Why? Have human hands evolved since 2015? We’re having an ergonomics discussion, not a design or aesthetics discussion.
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Other We need to have a discussion of the ergonomics of a flat sided iPhone 12.
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Why? Have human hands evolved since 2015? We’re having an ergonomics discussion, not a design or aesthetics discussion.
Aesthetics, I love the iPhone 4/4S and 5/5s/SE1.
Comfort, I have to agree with the 5c. OG, 3G and 3GS as well. I found those comfortable to use caseless.
The 6/6+ and newer, even if they have curved edges, were just too big and thin that they dig uncomfortably into my palms.
It counts enough to provide a counterpoint to the statement of "…iit would be nuts not to keep your iPhone in a case." That's an opinion, and in my case, anecdotal or not, it does not apply. It is not nuts for me to not use a case even though a majority of people fit this category.
Note that I am not arguing your point of 'when' because that's truth and I can't argue against it. I will drop my phone again at some point.
I agree with you on this point. Apple is like any other company that wants to goose sales.
The iPhone was slippery due to the materials used. Not the curves. I loved my 3G iPhone. It had curves I could easily handle. Because it was made of plastic.
Flat edges are lousy on a smartphone with respect to comfort. Hated the 4 and 5 without a case. Sadly Apple is probably reverting to this road to change aesthetics and gin up redesign hype. It sucks.
What they should do is keep the phone curves and just make the back something that is actually not slippery to hold.
Well from an ergonomics point if view flat sides are much better to grip than rounded. Less chance of a larger phone turning in the grip and being dropped. Always worth investing in a case for piece of mind however.
I somewhat agree with you, partially.
For handling, the curved edges will definitely feel more comfortable, but the offset is that it feels slippery. Meanwhile, like some have said, the flat edges gives more "bite", but like you said, I don't think it's that comfy on a larger phone.
To echo others, in the end, it won't mater for most as most will have cases on it that will nullify whatever edge design Apple uses.
I do agree that the current "noise" for the flat design are mostly fired by the people who simply want to see a new design. So change for the sake of change, mostly driven by those who rely on headlines and new contents for their revenue (eg. Bloggers, youtubers). Personally, I'm past the need for every new phone having to look different. We are probably at the optimum design, that many OEMs are simply moving and resizing the camera bumps around, or changing the back plate's colors/patterns for a "new design."
But at least it will unify the design with the iPad Pro.
1. Insane and uninformed is the way to go.
2. Yes, yes, lose the camera bump, flush would be so fine. I reckon the general slimming down of phones is more the reason for bumps than rounded sides, but hey, the engineers get their gravy and biscuits for resolving such wee problems.
The iPod doesn’t warrant enough for Apple to redesign any chassis/external improvements, because the sales certainly are not there for the R&D costs. It’s updated like once every 3/4 years with a new processor and that’s about it. But that’s all it needs to stay relevant, because the iPod is trumped by the iPhone in so many ways, that I’m surprised Apple still continues to manufacture it.
The iPod does feel great in the hand and it’s completely manageable, but the display size is so small, it’s really hard to revert to anything that small again when you experience a larger display.
The whole debate is pointless because only a moron doesn't case up their phone anyway.
My children are not so careful and if some design can reduce drops that would be great.
Since spending most of my time indoors during this pandemic, I've ditched the case on my iPhone 7 finally, and the screen protector. I figure if I'm at home all the time it's not as big of a deal to protect it, not to mention it's getting old at this point and I can replace it with the iPhone se if needed. But one thing I've noticed is that this thing really is slippery like a bar of soap, without any protective stuff on it to grip on to. The aluminum back and sides have that matte finish that make them very slippery in dry hands, and the rounded edges don't help.
I think the glass back on the SE and 8 make it quite a bit grippier.
I like the idea of flat edges, I think it would be much easier to hold without a case. But I probably won't be carrying a brand new iPhone around without a case anyway.
I think the glass back on the SE and 8 make it quite a bit grippier.
I like the idea of flat edges, I think it would be much easier to hold without a case. But I probably won't be carrying a brand new iPhone around without a case anyway.
IDK what design will the new iPhone have, and I might be wrong, but...
1. I think people shouldn’t expect sharp/chamfered edges à la iPhone 4/5. Because ergonomics vs design is not a linear correlation, I mean: sharp edges can be comfortable and make the phone easy to hold when it weights 110g and has a 4 inch display, but I’m pretty sure that there’s a point where it’s counterproductive. It’s also harder to grip from a flat surface, I remember that from the iPhone 5. If they do it (probably because it has upsides in other areas, i.e. in optimizing internal space), it will probably have a nice curve.
2. Apple shouldn’t give us a new design for the shake of “it’s new”. That’s one of the reasons of their success: it’s only worth it if it’s better. I know many people don’t agree with this, but I appreciate much more a design that lasts 5 generations than one that changes radically every year, which shows lack of effort. I find an old boring big bezels iPhone SE design much more beautiful than a randomly generated high-end Huawei or Samsung, even Pixel.
1. I think people shouldn’t expect sharp/chamfered edges à la iPhone 4/5. Because ergonomics vs design is not a linear correlation, I mean: sharp edges can be comfortable and make the phone easy to hold when it weights 110g and has a 4 inch display, but I’m pretty sure that there’s a point where it’s counterproductive. It’s also harder to grip from a flat surface, I remember that from the iPhone 5. If they do it (probably because it has upsides in other areas, i.e. in optimizing internal space), it will probably have a nice curve.
2. Apple shouldn’t give us a new design for the shake of “it’s new”. That’s one of the reasons of their success: it’s only worth it if it’s better. I know many people don’t agree with this, but I appreciate much more a design that lasts 5 generations than one that changes radically every year, which shows lack of effort. I find an old boring big bezels iPhone SE design much more beautiful than a randomly generated high-end Huawei or Samsung, even Pixel.
Might be an ergonomic upgrade and I loved it during the time of 4S, which was also thick enough to house a flush camera sensor (good times), but with a phone as large as the 11/12 I don't know how well it would practically work out until I try it in person. I also admit I love the look of the stainless steel rim of the 11 Pro (even if it's a smudge magnet) and I'll be a bit sad to part with it.
Regardless, iPhones have become impossibly slippery since the 6 without a case, and the glass back hasn't helped at all, in fact it doubled the breakability risk.
We also need to have a discussion about how infuriatingly prone to scratches the iPhone 11/Pro screens have become. Mine has gotten surface scratches and smears even if it's never been in contact with sharp or rough surfaces. I'd rather not have my 1000+ glossy phone sandwiched with protective covers/cases back and forth, but it looks like an inevitability.
Regardless, iPhones have become impossibly slippery since the 6 without a case, and the glass back hasn't helped at all, in fact it doubled the breakability risk.
We also need to have a discussion about how infuriatingly prone to scratches the iPhone 11/Pro screens have become. Mine has gotten surface scratches and smears even if it's never been in contact with sharp or rough surfaces. I'd rather not have my 1000+ glossy phone sandwiched with protective covers/cases back and forth, but it looks like an inevitability.
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I'm looking forward to the flat-edged look of the iPhone 12. Put me in the camp of having loved the iPhone 4/5 look, and the new iPad Pros (starting with 2018) adopted that look as well which I'm a big fan of.
I still have my iPhone X, and generally use my iPhone without a case, so will enjoy the look of it. In terms of "slipperiness", my X definitely slides off things a little too easily (have been lucky not to break/crack anything sans case). Materials change or not, i do think the flat edge will make it less prone to falling/slipping off surfaces given the camera bump is here to stay.
I still have my iPhone X, and generally use my iPhone without a case, so will enjoy the look of it. In terms of "slipperiness", my X definitely slides off things a little too easily (have been lucky not to break/crack anything sans case). Materials change or not, i do think the flat edge will make it less prone to falling/slipping off surfaces given the camera bump is here to stay.
I’ve realized the iPhone goes from curved edges to flat edges every couple years, just to have a design change and give people something different to look forward to. Neither design is superior for all users, each has trade offs.
The original iPhone through iPhone 3GS had curved edges. Then iPhone 4 through 5S (and original SE) had flat edges. Then 6 through 11 had curved edges. Flat is overdue, so it won’t be a surprise if 12 will have flat edges again. Then some number of years it will become curved again.
When you see it from this perspective, it’s really only as big a deal as you want it to be.
The original iPhone through iPhone 3GS had curved edges. Then iPhone 4 through 5S (and original SE) had flat edges. Then 6 through 11 had curved edges. Flat is overdue, so it won’t be a surprise if 12 will have flat edges again. Then some number of years it will become curved again.
When you see it from this perspective, it’s really only as big a deal as you want it to be.
iPhone 3G/3GS was a really nice design. smooth seamless curved plastic to metal frame. The jet black looking finish. It was awesome to hold, I still have it.
I use a basic clear TPU case on my X, and I recently switched to different one made by a different company, but basically the same case. The first one had a bit of a square edge on the bottom side, while the new one is completely round.
This has an odd effect where the round one makes the phone feel thinner when compared to the one with the flat edge. This is fully perception and not a true change in size, but it makes me think that people will perceive the flat-edge design as thicker than the round design.
This has an odd effect where the round one makes the phone feel thinner when compared to the one with the flat edge. This is fully perception and not a true change in size, but it makes me think that people will perceive the flat-edge design as thicker than the round design.
I welcome the flat edges. I will be upgrading from an X so this will be significant for me. There was some mentioning that the round edges, glass back was more slippery to some. I held the 11 pro series a few times in the store and found the frosted glass to be slightly more slippery. However, I enjoy the look way more and not having fingerprints all over is a bonus.
My iPhone is always in a case anyways and my 12 pro will be in one also (besides being at home).
My iPhone is always in a case anyways and my 12 pro will be in one also (besides being at home).
In the grand scheme it really doesn't matter. If you don't like the rounded or square edges just put a case on it... The vast majority have their phone in a case anyways.
Whatever Apple fans will say right now, a month after release, they will love it. They could put spikes grip around it, they will love it....
Gonna concur with a lot of the comments. My 4s was much easier to hold than the 6s, albeit different screen sizes.
I also tested the 11 Pro matte back with the Xs Pro glossy back at an Apple store last year and the glossy provided much more grip, even with sweaty hands.
Looking forward to the 12 with squared edges and hopefully a glossy back with a flush camera mount!
I also tested the 11 Pro matte back with the Xs Pro glossy back at an Apple store last year and the glossy provided much more grip, even with sweaty hands.
Looking forward to the 12 with squared edges and hopefully a glossy back with a flush camera mount!
For me, I’m looking forward to it for no other reason than screen protectors will adhere better not having to account for the rounded edges that always seem to bubble up at some point.
I always use cases on my phones so the edges won’t really matter.
I always use cases on my phones so the edges won’t really matter.