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Google today announced a new Android update, Android P, which introduces support for display notches built into Android devices that mimic the design of the iPhone X.

According to Google, Android P offers support for "the latest edge-to-edge screens with display cutout for camera and speaker," with a new "DisplayCutout" class for outlining the size and shape of a notch on an Android device.

androidpnotch.jpg

Several new Android devices feature an edge-to-edge display with an included notch much like the iPhone X. The Leagoo S9, for example, is a $150 iPhone X clone that features slim side bezels and a front notch, with a design that looks very similar to the iPhone X.

Leagoo-S9-MWC-2-800x569.jpg

Leagoo S9
The recently announced Asus ZenFone 5 also adopts a design that uses a notch, and when it was unveiled, Asus bragged that its notch is 26 percent smaller than the notch on the iPhone X.

asuszenfone5-800x483.jpg

Asus ZenFone 5
Other clone devices have surfaced from Chinese vendors, such as the Boway "Notch Series," and with official Android support for notch-style designs, we'll likely see more Android smartphones that aim to emulate the iPhone X. Even more well-known Android smartphone vendors are embracing the notch, with LG's upcoming G7 said to include a notched design.

lgg7renders-800x524.jpg

Renders of the upcoming LG G7 via Techno Buffalo
Apple implemented a notched design in the iPhone X in an effort to maximize the available display area. The notch houses the TrueDepth camera system, which includes several components necessary for Face ID. Android companies copying Apple's design aren't using the notch in the same way, with currently available models offering fingerprint scanners rather than facial recognition.

In addition to notch support, Android P includes several other notable new features, such as indoor positioning APIs, enhanced notifications, multi-camera support, HEIF image support, design tweaks and changes, restricted access to the mic, camera, and other hardware, and more.

Android P is available for developers starting today, with a public release to come in the future following beta testing. Google is warning that Android P is in the early stages of development and should not be installed on a primary device.

Article Link: Google Debuts 'Android P' With Support for iPhone X-Style Notches

Isn't this ironic? The "notch" got it's share of complaints and yet Android copied it!
 
Many would disagree with this, but Apple is a trendsetter. They’re not the first to release certain specific features or capabilities, but that usually take that same or similar feature and make it more refined and better for the user experience.

Exactly this. Certain other manufacturers use the tactic of throwing as much excrement at a wall as possible and seeing what sticks.
 
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Why would a company like Google deliberately *add* a notch to its OS display? That's just ridiculous. If I'm jumping ship from Apple, I'm for sure not going to want a phone with that notch.

sigh... Because they are not. Google has added a framework to its Android OS that makes it easier for 3rd party manufacturers (e.g. Chinese Android phone makers) to have layout support for phones with notches. The notch is a compromise, dressed up (in an "emperor has no clothes" way - no pun intended) to be distinctive to Apple.
 
well that's ridiculous..that notch is the ugliest aspect (after huge protruding vertical camera lens) of iPhone X..
I have to say it never bothered me during the 2 months that I had an iPhone X..(the camera bump was a different story though)..
kudos to Samsung for Better design and engineering..no camera bump on S8/Note 8/S9 and better/as good camera compared to iPhone X and they way they deal with edge toe edge display is frankly the best.they beat Apple in terms of design.
that's for sure.

Oh you must be referring to those great designers and engineers who put a fingerprint sensor on the back right next to the camera. Yeah you're right, they definitely knocked it out of the park on that one.
 
I can't stop laughing.

So Google is actually adding in support for notches in the next version of Android. So much for this being only something the copycats (cheap knockoff companies) do.
What do you expect? Google kind of has to do this with the number of Android manufacturers going with a notch design. Developers have to have some way of designing around these notches since Android is on all of these devices.
 
Why would a company like Google deliberately *add* a notch to its OS display? That's just ridiculous. If I'm jumping ship from Apple, I'm for sure not going to want a phone with that notch.

I think the idea is that for phones that have a notch, the OS/GUI will now handle them to the user's preference. E.g. Apple obviously already does this, and android figured they should give users that choice too, for people who have presumably non-Samsung phones.
 
Wow because if there's anything I want to go with my thick-bezeled Android phone with a design from four score and seven chins ago, it's a software notch...

Like I'm genuinely just so confused right now. I have an iPhone X and love it even despite the notch, but I accept why Apple had to include it. Even Steve Jobs couldn't have done anything about the current crossroads of security and advanced displays without borders. But to deliberately add one just for the sake of copying..man they're not even trying anymore.
 
Why would a company like Google deliberately *add* a notch to its OS display? That's just ridiculous. If I'm jumping ship from Apple, I'm for sure not going to want a phone with that notch.
Google has no shame, plus they always get a free pass anyway.
Remember the first Pixel launch, how they mocked Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack in the iPhone 7. Pixel 2, no headphone jack. It’s a real life comedy.
Of course, the same tech bloggers moaning about the lack of headphone jack on iPhones praised the Pixel 2 as the best smartphone ever.
 
What do you expect? Google kind of has to do this with the number of Android manufacturers going with a notch design. Developers have to have some way of designing around these notches since Android is on all of these devices.

Google doesn’t have to do something just because a few manufacturers are implementing a feature that’s currently not in Android. Imagine what Android would look like if Google always took cues from the OEMs?
 
Its just as ugly as one the iPhone. On the one hand this means the stupid notch was a reasonable compromise that other companies attempting to match similar technologies also have settled on. On the other hand still ugly and hilarious it is getting more adoption.
 
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Haha really? Look at this site. Each one looks like an iPhone 6-8, except for the Note in my eyes.

https://absolutegizmos.com/10-phones-exactly-looks-like-iphone/
Yes, some of these devices look like an iPhone, some don't. And to be fair, the iPhone 6 design wasn't that unique, it also was inspired by some other devices; e.g. HTC. UI and functionality wise I'd rather say Apple (fortunately) added some things android had for years, and that's perfectly fine.
We're at a point where many devices look like each other, but what's the problem?

Apple started the whole smartphone thing, and we all can be glad that there's so much competition now. I don't get all the hate and spite.
 
Can I get a notch on my car windscreen too?

Your car doesn't have one? Mine does. The notch area houses a camera for collision detection and also where the rear view mirror is mounted. It's a rather noticeable notch from both outside the car and inside. In rare instances, the notch manages to block the sight of a traffic light and I have to look around it.
 
Wow because if there's anything I want to go with my thick-bezeled Android phone with a design from four score and seven chins ago, it's a software notch...

Like I'm genuinely just so confused right now. I have an iPhone X and love it even despite the notch, but I accept why Apple had to include it. Even Steve Jobs couldn't have done anything about the current crossroads of security and advanced displays without borders. But to deliberately add one just for the sake of copying..man they're not even trying anymore.
And another guy who didn't even read the article.

Apple kinda had the most thick-bezeled devices for years, so that's pure comedy.
 
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Google doesn’t have to do something just because a few manufacturers are implementing a feature that’s currently not in Android. Imagine what Android would look like if Google always took cues from the OEMs?
Well, in the end, Google actually does take cues from the OEMs. Many features we take for granted on Android today were not Google’s original. Google is actually “behind”on certain things. For example, the stock camera app doesn’t support dual camera, to the point that Xiaomi’s Android One Mi A1 has to use Xiaomi’s custom camera app.

The notch thing is probably a proactive thing since the OEMs just cannot stop copying Apple (Huawei, Asus, almost everybody except Samsung are doing the notch)
 
Am I the only one that feels the S8 or S9 design is far better than iPhone X? I would only use iOS but if there was an iPhone with that design then I’d get it.

I’d much rather a “bigger” bezel at the top and bottom without a notch.

Well, ideally I’d have an iPhone SE sized phone with the S8/9 design but I’m not holding my breath for any of this!
 
Google doesn’t have to do something just because a few manufacturers are implementing a feature that’s currently not in Android. Imagine what Android would look like if Google always took cues from the OEMs?
How many manufacturers are using Android? 20+? They very much have to add support for developers to design around the notch. That's all they are doing in this preview. Developers can do what they want with it, but Google is just adding developer support at the very basic level. This is after all, a developer preview.
 
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