Symmetry In Smartphone Displays

Hole-punch cameras—a modern positioning strategy for OEMs and a way out from traditional thick bezels or the polarizing pop-up cameras. They are, in many ways, great. They expand the pixel canvas right to the edge, creating a look that feels genuinely futuristic. But what’s less impressive about those teeny-tiny eyes is their positioning.

I am, of course, talking about symmetry. In some cultures, they say:

Symmetry can conceal the complexity of a work at first glance.

There isn’t a word I would add or remove to make that statement more meaningful than it already is.

As an exercise, look around and count the objects visible from where you sit. How many of those are symmetrical by design? It’s a rhetorical question, of course. I am sure you’ll agree with my answer: “far more than those that are asymmetrical.”

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

Before we get lost in the nitty-gritty of the beauty of symmetry, let’s address the elephant in the room: the placement of the hole-punch camera.

Every smartphone presentation begins with striking details about how hard the OEM worked to make the device beautiful, light, and—the point I want to address today—balanced.

I know what you’re thinking: balance does not equal symmetry. Allow me to explain.

We have a specific perception of balance. OEMs try to deliver on this by meticulously distributing the weight of internal components within the chassis, ensuring that when you hold the device, it feels “right.” That is good for everyone.

However, OEMs sometimes forget that perception is also shaped by how a device feels during its primary purpose: looking at that gorgeous display. Since the camera now sits directly inside the territory we stare at all day, its placement matters more than ever.

The Corner vs The Center

When you look at it, it doesn’t always feel balanced. Many OEMs go out of their way to push the punch-hole into a corner, theoretically to keep it from hindering your view while binge-watching Netflix or YouTube.

But do you actually spend more time binge-watching than you do surfing, reading, or socializing? I suspect not. And that is exactly when the decision to tuck the camera into a corner starts to hurt the eye. Your perception shifts. You are suddenly looking at a tiny, pitch-black dot against a mostly white or light-colored canvas, and you can’t help but notice that the view is no longer symmetrical.

The content in the notification bar is pushed aside toward the center, and the entire UI begins to look lopsided. What could the OEM have done differently? They were trying to help by moving the dot to a corner where your mind might eventually ignore it. But do you ever truly ignore it?

So, what could have been done to enhance the perception of a balanced device? At this point, I don’t think I need to say it. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

NOTE This is not an endorsement of any specific manufacturer, nor is it meant to encourage or discourage the purchase of any particular device.