https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/10/10/17957024/google-pixel-3-xl-notch-fail-design-camera-speakers

Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL arrived yesterday without too much fanfare. After all, the devices leaked pretty much in entirety over the course of the last two months, leaving little to the imagination when Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh came on stage. But one aspect of the Pixel 3 XL, in particular, that became more pronounced and perplexing now that we’ve seen it in full — and heard Google’s reasoning about its existence — is the rather obtrusive display notch.

With the Pixel 3 XL, Google’s justification for the notch is that it’s been able to reduce the bezels of the device and provide a larger display, while the notch is there to accommodate better speakers and an improved dual selfie camera system. Google even claims it has a better notch-to-display ratio than some of its rivals, and the whole argument is that you’re getting more screen, not less. But I find it unconvincing, and here’s why.