Will 2017 be the year phone manufacturers race to kill the bezel?

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dafman

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#207916 19-Jan-2017 12:52

Xiaomi's Mi Mix, a near bezel-less phone, has been getting a lot of extremely positive press of late. Now Galaxy S8 leaks are showing a near bexel-less phone is on the horizon.

Once Samsung go mainstream with the Galaxy S8, will 2018 be the year all manufacturers race to remove the bezel from the cell phone?

Purported S8 front panels ...

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#1705753 19-Jan-2017 13:14

As someone that grips my phone by putting my thumb to the right of the home button, I hope there's some consideration to stop accidental activation of stuff on the "bottom row".

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1eStar

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#1705933 19-Jan-2017 17:34

Stick with your Apple

MikeB4

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#1705934 19-Jan-2017 17:41

The Galaxy S7 Edge is somewhat bezel less and it can be a pain. It is easy to accidentally launch Apps or move Icons around the screen. I have moves some of the Icons for Apps that I would prefer didn't accidentally launch like Phone, Camera, Maps and such like away from the edge to prevent this. I like the look of no bezel

but it comes with a cost.

networkn

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#1705936 19-Jan-2017 17:43

Please God no. I don't want my phone thinner, lighter and with smaller bezels. I want it faster, longer battery life and somewhat less spontaneously combustible.

Behodar

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#1705937 19-Jan-2017 17:45

1eStar: Stick with your Apple

But the first post wonders whether all phones will head the same way. That presumably includes Apple.

dafman

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#1705959 19-Jan-2017 18:51

Once one mainstream manufacturer goes there, others will have no option but to follow.

My Galaxy S7 will be my last Samsung, the latest bribery scandal has put me off supporting them with another purchase (plus they never update android on a timely basis).

I would have purchased a Pixel in Melbourne earlier this year, but the bezels put me off, so a bezel-less Pixel 2 may be just the ticket. Come to think of it, a Sony XZ with slimmed down bezels could be a strong contender as well.

Bring it on!

mattwnz

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#1705984 19-Jan-2017 19:28

What is the purpose of not having a bezel? Surely it makes the phone more prone to damage when it is dropped. Most people have cases, and this will create a bezel around it anyway. These big screen phones are a pain to carry around, and I don't think productivity on a big screen phone is any better than on a small phone, eg a iphone SE vs an iphone 7 both run iOS 10. If people are wanting to watch a movie, any sized phone screen isn't the best experience.

mattwnz

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#1706010 19-Jan-2017 19:31

Behodar:
1eStar: Stick with your Apple

But the first post wonders whether all phones will head the same way. That presumably includes Apple.

It is only really possible with OLED. Although this is just speculation, apparently the 7s and 8 both which apple are likely to release this year, apparently only the iphone 8 will have the OLED screen, and will be like a glass slab front and back, with an edge to edge screen, also removing the home button/touch ID, which will be in the screen.

dafman

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#1706066 19-Jan-2017 20:11

mattwnz:

What is the purpose of not having a bezel? Surely it makes the phone more prone to damage when it is dropped. Most people have cases, and this will create a bezel around it anyway. These big screen phones are a pain to carry around, and I don't think productivity on a big screen phone is any better than on a small phone, eg a iphone SE vs an iphone 7 both run iOS 10. If people are wanting to watch a movie, any sized phone screen isn't the best experience.

What's the purpose? Well, if the rumours are correct, Samsung will be able to pack a 5.7" screen into hardware not much bigger than the current 5.1" S7. So, punters get a bigger screen, but the phone still fits nicely into their pocket. A win me reckons.

dafman

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#1709172 25-Jan-2017 09:16

Yep, it looks like 2017 will be the year the bezel dies. Here's a (assumed correct) leak of the soon to be announced LG G6 ...

dafman

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#1709174 25-Jan-2017 09:18

Only just noticed the typo in my thread title - I meant to type "will 2017 be the year ..."

timmmay

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#1709175 25-Jan-2017 09:23

Got to have something there to protect the expensive, somewhat fragile screen. My P9 has a tiny bezel I don't even notice on the sides.

timmmay

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#1709176 25-Jan-2017 09:23

dafman:

Only just noticed the typo in my thread title - I meant to type "will 2017 be the year ..."

You can edit your post.

dafman

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#1709179 25-Jan-2017 09:30

timmmay:

dafman:

Only just noticed the typo in my thread title - I meant to type "will 2017 be the year ..."

You can edit your post.

Thanks - didn't realise (until now) I could edit the thread title (-;

Batman

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#1709184 25-Jan-2017 09:36

dafman:

Yep, it looks like 2017 will be the year the bezel dies. Here's a (assumed correct) leak of the soon to be announced LG G6 ...

that pic doesn't show death of any bezel, just making it slimmer and with more attractive proportion, which is what should be done. i used to own cars with no window metal border thingy ... horrible reliability

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