Believe it or not, it’s been more than eight years since Samsung unveiled its first smartphone with a curved display: the Galaxy Note Edge. A weird phone with a weirder gimmick, the original Edge is only curved on one side, leaving the phone skewed. Most buyers probably opted for the Galaxy Note 4 that year, but Samsung wasn’t done with its bent experiment. Nowadays it is not difficult to find curved screens, especially on flagships. Of course, that’s not to say that everyone is a fan – in fact, it’s safe to say that some users can’t stand a slanted screen.
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That’s a throwback watermark.
Although Samsung initially introduced its curved screens with some specialized software in mind, today it is mainly used as a way to slim down ultra-large phablets. By bending the screen, you can reduce the width of the phone, making it more comfortable in the user’s hand and making the most of the available space. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect compromise. Curved screens can make typing more difficult, especially if you choose to work without letters. False touches can cause your palm to accidentally activate 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 available is often cheap plastic or expensive tempered glass that requires liquid glue.
That said, curved screens aren’t all bad. As mentioned, they make the phone slimmer – just compare the dimensions of the Pixel 6 Pro and Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro Max. Google saved 3mm in width by using only a curved screen, despite the similarly sized screens. That advantage also applies to 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 foldable screens and futuristic rollables, it’s easy to miss that the screen that curves straight to the back of the phone looks quite radical.
Today—without so much focus on bedside tables and minimized apps—the argument for or against curved screens boils down to form versus function. Do you want something that looks sleek and modern, or would you rather opt for a more standard sheet of glass, something that might take a little extra width but pay off with accessories?
I was inspired to create this poll after we got our first official look at the front of the Pixel 7 Pro, which appears to retain its curved panel (though not as extreme as last year’s model). Early reactions seemed divided as to whether this design was good or not. We’ve seen many manufacturers shy away from pushing for curved panels, although the tallest of the high-end phones – the Pixel 6 Pro, the Galaxy S22 Ultra – have kept them close.
So it’s time to get this sorted out for good. Curved screens: yes or no? I’ve also added an option for curved screens that curve inward, like the old LG G Flex. There aren’t nearly as many phones with that style of panel, but hey, why not. Let’s hear your best arguments in the comments section below.