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Do you prefer touchscreens or buttons in cars? Which one is safer? Will physical controls make a full comeback?
Manufacturers are bringing back physical buttons to operate everything from phones to cars to appliances—challenging the decades-long assumption that “newer” means “better” design. Research shows physical controls are safer and work better—and users feel more psychological satisfaction.
Here’s how society went from buttons to touchscreens to buttons.
The Evolution of Buttons in Cars
The 1898 invention of the on/off button on flashlights marked the first time users could control a device’s function through an action (pushing) that had no logical connection to the result (light). This differed from earlier devices where, for instance, pulling a lever directly moved gears. Over the next several decades, physical buttons became people’s primary connection to their devices, serving as the first point of contact with their favorite technologies.
In the 1980s, the widespread adoption of computers transformed what “button” meant. For the first time, a physical action (pressing the mouse button) controlled a visual element (clicking an on-screen icon). This relationship between physical and virtual controls expanded as websites introduced clickable links into “buttons.”
Touchscreens Replace Buttons
In 2009, Tesla’s Model S revolutionized car interfaces by centralizing controls in a large, minimalist touchscreen display. Other manufacturers quickly followed suit, abandoning a traditional mix of small screens and buttons in cars. This shift was driven partly by economics: Touchscreens are less expensive to install than physical buttons and knobs. This cost advantage led to the widespread adoption of digital interfaces.
Physical Controls Make a Comeback
After years of touchscreen dominance, manufacturers are starting to bring back physical buttons and knobs in their products, with research showing they’re more effective and practical than digital interfaces, despite touchscreens being marketed as more advanced technology.
The return to physical controls is happening across sectors:
- Apple, which helped popularize touchscreens with the iPhone in 2007, has added new buttons to its iPhone 16 and restored physical function keys to MacBooks.
- Auto manufacturers including Hyundai, Kia, BMW Mini, Volkswagen are moving away from Tesla’s all-touchscreen model, adding physical controls.
- Appliance maker Copper is returning to traditional knobs on its induction ranges.
- E-reader companies Kobo, Nook, and Boox are incorporating physical buttons to turn pages.
Research and consumer experience are driving this shift. A 2019 US Navy study concluded that touchscreens impair operational effectiveness in crucial tasks. One Swedish car magazine’s research found that drivers using physical controls completed routine tasks in just 10 seconds— while those using touchscreens took up to 45 seconds. Hyundai’s research confirms that drivers become stressed when they can’t quickly access controls in urgent situations.
Why Our Bodies and Brains Prefer Physical Controls
Experts say there are multiple reasons humans naturally prefer buttons and knobs over digital interfaces, ranging from basic safety to psychological satisfaction.
- Safety. Physical controls work with the body’s natural abilities, taking advantage of both proprioception and muscle memory—allowing users to operate controls automatically, without looking at them, through repeated use.
- Functionality. Buttons and knobs are easy to understand and use and less likely to malfunction in common scenarios than digital interfaces.
- Accessibility. Physical buttons provide better access for elderly users and people with disabilities who may struggle with touchscreens.
- Sensory pleasure. People enjoy the physical sensation of pressing and feeling buttons respond, creating a more engaging and pleasurable experience than tapping a flat screen—they’re also less frustrating to operate.
Looking Ahead
The future of interface design is being shaped by both safety concerns and consumer preferences. A European automotive safety organization now requires physical buttons and knobs in vehicles seeking its highest safety rating.
Some car companies are responding with hybrid approaches—bringing back physical controls for essential functions like hazard lights, window defrosters, and climate control, or offering multiple interface options—combining physical buttons, touchscreens, and voice controls to suit different user needs and situations.
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