Samsung’s 2019 $400 Galaxy looks more modern than the 2024 model. And so does the 2021 Pixel 5a compared to the 2024 Pixel 8a.
Without a doubt, design is the most subjective aspect of a smartphone. Hence, it’s no surprise I often talk about it in opinion pieces. Duh…
One particular aspect of smartphone design, which seems to unite most people, is display borders. The popular opinion on phone display borders is “the thinner — the better”. It’s as simple as that.
Then again, a less “popular opinion” is that symmetrical display borders should be an even bigger priority. However, not every phone-maker shares either one of those two views.
Take Samsung and Google, for example… Two of the most influential phone-makers in the world aren’t shy to turn back the clock, and make their new Galaxy A55 and Pixel 8a phones look older than their 2019-2021 counterparts — the Galaxy A51 and Pixel 5a.
And I know inflation is high, but I highly doubt it affects smartphone bezel real estate… Which is why I feel obligated to put Samsung and Google on the spot.
Pixel 8a vs Pixel 5a and Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A51: Google and Samsung’s 2024 mid-range phones look older than their 2019-2021 counterparts
For one, this isn’t the first instance of Samsung and Google “rolling back the clock” on their phone designs on purpose. The same happened with last year’s Galaxy A54 and Pixel 7a.
The surprising bit is that, this year, the Galaxy A55’s design remains unchanged, and the Pixel 8a has even thicker display borders than its predecessor, or at least that’s what it looks like due to the new, curvy design of the 8a.
