Back events as a whole are problematic. Android's OS back button behavior is application defined up until you're at the base "level" of the app, at which point the behavior is OS defined and it takes you to the home screen. That kind of state management isn't intuitive, and even though you should be able to just hit the app icon to go back(assuming a properly coded app), it's still an inconvenience if you fat finger the button one too many times. Discovery of what the button does for each app is also an annoying process as well.
The change to a swipe might reduce the accidental fat finger, but discovery is a nightmare for both the gesture itself and application specific behaviors for the back event.
I prefer an application button in both cases, especially because it makes it clear that this is something that will only effect the app, and will not have a weird OS interaction, taking me out of the app.
The change to a swipe might reduce the accidental fat finger, but discovery is a nightmare for both the gesture itself and application specific behaviors for the back event.
I prefer an application button in both cases, especially because it makes it clear that this is something that will only effect the app, and will not have a weird OS interaction, taking me out of the app.