Why the bezels around iPhone screens might not be as fantastic as they initially seem.

Image Credit: iStock While an all-screen design may seem like the holy grail of phone design, there are still good reasons for keeping a bezel. The iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have an impossibly small screen surround, but an all-screen design might not be all that. Current technology still requires some structural and engineering considerations that make a bezel necessary. Additionally, when it comes to tablets like the iPad, a bezel is almost essential for usability. Without enough space to hold onto comfortably, users may experience difficulties handling their tablets without accidentally tapping or swiping something they didn't intend to. This is especially important for individuals with disabilities such as tremors or limited dexterity, as highlighted by accessibility experts. So, while an all-screen design may seem like a desirable feature, it is important to consider the practical implications of such a design before implementing it. When it comes to phones, the screen layer is often flexible and wraps down and away from the surface at the screen edges. This means that removing or reducing bezels can be tricky, as the circuitry at the edge needs to be moved under the screen. Additionally, the bezel can serve a protective function, hiding the circuitry at the edge and providing a buffer so that edge damage is not noticeable. Just like the wooden frame around a mirror, a bezel can increase the structural integrity of a phone, potentially reducing the risk of damage if dropped. While an all-screen design may look sleek and modern, it is important to consider the practical implications and potential trade-offs of such a design, including the impact on the phone's durability and protection against damage. Image Credit: Telecom Talk Bezels are ultra-thin. According to Efrain Torres, owner of phone repair company CellFix, ultra-thin phone bezels can compromise the structural integrity of the device and make it more susceptible to damage from drops or impacts. This highlights the importance of considering the practicality and durability implications of removing or reducing bezels. In addition, having no bezels at all could make it challenging for case manufacturers to create cases that protect the phone from drops and impacts, as noted by Jacob Richard, founder of Camera Prism. So, while an all-screen design may seem like an attractive feature, it is important to consider the potential trade-offs and limitations of such a design, including the impact on the phone's durability and protection against damage. Multitouch screens are a reason. Another practical problem with removing or reducing phone bezels is related to the multitouch screens that we use on our phones. These screens register multiple simultaneous touches separately, which allows us to perform gestures like two-finger taps and pinch-to-zoom. Image Credit: Beebom However, without a border or bezel, it becomes more likely that we will accidentally touch the edge of the screen while also tapping the screen with our fingers. This can lead to uncoordinated touches and cause the UI to go haywire, resulting in unintended actions like zooming in or out of a map. If our fingers are constantly touching the edges of the screen due to the lack of a bezel, this problem can occur more frequently. So, while an all-screen design may look sleek, it is important to consider the potential practical problems that can arise from removing or reducing the bezel. Efrain Torres notes that while thin bezels provide a sleek, modern look and an expansive screen, they can also make the device more prone to accidental touches and unintended inputs. However, some manufacturers have implemented software solutions such as touch rejection algorithms that can differentiate between intentional and accidental touches to mitigate these issues. Read More: Apple will alter the design of the iPhone 15 Pro Max to include smaller camera bumps and bezels, as per leaks For tablets, bezels are even more important because they need to be held like a book. With the iPad Pro, Apple has already done a good job of reducing bezel size while still maintaining touch rejection capability. In the early models of the iPad, finger rejection was a bit of a problem if fingers strayed outside of the huge bezels, but this was fixed as soon as Apple reduced the bezel size. This suggests that Apple will likely continue to prioritize touch rejection capability for all future iPhones, whether they have a bezel or not.