Asus ZenFone 6 Prototype Shows Off-Center Display Notch

An allegedly leaked prototype of the Asus ZenFone 6 has revealed that the device might arrive with a notch that’s off-center and located at the top right-hand side of the display.

The image of the Asus ZenFone 6 prototype was first published on Slashleaks. It shows that the phone could have a “bezel-less” design and a trendy 18:9 display. The handset also appears to feature a notch, but instead of being located at the center on top of the display, it’s found at the right-hand side of the display.

The image of the ZenFone 6 should be taken with a grain of salt, but it does beg the question: Why is Asus doing this? The notch is quite small and it’s actually very reminiscent of the notch that’s found on the Essential Phone, as pointed out by The Verge. The issue really isn’t the size, but where it is positioned.

Many are already saying that they don’t mind having a notch on their smartphone because it can easily be ignored or simply hidden away through software settings. For something like the iPhone X, XS and XR, the notch can be hidden using wallpapers. Contrariwise, the notch on the ZenFone 6 prototype is hard to ignore since it’s off-center. This could be annoying when playing games or watching video in full-screen.

The size of the notch does mean that the ZenFone 6 will have more screen real estate, but there’s still a bottom bezel. The bottom chin may be slim, but it doesn’t really add much functionality. On the Pixel 3 XL, Google made use of the bottom chin by putting a front-facing speaker. It would have been better if Asus did the same thing here.

It appears the Asus ZenFone 6 could arrive with triple cameras on its back, which is a first for Asus. It also has a circular rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, so it’s safe to assume that this handset won’t have an in-display solution, as pointed out by Android Authority. There’s currently no information on what sensors these cameras will have, but it’s a bit odd that one of the lenses has a red metal ring. Perhaps this lens will have some sort of a special function.

No information on internal specs has been revealed as well. But if the ZenFone 6 is a direct follow-up to the ZenFone 5, then users should expect a mid-range processor. Asus might officially unveil the ZenFone 6 during Mobile World Congress 2019 in February.