Engadget Logo Engajet Japanese version of HUAWEI P20 The "hiding notch" function is a sober yet new trend

The latest flagship smartphone "HUAWEI P20" series announced by Huawei on March 27 is a major feature, and the camera that has achieved ultra -extermination from the conventional model has been well received from various fields.However, on the other hand, the evaluation is divided into the notch at the top of the screen.However, the Huawei this time is equipped with a small device function for users who do not like notch.That is the "hide notch" setting.This time, I will introduce this function that is likely to be a new trend.

▲ HUAWEI's smartphone also appears "notch" (notch) in the P20 series.

Smartphone screen trend to "full view"

At MWC 2018 in February, a notch designed design trend for smartphones, as Satoshi Nakayama pointed out the rapid increase in "notchphones".At present, many smartphone makers, including ASUS, have decided to adopt notch.

As expected, the "notchphone" that occurred in large quantities in MWC 2018 is a mere imitation and it is a pity that the design is not felt in the design.

One of the surprisingly good news for those who have a head in such a trend is the "hiding notch" function of the P20 series.Discussions have been spread overseas, and it has recently been talked about by OnePlus CEO to the forums on the latest model notch adoption before the announcement.Why is the notch recruitment continued?To briefly explain the background, it is an attempt to expand the screen size of the smartphone to the limit.Consumers around the world seek a large screen from smartphones, but of course ease of holding.In order to balance this conflicting demand, each manufacturer is promoting a narrow deprecation, and the trend is "full view", which is a display area of most of the main unit.

▲ Both P20 and P20 PRO have a "full view" display, but in front of the smartphone requires a place to place in -camera and sensors.The idea of securing these places with a notch has been a compromise, but the adoption of the iPhone X has gained some kind of endorsement.Nevertheless, for the negative group, I can understand that it feels uncomfortable with a simple, non -square display.It is also true that when photos and videos are displayed on the full screen, there is a real harm that the notch overlaps.In addition, there is an application that adjusts the area around the notch as an hidden area and adjusts "with black belt", but it is finally overturned.

What is the "hidden notch" function of the P20 series?

What I want to pay attention to is the new function that hides notches in the Huawei P20 series.

▲ "Notch" setting of P20 series.The default is notch, and when this is enabled, the background of the status bar lined with icons and clocks at the top of the screen turns black and integrates with the notch.This alone looks as if there was no notch from the beginning.Furthermore, unlike the above -mentioned "black belt" type, the display position as a status bar does not change, so the screen area is also used effectively.

▲ "Hide notch part" is selected

▲ This setting, which gives a sense of unity that seems to have not been found from the beginning, such as notch, seems to affect screenshots.In the case of a P20 Pro, if you enable the settings to hide the notch, the 81 pixels will be black from the top of the status bar, and a one -pixel shadow will be added directly below it.

▲ When the default state (top) and the notch hidden (bottom), the screen resolution of the P20 Pro, which also has a difference in the screenshot, is 2240 x 1080 dots, about 18..It is a half -finished value of 7: 9, but if you subtract 81 dots in the status bar, the ratio is almost 18: 9.Conversely, if you want to use full view without worrying about notch, the app is still limited.For example, even if you extend photos of YouTube videos and standard galleries to the full screen in the sideways (landscape), the parts equivalent to the status bar will always be blacked.It seems that this area needs to wait for apps and OS to support.

Will "true full view" be realized in the future?

By the way, the P20 series is equipped with a navigation key that also serves as a fingerprint sensor on the front bottom.Therefore, there is a firm margin under the display, and I am wondering if this can be said to be "full view".

▲ In that sense, there is a navigation key with a fingerprint sensor on the front of the main unit. In that sense, the technique of embedding fingerprint sensors on the screen adopted by the Porsche design model "Huawei Mate RS" announced at the same time as the P20.

▲ "Porsche Design Huawei Mate RS" announced at the same time.If you apply this technology with a fingerprint sensor near the icon of the "Music" app slightly below the center of the screen, the function of the P20's navigation key may be replaced by a built -in fingerprint authentication on the screen.there is.Until the four corners of the screen, it can be said that the technical possibilities have been shown for the "true full view" that expands the display area without gaps.