If you’ve ever held a Xiaomi smartphone in your hands in recent years, you’ve probably noticed a small “neckout” at the top of the screen — a black strip or a drop-shaped indentation where the front camera and sensors are located. This design element has become standard for most modern smartphones, but users still have a lot of questions: why it is needed, whether it interferes with work, and whether it can be removed or hidden.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what a notch on the Xiaomi screen is, what technologies are behind it, and how it affects the user experience. You will learn which models are equipped with a cutout, how to properly configure it in the user experience. MIUI, And if you're just planning to buy a device, we'll help you choose a model that has the best screen-to-cut ratio.
Spoiler: The cutout is not just a hole in the screen, but a clever engineering solution that maximizes the display area without compromising functionality, but if it bothers you, there are legal ways to hide it (and illegal ones, which we'll also look at).
What is a cutout on the smartphone screen and why you need it
The notch is the area at the top of the screen where the front camera, speaker, proximity sensor and other sensors are placed, and it appeared as a response to the trend towards frameless displays: manufacturers have sought to increase the screen-to-body ratio, but it is physically impossible to place the camera under the screen without losing shooting quality (for now).
The first mass-market smartphone with a cutout was the iPhone X (2017), but Xiaomi quickly picked up the trend. Today, the cutout is in almost all flagships and many budget models of the brand.
- 📸 Front camera – for selfies, video calls and face unlocking (Face Unlock).
- 🔊 Speaker – transmits the voice of the interlocutor during calls.
- 👁️ Approximation Sensor – Turns off the screen during a conversation to avoid accidental taps.
- 💡 Light sensor – adjusts the brightness of the screen automatically.
- 🔋 Notification indicator (in some models) – flashes when missed calls or messages.
Without the cutout, manufacturers would have either to return the thick bezels (like the iPhone 8) or sacrifice some of the sensors. Xiaomi has chosen a compromise: a minimal cutout that takes up less than 5% of the screen area, but retains all the functionality.
⚠️ Note: In cheap smartphones (such as Redmi) 9A POCO C31) No cutout, instead of a bang, it lowers the cost of production, but it degrades the look and the ratio of screen to body.
Types of cutouts in Xiaomi smartphones: from “drop” to “hole”
Xiaomi has experimented with different cutouts, and today there are several options in the brand lineup. Each has its pros and cons — let’s see how they differ.
| Type of cutout | Example of model | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic (U-shaped) | Mi 8, Mi 9 | Lots of space for sensors, symmetrical design | It takes up more area than a “drop” |
| "Drop" (Waterdrop) | Redmi Note 7, Poco X3 | Minimalist, almost not striking. | Less space for sensors (sometimes no notification indicator) |
| "The Hole" (Punch-hole) | Mi 10, Redmi K40 | Maximum screen area, modern view | The camera is shifted to the edge, which can interfere with games |
| Retractable camera | Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro | No cutout at all, full-screen display | The mechanism may break, the thickness of the body is greater |
The most common variant today is the "punch-hole" used in Xiaomi flagships. 12/13/14 The advantage of this cutout is that it occupies a minimum area (usually about about about the size of the Redmi and Poco models). 3-4 mm in diameter) and can be placed in any corner of the screen.
But the retractable camera, despite the lack of a cutout, is rare today, for two reasons: the reliability of the mechanism (it can jam over time) and the thickness of the body (it requires additional space for the mechanism). 10T Pro (2020).
What Xiaomi models have a notch on the screen (full list)
If you are planning to buy a Xiaomi smartphone and want to know in advance if it will be cut out, here is the current list of models with different types of cutouts (data for 2026).
- 📱 Flagships of the series Mi/Xiaomi: Xiaomi 14/14 Pro (hole), Xiaomi 13/13 Pro (hole), Xiaomi 12/12 Pro (hole), Mi 11 (hole), Mi 10/10 Pro (hole), Mi 9 (drop), Mi 8 (classical).
- 💰 The Redmi Note: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (Hole), Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Hole, Redmi Note 10 Pro (hole), Redmi Note 9 Pro (drop), Redmi Note 8 Pro (drop).
- 🎮 Playing (Poco/Black Shark): Poco F5 Pro (hole), Poco X5 Pro (hole), Black Shark 5 Pro (hole in the center), Poco X3 Pro (hole).
- 💸 Budget (Redmi): Redmi 12 (drop), Redmi 10 (drop), Redmi 9 (no cut, with bangs).
Note: In budget models (Redmi) 9A, Redmi 8A) There's no cutout, and instead, it's a thick top frame, and that's because it's cheaper to make, but these smartphones are less modern.
If you are fundamentally important to the lack of a cutout, pay attention to the model with a retractable camera (Mi). 9T, Mi 10T Pro) or on old flagships with frames (Mi Mix) 2S). However, note that new smartphones without a cutout Xiaomi has not yet announced (unlike Samsung or Oppo, where there are models with a camera under the screen).
How to hide the cutout on Xiaomi: official and unofficial ways
Not all users like the cutout, because it can interfere with watching videos, playing games, or working with apps. MIUI We have built-in tools to mask it, and if there's not enough, we can use third-party solutions.
Method 1: Hiding the cutout through settings MIUI
The easiest and safest method is to activate the Hiding Cut function in the settings, which paints the cutout area black, making it less visible.
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Select the cutout style (in some versions) MIUI It's called Full Screen Mode).
- Activate the option to Hide the cutout or Paint the cutout.
- Restart your smartphone (sometimes required to apply changes).
After that, the cutout will be masked with a black stripe, and the interface will be MIUI It will automatically adjust to the new arrangement of elements, but keep in mind that in some applications (such as games), the black bar may remain visible.
Method 2: Using themes with a cutout mask
The Xiaomi theme store has special themes that visually hide the cutout through wallpaper and icon design, such as dark background or gradient themes that make the cutout less visible, to find themes like this:
Open the Topics app
Enter “notch hide” or “hide the cutout”
Select a theme marked "Full Screen" or "No Notch"
Apply the theme and restart the device-->
The disadvantage of this method is that it only works in the interface. MIUI. In games or third-party applications, the cutout will still be visible.
Method 3: Manual modification DPI (for advanced users)
If you are ready for experiments, you can try changing the density of pixels (DPI) through ADB. This will make the system "think" that the screen is bigger, and some interface elements will move downwards, blocking the cutout!
adb shell wm density 400
adb shell wm size 1080x2340Once you have the commands, restart your smartphone. If the interface is too large or too small, return the standard values (wm density reset).
⚠️ Attention: Change DPI It can break the display of some applications (such as banking or games).Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings. → System system → Backup.
Method 4: Applications for masking the cutout
Google Play has third-party utilities that allow you to hide the cutout programmatically.
- 🛠️ Nacho Notch – creates a black strip over the cutout, works without root.
- 🖼️ Full Screen Gestures – masks the cutout and adds control gestures.
- 🎨 Energy Bar – replaces the cutout with the battery charge indicator.
Please note that these applications may conflict with MIUI or require additional permissions (e.g. Overlay over other applications).
💡
If black stripes appear in games after hiding the cutout, try turning on the Full Screen or Immersive Mode mode in the game settings.
Problems with the cutout on Xiaomi: what to do if it interferes
Even if the cutout seems like a trifle, it can be uncomfortable in some scenarios, and let's look at the most common problems and ways to solve them.
Problem 1: The cutout interferes with games
In dynamic games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty) cutout can overlap important interface elements: map, bullet counter or control buttons:
- 🎮 In the game settings, find the option Full Screen Display or Hide Notch.
- 🖥️ Use the Game Turbo mode in MIUI (called by swipe sideways in the game).
- 🛠️ Install. GFX Tool for Forced Image Stretching.
Problem 2: Videos don’t take up the entire screen
When you watch a YouTube or Netflix video, there may be black fields on the sides of the cutout, which is related to the aspect ratio of the content.
- 📺 On YouTube, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the aspect ratio. → Stretching.
- 🎬 V MX Player or VLC Enable the Zoom or Crop option.
- 🔧 In the settings MIUI Activate Automatic Screen Filling (Settings) → Display. → Full screen mode).
Problem 3: Apps are not adapted to the cutout
Some old or poorly optimized applications do not take into account the presence of a cutout, which can cause text or buttons to "hide" under it.
- 🔄 Update the application to the latest version.
- 📱 Put it in. MIUI Compatibility mode: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [select the application] → Full screen mode → Turn on.
- 🛠️ Use it. ADB, To force the application to stretch (command: adb shell settings put global) force_fullscreen true).
⚠️ Attention: Forced stretching of applications through ADB Before using this method, check if there are updates for the problem application.
Cutout vs. camera under the screen: what’s better and what to expect in the future
Under-Screen Camera Technology (Under-Display Camera, UDC) It's already there, but it hasn't been widely adopted yet. Xiaomi has experimented with it in concepts (Mi Mix 4), but it's not yet used in production models?
It's about the quality of the shot: the camera under the screen gets less light because of the pixel array of the display, which worsens the detail and color reproduction, and these screens are more expensive to produce.
But the situation may change in the future. DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants, by 2026, the share of smartphones with a camera under the screen will reach 15%. Xiaomi is likely to release such a model in the line of Mi Mix or Xiaomi Civi.
In the meantime, the cutout remains the standard.
- ✅ Reliability – no moving machinery (unlike a retractable camera).
- ✅ Shooting quality – the front camera is not closed by the screen.
- ✅ Price: cheaper than screens with a camera under the display.
- ✅ Compatibility – all applications are adapted to the cutout.
If you are not interested in the cutout, there are only two options today:
- Buy a smartphone with a retractable camera (for example, Mi). 9T).
- Wait for models with a camera under the screen (not expected until 2026).
💡
Xiaomi’s screen cutout is a temporary solution that will be relevant even more. 2-3 After a year. 2026 It will be replaced by cameras under the screen, but it is the best compromise between design and functionality.
FAQ: Frequent questions about the cutout on the Xiaomi screen
🔍 Can you physically remove the cutout on Xiaomi?
📱 Why some Xiaomi cutouts are on the right and others are in the center?
🎮 Does the cutout interfere with games on Xiaomi?
🔧 Can I reassign the cutout zone to indicators (time, battery)?
💡 Will the new Xiaomi be without a cutout?
If you still have questions about setting up the cutout on your Xiaomi model, check the name of the device in the comments, and we will help with specific recommendations!