Apple wasn't the first manufacturer to employ a notch on an otherwise “all-screen” smartphone display. That was Essential, the company created by Android co-founder Andy Rubin, which launched the Essential Phone to much fanfare, both because one of Android's masterminds was behind it and because of the notch at the top of the display. Apple did, however, make the notch mainstream thanks to the power it holds when it comes to setting the trends, and it also managed to make the notch worthwhile with the Face ID technology. Android OEMs have nothing of the sort, but many Chinese manufacturers, in their ever-present need to do what Apple does, have been releasing phones with a notch in recent months.
The notch has been embraced even by Google
Google hasn't been sitting idle, either. The company has added official support for notch-equipped devices in Android P, even though none of the major manufacturers have talked about embracing the notch just yet. But the major players are no longer the only ones who matter. Indeed, other than Samsung, big OEMs like HTC, Sony, and LG have been losing ground to Chinese manufacturers, who continue to put out smartphones with impressive specs for a fraction of the price commanded by devices from mainstream OEMs. Even OnePlus has confirmed that its next flagship will have a notch, so it's only a matter of time before the market is flooded with iPhone X-like designs that the consumer can't ignore.
That's where our poll comes in: We want to know if you would be willing to purchase a non-Samsung device if it attracts your attention despite the presence of a notch in the display. We already know most Samsung fans aren't willing to accept the notch and are perfectly fine with the Infinity display found on its devices, but what if the Korean giant also joins the notch bandwagon somewhere down the line? Will that make it easier for you to buy a phone with a notch from another company?
Well, go ahead and tell us by voting in the poll, and also let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Results: As expected, a majority of voters (70 percent) like what Samsung is doing: Making phones with displays that cover most of the front side without an obtrusive notch getting in the way. 19 percent of voters say they will look at how good other aspects of a device are, something we can get behind. Seven percent of voters say they are okay with buying a phone with a notch, while the rest believe they will be able to jump ship the day Samsung introduces a notch to its phones. What did you vote for and why? Tell us in the comments!
