3 ms·

I for one just want a regular sized phone. One I could put in my pocket. But no, manufacturers decided that they will push being huge (and being thin as you men

by rplnt 13y ago

I for one just want a regular sized phone. One I could put in my pocket. But no, manufacturers decided that they will push being huge (and being thin as you mentioned) as something people want. The phones that I might consider buying are now labeled as mini or compact. And they are still huge. (this is mostly about android market)

vidarh 13y ago
That's because people buy them. Many of the best selling Android phones are the huge models. The thing is once you start going to 5" and above, with high PPI, your phone can start replacing small tablets. I used to carry around a 4.3" lower res phone and a 7" tablet, but with a 5" 1920x1080 display I just gradually stopped using the tablet entirely. When my may use is not as a phone but for data while commuting, huge is great.
- rplnt 13y ago
  People buy them because they are told it's a desirable feature. Some prefer it, sure... But majority of users have no clue and will buy whatever they are served via marketing. Then you have people who are forced into it, because alternatives are scarce and more expensive. Same thing as with wide-screen laptops. Because all people do on laptops is watch movies. Doesn't matter that it's worse for everything else.
przemoc 13y ago
The rule of thumb is that screen cannot be larger than 4" to be fully accessible using thumb only. Often you have only one hand available, which makes most of allegedly "awesome" 4.5"+ smartphones inconvenient at best and useless at worst. I don't get this whole 5"+ mindset. If you want something bigger (what for? watching movies?), isn't it better to have 7" tablet while leaving your phone handy? --- I'm user of Galaxy Ace 2 / i8160 with 3.8" screen and 480 x 800 resolution. I'll change it only for something with 1280x768, but with screen no bigger than 4". Good pixel density (i.e. ~250+ ppi) is really important for comfortable reading. And better battery is a must.
- rplnt 13y ago
  I have Motorola Defy. Over three years old, great build quality, waterproof, 3.7", 480x854 (265ppi). I'm okay with the phone itself (a bit too thick perhaps), but the support is crap. The original android was 2.2 and was unusable. With cyanogen mod it's somewhat usable, but noticeable slow. I could live with a bigger screen, but not too much. It was quite cheap too. After over two years of usage not a scratch on the screen and the body still holds together. I drop the phone all the time (oftentimes when tossing it into air, or trying to land it into bed). No extra covers on it either. Now I'm looking for a new phone.. and there's nothing. I'll most likely end up with a 4.3" phone...
- userbinator 13y ago
  I have a 5" smartphone and holding it in one hand, I can just reach all of the screen with my thumb; 5.3" or 6" would be too large for me. I wouldn't consider my hands large either - they're probably slightly below-average in size. People's hands definitely vary in size, so it's understandable that what someone finds 4" just right would have trouble with anything bigger, and likewise in the other direction. "The rule of thumb", indeed.

by rplnt 13y ago

vidarh 13y ago

That's because people buy them. Many of the best selling Android phones are the huge models. The thing is once you start going to 5" and above, with high PPI, your phone can start replacing small tablets. I used to carry around a 4.3" lower res phone and a 7" tablet, but with a 5" 1920x1080 display I just gradually stopped using the tablet entirely. When my may use is not as a phone but for data while commuting, huge is great.

rplnt 13y ago
People buy them because they are told it's a desirable feature. Some prefer it, sure... But majority of users have no clue and will buy whatever they are served via marketing. Then you have people who are forced into it, because alternatives are scarce and more expensive. Same thing as with wide-screen laptops. Because all people do on laptops is watch movies. Doesn't matter that it's worse for everything else.

przemoc 13y ago

The rule of thumb is that screen cannot be larger than 4" to be fully accessible using thumb only. Often you have only one hand available, which makes most of allegedly "awesome" 4.5"+ smartphones inconvenient at best and useless at worst. I don't get this whole 5"+ mindset. If you want something bigger (what for? watching movies?), isn't it better to have 7" tablet while leaving your phone handy? --- I'm user of Galaxy Ace 2 / i8160 with 3.8" screen and 480 x 800 resolution. I'll change it only for something with 1280x768, but with screen no bigger than 4". Good pixel density (i.e. ~250+ ppi) is really important for comfortable reading. And better battery is a must.

rplnt 13y ago
I have Motorola Defy. Over three years old, great build quality, waterproof, 3.7", 480x854 (265ppi). I'm okay with the phone itself (a bit too thick perhaps), but the support is crap. The original android was 2.2 and was unusable. With cyanogen mod it's somewhat usable, but noticeable slow. I could live with a bigger screen, but not too much. It was quite cheap too. After over two years of usage not a scratch on the screen and the body still holds together. I drop the phone all the time (oftentimes when tossing it into air, or trying to land it into bed). No extra covers on it either. Now I'm looking for a new phone.. and there's nothing. I'll most likely end up with a 4.3" phone...
userbinator 13y ago
I have a 5" smartphone and holding it in one hand, I can just reach all of the screen with my thumb; 5.3" or 6" would be too large for me. I wouldn't consider my hands large either - they're probably slightly below-average in size. People's hands definitely vary in size, so it's understandable that what someone finds 4" just right would have trouble with anything bigger, and likewise in the other direction. "The rule of thumb", indeed.