essential weird design choice?

[Guy Katz]

so they made a phone and stretched the screen to the top.
however, there is disturbing bezel on the bottom and it does not seem that small.
the asymmetry is a bit disturbing to the eye and frankly I cant think of a reason for this. there is nothing on the bottom to prevent the screen from stretching all the way down.
any thoughts?

 

[anon(1733)]

The bottom bezel doesn't seem big at all. It's a lot smaller than the vast majority of phones. With the exception of the s8.

 

[modifier]

Personal taste, really. It doesn't look odd to me but plenty have complained about the camera notch. Bottom bezel complaints seem nonexistent.

Between these two, I'd take the one on the left.

PH-1 vs. S8:


Source: Essential Phone / Business Insider

 

[anon(1733)]

Thats what I was saying. It seems like a non issue. If you don't like the camera notch I could understand. But there really is no bottom bezel issue.

 

[modifier]

Yup, not a problem in my view. I don't like the look of the S8 but plenty do. That's the beauty of options.

 

[m3lover1]

I kind of wish they rounded the corners on the bottom. Other than that I think the phone is gorgeous

 

[anon(1733)]

Personally I like the squared look

 

[modifier]

Squared matches the top when the top gets a black bar. It's more apparent with YouTube videos since there's no bottom nav buttons.

Not the best example but here's one from the same link above:

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

The bezel on the bottom is fine. I actually love the camera notch. I think it is much better looking than the iPhone 8's design.

 

[msp1518]

A small bezel is needed to hold the darned thing.

 

[Joe the Insider]

Am I the only one who thinks it's the best looking phone on the market? LOVE the bezeless design, Love the materials they used and the camera notch is unique and different.

 

[anon(1733)]

I'm with you. That's why I bought it. Love the design. To me I love the squared off look. Love the materials used. Love the screen. Can't wait to get it.

 

[Guy Katz]

The bezel on the bottom is fine. I actually love the camera notch. I think it is much better looking than the iPhone 8's design.

well the iphone 8 seem to have managed to stretch the screen both ways...
god knows why essential left the bottom bezel

 

[modifier]

well the iphone 8 seem to have managed to stretch the screen both ways...
god knows why essential left the bottom bezel

Apparently they did it just to make you mad.

The iPhone might be the first to get rid of most bezels but they still have something huge at the top. Until we see the final product and see it in action, the top corner cutouts in the iPhone don't look very useful. Their bezels also look thicker than Essential. It's not like they've created the perfect solution.

 

[Ry]

so they made a phone and stretched the screen to the top.
however, there is disturbing bezel on the bottom and it does not seem that small.
the asymmetry is a bit disturbing to the eye and frankly I cant think of a reason for this. there is nothing on the bottom to prevent the screen from stretching all the way down.
any thoughts?

Stuff needs to go there.

Should the top bezel be the same size to match?

 

[msp1518]

well the iphone 8 seem to have managed to stretch the screen both ways...
god knows why essential left the bottom bezel

It is due to the LCD screen. They need that bottom portion for some hardware. OLED is different.

Unfortunately the new iPhone will not only be ridiculously expensive, but it will be ridiculously fragile due to the curved glass edges. I despise these designs and that is why I have been looking forward to the essential.

 

[TheMarcus]

Bottom bezel is perfect. Top bezel is odd and I remain unconvinced of its utility. What's the point of stretching the screen to the top like that, then wrapping it around the camera, when it's not even usable space? It makes no sense. They did it just because, and I think the only people who actually like it are those obsessed with the idea of a truly bezel free phone. There's no added benefit to the user, but some people might say wow.

I think the phone would look better if the screen went up to and stopped where the camera started.

Really, what actual benefit is there to have the screen like that? What does it do for us?

 

[modifier]

I think the phone would look better if the screen went up to and stopped where the camera started.

There are literally hundreds of phones designed like you're describing. What's wrong with this one being different? You have an infinite number of other choices out there if you don't like how this one looks.

Really, what actual benefit is there to have the screen like that? What does it do for us?

At a bare minimum, notification icons live up there. Google Maps stretches all the way. Future apps will do the same, albeit with different levels of utility. But, the icons will tuck up there in nearly all cases, which many will find useful.

 

[TheMarcus]

There are literally hundreds of phones designed like you're describing. What's wrong with this one being different? You have an infinite number of other choices out there if you don't like how this one looks.

There are literally hundreds of phones designed how I described because that design makes sense. The same can't be said for the Essential phone.

At a bare minimum, notification icons live up there. Google Maps stretches all the way. Future apps will do the same, albeit with different levels of utility. But, the icons will tuck up there in nearly all cases, which many will find useful.

The icons don't tuck anymore more neatly than they would in a standard sized status bar. Now they're just surrounded by extra space. For no real reason. Google Maps stretching to the top doesn't offer any real benefit to the user. It makes you say, "wow," and, "cool," but your eyes ultimately focus on the center of the screen.

I fail to see any reason for the screen to stretch through the camera other than to get a reaction from Doge. "Wow. Much cool. Many screen."

There just isn't any real benefit. Full screen videos are all cut off and apps just have a double sized status bar. What's the point? You don't get more screen, you get more status bar and you don't even get to use all of the status bar.

 

[modifier]

There just isn't any real benefit.

Then don't buy it. No one is twisting your arm.

Just because you don't like the design doesn't make it bad for everyone. It only makes it bad for you.