Remember a time when the world was a simple place, long before wi-fi signals, 5G connections and speed tests, a time when changing a radio station involved a satisfying twist of a rotary dial. A time when whacking the side of the television fixed the dodgy reception. I miss that time. It seems like yesterday, yet it feels impossibly distant. Now everything requires a swipe, a tap, and an inscrutable menu hidden behind a soulless touchscreen. We’ve traded reliability and simplicity for a shiny world of incessant updates and infuriating glitches. But, perhaps worse of all, this tech obsession has bled into the sanctuary of our cars.
Studies have shown that taking your eyes off the road to fiddle with a touchscreen can significantly increase the risk of an accident. Proponents of the physical button will also argue that it’s simply easier to use, especially in situations where visibility might be compromised or if you’re wearing gloves.
Thankfully, someone has finally had a dose of common sense. Euro NCAP, those fine folks who judge car safety, have decided to bless cars with proper buttons in the interest of not turning us all into highway statistics as stated by Verge and other publications. Finally! It’s about time they realized the dangers of these distracting touchscreens. While the minimalist-chic brigade will no doubt whine about ‘clean lines’ and ‘modern aesthetics’, they can keep their sleek glass slabs – I’d rather keep my eyes on the road, thank you very much.
In order for automaker’s to earn maximum safety ratings from Euro NCAP, they will need to adhere to new rules that will come into effect in January 2026. These rules will deduct points from vehicles that lack certain traditional controls.
Let’s be honest, anyone who’s ever tried to navigate through a seven-page touchscreen menu to adjust their seat heating knows the struggle. Have a shred of self-preservation, and you’ll realize that taking your eyes off the road for anything longer than a glance is, what’s the word the youngsters use… oh, yes, “idiotic”. Us button-loving folk have a point beyond safety too. There’s a joy in the simple, satisfying click of a dial, a tactile reminder that you’re actually in control of something.
Let’s not forget the nostalgia factor – there’s a certain joy that comes with the physical click of a button or the satisfying turn of a dial. It’s a connection to a bygone era of motoring that shouldn’t be completely replaced by the cold sterility of a touchscreen.
Of course, the complete eradication of the touchscreen seems unlikely. After all, certain functions like navigation or entertainment systems are best suited to a touchscreen interface. But the return of the physical button, at least for essential driving functions, is a welcome move in the right direction and one company is taking a step in the right direction to combat this issue.
A Simple Detachable Solution to the Touch-Screen Conundrum
Xiaomi, yes the Chinese brand that makes affordable smartphones and quirky yet clean home appliances has taken its first swing at the EV market and joins the likes of Sony, Dyson and others who have expressed a desire to make EVs. Their first car called the SU7, officially goes on sale this month and initial reviews have been pretty impressive. If you take the steering wheel and the styling which have been blatantly ripped off of the Tycan out of the equation, there are a few valuable lessons to be learnt from this first-time EV manufacturer that even legacy automakers have failed to do over the years.
You see the Xiaomi SU7 also uses a great big touchscreen which measures over 16-inches, just like the rest of the lot, however, it’s got a clever trick up its sleeve. Xiaomi has designed a detachable docking unit with physical buttons that magnetically attach to the bottom of the centre touchscreen. This allows drivers to switch between a touchscreen interface and a more traditional button layout. The Pogo pin-based interface functions much like the way the Magic Keyboard effortlessly connects to an iPad using magnets.
This practice of taking their learnings from the world of smartphones and applying it to the world of automobiles can be seen elsewhere as well, the SU7 integrates seamlessly with Xiaomi phones and gadgets, creating a unique automotive ecosystem.
Xiaomi welcomes third-party companies to make accessories for the SU7.
The clever bit here isn’t limited to the addition of buttons. It’s a whole bunch of pins, i.e. connectivity options scattered around the central screen. Xiaomi is even planning to open this up to third-party accessory manufacturers, so we could see a whole ecosystem of third-party accessories. This means the possibilities are endless! Users could seamlessly switch between a minimalist or a functional interior layout. Exciting stuff!
So, here’s to the resurgence of the button. May it save us from swiping our way into a ditch and remind us that sometimes simpler just means better. Now we know that there are ways to merge the new and the old seamlessly and effortlessly and in this instance, it had to come from a tech and home appliance company to show us the best way forward. Safety, functionality and that certain intangible element of driver enjoyment should never be sidelined.