Hands-On With the OnePlus 6, the Latest Android Phone to Adopt a Notch

[kdarling]

One reason for me not to buy 95% of the android phones is the horrible security update regime almost all producers have. 2 years after model introduction (so if you buy a year old model it's just one year left) and the best of them stop supporting. Lots of them never give out any update.

Since about 2012 Android phones have been getting security scans via Google Play Protect, part of the PlayStore app. That means that Android phones are often protected years longer than iOS devices are.

Not to mention that the core Android apps are updated individually, unlike iOS where an "OS" update is necessary just to add more security to mainline apps like Safari. And after X years, iOS devices stop getting updates.

In other words, I have old Android devices running more up-to-date core apps than my old iOS devices... which actually became useless due to slowdowns from forced iOS updates.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

I can handle Android reviews on this site but they’re as unbiased as North Korea’s state media. Every time I see one I just question the independence of this site.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

when iphone x came out, every journalist just MOCKED the notch from here 'til sunday. now every android developer does it. can we all come together and just say apple still innovates on design?
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I can handle Android reviews on this site but they’re as unbiased as North Korea’s state media. Every time I see one I just question the independence of this site.

well 1) you are at a website called MACrumors 2) people judging biases often times have their own biases

 

[shareef777]

My launch day order gets delivered this Friday. Haven’t tried Android in years, and in light of all the bugs I’ve been seeing with my Apple products, I’m excited to give it a shot again.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

”Comparatively, Apple's latest iPhone X offers just 2GB RAM”

iPhone X has 3GB of RAM.

While this is a rumor site, fact-checking of information that can be verified would be much appreciated MR editors...and that's pretty much in the job description of an "editor".

 

[michaelz]

Shame on android copy machine.

 

[lyngo]

I don't understand why people find the notch so terrible.

I'd MUCH, MUCH rather have a notch and the additional screen estate than a bar across the top.

Having a bar across the top defeats the whole goal of having an edge-to-edge display. It makes the phone look no different from yesteryear's phones that didn't have edge-to-edge screens. It simply ISN'T edge-to-edge with a bar, it's just a slightly thinner bezel. The notch looks much better in my opinion. I hope Apple sticks with the notch.

Technically, it isn’t edge to edge with or without the notch. There’s still a bezel, albeit small, but it’s not edge to edge. I’d like a software upgrade to make a black bar where the “horns” are so if it would be beneficial given the app, I could have that option.

 

[Skoal]

It’s been apparent a lot of manufacturers have copied Apple designs, but having them copy a terrible design is next level.

If you think the notch is a nice design, you’re in denial. If an android maker implemented it first I can only imagine the amount of flaming that would exist on here.

I barely care what Android can or can't do or what the manufacturers implement. Copy Apple or not. Don't care. I also don't care about the X notch. I don't even notice it and I'm not in denial despite you reflecting your personal view on others. People get sweaty palms over crap that just doesn't matter.

 

[Fender2112]

It’s been apparent a lot of manufacturers have copied Apple designs, but having them copy a terrible design is next level.

If you think the notch is a nice design, you’re in denial. If an android maker implemented it first I can only imagine the amount of flaming that would exist on here.

I don't really understand the controversy about the "notch".

People want a small to non-existent bezel
They want an edge to edge screen
They would die without a front facing camera - because selfies are the life blood

If you want edge to edge screen with a small bezel, where else are you going to put the camera.

 

[ani4ani]

Things like this make me happy that Apple won that Samsung lawsuit for copying. The most dreaded and hated element of the iPhone X — the notch — is copied and embraced by other companies. Even after some of them mocked it.

I think essential had the first notch....and everyone aside from Samsung has followed suit since.

 

[Tech198]

I do like OnePlus phones. The only snag is everyone implements what Apple does..

No one can do something for themselves. It's not just a simple "users want it" anymore, because you can keep saying it but why does it happen only after Apple does theirs.? *all the time*

It's no coincidence now.

I also doubt the notch enables Oneplus to do something different...Its just visuals. (oh man, my spelling sux)

 

[Brandhouse]

Shock, horror, the sky is falling! Another phone has a notch, oh the calamity!

 

[lostngone]

Wait??? When did MR start recommending/selling android devices???

 

[kwikdeth]

It's a decent mid tier phone. Can probably fulfill the needs of all but a niche few. Not for me though. I don't like the notch.

8 gigs of ram and 256GB storage is mid-tier to you? im curious to know what constitutes premium to you.

 

[lostngone]

Lol @ all the posts blasting MR for posting legitimate Apple alternatives

Well, I don't to Audi website and expect to read about Mercedes alternatives...

 

[cajun67]

I don't think they are copying Apple necessarily... Apple just made it ok to go edge-to-edge vertically but have a notch for the speaker and selfie camera.

 

[neutralguy]

8 gigs of ram and 256GB storage is mid-tier to you? im curious to know what constitutes premium to you.

3GB ram and 64gb!

 

[mistasopz]

It’s actually a pretty good phone for the price point.

 

[ignatius345]

The one good thing about the "notch" is that it makes even more apparent how intellectually bankrupt Apple's competitors are.

 

[RedWing512]

I don't get why all these phones are copying Apple with the notch. I wouldn't have a phone with an ugly notch and from the way sales have been disappointing for the iPhone X it seems a lot of folks agree.

Because smartphones as a whole have matured, and companies are looking for anything they can do to the outside of a phone to differentiate it from what people currently have. Notches are currently it.

 

[Regime2008]

I wouldn't call that a big assumption. Why wouldn't Android manufacturers want a more secure version of a feature? https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/02/truedepth-camera-apple-android-lead/
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Thank you, I had some poor wording there. I've fixed it. Appreciate the heads up

Several Apple fans, don't care to unlock their phones with their faces. Pretty sure majority of Android users don't want to either, as FPS is more than just an unlocking feature. There are gestures you can use with the fps, like viewing notifications and what not.

 

[TomaxXamot]

I like it. Bothers me Zero!

I’m not a fan of the notch from an aesthetic standpoint, but what bothers me more is the inability (lack of room) to show the battery percentage and Do not Disturb icon. That is an, admittedly minor, hit to the user friendliness. Probably not for a lot of people; definitely for me.

 

[Mescagnus]

Join the crowd
View attachment 763741

I don't like the huge chin on all these Android phones. A notch & a chin – bad design.

 

[EVGabe]

Honestly, there's a notch on my Huawei P20 Pro. You forget about it real quick.

End of story.

 

[Xgm541]

Since about 2012 Android phones have been getting security scans via Google Play Protect, part of the PlayStore app. That means that Android phones are often protected years longer than iOS devices are.

Not to mention that the core Android apps are updated individually, unlike iOS where an "OS" update is necessary just to add more security to mainline apps like Safari. And after X years, iOS devices stop getting updates.

In other words, I have old Android devices running more up-to-date core apps than my old iOS devices... which actually became useless due to slowdowns from forced iOS updates.

Just to make it clear, Google play protect is NOT a replacement for timely security updates. What you're talking about is essentially a scanner that tells you when you've downloaded a malicious app.