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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.
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.
...the "notch" made popular by the iPhone X.
Really? "Popular" seems a bit of a stretch.
I do not see a need for this whatsoever. Leave my screen nice and rectangular, thank you very much. Should we start putting notches on laptop screens where the webcam is next?
What the fuck is a "notch" on an iPhone?
I don't respond to AC's.
Agreed. If you want to be even more cynical, the notch creates a much more unique screen that adds just one more headache to developers who want to build applications for more than one operating system.
NO.
It's really sad that since there isn't any real innovation happening with phones and the best we can come up with is a debate over whether we want some near unusable screen space on either side on the top of our phones.
What about bluetooth that doesn't drop out? Better call quality and consistent connections? Better security and privacy settings? Better battery life? More options for storage? Or how about a phone that will survive falling from a nightstand and I don't need to buy a stronger case for?
Instead we are paying $1k for a "flagship" phone that doesn't really do much more than that $300 phone 4 years ago.
Please don't suggest this...they may take you seriously.
You know what? I don't mind a bit of top and bottom bezel. If anything, you could even go a bit taller.
You know why? Because it leaves room for some proper dual front speakers.
Fuck this "less bezel" and "thinner" bullshit that disappears as soon as we stick the phone in a proper case; give us functionality improvements.
Log in or piss off.
I saw F the small bezels completely. I hate edge-to-edge screens as I have to hold the phone in a funky way to prevent from accidentally touching things near the edge of the screen.
It wasn't designed to be anything but stupid. Because it is stupid.
The fad business comes about like any fad; people are also stupid. You can put the notch right next to pet rocks and the like. Just one more really bad hardware decision by Apple. Of many recent such.
So far at least, Samsung hasn't bought into the "let's put a hole in the display" or the "let's take the analog audio away" or the "let's take away the memory card" stupids, but we certainly are seeing all of those things in various combinations from other non-Apple phone manufacturers.
The design philosophy for these things is "ready, fire aim." Apple gets away with a lot because they have a largely unthinking fanbase. And I say that as someone with multiple Macs up and running.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.