The OnePlus 6 notch is a real thing, confirming rumors that the latest model of the so-called flagship killer will copy one of the most polarizing features of the iPhone X.
The OnePlus 6, however, will not be copying everything about the iPhone X though. At least it will keep the headphone jack, which Apple has long dropped from its iPhones.
OnePlus 6 Notch Confirmed
At the recently held Mobile World Congress, several Android smartphones that were revealed to adopt the iPhone X notch were met with a chorus of disapproval from users.
OnePlus, to try to make its case on why the notch is a good thing, reached out to The Verge's Vlad Savov, providing the first image of the OnePlus 6 notch to one of the more vocal critics of the feature.
"How big a notch is always depends on your choices as a company," said OnePlus cofounder Carl Pei to Savov in a meeting in London last week. This is a knock against the Essential Phone, the first smartphone with a notch, as Pei claims that it is impossible to make the notch so small without compromising several features.
"What you are essentially doing is moving the entire notification bar up, giving users more content on their screen," Pei added, claiming that the size of the OnePlus 6 notch is in between the Essential Phone and the iPhone X.
Pei also said that OnePlus is also adapting the software of the OnePlus 6 to work well with the notch, instead of simply slapping the feature on the smartphone and worrying later about compatibility with apps.
OnePlus 6 Headphone Jack Confirmed
Pei admitted that Apple "accelerates the adoption of things within the industry," but only "where it makes sense."
This may be a subtle dig against Apple's decision to drop the headphone jack. While iPhone owners have mostly grown accustomed to the change, the headphone jack is still one of the most requested features on Android smartphones.
Fortunately, the OnePlus 6 will not be a full-on iPhone X copy, as reliable leaker Evan Blass tweeted an image of the OnePlus 6 that shows the smartphone will have a headphone jack.
Notch On Android Smartphones
The iPhone X is not the first smartphone to launch with a notch in its display, but many people saw the feature first on the device. This is a bad thing for Android, as it now appears that Android smartphone makers are simply copying the feature to make iPhone X wannabes.
Google, however, is actually supporting the display design change with the upcoming Android P. Meanwhile, examples of Android smartphones that are adopting the notch include the LG G7 Neo and the Xiaomi Mi 7.
