iPhone X The "Notch" was a good design decision, and here's why.

[ctyrider]

People, the notch doesn't take away from the screen. The ears add extra real estate to the screen!

Bingo. The only reasonable alternative to the notch is black bar spanning the entire top of the screen (ala Galaxy S8). This results in less information displayed on the screen, not more.

 

[358547]

..

 

[frou]

This reminds me of when a popular website gets redesigned and people are full of rage about how horrendous and wrong it is.

Then, fast forward 6 months, and almost everyone has forgotten that they even had a negative reaction.

 

[craigio85]

If you double tap to zoom in, a tiny portion will be hidden by the Notch. Note that *on current iPhones even more is hidden by the bezels when you zoom in landscape mode*

But the display is rectangular on a current iPhone so this is completely unnoticeable. On the X it looks like somebody took a bite out of the screen. I think that’s what peoples’ beef is. And the letterbox alternative introduces a border big enough that it sort of negates the reduced bezels.

 

[unobtainium]

But the display is rectangular on a current iPhone so this is completely unnoticeable. On the X it looks like somebody took a bite out of the screen. I think that’s what peoples’ beef is. And the letterbox alternative introduces a border big enough that it sort of negates the reduced bezels.

On the X, you’re aware of the cropping because of the Notch. On older iPhones you don’t even notice how much is being cut off by the bezels. So you could say the X is a more “honest” design.

Letterboxing has never been an issue on smartphones. The screen is small regardless, so it will always be less than perfect for watching movies.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Can't wait til apple adds a notch to all of their phones....

Check it out.

http://notchmode.com/

 

[shenfrey]

Yeah okay mate, we’ll see how you feel once the notch is gone.

 

[Analog Kid]

OP is over reaching on this one, methinks. It's not an intentional design decision, it's a necessary trade off to hold the sensors they wanted on the front side.

I've been trying to understand their suggestion to "ignore the notch" in UI designs, and not avoid that area of the screen. Given the layout, it would be perfect to use those two top ears as widget areas and exclude them from photos and video, but Apple discourages such a design.

The only reason I can think of for doing that is if they expect that notch to go away in a future generation of phone and be completely hidden behind the display.

Personally, I don't mind the notch so much until it's displaying full screen video or images-- then I find it really distracting. I'd be much less bothered if those two top tab areas were used for status and controls...

 

[fred98tj]

Awwww crap, I ran out of popcorn and beer. This is better than watching Saturday Night Live.
People the notch is there. Whine and groan all you want and it will still be there.
Like it or not, it will still be there.
And some here are just playing syntactic sugar.
Don’t like it, don’t buy it. Simple as.....

 

[Starfyre]

Their vision is good, iPhone that is entirely screen, but I would say they failed or are not quite there at their vision yet. Samsung with their Infinity Edge appears more 'mostly screen' especially since you can't see any bezel at the sides where the screen wraps around.

 

[inscrewtable]

...snip...

Those are off the top of my head, anyone got any more?

The notch IS brilliant design but not for any of the reasons that you have said. First off it is important that Apple had to eliminate the bottom bezel first otherwise the notch would not make sense. No one else has been able to remove the bottom bezel which is strange.

With the bottom bezel gone Apple was able to give the psychological effect of having a completely bezel less screen. By having the notch appearing to obscure the screen, there is an unconscious effect that the screen continues underneath the notch so the notch appears to be hiding the screen instead of replacing the screen.

As explained in my post here.

 

[DNichter]

I don't see the need to get into whether or not it was a good idea or not. In my eyes, it's needed as we still want front facing camera's, etc. This was the best design to accomplish an almost all-screen phone while still keeping the same or better functionality. I like the look of it and it's not going anywhere. For those that don't like it, you have the 8/Plus or prior to use if you prefer iOS. There really doesn't need to be this much discussion about it as it's not changing. Some people like it, some people don't. It is what it is.

 

[Rafterman]

If the notch is gone on iPhone 11 (most likely it will be), that will tell you what Apple really thinks about the notch.

 

[DNichter]

If the notch is gone on iPhone 11 (most likely it will be), that will tell you what Apple really thinks about the notch.

Not exactly. Right now the notch is necessary if we want front facing cameras, microphones, speakers, etc. When Apple figures out a way to place all of that under the screen, I am sure they will and go completely edge to edge. No reason why they wouldn't, but that won't be happening next year. I see there being pretty significant hurdles to get through first. They had been working on a reliable Touch ID under the screen for years and couldn't make it work well. This seems a bit more complicated.

 

[iObama]

Q: Do you think a notch would improve the aesthetics of the Galaxy S8?
A: No, it would look terrible.

Q: Would you have slaughtered the S8 for including a notch?
A: Yes, you'd have laughed until the cows came home

SERIOUSLY.

It's a fairly objective thing: Having sh*t in the middle of the screen is worse than not having sh*t in the middle of the screen. It's not that hard to understand lol. The need for justification on these forums is ridiculous.

 

[DNichter]

SERIOUSLY.

It's a fairly objective thing: Having sh*t in the middle of the screen is worse than not having sh*t in the middle of the screen. It's not that hard to understand lol. The need for justification on these forums is ridiculous.

But it's not, so you have to understand where others are coming from. The safe area used for apps in most scenarios have the same amount of space, and use the ears for the status bar. Thus giving you more space. Now, the current implementation doesn't really take great advantage of that space, but there isn't sh*t in the middle of the screen as you say. Videos can be adjusted to not see the notch or used when viewing widescreen.

 

[Rafterman]

Not exactly. Right now the notch is necessary if we want front facing cameras, microphones, speakers, etc. When Apple figures out a way to place all of that under the screen, I am sure they will and go completely edge to edge. No reason why they wouldn't, but that won't be happening next year. I see there being pretty significant hurdles to get through first. They had been working on a reliable Touch ID under the screen for years and couldn't make it work well. This seems a bit more complicated.

I think the question is about aesthetics, not tech. Aesthetics is something Apple cares very much about and you have to ask yourself "would Apple have a notch if it didn't need one?"

I doubt they would. This notch business, combined with the massive constraints, indicate to me that Apple wasn't ready for this phone this year, but were too much in a hurry to do a ten year anniversary thing. When a company rushes out tech, that's rarely a good outcome.

 

[DNichter]

I think the question is about aesthetics, not tech. Aesthetics is something Apple cares very much about and you have to ask yourself "would Apple have a notch if it didn't need one?"

I doubt they would. This notch business, combined with the massive constraints, indicate to me that Apple wasn't ready for this phone this year, but were too much in a hurry to do a ten year anniversary thing. When a company rushes out tech, that's rarely a good outcome.

Well no, of course not. If the tech existed, they would certainly place it under the screen and have no notch, but we have to work in realities. Apple looks at it and says, let's make the most extreme edge to edge phone that we can given the available technology. They would rather do that then build in more bezels like everyone else. It's definitely a polarizing design, but I think it will be soon forgotten once you actually use the X. A high resolution OLED in a compact design going to all four corners is going to be a joy to use.

 

[Rafterman]

Well no, of course not. If the tech existed, they would certainly place it under the screen and have no notch, but we have to work in realities. Apple looks at it and says, let's make the most extreme edge to edge phone that we can given the available technology. They would rather do that then build in more bezels like everyone else. It's definitely a polarizing design, but I think it will be soon forgotten once you actually use the X. A high resolution OLED in a compact design going to all four corners is going to be a joy to use.

I also have a Note 8, along with an iPhone 8 Plus. OLED hi rez?

Eh.

There is a point, which we've reached with Retina displays, where the extra dots just don't make a difference anymore.

Personally, I think there should have been an iPhone 8 this year, or a more ambitious X this year, not both. I think they underwhelmed with both handsets.

 

[sumsingwong]

I'm just waiting for a phone manufacturer to have the OLED display to wrap all the way around. The edges would be deactivated when being held as to not recognize a touch but can be used for notifications scrolling all the way around kind of like a ticker when laying face down and the secondary display can show notifications as well. It can also eliminate the rear camera and sensors so the phone can be turned around with the secondary display being used for selfies. The notch would be totally eliminated from the main display. True bezel-less display.

 

[roeiz]

the essential also had to compromise that little pimple for the camera.
so i guess it was inevitable for apple newer tech.
but claim it is a purely design reason? no way. just current limitations.

 

[DNichter]

I also have a Note 8, along with an iPhone 8 Plus. OLED hi rez?

Eh.

There is a point, which we've reached with Retina displays, where the extra dots just don't make a difference anymore.

Personally, I think there should have been an iPhone 8 this year, or a more ambitious X this year, not both. I think they underwhelmed with both handsets.

Yes, it's higher resolution than anything else with iOS. It will look better. That's fine, I am sure it makes sense for you to see what's out there next year then.

 

[bushman4]

Q: Do you think a notch would improve the aesthetics of the Galaxy S8?
A: No, it would look terrible.

Q: Would you have slaughtered the S8 for including a notch?
A: Yes, you'd have laughed until the cows came home

[doublepost=1508178730][/doublepost]The notch does not improve the aesthetics of the iPhone X. Hopefully the functionality will make it worthwhile

Apple went with this design knowing there would be harsh criticism there must be a reason.

 

[Black Tiger]

[doublepost=1508178730][/doublepost]The notch does not improve the aesthetics of the iPhone X. Hopefully the functionality will make it worthwhile

Apple went with this design knowing there would be harsh criticism there must be a reason.

Having now used the phone for two months, I can't disagree with this more. It's not so much that there is a notch but that the screen is extended into the corners around the camera module. This choice balances the display with the rounded corners on the bottom. Without the 'ears' the phone would look misproportioned. The so-called 'notch remover' app shows how poorly balanced this approach would look. The way I see it, Apple reduced the top bezel that typically extends across the entire top of the device to accommodate the camera module and instead filled all available space on the front with the screen around the sensors rather than compromising by throwing a bezel like so many Android phones. By doing this, they also move the status bar information out of the main display area to allow for more app content.

 

[boltjames]

Having now used the phone for two months, I can't disagree with this more. It's not so much that there is a notch but that the screen is extended into the corners around the camera module. This choice balances the display with the rounded corners on the bottom. Without the 'ears' the phone would look misproportioned. The so-called 'notch remover' app shows how poorly balanced this approach would look. The way I see it, Apple reduced the top bezel that typically extends across the entire top of the device to accommodate the camera module and instead filled all available space on the front with the screen around the sensors rather than compromising by throwing a bezel like so many Android phones. By doing this, they also move the status bar information out of the main display area to allow for more app content.

This. Agree completely. There is also something else afoot here that bears discussion:

Premium products have signature design cues. They are meant to be different than the rest, meant to be noticed. You can see a Rolex or a BMW approaching from 100 feet away. It's good marketing.

The notch exists to tell others around you that you're looking at an iPhone X when they see it from the front and the vertical camera exists to tell others around you that you're looking at an iPhone X when they see it from the back. Without the notch and the vertical camera, you might as well be the owner of a 5 year old iPhone 5 or a dreadful Android.

Some are into status symbols and the X is the premium iPhone so Apple needed to make some noticeable and dramatic design changes.