG's solution keeps applications out of the "notch-side" display area, so they don't have to be aware of it. 0 applications broke due to LG's design, more than 0 applications broke due to Apple's design; ergo, Apple screwed up their design.