I remember a time when I didn’t know — or care — what a bezel was. Now, thanks to the efforts of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, I may be able to forget about this component all together. (If you don't already know, it's the metal or plastic bit that surrounds a screen.) A slew of new devices have appeared this month — some leaked, some released officially — all showing companies doing their best to erase the bezel. It's one of the latest trends in smartphone design and has already made its way to the US in the form of the $239 Sharp Aquos Crystal and its infinity pool-like display. Looking at these devices it seems we'll be seeing a lot less edge in future.
BEZEL-LESS DESIGN IS THE NEW GIMMICK
Bezel-less design does give a phone a pleasingly futuristic look, and means that manufacturers can fit larger displays into smaller cases. However, it also makes the devices more fragile (bezels protect the screen when a phone is dropped on its side) and means you're more likely to smudge the display. Some people might find the extra screen real estate useful for swiping in from the sides, but that's hardly a major benefit. There's also the question of how the rest of the phone performs. Bezels or not, there are some things every smartphone needs to succeed.
Images via Subor, GizmoChina, and Weibo.
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