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An iPhone X-style notch and gestures on Android? Some shrug, but more gasp (poll results)

Published: Apr 23, 2018, 4:55 AM

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An iPhone X-style notch and gestures on Android? Some shrug, but more gasp (poll results)

With the P20 family of Huawei, we have the first major Android handsets that have reworked the interface to fit a notch in, and even add an iPhone X-esque home indicator in the nav bar settings. Huawei is not even the major offender here, as plenty of Android makers before it announced phones with notches, and Google itself lended support for it in the next version.

This is why we asked you last week whether you approve of this follow-the-trend mentality that Google seems to be introducing with Android P. Well, it turned out that a full 47% of our respondents don't really care, as long as the notch and gestures help screen-to-body ratio and navigation. A bit more numerous is the tribe that thinks Android makers, and Google itself, should be more original when it comes to setting trends no, rather than following them.

Google recently cut out an image from its developers blog, as it was showing the overhauled navigation paradigm of the upcoming Android P update before it had become official. The shots depicted a new navigation strip that had only two virtual buttons - an elliptical home bar, and a back key - with recent app duties allegedly taken over by a swipe-up gesture.

These iPhone X-style gestures may actually find their way into Android 9.0 Popsicle, or whatever it's called, that should be announced next month at Google I/O, which will be held May 8-10 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre at San Francisco, California. That navigation and gestures aren't a true iPhone X ripoff, though, for the simple reason that iOS doesn't have a universal back key (duh).

Still, if the home key becomes a mere gesture indicator like it was depicted by Google, while swiping up and holding would bring recent apps, the copycat journey would be complete. Adding insult to injury, Android P is already introducing official screen cutout support, aka the notch, as you can see from Google's official developer blog imaging on the right.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.