What Are The Best Bezel-Less & Notch Phones of 2019

Find Your Perfect All-display Smartphone Right Now.

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Bezel-less Edgless Notch Smartphone

It’s 2019 and Edgeless Borderless Bezel-less Notch Smartphones are here to stay!

Update: We’ve updated this article to include all the latest phones that have flooded the market with thin bezels and top notches. New smartphones added every week.

Android Makers are going Notch Crazy! Love the Notch? Hate the Notch? Let us know and comment below!

We’ve all looked on in awe Apple’s iPhone X wishing for a more affordable Android option. Well you’re in luck, as this year we are seeing an influx of mobile manufacturers step-up and produce their own notch phones.

Xiaomi Mi 14 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 14 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 14 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 14 Pro

In this roundup, we’ll take a look at some of the top all-display phones of 2019 that are either available now, set to be released soon or are still hot on the rumour mill.

Use the links below, to quickly navigate between the different price-ranges.

Let’s get to it. Here’s 2019’s Top Bezel-less, Borderless & Top Notch Smartphones.

The Flagships (Ultimate Performance)

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S – The Original

While every other smartphone seems to be adding a notch, Xiaomi has stayed true to its tri-bezel-less design originally features back in 2015 with the Mi Mix.

The Mi Mix 2S, while not a full display yet, still manages to hang out with the likes of Apple’s iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy S9 in terms of features, camera performance & good looks.

It’s a truly beautiful smartphone that’s now been upgraded to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU giving you the fastest possible version of Android. Other upgrades include dual-cameras on the rear which has an AI module and also wireless Qi charging.

The only drawback is that Xiaomi is still using their impressive, yet only full HD+ display making top-end mobile VR a no-no.

If you’re looking for a phone that ticks all the boxes, then the Mi Mix 2S has it all. Just make sure to get your hands on the International version.

Tech Specs: 5.99″ 2160 x 1080 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, Sony IMX363, Snapdragon 845, 6 or 8GB RAM, Max 256GB Storage, Fast + Wireless Charge 3400mAh battery, Android 8 + MIUI 9.5 with Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands.

OnePlus 6T Notch Phone

OnePlus 6 – Premium Meets Performance

The OnePlus 6 is turning out to be one of the hottest smartphones of 2018. Slowly migrating to a notched display via the OnePlus 5 and then 5T, it’s now inline with 2018’s best OLED offerings.

While some may complain that the once wallet-friendly brand is now producing flagship priced smartphones, this my friend, is the price of innovation.

So where is all the extra cost going?

The OnePlus 6 is advertised as dust, splash and water resistant. No official IPX rating but it’s a step in the right direction. What we don’t see is an ultra-HD display which will disappoint fans of mobile VR but on the plus side, please the battery-life lovers.

While the OnePlus 5 & 5T were both excellent value for money, they were lacking in the camera department when compared against the iPhone, Galaxy & Mi Mix.

It’s good news, as there’s been some progress with the OnePlus 6. Shots look sharper and low light photos much clearer. In my opinion though, it’s still not on the same level as the Galaxy series.

What you do get with the OnePlus 6 is frequent software updates. Regular security fixes and software improvements come on a monthly basis which is a kick in the teeth to most other big brands.

Tech Specs: 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED, 2280 x 1080 Resolution, 19:9 Aspect Ratio, Gorilla Glass 5, Snapdragon 845, 6 or 8GB RAM, 128 or 256GB Storage, Super Dash Charge 3300mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Phone

Xiaomi Mi8 – Best Value Flagship

Xiaomi have become known as the Chinese-brand that offer excellent craftsmanship and performance at mid-range prices.

The Mi 8 is soon to be released, and although traditionally second in line to the Mi Mix, the Mi 8 beats is a clear front-runner. It comes with the same Snapdragon 845 flagship processor, same high-end specs but has a trick up its sleeve.

The Mi 8 features a HDR ready AMOLED display (made by Samsung) for ultimate contrast and black levels. It’s also the first phone to support dual-frequency GPS for faster and more accurate navigation.

This was the best value flagship to beat in the 2nd half of 2018!

Xiaomi are also releasing an SE version (lower priced) of Mi 8 that’ll feature the same AMOLED display but drop down to the Snapdragon 710 and reduce the battery size slightly.

Tech Specs: 6.21″ Super AMOLED, 2248 x 1080, Gorilla Glass 5, Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Quick Charge (4.0) 3400mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support.
Connectivity: NFC, Bluetooth 5, Dual-band AC WiFi, Dual-frequency GPS, 2x Nano SIM

Huawei Honor 10

Huawei Honor 10 – Photo Expert

What I love about the Honor 10 is that it still managed to squeeze in a front-facing fingerprint reader into the bottom bezel. Rear fingerprint readers suck, and everybody knows it, but we’ll have to wait until 2019 for in-display fingerprint readers to become mainstream.

Secondly, the Aurora Glass design looks beautiful and is a welcome change from the past 5 years of space grey and gloss white.

So who’s the perfect owner of a Honor 10?

Anyone who’s a keen photographer and wants flagship level performance. The Honor 10 comes with a 24MP (f/1.8) + 16MP dual camera rear setup that’s backed up by a dedicated AI chip. This will automatically adjust the camera settings on the fly to give you the perfect shot.

If you’re more into your selfies, then you’ll be happy to know that it has a whopping 24MP front-facing lens with 3D lighting and AI portrait mode. This high-resolution lens means that we also get face-unlock to go alongside the dedicated front-facing ultra-sonic fingerprint reader.

Performance-wise, you’re getting the same high-end Kirin 970 that we find in both the Mate 10 Pro and P20 Pro, just at a much lower price.

Finally, the icing on the cake is that the Honor 10 weighs in at only 156 grams which when combined with the smaller 5.84″ display makes it super pocket-friendly.

Tech Specs: 5.84″ 2280 x 1080, 19:9 Aspect Ratio, Gorilla Glass, Kirin 970, 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB Storage, SuperCharge 3400mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support.

Huawei P20 Pro Smartphone

Huawei P20 Pro – Photo Legend

The latest of Huawei’s smartphone range to hit the western shores is their P20 Pro with its insane Leica-made triple rear cameras (40MP + 20MP + 5x Zoom lens).

As well as that epic camera setup, it also has an epic screen-to-body ratio and a minimal notch all while still managing to fit in a front-facing fingerprint reader.

It’s certainly a flagship device… so unfortunately comes with a mouthwatering price-tag. If you’re not a photography nerd who can get the most out of the triple Leica lens setup then you can easily save a few hundred by going with Honor 10.

Still, it’s great to see Huawei bringing out such an innovating smartphone and hopefully shaking the ground under Apple’s, Google & Samsung camera dominance in recent years.

Tech Specs: 6.1″ 2240 x 1080 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, Leica Triple (40MP + 20MP + 5x Zoom), Kirin 970, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge 4000mAh battery, Android 8.1 with EMUI 8, + Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands. Single SIM + Dual SIM options available.

OPPO Find X Phone

OPPO Find X – The Future

OPPO haven’t entered into the European markets fully yet, so are less familiar than brands like Huawei and OnePlus.

As one of the most innovative smartphone brands out there, we’ve been missing out! The OPPO Find X comes with full UK cellular support and one hell of a full screen sexy display!

We find all the flagship staples like a 6.4″ AMOLED Display, Snapdragon 845, dual-lens camera and Bluetooth 5.

But then the Find X ups its game by having 8GB of RAM, 264GB storage and a hidden sliding camera mechanism that features a 25MP selfie cam with infrared 3D lens…

Now if that’s not enough to get you excited? I don’t know what is!

One drawback is that it’s missing NFC, which for a flagship device is an unusual find. Even so, it’s one smartphone that isn’t afraid to push boundaries!

Tech Specs: 6.4″ 2340 x 1080, Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage, 3730mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support.

VIVO Nex Smartphone

VIVO Nex – All Display Baby!

As one of the main sponsors for the 2018 World Cup, VIVO are on the top of their game. All of their 2018 lineup featuring beautiful notched displays but the Nex takes it one step further.

The Nex is their flagship and ditches the notch for a hidden selfie camera than slides up and out of the top of the phone. This allows them to use a beautiful 6.59″ Super AMOLED display that covers most of the phone. But, we still see a small chin bezel at the bottom.

If having the selfie camera rise out of the top of this phone isn’t enough to get you excited, the VIVO Nex is one of the first phones to have an in-display fingerprint reader!

In the camera department, we see a dual aperture dual lens setup similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9. The 12MP (f/1.8) is coupled with a 4-axis OIS 5MP lens (f/2.4).

Finally, at nearly 200 grams and 6.4″ display this phone is a beast, but, you do get a healthy 4000mAh battery to match.

Tech Specs: 6.59″ 2316 x 1080, Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge 4000mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands.

VIVO X21 Phone

VIVO X21

The VIVO X21 just sneaks into the mid-range with its Super AMOLED 6.28″ display. It uses the Snapdragon 660 chip combined with 6GB of RAM and comes with either 64 or 128GB storage options.

You still get the in-display fingerprint reader, A Class connectivity (NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, AC WiFi) but no hidden selfie camera like we see in the Nex.

One thing to watch out for it the lack of cell support for Band 20 (800Mhz).

Tech Specs: 6.28″ 2280 x 1080, Snapdragon 660, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge 3200mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Partial UK Support for 3 & 7 bands.

 

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Lenovo Z5 Aurora Smartphone

Lenovo Z5

The Lenovo Z5 got off to a shaky start as the original press releases teased us with a full bezel-less display. Well, it doesn’t take a genius to spot that top-notch, but who cares as the Z5 has loads to offer.

At 7.9mm thick and weighing in at only 165 grams all while having front and back glass is more than impressive. The sleek smartphone certainly looks like it should cost twice the price. So what’s the catch?

Its opted for the mid-range Snapdragon 636 chip and skips out on any waterproofing or wireless charging to keep the price down.

On the bright side, we get other high-end features such as dual-band AC WiFi, Corning Gorilla Glass and a Full HD+ display that manages an incredible 90% Screen-to-body-ratio.

The Lenovo Z5 is creating a big stir in the mid-range market!

Tech Specs: 6.2″ 2246×1080 (18.8:9 Aspect Ratio), Snapdragon 636, 6GB RAM, 64/128/256GB Storage, 3300mAh battery, Android 8.

UMiDigi Z2

UMiDigi Z2

UMiDigi are back, and this times it’s with the notch-wielding Z2! Experts at creating slim, lightweight smartphones with big batteries, UMiDigi don’t disappoint with the Z2 (8.3mm thick, 165g, 3850mAh battery).

With 64GB of storage, 6GB of RAM and an 18watt fast charger, the Z2 is a mid-range smartphone beast. While the performance of the Helio P23 chip isn’t high-end, the 90% screen-to-body ratio is!

That’s not to say the Helio P23 is an under-achiever, it’s just the 8-Core CPU focusses more on improving battery life than lightning-fast speeds.

Another plus is the quad camera setup. You can now upgrade your selfies with the ‘bokeh’ effect as well.

A good move by UMiDigi is that they’ve ditched efforts to add their own custom Android software. The Z2 comes arrives with stock Android 8.1 for the best bloatware-free mobile experience.

Tech Specs: 6.2″ 2280 x 1080 , 19:9 Aspect Ratio, Gorilla Glass 5, MediaTek Helio P23, 6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Fast Charge 3850mAh battery, Android 8.1 with Full UK Support.

Elephone U Pro Bezel-less phone

Elephone U Pro

The Elephone U Pro is the perfect example of when the smaller Chinese brands show us what they’re made of!

While it’s display features top and bottom bezels, it’s one of the first smartphone other than Samsung to have a wrap around curved infinity display. And an impressive one at that!

Featuring a Full HD+ AMOLED Panel that curves around to the edge just like Samsung’s Galaxy series is a fantastic achievement. It’s also bucked the Chinese smartphone trend of choosing MediaTek, instead opting for the capable Snapdragon 660 combined with a healthy 6GB of RAM and 132GB of storage.

Other high-end features include Qualcomm quick-charge 3.0, Wireless charging, the latest Android 8 operating OS and Gorilla Glass 5.

Available online for just over the £340 / $420 mark, it’s clearly aiming to be a step above the average mid-range smartphone. At this price though, we’re not far behind the likes of OnePlus and last years Samsung Galaxy S8.

Would you pay a premium price for a relatively unknown mobile? Let us know in the comments.

Tech Specs: 5.99″ AMOLED 2160 x 1080 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5, Snapdragon 660, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge QC3.0 3550mAh battery + Wireless Support, Android 8 Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Smartphone

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (International Version)

Xiaomi’s budget Redmi range now has its own high screen-to-body-ration smartphone to show off. It features a modern full HD+ 5.99 inch display panel that’s rocking an 18:9 aspect ratio and the on-trend curved corners.

It’s priced firmly in the mid-range making it an exciting alternative to the impressive but dated looking Xiaomi Mi A1. This is definitely going to be a popular smartphone in 2018.

Out of the box, the Redmi 5 Plus is pre-installed with the latest MIUI9 customisable Android skin giving it a performance boost over older Xiaomi phones that haven’t yet had the update.

If the Redmi Plus is out of your budget, there is also a Redmi 5 (non-Plus) version that has lower resolution 5.7 inch display and more budget orientated specs. The Redmi 5 Plus is available now in Black, Gold, Rose Gold (Pink) & Light Blue.

Tech Specs: 5.99″ 2160 x 1080, 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, 12MP Camera, Snapdragon 625, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Fast charge 4000mAh battery, Android 7 + MIUI9.

Maze Alpha X

MAZE Alpha X

After aMAZE’ing us all with the Alpha, the Maze team are back with the Alpha X. Featuring a 6 inch LG display panel this time with an 18:9 aspect ratio making it a mighty impressive phone that fits in your hand easily.

Rather than go down the minimalist route of the original, the Alpha X comes in a super reflective glass sandwich design that oozes premium…

The newer display manages to give the Alpha X an incredible 89.6% screen-to-body-ratio while still keeping that front facing fingerprint reader. You will have to flip the Alpha X upside down for selfies, but you’re still treated to a headphone jack which is a bonus.

In terms of performance, the 6GB of RAM and power efficient mid-range MediaTek CPU will keep things running smoothly.

While it doesn’t have flagship level performance, it is priced firmly in the mid-level bracket. There’s also a 128GB storage option, but you can save money on the 64GB as there’s a micro-SD slot available.

Tech Specs: 6 inch 1080×2160 Display, Gorilla Glass 5, 403 PPI, Dual rear Sony camera, Helio P25 CPU, 6GB RAM, 64/128GB Storage, Quick-charge 2900mAh, 209 grams, 5GHz + AC WiFi, Android 7 Nougat with Full UK network support.

More awesome Bezel-less phones below! Find yourself a great deal on last years smartphones.

The phones below didn’t make it into our new best bezel-less smartphones this time, but, there’s still great options to choose from. Another bonus is that if you pick up one of the phones below, you’re likely to grab yourself a borderless bargain.

Why? because they’ve all been available for some time now, so prices will have dropped considerably.

Note: As the smartphones below were released much earlier, take the enthusiasm with a pinch of 12-months-gone-by salt.

 

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Smartphone

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

The Award Winning Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has arrived and while it’s not completely bezel-free like early rumours suggested, it’s still another impressive flagship level tri-bezel-less Android Smartphone.

It follows on with the 2017 curved corner trend and while the Mi Mix 2 display might not curve around like the Samsung’s Infinity display, it still offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio thanks to the 18:9 form factor. The PPI has bumped up to 403 with an impressive resolution 2160×1080 on the 5.99 inch display. There is still a slight bezel at the top of the device but Xiaomi has positioned the speaker facing upwards to minimise this. Overall, it’s a stunning device!

In terms of hardware, it’s packing the latest Snapdragon 835 CPU (Same as the OnePlus 5 & Galaxy S8) and comes as standard with 6GB of RAM (8GB version available) and 64-264GB of storage depending on the model. The Mi Mix 2 uses dual-nano SIM slots but doesn’t offer micro-SD card expansion so pick your version wisely.

Tech Specs: 5.99″ 2160 x 1080, 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, Sony IMX386, Snapdragon 835, 6-8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge 3400mAh battery, Android 7 + MIUI9 with Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands.

UMiDigi Crystal

UMiDigi Crystal

With an impressive 88% Screen-to-body ratio, the UMiDigi Crystal certainly has the wow factor! Available in two versions (2GB RAM + 16GB Storage | or | 4GB RAM + 64GB Storage), the Crystal offers a 5.5″ full-HD crisp Sharp display protected by Gorilla Glass 4 and a pure Android 7 experience.

Things start to get really impressive when you find out the price at which you can bag yourself the 4GB version for! Too good to be true right? To keep the price down, UMiDigi have opted for a lower-end CPUs, but the 4GB model still comes with the capable Mali-T860 graphics unit.

Overall, the Crystal offers fantastic value for money! The focus is on design, an excellent screen and mid-level performance for the 4GB version and budget performance for the 2GB model. It comes with USB-Type-C, SD Card Support / Dual-SIM Support and Dual Samsung Rear Cameras.

It’s worth mentioning that Dual-Cameras at this price-point tend to be disappointing and inferior to a single camera lens. So if you’re a serious shutterbug, ye here be warned! :D

Tech Specs: 5.5″ 1920 x 1080, 401 PPI, Sony IMX386, MTK6750T 8-Core CPU + Mali-T860 GPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, 3000mAh battery, Android 7 with Full UK Support.

Elephone S8 Smartphone

Elephone S8

The Elephone S8 is our third phone to feature almost bezel-less edges on three of the four sides. With Elephone being no stranger to bezel-less tech, having already released the S3 & S7, it’s great to see them innovating further with S8. Although the S3 & S7 didn’t make it into our Top Bezel-less Smartphones List this time around, you can still find them in our old list by scrolling down.

The Elephone S8 has a respectable 4GB’s of RAM and 128GB’s of storage as standard and is available now. Its crowning glory is the huge 6 inch 2K display that comes with an impressive Super-HD resolution of 2560×1440.

What’s really exciting is that when smaller manufacturers like Elephone are already reaching 3-border bezel-less 2K displays it forces the bigger manufacturers to play their trump cards early. No more slow feature rolling out for Samsung & Apple.

Simply put, the Elephone S8 has it all, a super-high screen-to-body ratio, Super HD Display, Flagship Performance and a Big Battery all for an affordable mid-level price tag.

Tech Specs: 6″ 2560×1440, MediaTek Helio X25 CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Quick-charge 4000mAh, 21MP Camera, Android 7.1 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Maze Alpha Smartphone

MAZE Alpha

Maze has followed the tri-bezel-less formula by focussing on a super high screen-to-phone ratio (86%) rather than super thin side bezels. It’s a beast at 6 inches and has a full 1920×1080 resolution that uses Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

It’s no straggler when it comes to performance either with the MediaTek Helio P25 combined with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Powering the dual camera setup (13MP + 5MP, f/2.2) is a Samsung lens that will please the shutterbugs amongst us.

If you’ve never heard of Maze before that’s because they are new to smartphone arena with the Maze Alpha being their 2nd smartphone release after the Maze Blade. Before this, Maze partnered with other manufacturers using their expertise in R&D department and production line management.

Tech Specs: 6 inch 1920×1080 Display, Dual rear camera, Helio P25 CPU, 4/6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Quick-charge 4000mAh, 225 grams, AC WiFi, Android 7.0 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Doogee Mix borderless phone

Doogee Mix 2

Fixing the biggest mistake from the Doogee Mix 1, the Mix 2 comes with a full-HD display using the popular 18:9 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, it drops the Super AMOLED Samsung display that we saw in the Doogee Mix 1, but we’re getting 6 inches of screen at Full HD.

It also moves away from the tri-bezelless design but still manages a respectable 78% screen-to-body ratio which is 1% more than the original Doogee Mix 1. In terms of hardware, it’s almost identical using the power efficient Helio P25 CPU coupled with 6GB of RAM but has a much bigger battery at 4060mAh to power the higher resolution display.

Design-wise, the Doogee Mix 2 uses a glass sandwich approach with a metal band connecting the two sides. Since there’s now some room at the top for the camera, Doogee has stuck two in there for those dual-lens bokeh effect selfies. It’s a big improvement over the bottom-placed camera on the Doogee Mix 1… but… the Mix 2 doesn’t quite have the wow factor of its little brother!

We’ll have a full review of the Doogee Mix 2 available soon.

Tech Specs: 6 inch 18:9 IPS 1080 x 2160, 403 PPI, Dual Rear + Dual Selfie cameras, Helio P25 CPU, 6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Quick-charge 4060mAh, 209 grams, Android 7.1 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Bluboo S1 tri-bezel smartphone

Bluboo S1

Joining the tri-bezel smartphone trend is the very affordable Bluboo S1. While the bezels aren’t edge-to-edge you’re still getting an impressive smartphone that’s packing a 5.5″ Sharp full-HD 1920×1080 resolution display.

With a 90% screen-to-body ratio, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage the Bluboo S1 isn’t holding anything back, offering great mid-level specs. Powering the phone is the mid-level MediaTek P25 CPU which won’t be a winning any benchmark awards but will still run the 1080P display and Android 7 OS smoothly.

The Bluboo S1 is another great example of mid-range smartphones offering flagship level innovation, albeit thanks to Sharp pushing out their fantastic tri-bezel-less display. The Bluboo S1 should be on your smartphone watch list.

Tech Specs: 5.5″ Sharp 1080×1920, 90% Screen-to-body-ratio, Gorilla Glass 4, MediaTek Helio P25 CPU, 4/6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Android 7, 3500mAh Fast Charge battery, Android 7 with Full UK network support.

Xiaomi Mi Mix bezel-less smartphone

Xiaomi Mi Mix

If the Xiaomi Mi Mix with its almost non-existent bezels doesn’t get you excited then I don’t know what will. It’s a punch in the face to those who said mobile innovation is dead and will hopefully drive forward bezel-less innovation in 2017.

At 6.4″ the Mi Mix OLED Screen sounds enormous, but thanks to not having top or side bezels it isn’t much bigger than a Samsung S7 Edge. When we look at phone to screen ratio, the Mi Mix has a whopping 90% usable surface area which is unheard of before. Where you’ll notice a big difference between the S7 edge and Mi Mix is in its weight with the Mi Mix weighing a hefty 210 grams.

Xiaomi has chosen a 1080×2040 OLED screen with rounded corners for both the standard & pro model which looks crisp and has a decent PPI of 361. It would have been nice to see a QHD screen option for the Pro version as this would improve its VR capabilities. Inside, you’ll find a top of the line Snapdragon 821 CPU & either 4GB or 6GB of RAM.

The Mi Mix, in my opinion, is one of the best-looking phones of 2016 and has some good, not perfect, specs to match. If bezel-less isn’t your thing then the OnePlus 3T has very similar specifications at a lower price point.

Tech Specs: 6.4″ OLED 1080×2040, 361 PPI, Snapdragon 821 CPU, 4GB/6GB RAM, 128GB/264GB Storage, 4400mAh, USB Type-C, 208 grams, Android 6 (MIUI V8).

The Technology Behind Bezel-free & Notch Phones

Originally written: 2016

You might be wondering why it’s taken manufacturers so long to catch up with Samsung and produce budget variants of the bezel-less screen? Let’s break it down into two reasons.

Reason number 1 is the cost & research needed to produce bezel-less technology.

A company such as Samsung has the money, resources & research to be able to create new types of technology such as an entirely border-less wrap-around screen. Smaller mobile manufacturers tend to outsource their parts which means they have to wait for 3rd party suppliers to innovate before catching up with the market leaders.

Reason number 2 is that manufacturers have had to create their own bezel-less software.

If you remove a smartphone screen bezel entirely, you then create another set of problems to overcome. When holding a phone, your hands will be gripping the edges of the screen slightly. On a phone with bezels, this is not a problem as you have an area on no-touch at the sides of the mobile screen. On a bezel-less phone, the screen will be registering these extra touches. To combat this, mobile manufacturers need to develop software that will recognise the difference between your hand gripping the phone and your hand trying to use the phone.

Thanks for reading & hit me up with any questions you have in the comments below : )

REVIEW OVERVIEW
Bezel-less
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Edgeless
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Borderless
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screen-to-body-ratio
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infinity display
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James Gil
Technology Writer / Full Time Geek. When I'm not hacking my home entertainment system or importing Chinese gadgets you can find me drinking unhealthy levels of Coffee in Manchester, UK. Feel free to get in touch.
best-bezel-less-borderless-phonesHope you enjoyed seeing some of the best, but no so well-known bezel-less smartphones options available in 2018!

18 COMMENTS

  1. Hi James. Great site! I’ve looked at your reviews and really like the look of the Cubot X17 and the Ulephone Power, but am keeping an open mind (any thoughts between these two?). I’m looking to upgrade my Moto 4G and want to spend around £150. Are there any other phones I should have in mind or any that you expect to be released in the next two months that I should wait for? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts/suggestions. Thanks. Phil

  2. Hi Philip,

    Great to hear from you.

    The X17 is a great phone for the price. The X17S is an option if you don’t like protruding cameras.

    At the moment I’ve got the UMi Super in for testing and it’s got some great specs as well brilliant battery life. I’ll have the review live in the next week. It blows the UMi Touch out of the water. The only downside so far is its on the heavy side.

    Although I’ve not reviewed either phone yet I’m really excited about the new Elephone S3 & the Ulefone Future, check them out. They are releasing in the next week or two as well.

    Ulefone Future – Early thoughts: https://review-hub.co.uk/ulefone-future-review-phone/

  3. Fantastic article. I’ll be watching these models for a month-or-so before making a decision; for me the Elephone S7 appeals the most visually. Which would you recommend?

  4. The Elephone S7 is a great looking phone but in terms of design, the Nubia My Prague wins it for me!

    It’s great that their is now Bezel-less options for every budget. What’s your budget? Where are you based?

    James @ Review Hub

  5. I love the new Mi Mix and I’ve even updated the article to include it!

    It’s in a price bracket of its own though. Some of the other Bezel-less options are still great budget contenders!

  6. Hey Julio,

    Thanks for commenting. Yeah you’ve picked a good bunch… Tri-bezel-less seems like the way it’s heading… even the super budget is coming on board with the likes of the UHANS MX. https://review-hub.co.uk/uhans-mx-review/

    Before you decide which one to go with, you need to check that they support the bandwidth that you need in Mexico.
    Check out this site first – https://willmyphonework.net/

    it’s awesome and super easy!

    Once you know which bands you need, head over the manufacturers website or an Amazon listing and look to see that it supports the bands you need.

    Hope that helps : )

  7. Wtf?, why there is no samsung galaxy S9 & Note 9?,.

    Samsung Galaxy S9 IS THE BEST SMARTPHONE BEZEL LESS.

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