Touchscreens vs buttons: why buttons are back in fashion

Do you ever feel like technology has failed in its promise to simplify our lives and only succeeded in overcomplicating everything? According to Spectrum, this is one reason why touchscreens will be out, and tactile controls will be a big hit in 2025.

Touchscreens might be cheap for manufacturers, but the design is often confusing and not user-friendly. Instead of being intuitive, users are expected to navigate multiple sub-menus to locate simple settings, and it's becoming tiresome.

With screen fatigue on the rise, big tech companies are beginning to react to the changes in their customers' preferences. So, who is leading the charge for the re-buttonization of our tech?

Unexpected action button twist completes Apple's design loop

Apple has a love-hate relationship with physical buttons, but there have been a series of U-turns in recent years. The infamous Touch Bar was introduced in October 2016 as a thin, high-resolution OLED display that would replace the traditional function keys. However, the gimmicky feature was finally removed with the reintroduction of physical function keys.

In 2023, Apple added an "Action" button to the iPhone 15 and Pro Max. Fast-forward to September 2024, when Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 series. With Apple Intelligence delayed, the launch event focused on adding yet another button called "Camera Action."

One of the most prominent features of the new Apple Ultra watch was, you guessed it, enhanced functionality of its physical "Action Button." Seven years after Apple removed the physical Home button, users now find themselves with five physical buttons on their new iPhones.

Elsewhere, the biggest talking point of Apple's new Mac Mini was the bizarre placement of the power button. When did we become so obsessed with buttons again?

this is the bottom of Apple's new Mac Mini. Yes, that's the power button 🙃 https://t.co/R2aGQ8Rduf pic.twitter.com/1hKFFhfCSZ

undefined Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 29, 2024

However, it's not just personal devices where touchscreens are falling short. The automotive industry is grappling with the consequences of touchscreen reliance, prompting significant regulatory changes.

Regulator tells car makers to bring back buttons by 2026

Automakers removed the traditional buttons from car dashboards and replaced them with supersized touchscreens in their vehicles. The problem with cramming every control into complex menu systems is that drivers need a YouTube tutorial to understand all the features. Touchscreens are also blamed for distracting drivers from focusing on the road ahead by competing for their attention on journeys.

Tests by Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare revealed that touchscreen-based infotainment systems delay drivers by up to 30 seconds, longer than traditional button and lever controls.

A tech backlash is building, with many users wishing they could return to simpler times and some authorities going as far as demanding it. Earlier this year, the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) warned automakers that from January 2026, new vehicles must have physical controls to achieve a maximum five-star safety rating. Could this be the end of the road for touchscreens in cars?

Interestingly, the backlash against touchscreens isn't confined to drivers or smartphone users. Even e-reader enthusiasts are reigniting the demand for physical controls, proving that simplicity resonates across a variety of use cases.

Why page turn buttons are becoming a reader favorite

Multitasking readers love an e-reader with a button that lets them turn a page with a single hand. This more practical design feature solves the first-world problems of trying to read while holding a sleeping baby or enjoying a cup of coffee.

With the Oasis model now discontinued, there is no longer a Kindle with physical page-turn buttons, and Amazon has no plans to bring back the feature. When combined with the increasing frustration caused by the bizarre placement of the power button, many readers can be found searching for alternative devices online.

I remain convinced that no one at @AmazonKindle actually uses the devices that they build. Removing the page turn buttons from the Oasis, while leaving the power button where it’s easily pressed by propping the device up against something. Infuriating. https://t.co/rfV2WLZXnX

undefined Stephen Fleming (@StephenFleming) November 6, 2024

Thankfully, several e-reader models feature page-turning buttons, catering to users who appreciate tactile navigation. Kobo includes them on devices like the Sage and Libra 2, while Onyx Boox integrates buttons in the Leaf 2 and Page.

Pocketbook places buttons beneath the display for added functionality, and Barnes & Noble has consistently included them in its Nook series. When choosing the best e-reader, buttons are rapidly becoming a must-have feature.

From touchscreens to buttons, simplicity reigns

These examples – from cars to e-readers – underscore a broader movement toward reintroducing physical buttons. It's a shift highlighting the enduring appeal of tactile functionality in an increasingly digital world.

Although the overuse of touchscreens adds to the screen fatigue problem, we don't expect anyone to return to their BlackBerry phones and physical keyboards anytime soon. However, the overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem.

Alongside the re-buttonization of everything, many users are looking back to 90s dumb phones with envy and a way of escaping the bombardment of digital noise. Other nineties retro trends can be found in the reboot of transparent tech products such as the see-through Beats Studio Buds and Xbox Controllers.

As digital detoxes will inevitably rise in popularity in the new year, users will increasingly crave the simplicity of a button over fiddly touchscreen menus. But in doing so, are we turning our backs on a tech-filled future? Probably not. Consider it more of a rebellion against poor UX.

Instead of making our lives easier, we need more than cramming everything into fiddly touchscreen menus. Buttons are faster because they're tactile. They're also more reliable because touchscreens can stop working when wearing gloves or having wet skin.

Big tech is reaching another full circle moment, and it's being forced to admit that buttons still have a place in a world full of touchscreens. So expect to see the re-buttonization and simplification of everything to continue well into 2025.