Xiaomi "Zhuque": The Next Form of Smartphone, or an Adventure?

Xiaomi "Zhuque": The Next Form of Smartphone, or an Adventure?With the upcoming release of the iPhone 16 series, the addition of a dedicated physical button for photography has sparked heated discussions in the mobile phone industry about hardware interaction. However, while Apple is adding physical buttons, Xiaomi has chosen a completely different path to eliminate physical buttons altogether

Xiaomi "Zhuque": The Next Form of Smartphone, or an Adventure?

With the upcoming release of the iPhone 16 series, the addition of a dedicated physical button for photography has sparked heated discussions in the mobile phone industry about hardware interaction. However, while Apple is adding physical buttons, Xiaomi has chosen a completely different path to eliminate physical buttons altogether. Recently, tech media Smartprix revealed that Xiaomi will launch a smartphone codenamed "Zhuque" in 2025, which will be completely devoid of physical buttons.

This news has garnered widespread attention because buttons have always been a crucial part of user interaction with smartphones. Xiaomi "Zhuque's" buttonless design means that existing interaction methods like power buttons, volume controls, etc., will undergo a transformation. Xiaomi is reportedly developing gesture control, pressure-sensitive edges, and voice commands as alternative solutions to replace traditional physical buttons.

This concept of a "buttonless" design is not entirely new. Back in 2019, Meizu launched the truly portless smartphone, Meizu Zero, which utilized virtual pressure buttons and mEngine motors to achieve a buttonless interaction experience. Gesture control functionality has also become a standard feature in recent years on Chinese-made smartphones, with brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, OPPO, and vivo incorporating similar features into their flagship models.

However, current gesture control features are mostly limited to simple operations like swiping up and down, taking screenshots, and going back, far from being able to replace physical buttons entirely. Moreover, the accuracy and speed of gesture recognition still need improvement. Therefore, whether gesture control can become a reliable interaction method for "buttonless" phones remains questionable.

The application prospects of voice commands seem more optimistic. With the rapid development of AI technology, the intelligence level of voice assistants has significantly improved, offering stronger natural language understanding capabilities and processing response speeds, even enabling complex tasks like image generation and view editing. For basic interaction operations like adjusting volume, turning the screen on/off, shutting down, and muting, voice commands are already capable.

However, Xiaomi "Zhuque" still faces numerous challenges in fully realizing a "buttonless" design. First, how will the phone be turned on? After all, voice and gestures cannot be used when the device is powered off. Second, how will it support special scenarios? For example, voice interaction is not feasible for individuals with speech impediments, and gesture operation is limited for those with hand disabilities. Third, how will it support flashing the system, resetting the device, and other extreme operations? These operations usually require physical buttons. Fourth, how will it support "blind operation"? Without physical buttons, how will users operate the phone blindfolded?

In fact, the automotive intelligent cockpit has already undergone similar exploration. While touchscreens and voice interaction are undeniably convenient, physical buttons still offer irreplaceable advantages in certain scenarios, such as adjusting volume, opening windows, and controlling the air conditioning. Physical buttons provide higher efficiency and a more intuitive control experience, while voice interaction requires learning and can potentially cause unnecessary disruptions.

Therefore, although "buttonless design" can bring a more integrated appearance and a simpler visual experience, it also has its drawbacks that cannot be ignored, such as user experience, accessibility support, and ease of operation.

The release of Xiaomi "Zhuque" marks a bold attempt in smartphone design. If Xiaomi can overcome these challenges and find viable solutions, "Zhuque" has the potential to become a significant milestone in the history of smartphone development. However, if the "buttonless" design fails to meet user needs or even becomes a gimmick, then it could potentially become a detour on the path of smartphone development.

Ultimately, whether Xiaomi "Zhuque" becomes the next form of smartphone or merely an adventure, only time will tell.