A key aspect for someone using a phone is the ease and intuitiveness of moving between apps and settings. So, if you’ve been using Android for a while, you’re probably familiar with the three-button navigation system (“the classic”), but perhaps you’ve already taken the plunge (or are thinking of taking it) towards navigation. by gestures. Which is better? We help you choose: three buttons or gestures.
Three button navigation in Android
Three button navigation It has existed since the arrival of touch screens.so that you get used to the idea of how old it is.
In general, these three buttons are arranged linearly at the bottom of the screen and have the following functions:
- on the left, a back arrow that takes you back to the previous screen.
- the middle button is the “Home” button and leads to the main screen.
- with the button on the right lets you see all recently opened apps that are running in the background, so you can switch between them.
The three-button navigation is appealing to anyone who loves a consolidated and clear experiencesince each button has a specific function, so you don’t have to worry about swiping all over the phone screen to navigate and you don’t have to learn and internalize the gestures.
Besides, if you are used to having your hands full, place the keypad in a single area This will make everything more comfortable, since you can reach it with your thumb without any problem.
Additionally, the three-button navigation is more fluid and optimized in certain applications.
The Disadvantages of Button Navigation
But all that glitters is not gold. To begin with, the distribution of the buttons and their respective functions that we mentioned above may vary depending on the phone. So the back button can be either right or left which means it offers some muscular learning curve if you switch phones frequently.
Note that the three-button system takes up valuable screen space which, by using another navigation system, you could take advantage of for other tasks, for example to play better or watch movies.
Besides, if you are using a big screen phone, reaching for the bottom of the screen with your thumb can be uncomfortable. In this sense, we recommend that you take a look at our tricks to manage your Android with one hand.
If you are a person who appreciates browsing speed on your phonemaybe repeatedly tapping the buttons at the bottom of the screen to go back or switch between apps might not be a bit nimble for you.
Gesture navigation on Android
Put yourself in the situation: you read this article from your mobile, you scroll down this page and at the end of the song, you feel the need to continue reading other articles on Xataka Android. Instead of pressing the back button to go to the main landing page, you can just swipe from the right side to go back. Gesture navigation is one-way more fluid, intuitive and optimized to navigate on your Android phone.
Also, unlike button navigation, you can take advantage of all the space on the screen to display content. That extra space on your screen translates to a more immersive experience that you’ll especially appreciate if your phone is relatively compact.
As a result, the screen display offers a sleek, clean, modern and aesthetic looksince you don’t have three buttons occupying a part.
Interacting directly with the whole screen feels more natural: swipe left to go back, swipe up to go to the home screen, swipe up and down to see background apps.
The disadvantages of gesture navigation
Gesture navigation gets you around faster than having to press multiple buttons to get to your destination, but the curve for adapting and learning gestures can be steeperespecially if you have been using the buttons for a long time.
Similarly, frustration can arise if the swipes they perform are not recognized as accurately as the actions applied to the buttons, or conversely, if the phone responds abruptly to accidental swipes. Special mention for apps that require swiping from the edges of the screen.
Another major failure of third-party applications is that there are some that are not sufficiently adapted (or there is no such option at all) to gesture navigation, causing an inconsistent experience when toggling.
People with mobility issues may benefit from gesture navigation, as swiping may be a more plausible task than pressing buttons fixed in one position, but these People with poor dexterity or tremors may have difficulty to navigate with gestures.
How to activate navigation by gestures or one of the three buttons
The way to enable gesture navigation or three button navigation is the same. Although it may vary by phone model and manufacturer, the path is as follows: ‘Setting‘ > ‘Filter‘ > ‘navigation‘. There you can either and configure it as you prefer by touching the gear.
Which navigation to choose: gestures or three buttons?
There is no navigation system better than another, but yes the one that best suits your needs and tastes. Before making a decision, consider these criteria:
- Ergonomics. Choose what feels most natural and comfortable to you. If you have a big phone or small hands, the gestures work in your favor rather than having to scroll down to reach the buttons.
- Speed. If when using your phone you want fast navigation and multitasking, bet on the gestures above the buttons. But if you’re looking for precision and a solid pitch (say, if you’re not a technician), three buttons are better.
- Filter. If you want the whole screen to be available for reading, watching videos, or playing games, better opt for gestures.
- Compatibility. Before choosing, think about which applications and games you use most frequently and which navigation system works best with, as this can be decisive.
- Personalization. The three buttons and gestures support some degree of customization, which should help tweak it to be more intuitive and comfortable for you.
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