A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of an electronic device, input signals from multiple strain or force sensors located along an edge of the electronic device, the input signals being generated in response to external contact detected by the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the input signals, a distribution of forces that were detected by the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the determined distribution of forces, a location of the external contact, wherein the location of the external contact is offset from a location of each of the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the determined distribution of forces, a magnitude of a force of the external contact, wherein the electronic device includes a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer that are each disposed between an exterior surface of the electronic device and the multiple strain or force sensors located along an edge of the electronic device, and determining the magnitude of the force of the external contact comprises: normalizing parameter values of the received input signals based on a first deflection property of the first substrate layer, and a second deflection property of the second substrate layer that is different than the first deflection property, and determining, based on the normalized parameter values, the magnitude of the force of the external contact; detecting, by the one or more processors, whether sensing criteria have been satisfied based on an analysis of: i) the determined location of the external contact, and ii) the determined magnitude of the force of the external contact; and executing, by the one or more processors, responsive to detecting that the sensing criteria have been satisfied, a user input action. receiving, by one or more processors of an electronic device, input signals from multiple strain or force sensors located along an edge of the electronic device, the input signals being generated in response to external contact detected by the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the input signals, a distribution of forces that were detected by the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the determined distribution of forces, a location of the external contact, wherein the location of the external contact is offset from a location of each of the multiple strain or force sensors; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the determined distribution of forces, a magnitude of a force of the external contact, wherein the electronic device includes a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer that are each disposed between an exterior surface of the electronic device and the multiple strain or force sensors located along an edge of the electronic device, and determining the magnitude of the force of the external contact comprises: normalizing parameter values of the received input signals based on a first deflection property of the first substrate layer, and a second deflection property of the second substrate layer that is different than the first deflection property, and determining, based on the normalized parameter values, the magnitude of the force of the external contact; normalizing parameter values of the received input signals based on a first deflection property of the first substrate layer, and a second deflection property of the second substrate layer that is different than the first deflection property, and determining, based on the normalized parameter values, the magnitude of the force of the external contact; detecting, by the one or more processors, whether sensing criteria have been satisfied based on an analysis of: i) the determined location of the external contact, and ii) the determined magnitude of the force of the external contact; and i) the determined location of the external contact, and ii) the determined magnitude of the force of the external contact; and executing, by the one or more processors, responsive to detecting that the sensing criteria have been satisfied, a user input action.