Apple: iPhone Touch Screen vs Physical Keyboard (2007)
by Anonymous
When designing the iPhone, Apple chose a full touch screen over the physical keyboards that dominated smartphones (BlackBerry, Palm). Critics said people needed tactile feedback. Apple bet they didn't.
Full Touch Screen (iPhone)
2007
year
3.5 inches — all screen
screen size
Virtual keyboard, no tactile feedback
typing experience
Won — every smartphone copied this design
outcome
Physical QWERTY Keyboard (BlackBerry)
2007
year
Small — keyboard takes half the front
screen size
Tactile, fast for email
typing experience
Dominated until 2010, then collapsed
outcome
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