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> why wouldn't they just go and buy the smaller ones? Because the smaller form factors generally have a lot of features pulled: whether it be screen pixel dens

> why wouldn't they just go and buy the smaller ones? Because the smaller form factors generally have a lot of features pulled: whether it be screen pixel density, compass, camera, or battery/phone time, etc. More and more I love the old style phones: smaller screen and heaps of battery by having a thicker body... but it seems that no-one else agrees with me on this point, so it's always thinner, thinner, thinner and bigger screens. I'd love to buy an 'iPhone FatBoy 6' or 'Google Pixel Brick'. In a form factor that is thicker, we have more room for better camera optics, bigger batteries, other goodies, and not to mention - easier to hold!

hliyan 8y ago
I'm with you on this. In fact, I predict that in another 2-3 years, the dominant form factor will start to move away from what looks good on advertisements and in the showroom, to what is usable. My personal belief is that the future form factor will be a smaller, somewhat egg shaped device that you can comfortably nestle in your palm. It will be thicker, but about the same weight as current phones, so less denser and more shock resistant. You will be able to operate it with just one hand, perhaps with physical controls on the periphery or the back surface of the device. Perhaps it will support a "squeeze" gesture.
- thirdsun 8y ago
  I wish you were right, but I doubt it. For an increasing number of people the smartphone is their main or only computing device, which is why they prefer a bigger screen. In contrast to most people around here actual practical, mobile use isn't their primary concern since they don't have a second, much bigger screen for more complex tasks. I don't see this trend slowing down.
criddell 8y ago
All I really want is for the camera to keep improving. The rest of the phone is fine IMHO and has been for maybe three years now. A better camera is really the only thing that makes me want to upgrade.
- spc476 8y ago
  The iPhone 8 was good enough for Steven Soderbergh to make a feature length movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVAdUIBBSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVAdUIBBSk
  - zedgerman 8y ago
    Dr Seuss wrote a book using only 50 words, which went on to sell millions[1]. A great artist can produce great work without being constrained by the medium. That does not mean the medium can/should not be improved further. That said, depending on the majority use cases, the iPhone 8 camera is plenty. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eggs_and_Ham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eggs_and_Ham
  - criddell 8y ago
    I'm no Soderbergh. He could probably shoot an Oscar winning feature a ten year old Flip camera. I get what you are saying though. I kind of wish Google or Apple would license their tech to one of the companies still building large-sensor cameras (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, etc...) to see what could be done with even more data.
  - crtasm 8y ago
    With professional lighting. Vastly reduces the difference between a large sensor on a pro camera and the small ones in phones.
rootusrootus 8y ago
Lots of people (including me) say they want a thicker iPhone, but when Apple released the XR, one of the first complaints was that it's too thick.
cerberusss 8y ago
Aren't there official iPhone battery packs?

hliyan 8y ago

I'm with you on this. In fact, I predict that in another 2-3 years, the dominant form factor will start to move away from what looks good on advertisements and in the showroom, to what is usable. My personal belief is that the future form factor will be a smaller, somewhat egg shaped device that you can comfortably nestle in your palm. It will be thicker, but about the same weight as current phones, so less denser and more shock resistant. You will be able to operate it with just one hand, perhaps with physical controls on the periphery or the back surface of the device. Perhaps it will support a "squeeze" gesture.

thirdsun 8y ago
I wish you were right, but I doubt it. For an increasing number of people the smartphone is their main or only computing device, which is why they prefer a bigger screen. In contrast to most people around here actual practical, mobile use isn't their primary concern since they don't have a second, much bigger screen for more complex tasks. I don't see this trend slowing down.

criddell 8y ago

All I really want is for the camera to keep improving. The rest of the phone is fine IMHO and has been for maybe three years now. A better camera is really the only thing that makes me want to upgrade.

spc476 8y ago
The iPhone 8 was good enough for Steven Soderbergh to make a feature length movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVAdUIBBSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVAdUIBBSk
- zedgerman 8y ago
  Dr Seuss wrote a book using only 50 words, which went on to sell millions[1]. A great artist can produce great work without being constrained by the medium. That does not mean the medium can/should not be improved further. That said, depending on the majority use cases, the iPhone 8 camera is plenty. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eggs_and_Ham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eggs_and_Ham
- criddell 8y ago
  I'm no Soderbergh. He could probably shoot an Oscar winning feature a ten year old Flip camera. I get what you are saying though. I kind of wish Google or Apple would license their tech to one of the companies still building large-sensor cameras (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, etc...) to see what could be done with even more data.
- crtasm 8y ago
  With professional lighting. Vastly reduces the difference between a large sensor on a pro camera and the small ones in phones.

rootusrootus 8y ago

Lots of people (including me) say they want a thicker iPhone, but when Apple released the XR, one of the first complaints was that it's too thick.

cerberusss 8y ago

Aren't there official iPhone battery packs?