Do Smart Phone Designs Really Need to be Changed?

It is often said that change is a good thing. It can bring about innovation and open the door to great possibilities. Now while this may be true, one particular area where change is being brought into question is the change in the design of smart phones and similar devices.

 

 

 

Designs being suggested

 

Based on a recently discovered article, if all things go according to plan, major tech company LG will be unveiling smart phones that can bend some time in 2015, with tablets that can do the same to be unveiled in 2015 or 2016.  To what degree these devices will be able to bend is yet to be determined, but that hasn’t prevented the idea from being an easy conversation starter, particularly among tech-savvy individuals.

 

It would be expected that developers are on the lookout for that next big idea to take the world by storm, but it is unlikely that anyone could have imagined it to be smart phone design. As some may have already known, this isn’t the first time that plans are set in motion to bring about a feature that the market is unfamiliar with.

 

 

The curved look

 

In October 2013, the consumer electronics market was introduced to the very first smart phones with a curved display – the Samsung Galaxy Round and the LG G Flex (which are actually a phablets, but they’re in the same ball park). Being the first in their class, there it was of little to no surprise that some saw the need to compare and evaluate them, but aside from the initial buzz, not much has been said.

 

 

Unlike the wave of wearable tech that was introduced to the market once their functionality spread, there have been very little talks of other manufacturers venturing in the “curved phone arena”. It could either be that they are looking to see what sort of reaction the phones already on the market receive, or they are simply not eager (or interested) to go in that direction. Considering that it has been more than a year since the release of both, the opinion is being geared towards the latter.

 

 

 

Do the designs need to be changed?

 

The Galaxy Round curves horizontally, while the G Flex curves vertically, but aside from this there appeared to be nothing distinct about either of them. The operating system, processor, RAM, camera, battery life, and all other specifications that people would assess before purchasing a smart phone are all within the general parameters. So why change anything at all? It is unlikely that anyone can point to a time when the traditional rectangular shape was being heavily scrutinized.

 

 

The word that registers the most when browsing through articles related to the new look of smart phones is “innovation”, but this seems like a weak justification in an era when technological advancements are so vast. What really was there to gain from creating a smart phone that is curved? How will consumers benefit from having a smart phone that can bend? Sure, it may look and feel “cool”, but is that the extent of its applicability, if there is any to begin with?

 

 

Arguments for…

 

 

Not everyone is going to agree – of course, because that rarely ever happens – but the curved smart phones appear to be more about gimmicks and a marketing stunt than anything else. Having said that, there are some that have statements in support of said gadgets.

 

 

Among the arguments being proposed is that the curved look works better for the purposes of talking, as the microphone is angled closer towards the mouth. Notably, this feature is specific towards the G Flex.

 

 

Another argument in support of the arched shape is simply the way it looks. While it matters that the device is able to execute the desired functions on a day-to-day basis, there are those who like the way the smart phones look in their “far from traditional” shape. Supposedly, it is more modern with a greater look of class.

 

 

As an extension of this, the feel of the device is also a selling point (though it may not be a strong one). The argument is that it is a better fit for the hand than conventional shape as a result of the curve.

 

 

It is widely accepted that “it’s the little things that count”, so it was possibly from this perspective that those who proposed the idea of curved phones did so. This is not being stated to undermine their work, but these “little” changes do not appear to significantly enhance the appeal of the devices or their use.

 

 

So the question remains, “Do smart phone designs need to be changed?” While the answer may be no as far as the “need” is concerned, the mere fact that it has already taken place, is an indication that there are those who want, and/or are open to the idea. No one ever said that change could only take place as a matter of necessity.

 

 

 

 

Do Smart Phone Designs Really Need to be Changed?