January 6, 2025, 9:11 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Buttons or touchscreens? For our author, Woon-Mo Sung, there is only one right answer. Here, he explains why he is so excited about a new trend.
Ah, buttons. There’s something special about them. Even as a small child, I learned to appreciate the satisfying sensation of pressing a button against its slight resistance, receiving a clicking sound as feedback and thus directly triggering an action. With action and reaction at my fingertips, I have the power to change my environment with a single press in this technology-driven world. Elevators, light switches, car cigarette lighters, even the toilet flush – no button is safe from me. And, of course, Game Boy, Super Nintendo, or PlayStation are also a must. So I’m all the more pleased that buttons now seem to be making a comeback over touchscreens. But regardless of my personal preferences, this makes more sense than many people might realize.
Buttons or Touchscreens? It’s Not Even a Question
Sure, there was a time when screens were predominantly pure output devices, and inputs were made via peripherally connected keyboards. When buttons were increasingly replaced by touchscreens, consumers thought they were in the future because pressing directly on the display seemed like the next science fiction dream come true.
Now, this has become the mundane standard. We swipe our fingers on our smartphones, and I even order a Whopper at Burger King using the touchscreen terminal. Mechanical buttons still exist, but a lot happens without them, especially on cell phones and in many modern cars.
Personally, I find this incredibly annoying and miss my old Siemens SK65. It could be transformed into something resembling a ninja star, revealing a tactile keyboard that could be held with both hands, much like a gaming controller. The SK65 turned out to be an absolute texting machine, with which I would dominate any WhatsApp group chat today – could I please get that back with Android 15 and modern apps?
Buttons Are Great for People Like Me
Instead, my average-sized fingers struggle with what’s known as ‘fat finger syndrome,’ where it’s a challenge to hit the right keys when typing. No, I don’t fancy the excesses of autocorrect either, so I correct myself manually, which is frustrating and time-consuming.
It seems I’m just not cut out for the smart communication methods of today’s world. I miss buttons where I can feel the distance between them and can, therefore, apply the right amount of pressure to the small area where it belongs. But something is happening, as the renowned Wall Street Journal writes. According to the article, the era of touchscreens may be coming to an end.
Buttons Instead of Touchscreens on the Rise
According to the report, physical buttons are making a comeback in cars, consumer electronics, and household appliances. This includes e-readers and induction stoves, but the trend is also making a comeback in smartphones. Apple, for example, introduced the so-called Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro models just last year. A haptic keyboard for shooting messages is not yet included, but who knows, maybe it will come.
The automotive industry, in particular, seems eager to lead the charge in this shift. Well-known manufacturers such as Kia, VW, and BMW Mini are increasingly switching back to classic control elements.
Who Would Have Thought It – Touchscreens Are Potentially Dangerous
However, at least in terms of the mobility sector, this is certainly not a purely nostalgic consideration. On the contrary, the safety of road users is at stake. According to a test conducted by the Swedish magazine Vi Bilagäre, people would take up to four times longer to perform tasks such as changing the radio station or adjusting the temperature if they had to operate a touchscreen while driving. Time spent not paying attention to the traffic. And, as The Times reported, car manufacturers in Europe are now being encouraged to do away with touchscreens in order to get the best possible safety rating.
Touchscreens require the user’s full attention. They actually have to look at it while they are operating it. Physical buttons, on the other hand, can simply be felt without having to take your eyes off the important things. This is why the return to buttons is particularly important for frequently used functions.
However, other problems can also occur. Unintentional touches can occur with smartphones. There are now countermeasures for this – with Apple and iOS 18, this is exactly what causes new problems.
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We Can Never Have Too Many Buttons in Place of Touchscreens
For the resurgence of buttons to gain momentum, it’s crucial that key decisions are made in the right places. But the start has been made, and now more consumers need to send a positive signal that they also prefer to exert pressure – on actual buttons.
In any case, I am happy about more haptics, including the corresponding feedback in everyday life, and would like to see more of it, especially on smartphones.