There is also the mounting hardware. It’s not an unreasonable size for what it contains. If they were to really redesign the module they might shave a little off of it but how impactful would that reduction really be?

Here is the module behind the notch: https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/img_0383-jpeg.22053...

They probably set the notch size with some margin too, so they could develop the camera module and LCD at the same time.

> The MacBook notch is wide just to make it look like the iPhone notch.

I'm convinced this is true, at least partially.

The iPhone notch is branding and a visual differentiator from the competition, which is Apple's forte, and carrying over that very distinctive design element to other product lines seems right in Apple's playbook.

In other words: glass slab in your hand? Who knows. Glass slab with a black notch? iPhone.

Person typing on metallic laptop in a cafe? Who knows. Ah, but the screen has a notch? MacBook.