Punch hole vs notches - is it really better?

27 January 2019
We did the math and weighted pros and cons.

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notches / punch holes / motorized / slider / back-screen all involve compromises and expenses. I wish manufacturers have the courage to explore a sixth option: no selfie cam. Not all of us phone buyers are narcissistic teens.

    If I were to compare it with a big black notch (ahem, Google Pixel 3XL), the punch hole is definitely better. What about the waterdrop notch then? Well, the difference is negligible at most, even if it removed quite an amount of bezel right there. Removing it won't do any benefit, no app developer will put something there because it's interfering with the punch hole. Appearance wise, maybe it looks better? I like the looks of both the waterdrop notch and the punch hole, but if I were to choose which looks better, I can't decide. Of course, I can't stop dreading the fact that other brands are going to flood the market with punch holes making it oversaturated as always

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • uvF
      • 27 Jan 2019

      Infinity U or Essential PH 1 is also better implement.
      Upcoming Galaxy M may have Infinity U

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • XMf
        • 27 Jan 2019

        Depends, for me. Double notch is the worse one. Thick notch like iPhone X size notch are unacceptably. Smaller notch like huawei p20 pro are slightly better, acceptable. Waterdrop or tiny notch are much better to use. Punch hole are even better. But the best screen to use for me is to leave small bezel on top like Samsung or slider which is notchless like oppo find X.

          There is also one major thing to consider.
          The lowest height of the punch hole!!
          Because of its nature, the camera in a punch hole design is located much lower than it is in a teardrop for example. This is of extreme importance because the UI is directly affected by that, when using a browser, gaming, watching films and videos, the screen adopts a natural aspect, without rectangular shapes and the lowest part of the camera becomes the lowest line if the status bar.
          So in essence, more percentage of the sreen is wasted for most uses...

            • K
            • Kaboom
            • iJ3
            • 27 Jan 2019

            Notch - good, punch hole - better, punch to the face of their creators for both - best!

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • Ngx
              • 27 Jan 2019

              Kiyasuriin, 27 Jan 2019Neither notches or punch holes. FIND SOMETHING better please!Do you think that this is easy? They are already trying other solutions ( slider second display pop up camera) but no one of these is succesful (in sales) as notches

                SohailSays, 27 Jan 2019I got hoooooless....notches..... I want black hole.I'm very sure this is from Mo Bamba xD

                  • a
                  • autotech1100
                  • nt6
                  • 27 Jan 2019

                  less bezels was the best idea both notch and punch are nonsense crap

                    • A
                    • Anna
                    • tTd
                    • 27 Jan 2019

                    Punch hole & notches looks ugly on phones. Minimal top bezels for selfi cam, flash, speaker & sensors are fine. Anyway they will have thin chin at bottom for their logo. At least it looks symmetrical.

                      SohailSays, 27 Jan 2019I got hoooooless....notches..... I want black hole.you already have two of them. in your eyes. (The pupils)

                        I got hoooooless....notches.....
                        I want black hole.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 0T0
                          • 27 Jan 2019

                          Ron, 27 Jan 2019I prefer minimal bezelsYep there was nothing wrong with Mate 10 or Note9's design (Well if we don't count the too narrow aspect ratio and the Edge screen, these trends are idiotic too)

                            Neither notches or punch holes. FIND SOMETHING better please!

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • uEy
                              • 27 Jan 2019

                              How about punch holes vs notch vs no front facing camera?

                              The ff camera is clearly the culprit here. I'd prefer to not having ff camera at all... never used it anyway.

                              We could live with no ff camera, see phones before 3g era, they put small mirror on the back for selfie.

                                Both notch and punch hole are one of the worst discovery in the history of mobiles imo. I'll take phones with bezels over the distracting notches and holes any day. Sliders and pop-up camera are also far better than holes and notches. In-display camera is the future not the on-display. So hopefully this trend with die soon.

                                  • R
                                  • Ron
                                  • jCb
                                  • 27 Jan 2019

                                  I prefer minimal bezels

                                    • m
                                    • m2k
                                    • gWE
                                    • 27 Jan 2019

                                    Notches are awful. But punch holes are even worse.

                                    Can't take my eyes off that damn hole!... Arrgghhh!!

                                    Who the fudge came up with this idea?!

                                      • c
                                      • cog
                                      • ixd
                                      • 27 Jan 2019

                                      Neither, push your imagination hardly for something better

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • U2T
                                        • 27 Jan 2019

                                        Problem if there is 2 or 5 more front cameras
                                        The screen will look like Swiss cheese

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