Chasing Straight Screens While Ignoring Feel? Is a Right-Angled Frame Really Worth It?

Chasing Straight Screens While Ignoring Feel? Is a Right-Angled Frame Really Worth It?Curved screen? Not even considering it. Straight screen is the best! Every time you open a comment section about straight versus curved screens, you see these comments

Chasing Straight Screens While Ignoring Feel? Is a Right-Angled Frame Really Worth It?

Curved screen? Not even considering it. Straight screen is the best! Every time you open a comment section about straight versus curved screens, you see these comments. Indeed, the return of straight-screen phones has brought joy to many users, but as the right-angled frame design becomes mainstream, a question arises: In pursuing straight screens, have we neglected the importance of feel?

Domestic phone manufacturers have been constantly innovating with new features and designs in recent years, and the return of straight-screen flagships is a prime example. This trend will be even more apparent next year, with flagship phones from Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and other brands adopting straight-screen designs. This is undoubtedly good news for straight-screen enthusiasts. However, what is concerning is that these new phones almost all feature right-angled frame designs, which are not user-friendly for those who value a comfortable grip.

The latest leaked renderings of the vivo X200 and OPPO Find X8, besides the circular decorative elements, both adopt right-angled frames, looking like twins. The design of the right-angled frame has always been controversial. Back in the day, the Smartisan Pro, with its right-angled design, became the sharp outlier in a world of smoothness. However, it was criticized for its poor feel. Surprisingly, Apple adopted the right-angled frame design on the iPhone 12, sticking with it for four years, and this year's iPhone 16 will continue to use it.

When the iPhone 12 was released, the right-angled frame design also received mixed reviews. On the one hand, the right-angled frame can increase the screen-to-body ratio, enhancing the visual effect of the front. Thanks to the improved drop resistance of the Ceramic Shield glass, the plastic buffer ring between the screen and frame disappears, making the appearance more refined. Combined with the four-narrow-bezel design, the overall appearance is more concise, ultimately presenting the ultimate state we desire: just a screen on the front.

On the other hand, the right-angled design also brings obvious disadvantages. Many people complain that the right-angled frame feels sharp, especially on larger phones, where the grip is worse. When using the phone with one hand, the frame presses on the fleshy part of the palm, giving a painful feeling like being squeezed by a sharp object, which is very uncomfortable. The only solution is to put on a phone case, but that makes the phone thicker and heavier.

Every innovation by Apple triggers a wave of imitation in the Android camp. At that time, mid-range offline models like the Vivo S9, OPPO Reno6, and Huawei nova8 SE all followed suit and adopted right-angled frame designs, looking very similar to the iPhone 12. For offline models, mimicking the latest iPhone design is the key to sales. At that time, Android flagships didn't follow suit, mainly because they were obsessed with curved screens, seeing them as a differentiator, and right-angled frames didn't match curved screens. Moreover, Android flagships also had to consider incorporating large batteries and cooling modules, which would inevitably increase the thickness of the phone. The advantage of curved screens lies in their ability to visually make the phone thinner and offset some of the heavy feel.

As the drawbacks of curved screens gradually became apparent, straight screens began to set things right. Straight-screen flagships like the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14, which adopt right-angled frames, have been selling well. Coupled with the advancement of battery material technology, even with large batteries, a relatively thin body can be maintained. The combination of several factors ultimately led to the explosion of the straight screen + right-angled frame design. From high-end flagships to budget phones, almost all straight-screen phones feature right-angled frames, making straight screen + right-angled frame a universal formula.

It must be admitted that the sharp styling of the right-angled frame does enhance the look of straight-screen phones, giving people a sense of freshness. However, some products clearly lack thought from a practical perspective. For example, some models with screens larger than 6.7 inches also blindly follow the trend and adopt right-angled frames. It's worth noting that the Xiaomi 13, although with a right-angled frame, is positioned as a small screen phone, and the glass edges are rounded, unlike Apple's sharp-angled cuts. Another example is the Xiaomi 14 Pro, which, despite featuring a larger micro-curved screen, still uses a right-angled frame, which actually regresses in terms of feel.

For large-screen phones of 6.7 inches or more, even with straight screens, a curved frame would provide a better fit for the palm. As for the issue of the frame protruding, it can be resolved through polishing. Unfortunately, in the face of the novelty and sales brought by the straight screen + right-angled frame, the sharpness issue may be overlooked by manufacturers.

So, the question is, which frame design do you prefer? Do you sacrifice feel for the refined look of a right-angled frame? What's your experience?