You may not know the word “bezel” but you probably see it everyday. Bezels are a thin metal or plastic frame around smartphones, dive watches and other decorative objects. You can also find these frames on jewelry and other objects too.
They usually can be unseen because they’re hidden behind leather, fabric or whatever you have in your hands. However, with so many new phones coming out with curved screens, bezles is more important than ever.
Bezels come in all shapes, styles and sizes and they serve the same purpose: to protect your screen from scratches and cracks. Keep reading to learn more about bezles!
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What Does a Bezel Do?
A bezel does much more than just add some style. It keeps the screen from touching other surfaces, which can prevent scratches and cracks. If your phone doesn’t have a bezel, it may not stay very stable on its side. That’s because when you’re holding it in portrait mode, the top part of your phone is off the table and taking up contact with your fingers.
This constant contact with other surfaces can scratch or chip away at your screen until noticeable breaks or fractures occur.
A bezel also protects your fingers from the screen, which is especially important for pocket phones when pulling them out of your pocket. When you’re doing this, a taper between front and back glass overhang would ensure that there are less sharp edges for you to scrape yourself on as well as limit scuffing against the screen.
A Brief History of Bezels
Bezels are elegant, decorative frame pieces that have been around for centuries. They’re built with a variety of materials, from precious metal to plastics. Interestingly enough, the word ‘bezel’ comes from a French meaning ‘to pave with precious stones.’
The Egyptians used emeralds and other stones to decorate their buildings and clothing. These days, you see bezels used in many different applications such as jewelry or decorative items anymore. But they’re more than just a frame piece without any functionality.
They protect the minor thing on top of them by having material around their edges that keep them safe from damage.
Modern Bezels – Then and Now
As technology improvements continued, CRT monitors became slimmer and slimmer. Eventually, there was no room for extra airflow, bezels just grew smaller and smaller.
The newest trend from phone manufacturers is the thin bezel, which comes with its own set of problems for screen protection.
Though this makes for more stylish-looking devices, it leaves less room for protection on the front edge of the device. Stylish phone bezels are getting thinner and more creative due to this lack of space.
How Bezels Are Getting Smaller
Companies are starting to experiment with wacky phone designs, some of which immerse you in a single screen full of information and others that only have a single display. These sleek phones are advanced because they have thin bezels that allow for a sole screen. More room is located behind the screen so the components can live there comfortably. That’s why modern bezels are so slim. There’s little space between the edge of the screen and the face of your phone. A majority of these devices come from soft-touch material covers that make them easier to pick up from tables or objects without adding much bulk, keeping them resistant to oils, dirt, and everyday use.
Bezels on Displays
Because the bezel is everywhere, and it plays a crucial role in so many electronic devices. Here are just a few places you might typically find that silver edging around the screen: All laptops have a bezel around their screens for simple cable management and to act as physical barriers.
They also provide a place for you to grip if you’re using the touchscreen, or press any of the power buttons. Tablet computers also have bezels to prevent users from accidentally tapping the screen while they’re using other features of their devices. Most televisions now have large bezels that surround their screens and accommodate speakers and LEDs.
How Does the Size of the Bezel Make a Difference?
Now, because technology has made sense of the need for bezels on our cell phones, they mostly matter for looks. Bezels are popular because it comes down to simple aesthetics.
Manufacturers are really going crazy with their new designs and enhanced features, making their electronic devices stand out and look unique.
A larger bezel might make it easier to handle your phone with one hand and might come in handy if you primarily use two hands to operate a device.
However, it’s not as important as people think. Weighing small conveniences against those large design decisions is something we recommend people use logic over emotion when weighing their options.
Conclusion
Bezels tend to be used less these days. Some manufacturers use a smaller one in order to see an elegant and futuristic look or to maximize their screen without increasing the size of the device’s design.
You should also note that different manufacturers might prioritize one thing over another in terms of the design of their edge-to-edge display. Because bezel-less displays are in fashion doesn’t mean that all companies will follow suit.
