# Audi Returns to Physical Controls

> Audi says touchscreens have peaked; physical buttons return to cars.
- Title: Audi Returns to Physical Controls · The Drive | Shortify
- Summary: Audi says touchscreens have peaked; physical buttons return to cars. Audi will reintroduce physical controls like climate buttons and door toggles in…
- Keywords: audi, touchscreen, physical controls, radical next, interior next, The Drive
- Source: The Drive — https://thedrive.com/news/audi-says-touchscreens-have-gone-as-far-as-theyll-go-buttons-are-coming-back
- Author: Joel Feder
- Published: 2026-11-11T17:36:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: audi, touchscreen, physical controls, q7, q9, radical next, interior next, cars, technology
## Audi says touchscreens peaked
Audi claims touchscreens have reached their limit in cars and physical controls are returning.

> I think we've again gone as far as we will possibly go
## Physical controls coming back
Audi will add climate buttons and door toggles to existing models like the Q7 and Q9.

> We're gonna actually go ahead and apply some of these principles to our existing interiors
## New design philosophy
Audi's Radical Next design focuses on clear, intuitive controls for drivers.

> We're looking at sort of the right placement of the right controls
## Why physical controls?
Audi says touchscreens are too complex for drivers and need to be simpler.

> The technology is always yielding the right effect and it's in the right place for the consumer
## Next generation models
Audi will implement physical controls in the next generation of cars by 2027.

> We're looking at sort of the right placement of the right controls
## Key takeaway

Audi will reintroduce physical controls like climate buttons and door toggles in upcoming models after claiming touchscreens have reached their limit.