The notch creates space for the front camera, speaker, and sensors while keeping the rest of the screen borderless. It's a cost-effective solution for achieving a larger screen-to-body ratio without sacrificing essential front-facing components.
Display
Notch: Definition & explanation
In a nutshell
A notch is a cutout at the top edge of a display housing the front camera and sensors. It maximizes screen-to-body ratio while keeping essential front-facing hardware visible.
How does Notch work?
The notch emerged as a compromise between the desire for edge-to-edge displays and the technical need to house the front camera, speaker, and sensors (e.g., for facial recognition). Apple popularized this design in 2017 with the iPhone X, and many Android manufacturers followed suit. Instead of a full bezel, only a small area at the top of the screen is cut out—typically shaped like a teardrop, U, or V. This keeps the rest of the display nearly borderless while keeping the necessary technology visible and functional. As camera and sensor technology advanced, notches became progressively smaller, giving way in many current devices to the punch-hole design, where only a small hole for the camera is placed within the display itself. Some manufacturers are also experimenting with under-display cameras that would eliminate the cutout entirely. The notch remains present in budget-friendly devices or certain model lines, as it is cheaper to produce than more complex alternatives.
Advantages of Notch
- Larger usable display area
- Cheaper than alternative solutions
- Room for multiple sensors
- Proven, mature technology
Disadvantages of Notch
- Visually disruptive for some users
- Interrupts screen continuity
- Less elegant than punch-hole
- Often visible in fullscreen apps
Frequently asked questions
A notch is a larger cutout at the top of the screen, typically teardrop or U-shaped, while a punch-hole is a small round hole placed directly within the display. Punch-hole designs look more modern and disrupt the screen area less.
Many flagship models already use punch-hole or under-display cameras, making the notch unnecessary. However, in budget devices, the notch will likely persist for a few more years due to lower production costs.
Guides with Notch
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