I noticed a white hue on the top of the screen and ONLY on the homescreen. I thought it was a Fairphone 5 issue, but now i noticed it on my Nothing Phone 2a (photo)as well. What is it? ( lemmy.world )

After i got my Fairphone back from the repaircenter (they thought there was something wrong with it), they told me it was an intended design. However, i see other people mention they don't have it.

cyrus ,
@cyrus@sopuli.xyz avatar

is this everywhere on the device?

Boeddabart OP ,

Only on the homescreen

0oWow ,

Try a different launcher like Nova Launcher or Smart Launcher.

Boeddabart OP ,

Different launcher does indeed fix the issue, but that's such a shame because i really like the stock ones already.

0oWow ,

So it might be that Fairphone is not aware how to make the notification bar transparent. It's a setting in android development they can enable. (Disclaimer: I'm not a developer.)

With that in mind, they seem to be saying it was intentional to hide their lack of knowledge. It's simply unreasonable that any developer would want such a hideous defect permanently at the top of the home screen.

On a positive note, I believe android 15 is supposed to correct this when the developer does not.

Boeddabart OP ,

I agree. Sadly the Fairphone 5 is still running Android 13... A14 is "planned" to released this summer

Fairphone is dropping some balls when it comes to software. So much that in its current state, i can't recommend the Fairphone 5 at all. Plenty of issues. They need to hire better developers/software designers and probably more of them too.

I've had contact since november, and only a few weeks ago (after i had to sent it to the repaircenter in France, i live in the Netherlands) they could tell me it was "an intentional design choice"; so the notificationbar would be more visible. I sent it to them because of the hue, because they first said; "it looks indeed suspicious". So... Yeah...

Zelaf ,

I'm wondering if it would be a jab at possibly trying to help burn-in issues? Having a bit of light around the pixels of static icons and text maybe would help minimize the noticeability?

Boeddabart OP ,

That was actually one thing i also thought! But then i thought, why only do that on the homescreen? Because even the lockscreen misses that "feature".

Xanis ,

Having worked in tech, though not as familiar with phones, I want to ask a question no one else has, which may be silly of me:

It's not a background, is it?

Boeddabart OP ,

Haha no, it is not.

Xanis ,

Alright... you'd be surprised how often a power button isn't pressed, or tower/monitor is not plugged in. Sometimes the fix is the simplest possible solution.

Boeddabart OP ,

True! And to be honest, i kinda checked it again after your comment... (With no luck)

IllNess ,

Does the screenshot show the hue?

Boeddabart OP ,

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/18624467-4f63-4966-9e29-071eca395ee5.png

It does.

Bitswap ,

I don't see the hue in the screenshot

Boeddabart OP ,

Really? I double checked on my other phone, there it was visible as well...

bitfucker , (edited )

It means it isn't there. I don't see the hue either. Which leaves, screen issue.

Edit: It seems like a contrast issue? I took the screenshot and modified it contrast value -3×
Modified contrast

Boeddabart OP , (edited )

Hmm... I understand why you say that. But the thing is, my Fairphone has been send to the repaircenter for this exact reason. I got the same one back because there was no fault present in the screen or phone.

The funny thing is, the same thing happened for other people:

https://forums.androidcentral.com/threads/white-fade-at-the-top-of-home-screen.983310/page-2

Notice the guy saying: "oh, it actually shows up on a screenshot"? And i don't see it there too. Edit: actually i do, but indeed much less then when taking a actual photo.

This is just weird man...

bitfucker ,

Yep. Already edited my comment too

Wistful ,
@Wistful@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

Yeah it is visible, but much more subtle than on your original picture in the post.

Easier to see against the black background:

https://discuss.tchncs.de/pictrs/image/f286cab1-7ecd-49f3-ad77-8fbdf4b02e9f.png

Boeddabart OP ,

Yeah, it looks way worse on my original photo, because brightness was turned on to the max. On Fairphone it is a little worse then on my Nothing phone, but not that much.

bitfucker ,

I was curious and then trying to edit the contrast, sure enough. This is 3×Modified contrast image

Bitswap ,

I guess I just have an ancient phone that can't display it. I see it on the photos that people posted with the contrast turned up...but can't see it at all on the original.

Trusty s10e finally showing its age...

IllNess ,

I see it. At least we know it's a software issue at least.

Let's try to narrow down the issue. Did you try a different launcher?

Edit: Nevermind. Reading your other comments, it looks like it is the launcher.

Boeddabart OP ,

Well, that's nevertheless somewhat odd. Fairphone and Nothing have different stock launchers. I think they just modified the standard launcher and thus used a "feature" that was included in the first place? All things point to an actual intended design choice which can't be changed.

IllNess ,

I think the reason why some people see it and others don't is because screens have variances and are not calibrated properly. This happens even in the same batch of a phone release.

I saw the gradient but I barely saw it on my Pixel 5a. I could've easily missed.

PixeIOrange ,
@PixeIOrange@lemmy.world avatar

Seems to be an Android "Feature"

Look at this pictures, should be gone:

Edit: save them to your gallery if they dont fill the screen.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/da62fe8a-9717-46b1-b9fa-bae679e38df3.png

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/8116f715-4a98-44ec-a32f-2e726e25a2ab.png

Boeddabart OP ,

Hmm, i still notice some fade effect.. Edit: same on both devices.
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/fcd4ffbc-6a79-48b3-80f5-f968e8ccb8e3.jpeg

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/98710a21-1fbf-4c6d-b3d9-b2abd36991cc.jpeg

PixeIOrange ,
@PixeIOrange@lemmy.world avatar

Is that your lock screen? Try to use your gallery. If its gone there, its androids "design" element.

Boeddabart OP ,

No, i used them as backgrounds on my homescreen. In gallery the fade is not present on your images.

Wistful ,
@Wistful@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

OLED burn-in maybe?

Boeddabart OP ,

Nope. My Nothing Phone 2a came in yesterday, and i've tested my Fairphone for it already.

Wistful ,
@Wistful@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

Maybe it's just a temporary image retention? Was there something (bright or white) previously at that section of the screen? Like some app that you use often?

Boeddabart OP ,

Nope. Because on the lockscreen and when i slide down the notification/quick setting panel, it is just normal, oled black.

Lojcs ,

Maybe it's to improve notification bar visibility?

Boeddabart OP ,

That is what Fairphone said. But then, why do i have it and others don't? And why does this happen when i'm using a fully black wallpaper? It should be visible enough already...

Xanis ,

@PixelOrange got it mostly right from my research, though their backgrounds will still have that bar. If you use a black, or near black, background, especially one not at your native resolution, that gradient will be most noticeable. Using other backgrounds that do not have a black strip along the top you might still be able to see it if you squint.

For those of you curious: Change your background to a solid black from the background menu in settings, or grab something similar elsewhere. Then crank your brightness up. Chances are it'll be there for you too if you're not running a third party launcher.

I haven't found a way to turn it off in native yet.

Boeddabart OP ,

Yep. I've seen it happen in brighter backgrounds too: but instead the fade will be a little darker (it does not happen on a white only wallpaper tho...) I was afraid it was an actual "feature", and this all kinda comfirms it. For now, a launcher will be the only "fix".

Carighan ,
@Carighan@lemmy.world avatar

Do you mean the lighter parts from the top side?

Boeddabart OP ,

Yes, the white fade on the notification panel.

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