What's the one inch hole in the top of my cases for?

[PaulQ]

I put a case on my phone and I notice two cutouts at the top (one other case I got too). One small hole for the microphone (I assume). The other is a 1" long oval shaped hole. I am going to guess... for an antenna? Anyone know?

Thanks!

Edit: I have a Pixel 7 Pro

 

[bkeaver]

The oval hole is the 5G antenna

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[PaulQ]

It turns out, my third case (Caseology) does not have a big cutout. I guess I'll see if it matters. That's it, just three cases.

 

[diesel97]

I have 2 cases and no antenna cutout, wonder how much it makes a difference? Is that antenna on top for MMwave(not sure if I called it right) if it is it doesn't like anything in its way

 

[bkeaver]

The case I am using at the moment has a hole for it. But yeah I'm not sure if it's needed.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[J Dubbs]

The case I am using at the moment has a hole for it. But yeah I'm not sure if it's needed. //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221014/819d6d09d87fc42fee1a9e150acc6d0c.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

I wonder if that is really needed? It looks like a big entry point for grit to get in there and grind the phones finish away under the case

 

[bkeaver]

Yeah I don't believe it is. I can't see any case materials that aren't metal, interfering with cellular signal.

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[Stanley Kubrick]

I believe it's for MMWave. MMwave can EASILY be blocked even by your hand. That is why it truly is a useless 5G "feature". I hope none of my cases have the stupid hole because I am not on Verizon and do not need MMwave.

 

[bkeaver]

So I just 2 more cases delivered and they have the whole in the top as well for the antenna

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[B. Diddy]

I believe it's for MMWave. MMwave can EASILY be blocked even by your hand. That is why it truly is a useless 5G "feature". I hope none of my cases have the stupid hole because I am not on Verizon and do not need MMwave.

i can confirm that it's the mmWave 5G antenna, as shown at 2:20 in this video:

https://youtu.be/GyHKRW55T9M

 

[J Dubbs]

i can confirm that it's the mmWave 5G antenna, as shown at 2:20 in this video:

https://youtu.be/GyHKRW55T9M

I wonder why the 6 Pro cases don't have cutouts like that?

 

[B. Diddy]

I wonder why the 6 Pro cases don't have cutouts like that?

Probably a couple of reasons. Not all 6 Pro variants supported mmWave -- only Verizon and AT&T variants. And for those variants, the entire top edge is made of plastic (not just a smaller oval area), according to a poster on this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/pixel7series/comments/y1jmrt/what_is_this_top_part_in_pixel_7_pro/

I was looking for some discussion on the web to see if cases for the Verizon and AT&T variants had an opening at the top for the mmWave antenna, but couldn't find anything specific.

 

[diesel97]

I wonder why the 6 Pro cases don't have cutouts like that?

Not many P7P cases have it either

 

[bkeaver]

Not many P7P cases have it either

Every P7P case I have had so far has had it.

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[PaulQ]

For some reason, I didn't specify which model I own in the original post. I just added it. Pixel 7 Pro.

 

[diesel97]

Every P7P case I have had so far has had it.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

The 2 I bought from Amazon didn't have the MMwaze cutout, probably 20 other ones I have looked at on Amazon don't have it either. I think I have 3 out of 10 in my cart that have the cutout.

 

[J Dubbs]

I wonder how the case makers know if a phone requires a special cut out or not. Google hasn't mentioned anything about not blocking that area to the general public from what I've heard? I wonder if some case makers just decide to add an extra hole there as a selling point, or if they actually know something we don't?

Reminds me of the cases for the Moto Z family of phones, that came with the mods that magnetically attached to the back. A fair amount of case makers for those phones left the connectors on the back of the phone exposed, even though it was impossible to attach a mod to the phone with a case covering the back.. all it did was expose the connectors instead of protecting them. That was just the case makers decisions.

Things that make you go hmmm.... (I know what you're thinking B lol)

https://youtu.be/XF2ayWcJfxo

 

[B. Diddy]

I also wonder if this might be part of the reason some Pixel 6 Pro users noted worse battery life than others, especially when 5G was turned on. I can imagine a situation where a person with a Verizon or AT&T variant of the Pixel 6 Pro was using a case without any kind of cutout at the top (the mmWave antenna for this phone spans the entire top edge of the phone). If 5G was turned on, and if the case were impeding mmWave reception, then maybe that would increase battery use as the phone worked to boost the signal. Of course, if the same degree of battery drain were still happening without a case, then that theory would go out the window.

 

[Chillywill95]

I wonder if that is really needed? It looks like a big entry point for grit to get in there and grind the phones finish away under the case

Not needed! I have the Google pixel Bellroy leather case. No cutout no problem! My GP7P gets great cellular reception and that was definitely an Achilles heel with my GP6P! Where you can tell that the cellular signal has improved dramatically on the GP7P is under battery usage for mobile networks in settings. On my GP6P the usage was always at 20% or higher. The GP7P is always under 10% and mostly sits at about 7%. I never saw that with my GP6P.

 

[bkeaver]

Not needed! I have the Google pixel Bellroy leather case. No cutout no problem! My GP7P gets great cellular reception and that was definitely an Achilles heel with my GP6P! Where you can tell that the cellular signal has improved dramatically on the GP7P is under battery usage for mobile networks in settings. On my GP6P the usage was always at 20% or higher. The GP7P is always under 10% and mostly sits at about 7%. I never saw that with my GP6P.

Maybe not for low band 5G but I can see where it maybe a help for mmwave 5G. But for the most part you are probably correct that it's not needed. Regardless it doesn't hurt anything if it's there imo.

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