Unihertz phones and the case for phones with personality

Most phones have slowly converged on the same smooth rectangle. Unihertz takes a different route with compact phones, physical keyboards and rugged designs that are willing to make a strong choice. They are not trying to disappear into your hand, and that is part of the charm.

A phone with a keyboard or a smaller body changes the rhythm of using it. It can feel less like a portable television and more like a tool. That does not make it perfect for everyone, but it does raise a useful question: do we need every device to be maximally sleek, or would a little character make technology more enjoyable to live with?