Preference for a 3- or 5-Button Configuration?

Łukasz Szmigiel · S9PP 2.37.48

@aroo7 when outside the workout, holding the middle button acts as a back button. Why not make it the same in the workout, with opening options only on really long hold.

DMytro

@Łukasz-Szmigiel I feel like it’s impractical. However, this would be a reasonable workaround in present watches. Yet if I were to imagine a new watch from suunto, I wouldn’t mind a dedicated button.

aligigi

@aroo7 I also vote for 4 buttons. I really like having a dedicated back button during workouts, I hate circling around the pages. The fifth button was for light I think, but now that raise to wake actually works it’s not that important. But I would rather have all 5 than just the 3.

dcrainmaker

@TrailEyes said in Preference for a 3- or 5-Button Configuration?:

However, I don’t ever remember them really complaining about this with watches like Coros’ Vertix, so the complaints seem to be a bit of a stretch and lacking in an appreciation of individuality.

Actually, I’ve long said that usability on the COROS lineup with the digital crown is a dumpster fire. Basically in every review ever. Here’s a line from one of my earlier COROS APEX reviews:

“You can scroll through the data pages using the digital crown, which is about the most impossible thing ever when doing intervals. It’s just not good. While Apple uses a digital crown on their Apple Watch, you typically change data pages by just swiping the screen. But the COROS APEX isn’t a touch-screen, so no swiping here. I get that when sitting in a conference room the digital crown might be fine, I find it just annoying when running hard – or cycling.”

The only time it’s finally become useful is map zooming (for one single feature). However, one thing that COROS does have here is a dedicated quick-tap back button, which Suunto lacks (because COROS uses the dial to horrendously scroll up/down).

My point isn’t so much for 5 buttons per se, but to have a dedicated back button that’s not a long-press. The long press today is ‘slow’ in terms of quickly navigating the user interface, not to mention inconsistent. For example, if you’re in the Map widget/app on the Suunto Vertical, you actually can’t long-press the middle button to go back. Instead, it’ll toggle between pan/zoom and “…”. Rather, you have to first get back to the “…”, then press down, then press down like 8 more times to get to ‘Exit’. Versus other watches it’s just a single button out of map.

Point is, the Suunto 5 has 5-button UI, and it works really well. I’d love to see that layered atop the Veritcal for faster navigation of the watch. You can then choose buttons or touch, as needed.

If we look at the trends across the industry (Apple, Garmin, heck, even Fitbit), it’s actually towards adding buttons, not removing them. And specifically, we’re seeing a shift towards ‘parity’ of touch vs buttons.

I have seen that Video too, and I think Dave from CtS is fair in that he might be slightly biased since he is a “Garmin guy”.

Personally, I am in favour of a 5-button layout. I have used Suunto watches since 2005 and have always been a huge fan. My first T3C did not have 5 buttons, and that was perfectly fine. But my X-Lander already had 4. And today’s watches have way more features which in my view shows the limits of a 3-button layout.

One might say that Apple is very successful with few buttons, which is true. But to me, it depends on the use.

When I am swimming, it is raining or am running, I just want buttons I can press without having to look at the watch or depending on a touch screen. And I want buttons to work as shortcuts I can program to access some functions directly. And I want a dedicated LIGHT button that really only adds some light to the screen when I need it.

When Suunto released the 9PP I also bought a Garmin Epix2 and have compared both for 3 months. Both watches have touchscreens, and the 9PP has 3 buttons whereas the Epix2 has 5. And after 3 months of use, the 5-button layout is the better one for me and the Epix2 has become my main watch, mainly because of the buttons … and the fantastic screen :-).

TrailEyes

@dcrainmaker Thank you for coming to the forums and sharing your perspective on this. I, for one, appreciate it!

Łukasz Szmigiel · S9PP 2.37.48

What if we get an ability to simply turn the touchscreen on and off during the workout? So when it starts raining it’s not a problem to disable it. Like - make it a separate option in workout settings that’s not tied to battery modes.

aligigi

@Łukasz-Szmigiel I think the watch uses more battery with the touchscreen on.

@Łukasz-Szmigiel said in Preference for a 3- or 5-Button Configuration?:

What if we get an ability to simply turn the touchscreen on and off during the workout?

Here, hear! Honestly I was sure I remembered seeing Enable Touch toggle in the activity options, but apparently that was wishful thinking. Or was it? I get why you might want to lock the screen for some of the activities, but I totally agree there’s no reason this should be the case for all activities. Let the user decide!

Brad_Olwin

@dcrainmaker I agree, a dedicated back press is needed. I would prefer to keep the buttons and have a long press of a button allow backwards scrolling.

ChrisA

@Brad_Olwin yes, me too. I would love to have it opposite to the index finger button (so basically on the lower left side). For me that’s the antagonist to pressing ‘ok’ / confirming etc. As @dcrainmaker said, if the system is not consistent, it will always bother you, either because it takes too long, or - in my case - I just forget how it works, which ends in desperately pressing all buttons for me

Tomas5

I prefer 5 buttons overt 3+ touch screen.

Reasons:

i hate fingerprints on screen
buttons works with gloves
buttons works with wet hands in pool
buttos have better feedback
don’t need to look at all to be able to do some basic things with buttons
with small touch screen is hard to “touch” correct button, but thats more general, watch UI are usually designed to work well.
some watch has problem with unwanted presses/scrolls when screen is wet

I prefer touch screens on smartphone, tablet, dslr (only for touch and drag focus) but other than that i hate touch screens. Especialy on laptops, or in cars. It distracts attention, and is dangerouse in cars to adjust temperature or volume on touch screen because you must look at it, but with hardware controls you can always do it just by hands without looking at it.

mikekoski490

@Tomas5 I take it you will not be getting a Suunto Vertical then given your post …:

… *i prefer 5 buttons overt 3+ touch screen.

… i hate fingerprints on screens

… i hate touch screens (with small touch screen)*

MiniForklift

I do like having the option of a touchscreen although TBH I rarely use it. I still prefer the 3 button layout although I am all for having a dedicated back button. I think having a back button that doubled up as a power on/off button by the way of a long press would be great

Tomas5

@mikekoski490 well, todays trend is touch screens. I think in few years when i will need a new watch, there would be no other option. I will adjust my preferences, but it would be painfull, especialy fingerprints and wet hands, rain, water. But for now i have S5. I have it only for 2 years so it must survive at least another 2. So for now i don’t plan to buy anything new.

Tomas5

And how is it wil vertical anyway? Do i need to use touch screen or is possible to do every possible action with just 3 buttons? In that case it would be OK even with 3 button only for me just a little toggle switch to disable touch screen in settings.

mikekoski490

@Tomas5 Im going for the Vertical just because Im hoping for bigger font with a brighter, bigger screen, which seems to be the case based on reviews. I really dont want to start bringing my reading glasses with me on trail runs but Im sure its inevitable.

FYI I have absolutely no problem with the 3 buttons on my 9PP. It has been really solid and the design and UI work together well, or you get used to the 3 buttons and how they react. I dont use the touch screen when doing an activity - buttons only and touchscreen disabled. I will want the touch screen for maps though - if I can see them! Hopefully good contrast or Ill be back to the breadcrumb black and white on my 9PP.

freeheeler

@Tomas5
you can operate the watch entirely without touch with few exceptions. the watch face complications can’t be changed/cycled by buttons.

regarding touch screen only, I don’t see this coming any time soon. adventure watches need to operate in all kind of conditions. we use our watches not only on a sunny 30min tuesday evening run in the city… when weather gets bad, buttons are the way to go

Mff73

@freeheeler said in Preference for a 3- or 5-Button Configuration?:

@Tomas5
you can operate the watch entirely without touch with few exceptions. the watch face complications can’t be changed/cycled by buttons.

regarding touch screen only, I don’t see this coming any time soon. adventure watches need to operate in all kind of conditions. we use our watches not only on a sunny 30min tuesday evening run in the city… when weather gets bad, buttons are the way to go

another exception (quite annoying in case of glove usage) : switching from zoom to full track view in navigation. Only single tap on the screen enable this

freeheeler

@Mff73
that’s valid for previous touch enabled watches, yes. not for Vertical