For the love of God, please do NOT "embrace the notch," Apple. The lack of symmetry, and awkward screen shape that would result, would not be very Apple-like, IMO. How would that look playing video...or taking photos?
I think putting essential status info up there in white, with a black background, is definitely the way to go and would look super polished and smooth. When the phone is held in landscape mode, like when viewing or recording video, simply black out that strip entirely.
Just my $0.02, but I hope I'm right. 🙂