Embracing the Notch: How Are You Adapting to the Most Controversial iPhone X Design Decision?

[Jimrod]

Rounded corners removed. You'd appreciate it is looking sharper.
The notch is completely unnecessary.

More like it And could still use status info in the top black area and have the "Open" slider indicator in the bottom section without any odd shapes to distract.

 

[RobobVT]

After using the phone I no longer notice the notch, and kind of like the extra space for clock / signal. Also having the contextual "done" and other buttons go there is helpful in day to day use

 

[smacrumon]

Don't like it, to be honest.

Looks boring and generic, and you're losing display area from the top and bottom of the device.

Boring and generic simple lines is what iPhone traditionally is. It's been the lack of anything exciting on the hardware side which allows iOS to completely engage the user.

 

[cwwilson]

The Notch is what makes this phone. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[DeanL]

For me, the most controversial design decision is the removal of Touch ID.

We see how Face ID is problematic in many cases. Touch ID has none of those issues. I want an iPhone X with both Face ID and Touch ID.

Your mileage may vary...
I personally prefer Face ID because it works with wet hands and there is no need to remove gloves during the winter.

 

[Jimrod]

Your mileage may vary...
I personally prefer Face ID because it works with wet hands and there is no need to remove gloves during the winter.

But, alternatively you won't be able to have a scarf over your face when it's really cold!

 

[1098474]

The "notch," or sensor housing on the iPhone X is the single most polarizing design decision Apple made when creating its new flagship smartphone. Some people hate the way the notch eats into the display, while others appreciate that extra bit of visible space.

Love it or hate it, the notch is here to stay until Apple finds a better way to integrate the TrueDepth camera system into its iPhone lineup. Luckily, while the notch can be disturbing at first, most people find it's easy to become accustomed to. In the video below, we explore the notch, how it affects day to day iPhone X usage, how apps are compensating, and some ways to hide it.

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Prior to the iPhone X's launch, the notch sparked a lot of discussion, much of it negative, but hate for the notch has died down as people have become used to Apple's design choice.

Apple's official policy is that developers and users should embrace the notch, and as apps have implemented designs that work around it, it's blended into the background and become less noticeable in day to day use.

There are still apps that have yet to adapt to the notch, but as optimizations continue, it'll disappear even further. Here at MacRumors, we've found that the notch isn't really bothersome at all.

One exception might be landscape mode, as it's more noticeable in that orientation when doing things like browsing Safari, watching YouTube videos, and playing games. Safari browsing is getting better, though, with a new Webkit API in iOS 11.2 that allows developers to design around the notch for a better full screen experience, and in the YouTube app, if you double tap on a video, it expands to a full screen mode that's easier to watch.

For those who absolutely hate the notch, there are a couple of new apps like Notcho, designed to edit wallpapers to add a black bar to the top, effectively hiding it on the Home and Lock screen. Notcho doesn't work within apps, though, and in our opinion, hiding the notch looks worse than accepting it.

Article Link: Embracing the Notch: How Are You Adapting to the Most Controversial iPhone X Design Decision?

Next year Apple removes notch, Apple fans I want the one without the notch

 

[DeanL]

But, alternatively you won't be able to have a scarf over your face when it's really cold!

There is literally no situation where my scarf covers my entire face.
In terms of a 1/4 of my face, I have actually already trained Face ID to recognize me with it

 

[Jsameds]

You're actually not losing any real space. Apps are required to build in a "safe space" for the new iPhone X design, negating that "extra" space.

Apps are, but content isn't. Even with the safe space, things look nicer with the notch than with a solid bezel, IMO. It's all about that edge to edge, there's just something compelling about it that you don't get with bezels.

Boring and generic simple lines is what iPhone traditionally is. It's been the lack of anything exciting on the hardware side which allows iOS to completely engage the user.

So a welcome change, then. iPhone was stagnating, badly. Go for a bezelled phone and you've got nothing to set you aside from the competition. Everyone is doing top and bottom, bezels, that's what I mean by boring.

Make an iPhone SE sized phone like your mockup and I'd snap it up in an instant. Reason being is the current notch would fill the whole of the top of the screen on a smaller device anyway, naturally 'becoming' a bezel.

 

[MarkB786]

The notch is a non-issue if you actually own the phone and apparently a huge issue for those who don’t or the media that needs to generate clicks.

My wife was a long-time Apple fan and HATES the notch. Phone went back yesterday. Your comment can easily be looked at in the reverse: I think the notch is a non-issue to many die-hard Apple fans who love and fawn over just about anything Ives blesses and Apple produces. Apple tells you to love the notch, you love the notch.

 

[smacrumon]

Three iterations of iPhone X.

 

[Jimrod]

Make an iPhone SE sized phone like your mockup and I'd snap it up in an instant. Reason being is the current notch would fill the whole of the top of the screen on a smaller device anyway, naturally 'becoming' a bezel.

I think Apple seriously need an SE sized (or slightly larger) phone with the newer tech and cameras in - it can be thicker at that size to cram more in because it's easier in the hand, like the 3G was. The X for me was mainly a disappointment because it was larger than the 6/7/8! You've got a larger screen area, ideal for a SMALLER phone, less interesting on a larger one... Not everyone wants two-handed phones or those you have to shuffle about to use fully.

 

[rohanparekh]

The notch is a non-issue if you actually own the phone and apparently a huge issue for those who don’t or the media that needs to generate clicks.

very well said

 

[bunnicula]

I kind of like it. It makes all my apps look like pages in a notebook.

 

[jennyp]

I have a pair of e-tip gloves so using once unlocked is no problem.

All I need now is a Vietnamese mask.

 

[flat five]

That's fine, there was nothing wrong with the clock / status icons to begin with, no wasted space. The current guidelines required that apps build in a "safe space" for the new iPhone X design, negating that "extra" space.

that's not a requirement.. those aren't hard rules.. they are guidelines.

for example, SketchFab on iPhone X looks like this:
(it's an app for viewing 3D models with AR capabilities)

..there's a button in one of the notches.. other buttons located outside of the 'safe area'

 

[baller1308]

Three iterations of iPhone X.

You give up more when trying to hide the notch.

 

[flat five]

The tale of two iPhone X. One with a notch, one without a notch.

fwiw, we did a thread on the iPhone forum a while back which shows a whole bunch more alternate or member suggested designs..

here's 6 other versions in this render.. there are more in the thread.


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/alternate-x-designs-per-mr-users.2079241/

 

[danuff]

Give me a break. Its like getting used to trifocals after you've been using bifocals for years. You eventually dont see the lines inbetween.

 

[smacrumon]

that's not a requirement.. those aren't hard rules.. they are guidelines.

for example, SketchFab on iPhone X looks like this:
(it's an app for viewing 3D models with AR capabilities)

View attachment 735874

..there's a button in one of the notches.. other buttons located outside of the 'safe area'

The point is very little can be placed into those areas that are of use. Especially in portrait where the home indicator takes place. That indicator cuts into everything. That's annoying.

 

[Taipan]

I feel like blowing my nose when I hear that guy.

 

[MH01]

It will be on the ipads yes.

That would be a very poor experience if they did that
[doublepost=1510761967][/doublepost]

The notch is there because it's necessary due to the the current limitations of technology. The ONLY alternative we have today is a bezel. That's it.

Will they remove it in future? Of course, when we can integrate the tech under the display.

Is that possible right now? No, it is not.

It's either a notch or bezel. Those are your only two choices as of today.

Will Apple gloat when they can give us a device without a notch or bezel? Of course, and rightfully so.

But as of today, that is not possible. The choice is a notch or a bezel, and Apple have both types on sale, so I don't see what the issue is.

That is my view, the notch it a temporary solution to a problem , not an iconic statement from apple

 

[840quadra]

That's fine, there was nothing wrong with the clock / status icons to begin with, no wasted space. The current guidelines required that apps build in a "safe space" for the new iPhone X design, negating that "extra" space.

I disagree, it was persistent and pushed content / applications down if the developer decided to keep them enabled. This reduced the overall usable application space.

In these three examples the header space cuts into the application space. If we could completely disable it, or have it Auto hide (like the dock on MacOS) it would be less of an issue. Also, people (thanks to Apple Marketing) seem to confuse the X display as being comparable to a Plus phone, when it is actually a 4.7” phone with a taller overall display. (Kind of like comparing the 4s and 5 models)

https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/overview/iphone-x/
If your app currently hides the status bar, reconsider that decision for iPhone X. The display height on iPhone provides more vertical space for content than the displays of 4.7" iPhones, and the status bar occupies an area of the screen your app probably won't fully utilize. The status bar also displays information people find useful. It should only be hidden in exchange for added value.

I do agree with your gripe about the safe area. Not disputing that it needs to exist, I just don’t understand why it is constrained so much as compared to the screen size. Quite a bit of the extra 145 points of display resolution is absorbed by their new (larger) header profile that could be constrained more to the Notch. They must have future controls or UI planned for this larger space in future phones. No idea why it has to be so big now.

That said, if you are using AutoLayout, the size classes appear to be working fine. I have only done a small amount of iOS coding, but my old EXIF viewer app that I wrote (never put on App Store), works fine on the X because I used AutoLayout. Many mainstream applications do use this.

 

[a_to_the_g79]

Not a bother and don't even notice it really. People only noticed it because of the outrage before it was released.

if the notch is there because of the Face ID so be it - it works like a charm
[doublepost=1510762149][/doublepost]

Next year Apple removes notch, Apple fans I want the one without the notch

I have a feeling Apple will get the notch across all devices to justify it this year

 

[smacrumon]

I disagree, it was persistent and pushed content / applications down if the developer decided to keep them enabled. This reduced the overall usable application space.



View attachment 735870

View attachment 735872

View attachment 735873

In these three examples the header space cuts into the application space. If we could completely disable it, or have it Auto hide (like the dock on MacOS) it would be less of an issue. Also, people (thanks to Apple Marketing) seem to confuse the X display as being comparable to a Plus phone, when it is actually a 4.7” phone with a taller overall display. (Kind of like comparing the 4s and 5 models)



I do agree with your gripe about the safe area. Not disputing that it needs to exist, I just don’t understand why it is constrained so much as compared to the screen size. Quite a bit of the extra 145 points of display resolution is absorbed by their new (larger) header profile that could be constrained more to the Notch. They must have future controls or UI planned for this larger space in future phones. No idea why it has to be so big now.

That said, if you are using AutoLayout, the size classes appear to be working fine. I have only done a small amount of iOS coding, but my old EXIF viewer app that I wrote (never put on App Store), works fine on the X because I used AutoLayout. Many mainstream applications do use this.

The status bar isn't something that is pushing things down significantly though and its previous symmetrical layout means it's actually more useful and predicable in its operation than in notch form.