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Design Criticism: Vivo's Apex Smartphone Concept

Our thoughts on the pluses and minuses of the design features

By Rain Noe - March 7, 2018

in UX | Tech

Smartphone manufacturer Vivo has unveiled the Apex, a functioning concept smartphone that introduces some new features to the category. Check out the demo video first, then we'll get into it:

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The Bezel

Smartphone manufacturers all seem to be racing towards a bezel-less screen. (Confused about the difference between bevels and bezels? Read this.) To me this confers no useful advantage and is purely aesthetic. I'd not pay more for a phone with no bezel, but apparently the tech fanboy market considers this a desirable feature.

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Also consider that by making the phone's face all screen, they've created an object without any orienting cues for the user. I.e. when the screen is off and you pick it up, you have no way of knowing which way is up, unless you feel for the buttons on the side. In my opinion this is a major UX flaw.

The Pop-Up vs. Fixed Camera

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I think the pop-up camera is a very neat idea that handily addresses privacy concerns. While the skeptical part of me fears that moving parts are just another thing that can break, I can't deny that there'd be zero fear your camera was on if the thing is completely retracted.

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The feature only applies to the user-facing camera, of course. The rear camera is conventionally fixed.

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The On-Screen Fingerprint Recognition

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I like this feature a lot better than having to scan your face. And I think Vivo's enlargement of the fingerprint-reading area is a great UX improvement.

The Dual Fingerprint Recognition

I'm not so impressed by the supposed extra security of requiring both of your thumbprints to unlock the phone; if someone can force you to put one thumb on the screen, they can force you to put both thumbs on it.

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However, this does raise the intriguing possibility of requiring two different people's thumbs to unlock certain aspects of the phone, like military weapons that require two sets of keys. I myself have no need of this feature, but I'm sure a married couple might think of a useful application.

The Glass Back

I'm disappointed that Vivo went with the glass back. I'll never understand why smartphone manufacturers persist in building inherently slippery, slim objects out of a material that can shatter. If the entire indoor and outdoor world were carpeted this would make more sense to me.

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Also take a look at those fingerprints; this thing is like a forensic analyst's dream come true. Banks that are prone to being robbed should make their countertops out of smartphones.

The Headphone Jack

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I never thought I'd be thankful for the inclusion of a legacy feature, but I'm glad they've included both the standard headphone jack and the USB-C. A constant point of annoyance with my iPhone is the dongle adapter required to use it with conventional headphones.

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As mentioned in the video it doesn't appear the company will be producing this exact phone, but is using it to garner feedback. Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on the design features? And if you're one of those no-bezel people, can you explain why it's so desirable?

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Anton Shvydkyi

6 years ago

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1) Bezels are perceived as THE most distinct identifier of how modern the phone is. We were moving to higher screen/body ratio from the very beginning. Even though it doesn't make much sense anymore in terms of usability trade-offs. Because of cultural inertia we have to create a phone which has a screen on 100% of the frontal surface before we can bring some of that bezel back for usability.
2) Glass has higher perceived value than plastic, allows wireless charging and not prone to expected damage (scratches)

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Brad Johnson

6 years ago

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I think it's just a matter of using all of the available "real estate".

People want a bigger screen, but don't want to shove a tablet in their pocket. Folding screen technology is developing, but no where near the mainstream market for now.

Until someone invents something better, I think we will continue to see a reduction in the "wasted" space at the edges of the phone.

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Jason Pokines

6 years ago

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Another drawback to not having a bezel is now when you hand your phone to your in-laws to show them a cute picture, they're even more likely to push a button as they grab it, inadvertently deleting the picture, ordering $400 worth of junk on Amazon, and probably pulling up 20 hardcore porn sites in the process. And they'll look at you like it's your fault.

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- Sean Thackston
  
  Jason Pokines
  
  6 years ago
  
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  haha. If pulling up 20 hardcore porn sites is as easy as the press of a button, it's totally your fault.
  
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    Sean Thackston
    
    6 years ago
    
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    1Z
    
    Shhhhhhhhh!
    
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Dee An

6 years ago

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Requiring two fingerprints to unlock makes it harder for someone to unlock your phone whilst you are asleep by holding the phone against your thumb. Possibly useful for those in shared housing (student pranks) or for those in a controlling and abusive relationship.

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. JC

6 years ago

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I think a gradient textured back would solve orientation issue.
I for one hope someone designs a phone without front facing camera.

I think glass back are mostly used to include wireless charging and to quell the rage from anti plastic folks.
Plastic is fine for me if it is well textured and finished. I've had phones going all sticky when the soft finish coating starts disintegrating.

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P Z

6 years ago

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Hmm, I give them credit for at publicly doing a concept phone but...
-That camera is destined to break.
-Leaving nice clean fingerprints on your screen sounds great for potential thieves. Dual fingerprints could be interesting though.
-I don't care if glass backs are "premium" I'd rather have a lighter, more durable plastic back.
-Bezels are so small already it's not much of a selling point to me anymore. But if they can do forward facing stereo from behind the screen I'd be down for it.
-It has a headphone jack! Maybe not "what progress looks like" but it's still the connector everyone has :P

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