Oh no! Samsung gives in to the Notch trend with new design patent

The iPhone X’s notch is both iconic and great divider amongst smartphone fans, and to the disappointment of many who prefer a contiguous screen, many Android OEMs have copied the design in the interest of upping the front screen to body ratio.

Samsung has been the one hold-out, even going so far as to mock Apple’s notch in their ads. It seems however that is about to change if a new design patent submitted by the company is anything to go by.

Noticed by Mobielkopen.net, the Chinese patent office SIPO published a patent from Samsung Electronics on 30 March 2018, requesting protection for the above smartphone design.

The notch is somewhat smaller than the iPhone X’s, but still has room for the earphone, front-facing camera and some sensors. This would allow Samsung to achieve a higher screen to body ratio than Apple.

Other elements notable about the design is the absence of a fingerprint sensor at the back, suggesting an in-display version, and that it still features a headphone jack, suggesting Samsung has not gone full-in on copying Apple.

It is not clear which future device we are looking at, though the dual cameras and full-body display suggest it is likely a high-end one such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. That device, code-named Crown,  is rumoured to have a 6.4-inch screen, amongst other specs.

Of course, Samsung may not use this design at all, but until someone creates in-display front-facing cameras it seems notch-haters will need to make peace with this Apple-inspired design trend.