The attempt by Fitbit to remove the button demonstrated their importance.

Image Credit: DT It's understandable why gadget manufacturers are so obsessed with touch screens. Swiping is simple to do. It makes it possible for futuristic aesthetics with slim lines. It is the simplest method for eliminating bezels and maximizing screen space. So, I could see why Fitbit was thrilled to include the inductive button on the Fitbit Charge 3. See the sleek profile of a contemporary fitness tracker and bid farewell to side button protrusion!

The Month's Buttons

It sometimes seems as though the software that powers our devices has gained precedence over hardware in today's digital world. Every month, the column "The button of the Month" examines the actual components of our smartphones, tablets, and gaming controllers that we use daily. In the Charge 3, Fitbit swapped out the physical button from the Charge 2 for a slick groove that seemed like it belonged in the design as a whole. When you place your finger on the groove, an interior touch sensor that is invisible is activated. The Charge 3 appeared to function when I first tested it: a quick press took me back to a previous screen, a long press brought up the shortcut menu, and it vibrated to let me know it had carried out my request. Yet over time, something that isn't a hassle over a short evaluation period could start to be. The touchscreens on Fitbits (and other trackers) back then weren't the most responsive. Swipes weren't always recognized or occasionally failed to register properly. It can be moderately inconvenient, but it becomes less of a problem if you are aware of the back button for correcting your error. With older Fitbit smartwatches, like the Versa 2, the back buttons, however, frequently get stuck. This, along with a thinner profile, is presumably why Fitbit ever came up with the inductive button in the first place (the firm never had the most durable hardware). Image Credit: Pc Mag Physical buttons offer consistency and predictability. You are aware of what they do and when you have pressed them. They are despondent, and some even have a small, gratifying click. Nevertheless, Fitbit illustrates how dangerous it might be to attempt the same with wearables while Apple has demonstrated that it is possible to simulate a button on a canvas the size of a laptop.

Easy lift: Fitbit Charge 3 review

Some Fitbit forum users were completely baffled by the Charge 3's button that wasn't button and had no idea where to start. The top two Google results for "Fitbit Charge 3 button" are different versions of "where is the button on the Charge 3? ” It's telling that consumers didn't know the Charge 3 had a button until they needed it, and I can understand why. With the Charge 3's larger touchscreen display and lack of any other apparent buttons, it would be simple to believe that all you needed to do to operate the gadget were swipes and taps. The main problem was that even those who located the button considered its use to be unreliable. The haptic feedback, which was intended to verify that you touched the button, instead confused me. Was it a bad long press if it vibrated sooner than you anticipated? Did you inadvertently push the button longer when you meant to press it shorter if it vibrated later? I frequently found myself returning to a screen when I had intended to launch a shortcut or vice versa because I lacked solid confirmation. Even in a laid-back environment, that is annoying, but in the middle of a workout, it is beyond annoying. Several users have complained about the button stopping functioning after a while. You had to reset the gadget while it was charging and press the inductive button for 15 seconds to resolve the problem. But how the dickens is it going to function if the button doesn't work and you can't tell you're pressing it? Image Credit: SF Gate Tragically, no one requested the inductive button. With older Fitbit devices, the actual buttons occasionally get stuck, but overall, all of this could have been avoided by making better buttons. Instead, Fitbit overengineered a "solution" that led to fresh issues before doubling down on it for upcoming trackers and smartwatches (as other wearable manufacturers did). It surfaced on the Charge 4, Versa 3, and Sense, when Fitbit implemented a double press, making the shortcomings of the inductive button much more obvious. That implied that you could theoretically create another shortcut if you could distinguish between a single press, a double press, and a long press. I initially didn't understand my problems with the inductive button, but they gradually became apparent. Image from The Verge by Amelia Holowaty Krales Other smartwatch manufacturers have, for the most part, choosing a combination of tactile buttons and touchscreens. For instance, the Apple Watch Ultra added a third physical button to the mix, the Action Button, in addition to having a massive, blaring screen. Even Apple, a firm that enjoys eliminating buttons whenever possible, recognizes the value of having tactile buttons on its timepieces. Although reassuring athletes that its five-button navigation system won't go, Garmin keeps updating its range of fitness watches with touchscreens. Scroll and swipe as you choose, but know that physical buttons will be available if you run into problems with sweaty fingers, gloves, or sluggish displays. Read More: Fitbit’s website will soon remove the ‘Sign in with Google button.  It's therefore encouraging to see that Fitbit, which Google later purchased, has somewhat matured. Fitbit returned to traditional side buttons with the release of the Sense 2 and Versa 4 last year. But, it might already be too late. With the release of the Pixel Watch, Fitbit is one Pixel band away from becoming wholly integrated into the Google ecosystem, as I noted in my Sense 2 review. The decision to return to the physical button early would not have altered Fitbit's outcome. Yet, it would have made using its last few devices a little bit more joyful. That would have been sufficient for many folks.