What Are Bezels on a Phone?
If you’ve ever looked at your phone’s screen and wondered what the black area around it is all about, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll take you through the roles that screen bezels fulfil and their various pros and cons, so you know what to look out for with your next phone purchase.
Speaking of which, you’ll find a wide range of contract and SIM-free handsets from top brands in our smartphone collection.
Screen bezels explained
On a phone, a bezel is the black border around the screen. It is typically constructed from glass or plastic and is designed to protect the screen from damage.
The bezel does this by taking some of the impact that would otherwise be absorbed by the screen itself. It can also contain some other features like speakers and cameras.
Advantages of a bezel
Protection
As we mentioned, the main purpose of a bezel is to protect the phone’s screen from potential harm. We spend a lot of time on our smartphones, so it’s important to include a design feature that keeps it in the best possible condition.
Hide features away
Bezels are ideal for housing different features on the front of the phone. A common example is the camera, which can be situated within the bezel without needing to be built into the display.
Fewer accidental taps
We’ve all likely reached for our phone and accidently opened an app. Bezels typically aren’t touch-sensitive, so you can grab your phone without opening something by mistake.
Disadvantages of a bezel
Screen size
Naturally, by including a bezel between the screen and the phone’s frame, you’re limiting how far the display can stretch from corner to corner. Thicker bezels affect screen size even more, yet with the benefit of greater protection.
Aesthetic
Whilst bezels act as an additional layer of protection from impacts, for some phone owners they’re simply unattractive to look at.
What is a ‘bezel-less’ phone?
Despite the terminology, a ‘bezel-less’ phone isn’t actually completely lacking in a bezel; it simply features a very thin one. Many modern smartphones go for the ‘bezel-less’ look such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, so if you dislike the look of phones with prominent bezels, it’s not hard to find a bezel-less alternative.
The biggest advantage you gain with a thin phone bezel is more screen space. Whilst the gains can be minimal, when you’re working with a relatively small device compared to a tablet for example, the benefit to the visual experience can be significant. It’s common for phones to also feature Gorilla Glass within the screen construction, so you’re not losing all protection by reducing the bezel.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a bezel-less phone or want the protection they offer, explore some of the best options on the market in our smartphone round-up.