Samsung's S26: Buttons vs. Gestures Debate Continues

The upcoming Galaxy S26 series, expected in less than two weeks, faces scrutiny over its default navigation system. While Samsung is rumored to introduce exciting upgrades like a display privacy mode and variable aperture camera, the retention of three-button virtual navigation is a point of concern. This system, largely phased out by other smartphone makers nearly a decade ago, was standard on Android phones before the advent of gesture controls.

Gesture navigation gained significant traction with the iPhone X in 2017 and was adopted by Google for Android 9 in 2018, with Samsung implementing it in 2019. Despite the widespread effectiveness and improvements in gesture controls, Samsung continues to favor virtual buttons as the primary interface. This approach is evident even on their foldable devices, where screen real estate is at a premium.

Samsung's persistent use of virtual buttons might cater to users accustomed to the older system or those who simply prefer physical buttons. This distinct strategy aligns with Samsung's broader tendency to customize Android heavily through its One UI, often diverging from stock Android features and developing in-house alternatives for apps and components.

While Samsung has sometimes been at the forefront of adopting new Google features, like Circle to Search, its approach to core navigation remains an outlier. The company is urged to make gesture navigation the default for the Galaxy S26 series, aligning with modern standards while continuing its unique product development.