The Notch: Is it as bad as you thought?
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narr
macrumors regular
It doesn’t protrude in panoramic photos. In centers the picture.
(Left white space is where the notch is, doesn’t show in a screen capture).
I like the notch and how it looks in portrait, but I can understand the flip side. Design is in the eye of the beholder. That’s why I think Apple should offer a software bezel as an option.
What’s the difference between a software or hardware bezel? Both would be black. Visually, they do the same thing. Not sure I understand this.
Why should I buy a phone that is advertised as an edge to edge phone when I end up with bezels and a small view area (when watching videos, viewing landscape photos, browse the web in landscape mode, etc.) anyway? It makes no sense to me. They should permanently black out the „ears“ and go for a 16:9 screen. Why Apple decided to do otherwise is beyond me.
_Refurbished_
macrumors 68020
You’re not following. The notch could just as easily exist on a 16x9 screen. There is no such thing as an edge to edge phone without bezels somewhere on the device.
All phones, notch or not, have bezels. Therefore a software bezel is just as hindering as a hardware bezel.
I’ve never said that the notch makes sense in landscape. It’s clearly a design flaw I hope they rectify. It’s a non issue for my usage, as I don’t use phones in landscape other than when I consume media. When consuming media, the notch doesn’t get in the way.
If I used my phone to browse the web in landscape, I would stick with the previous design.
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Gaura Mohana
macrumors regular
No. The notch is the way it's supposed to be designed. It actually looks good.
If you don't like the notch, go buy a ****ing S8.
If you don't like the notch, go buy a ****ing S8.
cap7ainclu7ch
macrumors 6502
Most X users argue that they prefer the X over the 8+ because the latter has „ugly“ bezels. But then all of a sudden people like you are arguing that software bezels around a video are totally fine and convenient. Well I’d rather use hardware bezels and enjoy 16:9 video full screen. Oh, long live the reality distortion field.
Why does someone’s personal taste bother you so much? They make the plus still! Buy that. Why argue with people that have no complaints with the screen. The colors and contrast blow my 7+ away and I love not having the phone bulge out of my pocket. The software bezels are small. Either way buy the 8+ or wait for the next gen (especially as the larger size is all but confirmed). This discussion is pointless. There are many many people that feel that this size is ideal for a current day smartphone, including pretty much every reviewer.
user1234
macrumors 6502a
I didn't vote because I have not had enough time with an iPhone X to truly form an opinion, but I did check one out today at a store and I honestly didn't notice the notch at all while playing around with it.
The place where I see it being an issue is in landscape mode watching videos or playing games, on the other hand I prefer to watch video at true aspect ratio.
The place where I see it being an issue is in landscape mode watching videos or playing games, on the other hand I prefer to watch video at true aspect ratio.
flat five
macrumors 603
ha. to me personally, i think i would like that photo better if it were flooding up into the notches and had the status info imposed over it..
can you post the non-modified version for comparison?
Samsung claimed their phone has an infinity display. Really? I think not.
Christi_C
macrumors regular
Same here. My knee jerk reaction was instant dislike but in actual use it’s a complete non issue.
narr
macrumors regular
To each their own. I have no problem if anyone prefers the X (I bought a 8 Plus), but I dislike how people convince themselves that the notch and the way Apple is embracing it, is totally fine. This, to me, is a really bad design decision and I think I am allowed to offer my opinion in an Apple forum. You see, I wanted a different phone. I hoped for a phone around the size of an 8 but with an edge to edge display resulting in an usable 16:9 viewarea of the Plus. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. So, I bought the Plus and although I like it, coming from a 6S Plus, its still the same bukly form factor. On the other hand the iPhone X is NOT what I hoped it would be. And I am concerned about Apple in general as their design decisions lately seem to be more about pleasing the stock holders (we need something different, we need to impress with an aaaaaalmost edge to edge screen no matter if there are disadvantages for the user in their daily use of the phone, we have to do something "innovative" and "different") than the user. So, here I am: I have a fine phone with great internals but does it have an impact in my life, does it make my life more easy, more comfortable? Not really. With a big display in a small form factor things would be at least more comfortable to me. Easier to hold, easier to navigate with one hand, more pocketable, etc... but no, if you like that you can get the X. But the X is not that phone I wished for. The notch is a bad design decision. The USP of the phone is the new OLED edge to edge screen, that's what they are advertising. A notch hiding content is not pleasing to my eyes. I hate it and I cannot unsee it in reviews and pictures. But since they went for embracing the notch this is the only way you could really use the whole display...by accepting a protruding notch. The alternative is a bezel. Again. But this time it's a digital one. I really don't like the direction Apple is going with the iPhone. For the first time I am considering to switch to an Android phone although I know that I will miss iOS. That worries me. I am also scared to install High Sierra as some friends told me they had lots of problems, but that's a different story.
bambooshots
Suspended
It bugged me for about 15 seconds after reveal at the keynote but then I quit worrying about it.
I actually like it now.
I actually like it now.
narr
macrumors regular
Is it better without the notch?
I kinda like this photoshopped notch free design
IMO yes, but it also needs a 16:9 screen.
maflynn
macrumors Haswell
That suggestion (no horns), seems to be the consensus of what people like. I'm not sure why apple went with the notch, other then perhaps trying to differentiate their X with the Galaxy phonesIs it better without the notch?
I kinda like this photoshopped notch free design
Septembersrain
Cancelled
For me, it's not necessarily ugly. For functionality and my desire for symmetry, it's a nightmare.
If you like it, no biggie. If not, there are other devices out there.
If you like it, no biggie. If not, there are other devices out there.
D.T.
macrumors G4
Is it better without the notch?
I kinda like this photoshopped notch free design
Just to be clear, that design still has / still requires the notch, in terms of there being a non-display sensor/camera/audio cluster, and there being display to the sides of it. This is simply a graphic "trick" to simulate there being a full width bezel (though obviously there can't be status icons on a non-display area).
Anyway, this is totally doable in software for apps that use the notch area in, let's call it, "standard system mode".
Looks unbalanced, the icons look out of place, and it'll go right back to notch-land in more and more apps. If you wanted the look of an S8 or Pixel 2, why didn't you buy one in the first place?
maflynn
macrumors Haswell
I think that's what bothers me the most. In my minds eye, if this design was presented to Steve Jobs, he'd thrown it back at the designers face. I don't think this would have flew by the old apple. The Tim Cook Apple seems to make some design decisions that are un-apple like imo.
I'm not terribly worked up about the notch, I'm not liking it, but dislike is tepid at best. Some people really hate it, others don't mind it. I'm in the don't mind it for the most part.
Yep, as it should be.
Excuse me, contradicting your previous statement there. Why do you assume people are convincing themselves? I happen to be absolutely fine with the notch, equally fine without it. Really makes no odds to me. It is fine, because that's my opinion, and that's all that matters in my life. You know what I dislike? People who expect others to adopt their own opinion and accuse them of convincing themselves if they think otherwise.
You used words like worried, scared...it's just a phone for gods sake! Melodramatic, no?! lol
narr
macrumors regular
I am not contradicting my previous statement. If people like the X, sure, have fun and enjoy but don‘t tell me that having a notch protruding content on a phone screen is fine. No, it‘s not. Would you like for the notch to stay even if future technologies make it possible to do away with it? I don‘t think so. And that‘s also the reason I do not like the X, that‘s my opinion, ok?
And no, I am not dramatic. I am serious. My iPhone and Apple ecosystem serve me everyday and it‘s not easy and fun to switch to another ecosystem within a few days. And yes, I am scared to install High Sierra as I need my mac for my work to work reliably. I hope you can understand that, tolerant as you are and wish me to be.
Apple simply dissapoints me lately and users happily buying an 1000 dollar phone and tell themselves that the notch, especially in landscape, is alrighty are giving Apple a message: charge what you want, do what you want even if it‘s buggy, even if it is an obvious design flaw - we‘ll buy it anyway. This makes me feel worried. Not in a dramatic way, just worried. It says a lot about society and how easily we can be manipulated by a brand.
But let‘s end the discussion here and enjoy your iPhone X.
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