Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'd rather a notch than a bezel. At least they can build the battery/wifi etc into the notch. Otherwise they'd have to have a bezel, and then the top bar, essentially doubling up on wasted screen real estate when they could just compact it like they have now.

I do too.

Much prefer a single notch to a forehead and chin.
 
Everyone complains about the iPhone notch taking away from the screen when most Android phones be like....

Screen Shot 2018-09-25 at 2.15.30 AM.png
 
This is a big reason why I am an "S year" upgrader, where I expect all of the app kinks to have been worked out for the new hardware. Very disappointing that isn't the case at this late point.

Do your problem apps tend to be abandoned - not having had upgrades in a while?
It's a mix - but generally I'd say most are NOT abandoned, and still get occasional updates. I think the developers are just lazy. It doesn't really affect the usability, it's just ugly. They are mostly dumb games that I use to pass the time when I am stuck somewhere waiting.
 
Everyone complains about the iPhone notch taking away from the screen when most Android phones be like....

View attachment 788494
One reason I can’t stand Android (yeah, I know there are tools to hide all that crap).

To answer the OP’s question I think a lot has to do with marketing. The iPhone was iconic with the top and bottom bars and the home button. Once they decided to do FaceID and gestures for home (and other functions) having the front look like an iPhone, even with its new look, was preferable to an all screen device that looks like everything else.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FFR
Nope. You lose more vertical screen space with notch. Why? Simple. With the notch, the status bar is now TWICE the height compared android/galaxy.

What are you talking about? The status bar on my phone is contained in the "ears." Unless I am missing something...
 
What are you talking about? The status bar on my phone is contained in the "ears." Unless I am missing something...

I don't think you're missing anything. You can have the system information displayed alongside the hardware sensors in the area that would just be a bezel otherwise. Or you can dedicate a bezel just for the hardware and put the status information in another dedicated area under the sensors and the usable part of the screen under those two dedicated areas. It seems obvious to me which is going to take more space. I think some people are just spatially challenged or simply don't understand why the notch exists in the first place. Or perhaps they even think Apple intentionally cut out a notch just for the looks of it and could easily remove it?

I really don't care which way this argument pans out. I'm quite happy to take my notch and additional screen space that offers me.
 
What are you talking about? The status bar on my phone is contained in the "ears." Unless I am missing something...

The ear/notch is included as part of the screen size :)

Put another normal 5.8in with status bar next to X, the status bar extent only halfway down the height of notch.
 
The ear/notch is included as part of the screen size :)

Put another normal 5.8in with status bar next to X, the status bar extent only halfway down the height of notch.

Speaking of that, you know what bugs me? Not the notch, but this!!!!

line.jpg
 
Last edited:
The ear/notch is included as part of the screen size :)

Put another normal 5.8in with status bar next to X, the status bar extent only halfway down the height of notch.

So... You want them to advertise a 5.7” screen instead? What would you have them do? Make the phone taller? I guess I just don’t understand what’s argument you are making. Honesty, it sounds like you just want to hate on the notch. Have you used a X- style device daily before? The notch really isn’t a thing to most who have.
 
Have you used a X- style device daily before? The notch really isn’t a thing to most who have.

The people who haven't used an X focus on the notch. That makes perfect sense as it's noticeable when looked at from afar. It absolutely draws the eye when looking at the phone. It is (was) a very distinguishing feature. Fan of the notch or not, at some point we all saw it for the first time and said "what?"

The people who have used an X focus on the middle-ish part of the screen where their content lives, not the top, and the brains just filters the notch out for the most part (and for most people). When I'm texting for example, my focus and attention is on the bottom portion of the screen while reading and writing. If the notch was filled in, I wouldn't even notice. There's actual science behind this. Your brain gets lots of details on the thing it's focused on, but far less detail on the peripheral things. When you're focused on reading an email for example, the notch is absolutely a peripheral item.

That's my theory behind the "you have to use one to understand" concept. The only time I "notice" the notch is sometimes while unlocking my phone since I have nothing more pressing to look at in the moment. I have to be looking at my phone, but it's not unlocked yet, so there's nothing to see but wallpaper and the time. I can live with the notch just fine in that case.
 
So... You want them to advertise a 5.7” screen instead? What would you have them do? Make the phone taller? I guess I just don’t understand what’s argument you are making. Honesty, it sounds like you just want to hate on the notch. Have you used a X- style device daily before? The notch really isn’t a thing to most who have.

I'm only replying to the post that you are not getting more but less usable screen area (especially landscape) with notch at the same screen size.

And you dont get a smaller phone either with notch. e.g.

surface to screen area ratio
XS max = 18.91 / 15.7 = 1.20
Note 9 = 19.17 / 16.0 = 1.20
 
I don’t like the notch for one reason and that is because when I zoom in on videos on YouTube it cuts some of the video off. If it went to the edge of the notch and made the ears black it wouldn’t bug me one bit. But it doesn’t
 
I'm only replying to the post that you are not getting more but less usable screen area (especially landscape) with notch at the same screen size.

And you dont get a smaller phone either with notch. e.g.

surface to screen area ratio
XS max = 18.91 / 15.7 = 1.20
Note 9 = 19.17 / 16.0 = 1.20

I am not entirely sure what any of this has to do with a Note 9. They are different phones. Apple would have to increase the size of the phone to get the same amount of usable screen real estate if they eliminated the notch. The status bar has to go somewhere. The front facing sensors have to go somewhere. Apple chose to place them side-by-side along the top of the phone instead of making what is already a tall skinny phone even taller or losing usable screen real estate. If the status bar takes up a few millimeters at the top of the screen, those few millimeters aren't really usable in the majority of usage. The only exception would be full screen video and photos, which comprise a small portion of most people's usage.

Judging by your replies, you have not used a X-style device. As I said before, it seems the majority who do find the notch a total non-issue, myself included. I suggest trying one on a daily basis, or maybe spring for that Note 9.
 
I am not entirely sure what any of this has to do with a Note 9. They are different phones. Apple would have to increase the size of the phone to get the same amount of usable screen real estate if they eliminated the notch. The status bar has to go somewhere. The front facing sensors have to go somewhere. Apple chose to place them side-by-side along the top of the phone instead of making what is already a tall skinny phone even taller or losing usable screen real estate. If the status bar takes up a few millimeters at the top of the screen, those few millimeters aren't really usable in the majority of usage. The only exception would be full screen video and photos, which comprise a small portion of most people's usage.

Judging by your replies, you have not used a X-style device. As I said before, it seems the majority who do find the notch a total non-issue, myself included. I suggest trying one on a daily basis, or maybe spring for that Note 9.

Thought this thread is about notch and top bezel :)

I dont like the notch. It looks out of place and non-symmetical.

The point is you can do away with the notch without losing anything.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cableguy84
The point is you can do away with the notch without losing anything.

I see two options. Make the phone taller or the screen smaller. Both lose something. What am I missing? How do you eliminate it without losing anything?
 
Can’t believe this is still debated... I got an X two weeks ago (yes the antiquated last year model) after spending 2 years with a 7+. If there was a bezel on top there would have to be one on bottom as well, otherwise the screen would look totally unbalanced. And people would complain about the bezels anyway... in reality though, you barely notice the notch when you’re using the phone. Everything your eyes need to focus on happen below the notch, even with games, even in landscape mode. As for video, if I want to watch a film or a tv show on my iPhone, I prefer the original aspect ratio cause that’s when the image is zoomed in that I lose content and it has nothing to do with the notch. Apple designed the phone so that the notch wouldn’t get in the way. The truth is it actually doesn’t. And it’s part of the iPhone X’s unique look (and XR, XS and XS Max of course). As always you can’t please everyone. You want bezels on your flagship phone get an android. I don’t hate the notch, I don’t love the notch, the reality is that I don’t care for the notch.
 
I don’t like the notch for one reason and that is because when I zoom in on videos on YouTube it cuts some of the video off. If it went to the edge of the notch and made the ears black it wouldn’t bug me one bit. But it doesn’t

Netflix does exactly what you want. So it is possible for apps to maximize the screen space without using the notched area. Hopefully more apps start doing that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brandonjr36
I'd rather a notch than a bezel. At least they can build the battery/wifi etc into the notch. Otherwise they'd have to have a bezel, and then the top bar, essentially doubling up on wasted screen real estate when they could just compact it like they have now.
There is no room in a notch for battery - the notch is the notch because it needs the cameras/sensors/etc. Ridiculous statement.
 
The ear/notch is included as part of the screen size :)

Put another normal 5.8in with status bar next to X, the status bar extent only halfway down the height of notch.

It’s actually 5.85 inch screen and the notch or a cutout doesn’t affect display size.

A screen is measured diagonally so....


You seem to be confusing dispalybsize with surface are they aren’t interchangeable:)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.