Other True or False: The iPhone "notch" issue is overblown

[mdhaus72]

Yeah, I get that I'm not the typical person. For various reasons of our own my wife and I are not fond of having pictures taken. We've made the obligatory photos of our kids at the milestones of their lives of course - but we were all there, so there's never been much call to sit around looking at pictures. My son in particular hates his picture being taken even more than we do, but all of us do not care for it.

And I understand and have admitted in other threads that there are technical reasons for why a camera setup of that quality does not sit flush to the housing. I've accepted that - but I don't have to like it.

As to cases…

There's a recent Apple commercial where a phone is left on a counter while on silent. It's ringing and vibrating and eventually falls off the counter. It has no case on it. Apple's tagline for the commercial is not to worry because 'ceramic shield'. Some reporter picked up and that and his article states that perhaps Apple is openly suggesting that cases aren't necessary.

The reporter supports his claim by asking the reader how many Apple execs do you see with their iPhones in a case.

Now I've seen the commercial and I think that reporter's story is clickbait which is why I'm not linking to it. But it does make me think. Further. I don't believe that Apple designs their iPhones in regards to cases. They've always stated that their design stands on it's own. So while they won't design a phone to appease me - likewise, they aren't going to design a phone with a case in mind to appease the other 80 percent. Right now, it just happens to be what it is. The moment Apple figures out the technical issues and decides to make the camera flush to the housing I do not foresee an outcry from case users who want their camera bump back because it looks great in a case! Case users will just move on and slap the phone in another case.

PS. My wife is the only one of us four that uses a case and she's dedicated. Otterbox all the way. I've had to force a case on my daughter because…brand new phone…and her last phone was in great condition when I gave it to her. It's not now.

So despite grumbling about the camera bump and cases, it's yet to be a zero sum game for me.

The reason why Apple brags about the strength of their phones is because it's a PR talking point that they can use to sell phones over other brands that aren't as sturdy. In the marketplace, "product toughness" is a symbol of "product quality." Nobody wants to be spending hundreds of dollars (often over $1000) for a product that they don't have confidence was built really well. Trust me...Apple is fully aware that the overwhelming majority of their customers are using phone cases....which does factor into their design decisions. They even sell their own cases! LOL...

The reason why Apple doesn't worry about the camera bump hurting them is because they know that most people will get a case that levels it out anyway. Of course nobody is going to complain when the bump goes away....but I also don't think most people care that it exists right now. Once all of those people put their cases on, it takes it away.

 

[eyoungren]

The reason why Apple brags about the strength of their phones is because it's a PR talking point that they can use to sell phones over other brands that aren't as sturdy. In the marketplace, "product toughness" is a symbol of "product quality." Nobody wants to be spending hundreds of dollars (often over $1000) for a product that they don't have confidence was built really well. Trust me...Apple is fully aware that the overwhelming majority of their customers are using phone cases....which does factor into their design decisions. They even sell their own cases! LOL...

The reason why Apple doesn't worry about the camera bump hurting them is because they know that most people will get a case that levels it out anyway. Of course nobody is going to complain when the bump goes away....but I also don't think most people care that it exists right now. Once all of those people put their cases on, it takes it away.

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree about Apple taking cases in to consideration when it comes to design. Yes, they sell their own cases but that's just Apple - making money off a demand from customers.

Now, as a design feature that readily identifies a device as an Apple product - yes, I can see that. I've also had that discussion on MR.

I do agree that no one will care when the bump goes away - except for us non-case users.

 

[tranceking26]

I'm totally used to my 11's notch. It will be interesting to see the pill/cutout though.

 

[mdhaus72]

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree about Apple taking cases in to consideration when it comes to design. Yes, they sell their own cases but that's just Apple - making money off a demand from customers.

Now, as a design feature that readily identifies a device as an Apple product - yes, I can see that. I've also had that discussion on MR.

I do agree that no one will care when the bump goes away - except for us non-case users.

I'm not saying that Apple determines the strength of their phones based on case usage....They make them strong so that they can brag about how strong they are - It's a marketing piece.

But I do think the reason Apple doesn't worry much about the bump presence is because they know most people won't even care, as their phone spends almost all of its time in a case.

 

[cbreze]

I see it(notch) every time I look at the screen, so I guess that's noticing it. It's tolerable until I pinch out a video to full screen, then it does bug me. Not sure why other phones can live without it and still offer Face ID etc.
I generally use a wallpaper that hides it.

 

[I7guy]

I see it(notch) every time I look at the screen, so I guess that's noticing it. It's tolerable until I pinch out a video to full screen, then it does bug me. Not sure why other phones can live without it and still offer Face ID etc.
I generally use a wallpaper that hides it.

Which other phones offer a “Face ID” that is used to authenticate “everything.” The electronics have to be somewhere so there is that design consideration.

I’ll admit I do notice the notch, but it doesn’t “bug me”.

 

[cousintim]

If it’s a big enough deal in 2022 to still have new threads created about it, then no, it’s not overblown.

That's actually proof that it is overblown.

 

[staypuftforums]

There's a small crack in the top right corner of the screen on my iPhone 6. I've become used to it so I don't really notice it anymore. That doesn't mean it's good to have a cracked screen or that iPhones should come new out of the box with cracks in the screen.

The "I don't notice it" argument doesn't hold much water, as we can get used to a lot of bad things where the badness just becomes normal to us.

 

[mdhaus72]

There's a small crack in the top right corner of the screen on my iPhone 6. I've become used to it so I don't really notice it anymore. That doesn't mean it's good to have a cracked screen or that iPhones should come new out of the box with cracks in the screen.

The "I don't notice it" argument doesn't hold much water, as we can get used to a lot of bad things where the badness just becomes normal to us.

LOL. A damaged screen is not the same thing as a design item that was put there on purpose. Apps, for example, often take the notch into account in their design. They don't do that for cracks.

And yes, the "I don't notice it" argument DOES hold water. If people aren't noticing the notch, then that suggests the criticism is indeed overblown.

 

[staypuftforums]

And yes, the "I don't notice it" argument DOES hold water. If people aren't noticing the notch, then that suggests the criticism is indeed overblown.

But it doesn’t though. Not noticing it just means you are used to it. That’s human psychology. Just because we have the ability to overlook or accept bad things doesn't mean that they aren’t bad.

And why start a thread asking for other people’s opinions if you are just going to get mad whenever someone disagrees with you?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But it doesn’t though. Not noticing it just means you are used to it. That’s human psychology. Just because we have the ability to overlook or accept bad things doesn't mean that they aren’t bad.

And why start a thread asking for other people’s opinions if you are just going to get mad whenever someone disagrees with you?

If the person that doesn’t care or notice the notch also doesn’t think it’s ‘bad’, are they wrong and you right though? Or is this just a completely subjective view on a slight aesthetic characteristic of current iPhone design?

I thought back in 2017 that the notch looked a bit silly but after a couple of years with it for me, it’s faded into insignificance and I don’t wind myself up thinking about it. It’s all trivial and doesn’t affect the user experience and no doubt it’ll be gone completely in a few years anyway. Life is far too short to be notches on phones, iPads, car windscreens and the like.

 

[krspkbl]

my perfect phone would be an all screen display. no notch, no hole punch, no pill:

that said, i don't mind the notch at all. i hardly notice or think about it until i see topics like this.

 

[platinumaqua]

its absolutely noticeable in light mode.

Even Android copycats stopped copying the wide and thick notch design after a year because it’s so ugly.

 

[cbreze]

Which other phones offer a “Face ID” that is used to authenticate “everything.” The electronics have to be somewhere so there is that design consideration.

I’ll admit I do notice the notch, but it doesn’t “bug me”.

The pixel for one. It has a hole punch for the camera, but much less intrusive than that notch. Also has Face ID and a top speaker but doesn't need a notch to hide it. https://medium.com/adventures-in-consumer-technology/why-your-iphone-has-a-notch-c9e505e9357c

 

[I7guy]

The pixel for one. It has a hole punch for the camera, but much less intrusive than that notch. Also has Face ID and a top speaker but doesn't need a notch to hide it. https://medium.com/adventures-in-consumer-technology/why-your-iphone-has-a-notch-c9e505e9357c

It’s true the google pixel 4 introduced a year after the “x” had an incomplete implementation of faceid with mixed reviews, was boxier and had an easier time moving the electronics round. Other android phones didn’t even support facial recognition for financial transactions until recently.

But yeah, pick your poison. Notch or no notch, people will buy the phones and the debate about design will continue on.

 

[Motionblurrr]

its absolutely noticeable in light mode.

Even Android copycats stopped copying the wide and thick notch design after a year because it’s so ugly.

Well, it was incredibly embarrassing to have a notch and for only it to house a simple selfie camera and depth sensor. No high-end facial recognition like Face ID... kind of becomes hilarious if you think about it.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I think it’s overblown. I’ve never had a problem with the notch starting with buying the X. Within 10 minutes of using that phone, I forgot all about the notch.

 

[ab2c4]

Overall I really like the look of the notch actually. My only complaint is the removal of the battery percentage because of it.

 

[mittencuh]

The only time I really get annoyed by the notch is during some games. In normal usage outside of gaming though I don't really notice it a ton.

 

[dweb619_2]

I don't mind the notch at all. But I'm not too fond of the pill and hole shape from the leaks out there (if they are true). It is the space in the middle between two. I don't see how that could get past the very conscious attention to design set by apple. But that is just my two cents. I'm sure once I get it, I'll only notice it every now and then.

 

[Bodhitree]

The iphone notch is not a big deal, but on a Mac laptop it is an abomination that I will fight to my last breath! So there.