Unpopular opinion: I prefer rectangular notchless screens and dedicated navigation buttons.

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Hendrix7

Senior Member
Nov 18, 2023
57
14
I have always preferred it if the home button and navigation buttons are outside of the screen, as well as rectangular screens without notches or rounded corners, like it was until the Galaxy S7 and Note 5 (also Note 7, but that got scrapped).

Navigation buttons​

With out-of-screen navigation buttons (recent tasks, home screen, go back), I always know that if I tap or press on this physical location on my smartphone, it will do the exact same thing. It is not ambiguous. If I touch the lower right corner of my smartphone, I know it goes back. I don't have to put energy into thinking whether it does it or not. No app can hide it.

The handling of on-screen navigation buttons might be inconsistent across apps. Some apps might hide them and add an extra step to accessing them, some apps might not hide them so they use less than the available screen space. This is especially bad for video players.

This was a problem affecting ES File Explorer's built-in media player back when it was popular, in its pre-adware days.

Notches are hostile to third-party operating systems.​

Also, I have always wondered how third-party operating systems are supposed to handle odd non-rectangular screen shapes with notches. Non-rectangular screens and especially notches are certainly hostile to third-party operating systems because those operating systems are unaware where the "blind spots" of the screen are. The top status bar might extend outside the border radius of the rounded screen, and might be covered by a notch or on-screen front camera.

Notches also limit the screen space of the status bar at the top. Perhaps it should have more than one row. If a modification that enables a multi-row status bar exists, I am not aware of it yet.

Virtual navigation buttons​

I understand the benefit of virtual on-screen keys, the customizability. However, with modifications, even a smartphone with dedicated out-of-screen navigation buttons can simulate virtual on-screen navigation buttons. So smartphones with out-of-screen navigation buttons offers users both possibilities.

Bezels​

Bezels with the size of the Galaxy S7, Note 5, and earlier never bothered me.

In fact, they provide a spot where I can put my thumb for more comfortable holding when watching a video or browsing a gallery in horizontal orientation.

At Unpacked 2017 Episode 1 (Galaxy S8), Justin Denison asked the audience "when was the last time you appreciated bezels" or similar. If only he applied this logic to replaceable batteries: "when was the last time slim design mattered more to you than being able to replace the shortest-lived part of your smartphone?".

Curved edges​

Curved edges do not interfere with third-party operating systems, but…

Let TechAltar explain the rest.


(In case embedding does not work: 2014 called. It wants its curved screens back.)

[I hereby release this text under Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution ShareAlike.]
 
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smithinger44

Member
Jan 25, 2014
34
12
I agree.
I have landed an upgrade from Galaxy S7 Edge, to OnePlus 7T Pro at it's release and I refuse to ever use any other phone.
Camera is hidden, so no notches necessary and the whole front is occupied by the screen. Feels great in hand, although its a bit on the heavy side. And the speakers are perfectly fine, even when tasked with livening up a small house party.
Holding the foldables feels like holding a plastic doorhinge, about to break any minute.
Any gimmicky "hardware keyboards for two fingers" or "display on the side", or "giant camera apertures" are an instant turn-off. If I need to type a longer message, I am going to need all of my fingers, so the keyboard is pointless. I have never been in a situation where additional screens have come in handy for more than making a show. Well built small cameras are more than perfectly fine nowadays, multiple phones are a proof of this.

I too stick with the 3 button navigation as it requires least effort to do navigation and is more reliable than swiping across the screen. But someone thought to make it more difficult and had put the return button on the far corner of the screen... Why?
 
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Umgak

Umgak

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2017
223
635
I'm personally fine with the little punch-hole cameras in the top corner, like on my OnePlus 9 Pro, but if you want to take a big notch out of my screen you can find someone else to sell it to. And you'll take my three button navigation from my cold, dead hands.
 
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Hendrix7

Senior Member
Nov 18, 2023
57
14
smithinger44 said:
Camera is hidden, so no notches necessary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I don't like mechanical pop-out cameras either. They are a physical vulnerability. If the phone drops to the ground while the camera is protruded, it could very well break off.

I don't mind one centimetre of bezel, and never did. The design of the Galaxy Note 4 is perfectly fine (except the middle rear camera. Corner cameras are better.).
 
S

smithinger44

Member
Jan 25, 2014
34
12
@Hendrix7
I've had the pop-out mechanical camera phone for 4 years now. It has been dropped countless times, including with front camera out and into water. I've been to a sandy beach dozen times without issues.
I understand your phobia, but the pop-out is very sturdy, doesn't wobble at all when out, has some water resistance & when a fall triggers the accelerometer, the camera hides in a split of second. While the shell is quite battered, nothing is wrong with internals.
 
FoxyDrew

FoxyDrew

Senior Member
Aug 18, 2014
1,297
575
East Taunton
I agree with everything OP said.

Only problem is, having a big screen, without having an unwieldy big device, requires a high screen to body ratio. And that's not possible with hardware navigation keys.

And the big screen is more important to me. To be fair I'm a foldable user so it's a little different
 
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hkjo

Senior Member
Mar 24, 2013
97
1
15
While I prefer rectangular screen and no notches (and a way to physically block the front lens), in theory most of the problems you mention can be solved by software.

On-screen nav buttons can be made static.
Notches can be solved by software by not using the top area of the screen at all (BTW, Android does support reporting where they are).
Bezel-like no-interaction zones can be dictated by software.

The problem may be the common OSes don't offer these features.
 
H

Hendrix7

Senior Member
Nov 18, 2023
57
14
FoxyDrew said:
What's your point?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FoxyDrew said:
phones are better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Manufacturers should put effort into making smartphones more functional. That's more important than making them look pretty.

Rounded corners and notches sacrifice the width of the notification bar (fewer icons), as well as the ability to place your thumb somewhere without touching the screen in horizontal orientation.

On-screen navigation buttons are less consistent than dedicated ones since they can be hidden.

But I am glad the trend of curved-edge screens has faded out.
 
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  • 1
    FoxyDrew
    FoxyDrew
    I agree with everything OP said.

    Only problem is, having a big screen, without having an unwieldy big device, requires a high screen to body ratio. And that's not possible with hardware navigation keys.

    And the big screen is more important to me. To be fair I'm a foldable user so it's a little different
    View
  • 2
    S
    smithinger44
    I agree.
    I have landed an upgrade from Galaxy S7 Edge, to OnePlus 7T Pro at it's release and I refuse to ever use any other phone.
    Camera is hidden, so no notches necessary and the whole front is occupied by the screen. Feels great in hand, although its a bit on the heavy side. And the speakers are perfectly fine, even when tasked with livening up a small house party.
    Holding the foldables feels like holding a plastic doorhinge, about to break any minute.
    Any gimmicky "hardware keyboards for two fingers" or "display on the side", or "giant camera apertures" are an instant turn-off. If I need to type a longer message, I am going to need all of my fingers, so the keyboard is pointless. I have never been in a situation where additional screens have come in handy for more than making a show. Well built small cameras are more than perfectly fine nowadays, multiple phones are a proof of this.

    I too stick with the 3 button navigation as it requires least effort to do navigation and is more reliable than swiping across the screen. But someone thought to make it more difficult and had put the return button on the far corner of the screen... Why?
    View
    1
    Umgak
    Umgak
    I'm personally fine with the little punch-hole cameras in the top corner, like on my OnePlus 9 Pro, but if you want to take a big notch out of my screen you can find someone else to sell it to. And you'll take my three button navigation from my cold, dead hands.
    View
    1
    FoxyDrew
    FoxyDrew
    I agree with everything OP said.

    Only problem is, having a big screen, without having an unwieldy big device, requires a high screen to body ratio. And that's not possible with hardware navigation keys.

    And the big screen is more important to me. To be fair I'm a foldable user so it's a little different
    View

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