Modern Android phones are packed with accessibility features. From Voice Access to Switch Access, there’s a way to accommodate nearly everyone on Android.
But some features are useful for everyone, including One-handed mode. One-handed mode is a valuable feature in the era of large smartphones.
It’s tough to fully use a smartphone with only one hand, unless you have a flip-style foldable. However, its functionality is limited.
Pulling the top of my phone’s screen into reach is handy, but I hate how it hides most of my screen.
Instead, I’ve been using the Quick Cursor app, which solves that problem while speeding up how I use Android in the process.
How Quick Cursor works
A short-lived digital cursor that appears with a swipe
Quick Cursor adds a circular cursor to your Android phone, which is operated by using your phone screen like a trackpad.
You swipe in to activate the cursor, and it disappears after a second of inactivity.
You can use this cursor to interact with any part of the screen, but its main purpose is to help you reach the top without stretching your thumb.
It supports both tap and swipe actions, so for all intents and purposes, it’s a digital thumb, not a cursor.
Why Quick Cursor helps me
Phones are too big, even the ‘small’ ones
I do not have any physical challenges when using my phone except for those caused by the phone itself.
A frustrating trend in smartphone design since the first iPhone has been to make them larger and larger, with no clear benefit.
While the standard size of the phone has shrunk slightly in the last few years, this “standard” size is still too large.
I have large hands, and I can’t reach the top of my Google Pixel 10 Pro without discomfort. I now hold my phone two-handed when navigating, with my left hand placed higher to reach the top.
I don’t need Quick Cursor, but using it means I can handle the largest Android phones one-handed and not think twice about it.
I’ve tried a few one-handed apps over the years, but none have worked effectively as Quick Cursor.
What makes it useful for me is that activating and using the cursor is as natural as swiping with my thumb. There’s a steep learning curve, but it’s a short one.
Ironically, I struggled to use it with my tablet. The screen is too large to navigate with a cursor and trackpad action, so I wouldn’t recommend it on anything larger than a foldable.
Quick Cursor is so intuitive, I can’t stop using it
It was awkward at first, but now it’s second nature
I struggled to use gestures with Quick Cursor at first. The trigger window for Quick Cursor is right where I swipe back, so it took some time to learn the invisible spaces.
But even though I’ve had to adjust how I interact with my phone, using Quick Cursor is far more comfortable than the alternative.
The biggest problem I had with large phones before was opening the notification shade; that’s why I used both hands to operate my phone.
Now, with a single swipe left-then-up gesture, Quick Cursor opens it for me.
I’m not sure how the developers managed it, but they have perfectly tuned the cursor’s sensitivity. When I swipe, the cursor ends up exactly where I wanted it to.
A simple swipe and tap is all I need to interact with my phone, so if I need to activate a Quick Settings tile or open a notification, I turn to Quick Cursor.
The free cursor is the best feature
The cursor is only part of the app. There are trigger actions that activate shortcuts from the screen edge, a tracker that produces a quick action menu, and additional gestures.
However, these are locked behind the Pro tier, available as a one-time purchase or annual subscription.
The Pro version also unlocks a variety of customization options, which tweak the appearance and functionality of the cursor and tracker.
However, I don’t think these features are necessary. I’m more than satisfied with the free features.
While I may purchase the Pro version to support the developer, it’s certainly not necessary.
Accessibility apps are for everyone
It’s easy to forget that many accessibility features make everyone’s life easier; Quick Cursor is just the latest one I’ve adopted.
While I would rather manufacturers brought back small smartphones, I’m happy with my compromise. It’s made me seriously consider buying a Pixel XL next time, as I’ll actually be able to use it.
