Think about the last time you tried to find the perfect volume on your phone using the volume buttons. While buttons have their place, there’s something undeniably satisfying about adjusting volume using dials. But why are they missing from smartphones?

So many devices have volume controls

Volume controls and knobs are becoming more and more common on hardware, regardless of whether it’s audio-related. From computer keyboards and headsets to smart home devices, many devices come with knobs. The reason for their popularity is simple: they provide a quick and intuitive way to control volume without having to press buttons or navigate through menus.

Interestingly, volume controls aren’t even a modern invention. They’ve been around for decades. Old radios, car stereos, and early sound systems all featured a knob that could be used to control volume and serve other purposes. The design has endured because of its practicality.

Despite being widely used in many devices, volume controls are still largely absent from smartphones. This raises an important question. What’s stopping phone manufacturers from including this feature when others have adopted it so easily?

A volume wheel is intuitive

No matter how you look at it, a wheel mechanism is more convenient and user-friendly than pressing or holding buttons. The simplicity of turning a wheel makes it an attractive option for me.

A volume wheel allows for smooth, continuous control. You can quickly adjust the volume with a single movement, which is more ideal than pressing the same button multiple times. Of course, you can also hold down the volume button, but this will be less accurate at achieving the right volume. In addition, volume buttons do not allow you to control the volume very precisely.

On many Android phones, including Samsung, you only have 15 volume levels available to change using the buttons. There are cases where the gap between two consecutive levels is too large. I often feel when watching videos that the sound is too quiet on the 7th level and too loud on the 8th level. With a volume wheel, there should be no problem with precision. The gaps between the different volume levels can be adjusted more precisely.

Why don’t phones have them?

So volume wheels have the edge over traditional buttons for many reasons. But with phones, it’s not as simple as it seems. They pose many challenges for both users and manufacturers.

Design and ergonomic limitations

The biggest hurdle in implementing volume wheels in smartphones is probably design decisions. Modern smartphones feature sleek, minimalist designs where every millimeter of space is optimized for slimness and portability. Buttons don’t take up much space. However, a full-circle wheel takes up significant internal space. It also impacts external space, as companies have to plan how they are going to design the button island and still accommodate a wheel.

Ergonomically speaking, it’s a bit tricky to find the right place for the volume wheel. When CMF first introduced the Phone 1, everyone thought the button in the picture was for volume and other purposes. Putting it there seems better than putting it in the same place as the volume buttons. But then you as a user have to retrain your muscle memory.

Water and dust protection

Another new challenge that volume wheels bring is their greater vulnerability to water and dust. If you look closely at a mouse where the wheel is, you’ll notice that the chamber has open gaps. The result? It attracts dust.

This may not be a big problem with a mouse or other peripherals. But with a phone, dust or water getting into the internal chambers can wreak havoc. A volume wheel with the same design as a computer mouse is a recipe for disaster.

Accidental adjustments

The purpose of a volume wheel is to make it easy to turn as it is not as heavy as a volume knob. But there is a catch – it can be accidentally turned! Especially when the phone is in your pocket. So many times I take my phone out of my pocket and see it accidentally touched. With a knob, it will often happen that you accidentally change the volume.

However, with some software implementations it is possible to improve the situation. For example, the button only works when the phone screen is on, eliminating the possibility of accidental adjustments when the phone is in your pocket. However, this also means that you have to unlock the phone every time you want to change the volume even slightly.

Touch controls can be finer-grained than steering wheel controls

Volume control on smartphones doesn’t have to be a binary option (buttons or wheels). You can also use touch controls. As soon as you press the volume button, the volume center should appear. Then you can adjust the volume with your finger as you like.

Honestly, this may be the best way to control your phone’s volume, even better than buttons. If convenience is the only thing that matters, then there’s no need to break the norm and put a volume wheel on a phone. Touch controls are sufficient. And if you want even more advanced controls, many apps will give you those.

The idea of ​​having volume controls on a smartphone isn’t all that far-fetched, despite the potential challenges. It’s hard not to imagine how convenient this could be for many consumers. With technology constantly evolving, who knows? Maybe one day phone makers will find a way to overcome these limitations and bring the simplicity of volume controls to our pockets.