I don’t hate progress

I hate bad decisions

Phones keep getting better on paper. Faster chips. Smarter software. More cameras than a documentary crew. 

And yet, some of the best features we’ve had are quietly disappearing. They are replaced not because something better came along, but because of trends, design cycles, and market alignment. Whatever that means. 

Here are five things I genuinely miss - and a few that still make me shake my head every time I pick up a new phone.

1. The Death of the Alert Slider

It was brilliant - a three-stage switch that allowed you to switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes, even while blindfolded. It resembled the iPhone’s classic mute toggle, but better. And now? It’s being replaced by the so-called Action Button and its expanding list of bland equivalents. Sure, it’s customizable, but is it memorable? Not really. I’d be curious to know how many people actually use them for anything other than replicating what the alert slider already did, only slower and less satisfyingly.

2. Everything Must Be Flat

Curved screens once felt special - graceful, immersive, and undeniably premium. They offered more than aesthetics; they provided phones with a distinct presence. But now? Even the most high-end flagship models have adopted flat designs for the sake of “symmetry” and simpler production. True, they are easier to case and likely less expensive to manufacture. However, this shift makes everything seem... safe. Uninspired. As if every phone were created from the same corporate blueprint, approved by a group of individuals who dislike taking risks.

3. Camera Bumps Bigger Than the Phone

One-inch sensors. Periscope zoom. All impressive - on paper. But somewhere along the way, the back of our phones turned into architectural experiments. Some camera bumps are so massive, the phone can’t sit flat without rocking like a wonky table at a café. We went from functional design to full-blown furniture. It’s tech that demands attention but forgets about comfort. Maybe it’s time we find a middle ground—where performance doesn’t mean turning your phone into a tripod.

4. No Charger in the Box

I understand - sustainability, less packaging, saving the planet. All noble goals. But when a phone offers 80W fast charging and arrives with… nothing, that’s not eco-friendly; that’s profit-friendly. Especially when we’re talking about expensive phones. Not everyone has a drawer full of GaN bricks and proprietary cables. Some of us just want to charge at full speed - straight out of the box, without needing a scavenger hunt or a separate receipt.

5. AI Features That Solve Nothing

AI should not take center stage; it ought to be the secret ingredient. The most effective intelligence is the type that operates seamlessly, only noticed when absent. It enhances the operating system, provides more insightful suggestions, and yields better results. Recently, however, AI has become the primary focus. Entire product launches are centered on it. Even worse, it’s beginning to influence hardware design, adding extra buttons, renaming chips, and introducing dedicated keys that primarily activate a model most users will forget. This approach is overwhelming. AI should remain in the background, subtly improving the user experience rather than aiming to redefine the phone itself. When everything shouts “smart,” it often feels the opposite.

And yet… despite all that, some phones still get it right. The Oppo Find N5 is one of them. Apart from its excellent and inevitably protruding camera system, it manages to dodge nearly every trend I just ranted about. If you want to know what else makes it special, check out my latest episode:

P.S. I’ve been reading all your comments about the WhyNote app, and I’d like to say thank you 🙏🏻 Your feedback has been incredibly helpful, and I’m planning to improve it based on everything you’ve shared. I just need a bit more time.

P.P.S. I also released a brand-new 8K wallpaper pack called Fragments of Form. I’m really proud of how it turned out. If you’d like to support the channel, you can check it out below 👇🏻