Alleged Galaxy A8s screen protector hints at the piercing future of 'all-screen' designs

by Daniel Petrov / Oct 26, 2018, 9:07 AM

Alleged Galaxy A8s screen protector hints at the piercing future of 'all-screen' designs

Sharp and the Essential Phone, which essentially pioneered the top bezel protrusion we started calling a notch since Apple introduced a giant one in the iPhone X, went about it in a subtle way. Their top thingies only house the selfie camera and are very minimalistic. Apple, however, opened the copycat floodgates and companies like Huawei or LG went to town on their top bezels to achieve the same "all-screen" effect, while others like Samsung or Sony, stuck to their guns.

Still, phone makers are trying to solve the notch-or-not conundrum in pretty inventive ways these days, starting with intriguing pop-up or slide-out camera design, and culminating with the "all-screen" slider Mi Mix 3 that was just announced yesterday.

What's a manufacturer that doesn't want to go the slider way to do, though? Even the smallest, "dewdrop" notch, however, still connects with the top bezel, and sliders have their own set of reliability, waterproofing, and case-wrapping issues, so a new paradigm is now forming. Samsung, Huawei and Apple have all now patented approaches that may do away with the whole bezel peninsula or slider concepts, and take the drill bit to the display directly.

Brace yourselves, the screen piercings are coming!

Yes, there is now even a phone nearing release that is rumored to pioneer the hole-in-display concept for fitting the tiny front camera sensor there, thinning the top bezel to the extreme in the process. That handset is the eventual Galaxy A8s that Samsung teased at the end of an event recently. It is supposed to have the selfie cam in the display itself and may be a harbinger of things to come with the Galaxy S10, as Samsung recently started introducing flagship features in its midrangers to gauge acceptance and increase their appeal.

Claimed Galaxy A8s screen protector

Today, an alleged screen protector leak for the Galaxy A8s has surfaced, and it sort of confirms the hole-in-the-screen speculation. As you can see, it has a small opening in the top middle, where the eventual front camera is slated to be, which isn't continuing towards the top, meaning that there could still be display area on top of it.

We can't wait to see how this design will be applied in practice, and what screen-to-body ratios it will be able to achieve in the never-ending quest towards an "all-screen," "bezel-less," or whatever you name it, phone. You have yourselves expressed a preference for such a design, as well as for sliders, which might mean that the good ol' notch's days may be numbered.

Would you prefer a screen hole for the front camera instead of a notch?

Yes

48.73%

30.51%

Whatever

20.76%

Options

31 Comments

1. notfair

Posts: 698; Member since: Jan 30, 2017

"BRACE YOURSELVES, THE SCREEN PIERCINGS ARE COMING!" --- MUCH BETTER THAN NOTCHES!!!! *cough* apple *cough*

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:14 AM 5

2. FlareKilla25

Posts: 13; Member since: Oct 18, 2018

The notch looks better than the screen hole imo

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:25 AM 3

6. toosmoove

Posts: 914; Member since: Sep 28, 2017

*insert Jennifer Lawrence "Yea, okay" gif here*

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:51 AM 11

13. worldpeace

Posts: 3099; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

You can add virtual notch in this phone if you want..

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:14 AM 5

22. strategic_developer

Posts: 1627; Member since: Jul 17, 2018

How? So a bigger hole is the screen, that blocks more screen real estate looks better? Ok! Let's apply what you're saying to all screens. So you think Apple notch would look better on a movie screen? Computer display? Car windshield? How about if such blocked your vision from both eyes? I mean really dude? Well you're an Spple fan do. It explains alot. Samsung is trying to minimize the obstruction. Smart move!

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 4:42 PM 2

3. alanrock

Posts: 264; Member since: Oct 04, 2018

that's the name...piercing notch :)

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:31 AM 1

4. Landon

Posts: 1242; Member since: May 07, 2015

2019 is shaping up to be an exciting year in phone tech. Now I just need to determine if I hold out for a 2019 phone, or purchase the OnePlus 6T next week.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:39 AM 2

10. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1794; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

Definitely pick up the 6T I know I am, will be my first one plus device... I've held out for this one... I can't pass up that in screen fp scanner. It will get me ready for Samsungs in display scanner. So I say that to say... Get both!

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 10:43 AM 0

19. Landon

It would be my first OnePlus device as well. The front in-display fps is what I've been wanting for a while. I won't buy a phone if the fps is on the back or side. However, the lack of headphone jack is making me hesitate though. I've been messing around with a Moto G6 for the past few weeks and while it's a decent phone with some nice features (shake twice to turn on the light, twist to turn on camera), I miss my S Pen and Samsung Pay that my Note 5 had. Ughh I'm torn. First world problems yo.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 1:23 PM 0

20. Mreveryphone

I've been using my XS Max now since it released but still carry my Note 9 with me for those Bluetooth spen moments or when I'm on wifi and need to get somethings done that require the spen. I know once I go to in display fp scanner I'm not going to want to go back. Face ID kinda has me spoiled and I never thought I'd say that...first world problems fr fr...

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 2:21 PM 0

21. Landon

The issue I have with Face ID is the annoying swipe to get to the home screen once it unlocks (again...first world problems). The OnePlus 6's face unlock is extremely quick and doesn't require an extra swipe, but it's obviously not as secure as Face ID. The 6T's face unlock along with the in-screen fps will be the best of both worlds on one device.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 2:50 PM 1

27. Mreveryphone

I agree with face ID but now it's just muscle memory at this point... I'm ready for the in display onslaught!

posted on Oct 27, 2018, 8:17 AM 0

5. japkoslav

Posts: 1447; Member since: Feb 19, 2017

Notch defect or hole defect, same to me ... broken screen.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:44 AM 1

7. Lanx1998

Posts: 59; Member since: Mar 06, 2017

"Shot on Oppo by Mr. Otto".

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:53 AM 1

8. power21

Posts: 80; Member since: Jul 15, 2015

no hole no notches.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 10:14 AM 0

9. pokharkarsaga

Posts: 545; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Water Drop Notch is much better than this dead pixel hole.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 10:34 AM 2

11. Cat97

Posts: 1775; Member since: Mar 02, 2017

Water Drop Notch is uglier than most other notches.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 10:44 AM 2

16. BuffaloSouce

Posts: 1238; Member since: May 01, 2017

No notch or hole is better...

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:49 AM 3

12. Sweetcheese

Posts: 36; Member since: Aug 23, 2018

This looks way better than the notch in my opinion.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:06 AM 3

14. Elvis358

Posts: 203; Member since: Mar 25, 2018

Yeah it should be called "all-scren" design with chin!!!

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:20 AM 0

15. biggles

Posts: 269; Member since: Oct 15, 2009

This is about the most tolerable option for eating into screen real estate, but only the upper corner approach.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:27 AM 0

17. ad33lmalyk

Posts: 19; Member since: Dec 29, 2017

Looks good, plus Kudos to Samsung for innovating something exciting and staying away from Notch trend.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 11:54 AM 4

18. Vokilam

Posts: 1113; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

I do like this better than anything I’ve seen so far, but not sure how that’s going to work as the screen requires complete string for pixels to work, putting a hole seems to cut that string mid point. Which I’m sure can be figured out by giants like Samsung. Furthermore very excited about this as my next purchase will be a note 10. If this comes to fruitition today - I sure expect this on Samsung flagships coming next year.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 12:02 PM 1

23. gamehead unregistered

Would love to see this in person

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 8:34 PM 0

24. ECPirate37

Posts: 296; Member since: Jul 14, 2011

Just a thought, but would the first phone with a notch technically be the V10? I've thought about this a lot. And when you think about it, the camera to the left were technically a notch with the dual screen to the right. I actually really liked that phone. It's one of my favorites I've had. I wonder why no company has thought about making a notch to the left side or right side again? I'd prefer that to the centered.

posted on Oct 26, 2018, 9:47 PM 0

30. syntaxlord

Posts: 239; Member since: Oct 01, 2018

Wow, I thought I was the only one wondering about that...

posted on Oct 27, 2018, 4:14 PM 0

25. mixedfish

Posts: 1545; Member since: Nov 17, 2013

Never bought a phone with a notch and will never buy a phone with a hole. Never support crap design. I'll leave you guys to enjoy your B tier devices at top dollar prices.

posted on Oct 27, 2018, 4:27 AM 0

26. bassembm

Posts: 143; Member since: Dec 27, 2015

True Innovation is coming

posted on Oct 27, 2018, 7:26 AM 0

28. geordie8t1

Posts: 278; Member since: Nov 16, 2015

I dont see why the dont reshape the top part of the screen to be a bit more curved on the edges, and shove the camera way into the top corners, perhaps one camera on 1 side for facial recognition and the other side can be the selfie camera,

posted on Oct 27, 2018, 8:48 AM 0

29. nodes

Posts: 1152; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

get rid of the chin first, then we can talk about notch or hole. if it still has a chin, it's pointless, just put the camera on the chin no need for notch or hole.