4 ms·

Personally - I've used 'large' phones, and I much prefer the size of the iPhone 5. Its big enough but not so big that I can't used it with 1 hand.

by mbell 14y ago

yitchelle 14y ago
There is some merit to this comment. I have a Samsung SIII. Perhaps, it is my stubby fingers or short thumb, but I find it difficult to fully use it with just one hand. My previous phone was the HTC Desire, and that was pretty good for using it with one hand.
- rednukleus 14y ago
  Different strokes. I have a Nexus 4 and I wish it was a little bigger. I used to have a Desire and it was way too small for me. That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor.
  - snogglethorpe 14y ago
    > That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor. I'm all for user choice, but unfortunately "choice" doesn't actually seem to be the way the market is trending... I've been trying to decide what to do when my phone contract comes up for renewal, and want to stay with the same carrier (phone number, contact email, etc). However, my carrier (au), despite offering 28 (I counted!) different smartphone models, seems to be going whole hog for giant-screen phones, and the smaller phones are all "budget" models with worse quality screens, heavier weight, etc. [The big exception is the iphone, but I want Android.] The sense one gets is that they consider smaller existing models "leftovers" from the past, and that they'll be pumping up screen sizes even more once they get the chance... [This is particularly absurd in Japan where hands are smaller on average, and far fewer people drive everywhere than the U.S. (small size and light weight are more important if you've got to carry your phone in your pocket all day as you walk around; if you're driving portability is a bit less of an issue)...]
    - untog 14y ago
      Agreed. The Droid M is about the only recent phone that packs a decent amount of power into a smaller phone- and the fact that I'm describing a 4.3" phone as 'smaller' depresses me.
    - porlw 14y ago
      If you can, grab an HTC One S while they're still available - it's got decent specs and premium build quality with a 4.3" screen. It's also very thin, so handling is pretty much the same as my old 3.7" Desire.
- cowsaysoink 14y ago
  It's not just you, I recently used a SIII and it is giagantic compared to my iphone 4 which makes it difficult to use. (And I don't have stubby fingers).
  - EvanKelly 14y ago
    I don't think it's a product of screen size, I think it's more a product of what phone (form factor) you own/started with. My first smartphone (late to the game) was a Motorola Droid Razr. It's a little smaller than the SIII, but being my first phone, I just became accustomed to the size. I use friends' iPhones a lot and the first thing I notice (other than just one button) is how small it is. Those same friends struggle with the enormity of my device. I think it's a similar context switch from Windows <==> OSX. I think people can grow to like either of them, but using one after years of using another makes it seem unwieldy.
27182818284 14y ago
I do not understand phablets. I really don't. My Galaxy Nexus is already pushing the limits of what is comfortable to use with one hand, and there is something else that never seems mentioned: Phablets start to get too big for your winter coat pocket, your jean pockets, etc. They simply become uncomfortable to carry, even if you do use them with both hands.
- wmf 14y ago
  You're supposed to put a phablet in your purse, not your pocket.
  - 2muchcoffeeman 14y ago
    I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them, but Samsung is on to something.
    - hkmurakami 14y ago
      My very tall coworker seems to enjoy using the Note 2.
    - snogglethorpe 14y ago
      > You're supposed to put a phablet in your purse, not your pocket. > I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them I'm a guy, and I really hate large phones too, but come to think of it, I actually do carry a bag around all the time that could be reasonably called a "purse," and this doesn't seem particularly uncommon behavior for guys these these days... The main reason I hate large phones is because they're awkward to use, and awkward to hold, particularly with only one hand (and that's important, as there are many situations like standing on the subway where a two-handed "like-a-tablet" approach isn't practical or desirable). The size when I'm not using it is less important, though smaller/lighter is always good, of course.
- mikegioia 14y ago
  The Galaxy S3 is too large to type with one hand. Whenever I hold it, I have to kind of 'shake' the thing further down my hand to click on buttons in the top corners.

Personally - I've used 'large' phones, and I much prefer the size of the iPhone 5. Its big enough but not so big that I can't used it with 1 hand.

by mbell 14y ago

Personally - I've used 'large' phones, and I much prefer the size of the iPhone 5. Its big enough but not so big that I can't used it with 1 hand.

yitchelle 14y ago

There is some merit to this comment. I have a Samsung SIII. Perhaps, it is my stubby fingers or short thumb, but I find it difficult to fully use it with just one hand. My previous phone was the HTC Desire, and that was pretty good for using it with one hand.

rednukleus 14y ago
Different strokes. I have a Nexus 4 and I wish it was a little bigger. I used to have a Desire and it was way too small for me. That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor.
- snogglethorpe 14y ago
  > That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor. I'm all for user choice, but unfortunately "choice" doesn't actually seem to be the way the market is trending... I've been trying to decide what to do when my phone contract comes up for renewal, and want to stay with the same carrier (phone number, contact email, etc). However, my carrier (au), despite offering 28 (I counted!) different smartphone models, seems to be going whole hog for giant-screen phones, and the smaller phones are all "budget" models with worse quality screens, heavier weight, etc. [The big exception is the iphone, but I want Android.] The sense one gets is that they consider smaller existing models "leftovers" from the past, and that they'll be pumping up screen sizes even more once they get the chance... [This is particularly absurd in Japan where hands are smaller on average, and far fewer people drive everywhere than the U.S. (small size and light weight are more important if you've got to carry your phone in your pocket all day as you walk around; if you're driving portability is a bit less of an issue)...]
  - untog 14y ago
    Agreed. The Droid M is about the only recent phone that packs a decent amount of power into a smaller phone- and the fact that I'm describing a 4.3" phone as 'smaller' depresses me.
  - porlw 14y ago
    If you can, grab an HTC One S while they're still available - it's got decent specs and premium build quality with a 4.3" screen. It's also very thin, so handling is pretty much the same as my old 3.7" Desire.
cowsaysoink 14y ago
It's not just you, I recently used a SIII and it is giagantic compared to my iphone 4 which makes it difficult to use. (And I don't have stubby fingers).
- EvanKelly 14y ago
  I don't think it's a product of screen size, I think it's more a product of what phone (form factor) you own/started with. My first smartphone (late to the game) was a Motorola Droid Razr. It's a little smaller than the SIII, but being my first phone, I just became accustomed to the size. I use friends' iPhones a lot and the first thing I notice (other than just one button) is how small it is. Those same friends struggle with the enormity of my device. I think it's a similar context switch from Windows <==> OSX. I think people can grow to like either of them, but using one after years of using another makes it seem unwieldy.

27182818284 14y ago

I do not understand phablets. I really don't. My Galaxy Nexus is already pushing the limits of what is comfortable to use with one hand, and there is something else that never seems mentioned: Phablets start to get too big for your winter coat pocket, your jean pockets, etc. They simply become uncomfortable to carry, even if you do use them with both hands.

wmf 14y ago
You're supposed to put a phablet in your purse, not your pocket.
- 2muchcoffeeman 14y ago
  I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them, but Samsung is on to something.
  - hkmurakami 14y ago
    My very tall coworker seems to enjoy using the Note 2.
  - snogglethorpe 14y ago
    > You're supposed to put a phablet in your purse, not your pocket. > I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them I'm a guy, and I really hate large phones too, but come to think of it, I actually do carry a bag around all the time that could be reasonably called a "purse," and this doesn't seem particularly uncommon behavior for guys these these days... The main reason I hate large phones is because they're awkward to use, and awkward to hold, particularly with only one hand (and that's important, as there are many situations like standing on the subway where a two-handed "like-a-tablet" approach isn't practical or desirable). The size when I'm not using it is less important, though smaller/lighter is always good, of course.
mikegioia 14y ago
The Galaxy S3 is too large to type with one hand. Whenever I hold it, I have to kind of 'shake' the thing further down my hand to click on buttons in the top corners.