Samsung’s Bixby button shows the potential and pitfalls of dedicated buttons

In today's digital age, it sometimes feels like hardware has taken a back seat to the software that drives out devices. Button of the Month is a monthly look at what some of those buttons and switches are like on devices old and new, and aims to appreciate how we interact with our devices on a physical, tactile level.

I'd like to say that I get where Samsung was going with the Bixby button.

One of the more maligned parts of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S9, the infamous Bixby Button lives on the left side of Samsung's flagship phones, just under the volume controls and opposite of the power button.

As a physical button, it — like Samsung's other hardware keys — is excellent, with a crisp, snappy click like all of the...

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