LG Polls

Poll results: Buttons on the back – Aye or Nay?

posted by Chris P. / Feb 18, 2014, 1:22 AM

Poll results: Buttons on the back – Aye or Nay?

Every major manufacturer out there has a 'thing', at least according to public opinion. Among other things, Apple has its unyielding stance on the topic of screen size, while Samsung is intent on miring the consumer's mind with an endless stream of options in the face of an extensive product line. As of late, LG has started out its own 'thing' -- buttons on the back of devices. Indeed, that experiment of sorts seems to have paid off, for the South Korean number two has now fitted a total of three devices with them -- the LG G2, LG G Flex, and now the LG G Pro 2. It made sense, then, for us to go ahead and check with you: are you liking the new approach or not?

As it turns out -- no -- the majority of us do not mind LG's way of doing things slightly different. About 73% of respondents cement that notion. The remaining 27% think it's a bad idea, and they'd rather pass. Of course, given the company's apparent resolve to keep on banking on this differentiating factor, along with its vow to become the third largest manufacturer in the world by the end of 2014, means that quite some people will be faced with the question for real. Considering the latest products to come out of the company's labs, it appears almost certain that an LG devices will make most people's shortlist in the upcoming year. But can LG keep up the pace? Now that's a good question.

Buttons on the back – aye or nay?

I'm okay with my smartphone's buttons being on the back.

72.99%

Bad idea. I'll pass.

27.01%

Options

49 Comments

1. Yubnub

Posts: 100; Member since: May 23, 2013

Nay..

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:26 AM 9

5. Skoms

Posts: 118; Member since: Feb 03, 2014

They make LG can make their phones with smaller Bezelz And not equal bezelz such as Sony or MS Lumia . But Sonys phones are waterproof.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:46 AM 2

20. IliyaBeshkov

Posts: 261; Member since: Jul 09, 2012

And it's better for left- and right-handed users, which I think is most useful feature.. :)

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 3:23 AM 1

32. AppleHateBoy unregistered

Moto X has ultra thin bezels too. But buttons are on the side.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 6:09 AM 2

37. WakaFlakaD

Posts: 576; Member since: Apr 30, 2011

Besides the bezels, there is another benefit. If you listen to music on-the-go, and you put your phone in your pocket with the screen facing your leg, adjusting the volume is a piece of cake lol

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 7:40 AM 0

48. Kaiser2007

Posts: 173; Member since: Nov 16, 2013

New approach? Seriously? My Moto Charm got "backtrack". I disable it on the day one, didn't even try it. Now, using it as back up phone.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 9:43 PM 0

2. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

I like it.. I like it a lot.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:27 AM 4

6. X.E.R.O. unregistered

I don't like it....I LOVE IT!!

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:50 AM 6

9. rodneyej1

Really? Wow!

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:58 AM 1

13. Rocksteady unregistered

Why are you commenting on an Android article un-enthusiasimly and negatively?!

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:09 AM 2

28. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

This is not Android thing, it's just overall buttons in the back.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 5:12 AM 2

31. CHEFJEFF

Posts: 147; Member since: Sep 22, 2009

I have the G2, it's difficult to feel the power button becuase it's so slightly raised, or to distinguish the up or down volume. I thought it was a great idea until I had to use it. Give me back the side controls.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 6:00 AM 0

43. imMature

Posts: 87; Member since: Sep 04, 2013

You can't distinguish the up or down volume? Wow.. That's quite a skin you got there.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 10:59 AM 1

3. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

As long as the buttons on the back are large enough and are responsive, to compensate for the obscured view and lower power of the index finger vs the thumb.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:41 AM 3

4. Kyokado

Posts: 115; Member since: Jul 11, 2013

Lg is just trying to be fancy with it. This is an idea that most obvious is not practical. So they slap on a few comercials of people laughing and smiling when they are using the g2. And they think the idea is cemented in our heads. But in the end its just something they hope that can show that they can be different from most manufacturers.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:44 AM 0

29. LGisgood

Posts: 833; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

I LOVE USING BACK BUTTON ON MY G2! ITS MORE COMFORTABLE! I CAN EASILY USE EITHER LEFT HAND , OR MY RIGHT HAND TO OPERATE THE PHONE.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 5:30 AM 1

36. hassoups

Posts: 473; Member since: Jun 06, 2013

YOU COULD DO THE SAME WITH EVERY OTHER PHONE TOOO!!!!!

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 7:33 AM 4

35. DigitalJedi_X2

Posts: 346; Member since: Jan 30, 2012

They're not trying to be fancy with it at all. The buttons are extremely practical. Especially if you have large hands, like i do.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 7:08 AM 2

7. Nabil2511

Posts: 152; Member since: Jan 27, 2014

it's a nice trademark from LG.. HTC's got the boom sound.. iPhone's got the slick design.. motorola's got the best battery.. Sony wins the waterproof part..what about Samsung eyh? lol

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 1:54 AM 1

10. williamdroid

Posts: 125; Member since: Jan 19, 2014

S Pen? Lol I never liked the Galaxy S line but the Note line is on a whole other level

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:02 AM 1

16. Kyokado

Thats just u. U dont like the galaxy s line. That doesnt mean that it aint good.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:31 AM 1

18. williamdroid

And i never said it was. All i stated was that I, as in me, dont like the S line.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:55 AM 4

12. hurrycanger

Posts: 1773; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Samsung got gimmicks!!! lol --- (I actually enjoy Samsung phones though. Aside from all the software stuff many people don't care about, the S4 and Note 3 are currently very good phones. The Mega 6.3 is very nice, too, despite that it is a mid-range phablet. Multi windows is also a great feature.)

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:06 AM 2

19. williamdroid

Actually, i agree lol most of the "features" are mostly gimmicks haha IMO But i cannot fathom living without Multiwindow (currently using it), Direct Dial (i think thats what its called), Pop Up window, and the S Pen. But MultiWindow is what won me over from the other Phablets.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 3:02 AM 3

46. DnB925Art

Posts: 1168; Member since: May 23, 2013

I don't use many of the features, although what I like to use doesn't mean other people may like them. it's all about preferences. I do use the multiwindow, direct dial, pop-up window, S-Pen (and all the associated apps like S-Note), Smart Stay (I watch a lot of videos so this is important) and even in the camera app like best shot and best face. At least if you don't like the extra "gimmicks" they can be turned off.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:30 PM 0

17. Droiderr

Posts: 35; Member since: Mar 05, 2013

Well, samsung is already on the top as the market leader. So it must have done something. I dont like answering your question as this might do it.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 2:37 AM 3

34. Nabil2511

but it doesnt have any trademarks though, anything that it specializes in.. other OEM can produce the same specs as most Sammy products nowadays anyway

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 7:05 AM 0

44. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

They have a no compromise trademark. They don't ruin ergonomics for looks like HTC and Apple. They don't add annoying flaps and make huge phones just to waterproof when waterproofing is not needed for at least 95% of the time. They don't add 3000 mah batteries unless they can get it well under 8.9 mm unlike LG and Moto. I don't know about you but a 5 inch 1080p screen, great ergonomics, 2600 mah battery, first to use gorilla glass 3, first to use a faster ram, latest internals, all at the same size as the GS3 and at only 7.9mm is an efficiency that no one else comes remotely close. The Xperia Z had an S4 pro. The HTC one was the same size as the GS4 but with a 4mp camera, smaller screen, slower ram, similar size, only 2300 mah battery, and at a fat 9.3mm. LG can't top Samsung until the end of the year at a different release schedule. Sorry buddy. But no one is even close to them yet. Let's hope it changes this year when Sony and LG is rumoured to follow the same release schedule as all the other flagships. Still, I don't see it with Samsung owning stake in Gorilla Glass and cornering the market on ram. If Qualcomm wasn't so good this year they probably would have had the market on SOC's too.

posted on Feb 18, 2014, 11:12 AM 1

47. DnB925Art

You forgot the Note (phone) series and the S-Pen specifically. Other manufacturers may have phablets, but Samsung Notes have the S-Pen included which differentiates the Note series from all other phablets. Closest thing that uses a capacitive stylus are in the tablet size range like the Surface and Samsung Ativ Win 8 tabs, and Android Note Tablets.