Is the "notch" actually a blacked out part of the screen?

[anticipate]

I noticed this close up photo from the WSJ review of the new MBPs. Thats the camera recording light. Except, if you notice... it's not a light. It's pixels. On a screen.

We all know the cameras and sensors don't take up the whole notch space. Did they intentionally black out part of the screen to keep a design motif going? Or is it another little screen? I don't mind the notch (that whole area basically takes the menu bar away, giving you more usable work space than on the old 16". But it could have been smaller.

Very interesting.

 

[Sanpete]

View attachment 1884425
I noticed this close up photo from the WSJ review of the new MBPs. Thats the camera recording light. Except, if you notice... it's not a light. It's pixels. On a screen.

We all know the cameras and sensors don't take up the whole notch space. Did they intentionally black out part of the screen to keep a design motif going? Or is it another little screen? I don't mind the notch (that whole area basically takes the menu bar away, giving you more usable work space than on the old 16". But it could have been smaller.

Very interesting.

That pixel pattern is tighter than for the screen, so not part of it. No screen pixels in the notch. I'd guess the notch is as small as they could get it, given what's behind the glass.