A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.