Believe it or not, it’s been over eight years since Samsung unveiled its first curved-screen smartphone: the Galaxy Note Edge. A weird phone with a weirder gimmick, the original Edge is only curved on one side, leaving the phone unbalanced. Most buyers probably opted to buy the Galaxy Note 4 that year, but Samsung isn’t done with its curved experience. It’s not hard to find curved screens these days, especially on flagships. That’s not to say everyone’s a fan, of course – in fact, it’s safe to say that some users can’t stand a tilted screen.
Now that’s a watermark back.
Although Samsung originally introduced its curved displays with specialized software in mind, these days it’s mostly used as a way to slim ultra-wide phablets. By curving the screen, you can reduce the width of the phone, make it narrower in the user’s hand and make the most of the space provided. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect compromise. Curved screens can make typing more difficult, especially if you opt for the caseless. False key presses may cause your palm to accidentally trigger UI elements, while the panel itself may not look the same along these edges. If you want an easy-to-apply screen protector, forget it – what’s often available is either cheap plastic or expensive tempered glass that requires liquid adhesives.
That said, curved screens aren’t all bad. As mentioned, they do make the phone narrower – just compare the sizes of the Pixel 6 Pro and Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro Max. Google saved 3mm in width just by using a curved screen, despite similar sized screens. This advantage also carries over to the accessories; putting on a case only makes the phone as wide as non-curved devices, not wider. Also, and I admit this is subjective, they look cool. In our world of folding screens and futuristic rollables, it’s easy to miss that the curved screen on the back of the phone looks pretty radical.
These days – without focusing so much on bedside clocks and understated apps – the argument for or against curved screens comes down to form versus function. Do you want something that looks slim and modern, or would you rather go for a more standard sheet of glass, something that might need a little extra width but pays off with accessories?
I was inspired to do this poll after getting our first official look at the front of the Pixel 7 Pro, which appears to retain its curved panel (although not as extreme as last year’s model). Early reactions seemed split on whether or not this design was good. We’ve seen many manufacturers drop their insistence on curved panels, though the most capable high-end phones – the Pixel 6 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra – have kept them.
So, it’s time to chop that up for good. Curved screens: yes or no? I’ve also included an option for curved screens that bend inwards, like the older LG G Flex. There aren’t as many phones with this style of panel, but hey, why not. Let’s hear your best arguments in the comments below.