Tech Tips: Why is the power button on a mobile phone on the left side? You'll be surprised to read the reason
- bySudha Saxena
- 19 Mar, 2026
Tech companies are increasingly focusing on launching new smartphones with innovative technology and updated features. The more distinctive a smartphone's features and specifications, the more distinctive its design. Each company has a unique approach to its smartphone design.
Nowadays, companies are launching smartphones with powerful features, and you'll notice that each smartphone has a different design. Some smartphones are bulky, while others are very thin. Every button, port, and their location are designed with user convenience in mind. If you consider the power button on a smartphone, you'll notice that almost every smartphone has the power button on the left side.
However, this wasn't the case in the past. Previously, companies used their own calculations to determine the location of the power button. Some phones placed the power button on the top, while others placed it on the back. However, as smartphone usage increased and technology advanced, the focus shifted to improving the user experience.
You may have noticed that most people around the world hold their phones in their left hand and operate them with their right hand or right thumb. When we hold our phones in our left hand, our thumb automatically moves to the right. This is where the power button is located, making it easier to turn the screen on and off. Keeping this in mind, tech companies are now focusing more on placing the power button on the right side of their smartphones.
Additionally, there are several technical reasons behind this, which common users overlook. Smartphones contain many small parts, including the battery, camera module, motherboard, and antenna. Therefore, for engineering reasons, it's often more legal to place the button on the left side, as this makes it easier to position the components correctly. Furthermore, a third important reason is that many smartphones today have a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. If the power button is on the left, users can easily unlock the phone. These are some of the reasons why tech companies are focusing more on placing the power button on the right side of smartphones.
PC: Navarastra





