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Apple vs Samsung vs LG vs Pixel and more notification shades: visual comparison

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By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Nov 28, 2016, 7:10 AM

Motorola Samsung LG HTC Sony Google Honor

Apple vs Samsung vs stock vs LG notification shades - can you spot the differences?

Oh, pull-down bar and notification shade, what would we do without you on Android! And you, pull-up iOS Control Center, how's that for a handy toggle access!

Those hidden interface panels where phone makers place shortcuts for quick access to connectivity toggles, and host app, call or message notifications, are one of the more diverse interface segments that can make or brake the respective user experience. From background to layout, from iconography to notification access - each and every one of the major phone brands approaches the notification and toggle shades' visuals in a different manner, and provides different ways to access them.

This interface element is usually tucked away from plain sight, and only visible when you pull up or down to preview a message or turn on, say, Bluetooth. The way you access the shade, however, and its layout, could make interaction with your device easier, or an exercise in frustration, that is why we wanted to do a brief listing of who does it how, so you can gauge what you are missing, or where the toggle panel of your phone maker excels compared to the rest. Check them out and tell us whose approach is your fav in the poll below.

Whose notification/toggles shade solution you like most?

Samsung

25.44%

Apple

18.07%

10.27%

Stock (Pixel, HTC, Moto, Sony)

41.53%

EMUI (honor, Huawei)

2.96%

Other

1.72%

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, 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.