In the future, there will be no devices with buttons. By this, I’m not referring to a near future with devices that are only controlled by gestures and voice, as some movies depict. Instead, I’m thinking of the concept videos that companies like Microsoft or Samsung showed a few years ago.
At the end of the day, there are cars without buttons (take Teslas, for example). Even some laptop brands have dared to launch models without keyboards and with a dual screen. In addition, in the case of smartphones, rumors and leaks pointed to a buttonless iPhone a few months ago.
The reality? The iPhone 16 lineup has the most buttons since the first generation (I don’t consider the mute switch that Apple’s phone had until the iPhone 15 Pro to be a button). Honestly, it seems to be the best decision.
From a buttonless iPhone… Rumors surfaced not once but twice, suggesting that the iPhone 15, particularly the Pro models, would do away with physical buttons. The volume and side buttons would still perform the same functions, but it was rumored that Apple could replace physical buttons with haptic systems. This was reportedly going to be similar to the touch system with vibration feedback used for the iPhone 7’s Home button.
When the iPhone 15 lineup was unveiled, everything seemed to be more or less the same. The usual buttons were in their usual places. However, there was a new addition. The Pro model introduced a customizable Action button. It was a cool feature to have on a smartphone and something Android already offered on, for example, some Motorola models.
…to the iPhone with the most buttons ever. In September, Apple released the new iPhone 16 models. Interestingly, the standard model and the iPhone 16 Pro have a new Camera Control button. However, I’m not a big fan of this button, and it seems like many others feel the same way based on the reviews. In any case, it does offer a convenient shortcut for quickly opening the Camera app.
Practicality. One thing I find particularly interesting about the new Camera Control button is that it’s hybrid. It has a capacitive system for certain actions, but it also functions as a physical button for taking photos.
I don’t find the Camera Control button essential, and I only use it to open the camera. Nevertheless, the more buttons, the better.
I actually appreciate this change because I find physical buttons much more practical than capacitive systems. With buttons, I can easily adjust my headphone volume, reject calls, and snooze my alarm without having to look at the screen. Additionally, the new Camera Control button makes it quick and easy to take a picture as soon as I take my phone out of my pocket.
Who’s thinking about bugs? A recent experience made me appreciate the importance of physical buttons. I have an old Nintendo Switch that I only use when I travel. It had been off for several months since I hadn’t traveled in a while. When I tried to charge it the other day, the battery icon didn’t appear. I didn’t think much of it until the device wouldn’t turn on several hours later. I was able to bring it back to life with a simple press of the console’s buttons.
This experience made me think about the potential complications of using a phone without physical buttons. The old rumors about the 2023 iPhone with capacitive buttons suggested that the processor would allow control even when the phone was turned off. However, what if there’s a bug? Engineers and those responsible for the hardware and software surely consider these possibilities, but there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. Without a button, there’s no physical way to “close” or open a circuit.
The return of physical buttons. At the end of the day, who doesn’t love buttons? Many car manufacturers are reconsidering their decision to remove buttons from their car interiors. In fact, the Euro NCAP, a European car safety assessment program, was considering penalizing them for this. Personally, I wouldn’t buy a car without buttons, just like I wouldn’t buy a phone without buttons.
I find buttons essential for quickly and easily controlling functions like air conditioning without getting distracted while driving. Just as I can adjust the volume or snooze an alarm on my phone without looking, I want the same tactile control in my car. In a practical sense, I prefer having physical buttons over sci-fi touchscreens in both cars and phones.
Image | Xataka
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