6 ms·

"I don't think the experience of a 5 inch phone is better than a 4 inch phone." You don't have to. But I am someone who does. There are many, many people like

"I don't think the experience of a 5 inch phone is better than a 4 inch phone." You don't have to. But I am someone who does. There are many, many people like me who love their phones like the Galaxy Note who feel the same way. If I made a list of the top 5 reasons I really like my phone, 1 - 3 would be screen size. I have been surprised at how many people have gone from, "let me see that phone, it is ridiculous that you carry the around" to "wow, I never realized how hard my screen is to use compared to this." I know three people who have gotten a larger screen phone because of me in the past 9 months and I don't evangelize at all. They just see my phone and want to try it. I almost didn't get my Note 2 because I was afraid of carrying around a "small book". To honest it is less obtrusive in my pocket than my Motorola Droid 3 was, that thing sat in my pocket like a thick brick. The single time it can be an issue is getting it in and out of my pocket while sitting and wearing jeans.

Supermighty 13y ago
I love my Note 2. It is close to perfect in the size category. As part of my job I sometime test on a 4" iPod Touch, and it feels to very tiny. I can't remember how I even used my old iPhone 3G. Typing on the 4" was painful; the hit target was so small. I think this is one of the reasons that Samsung has taken such a large share of the market. They offer devices in a variety of sizes, for which they've been criticized, but allows for a perfect size for everyone. I know I could never go back to a smaller screen size.
- clarky07 13y ago
  Yeah I do some testing on the 4S and it feels tiny now compared the my 5S. As for the typing though, software plays a big part in this too. I absolutely hate the default keyboard on my HTC One and I have no problems with my 5S and even the smaller 4S.
radley 13y ago
Should point out the most popular devices, Samsung's Galaxy S3 & S4, are 4.7" & 5" phones. The Galaxy Note series is 5.3", 5.5", and 5.7" respectively.
dreamfactory2 13y ago
I will likely end up upgrading my iphone 4 to a 5 instead of a 6 if the rumoured size increase happens. The only reason I still use an iphone is the smaller screen size. I would bet that Steve Jobs had the nous to make sure that the iphone comfortably fits in the front pocket of a pair of jeans.
- Deusdies 13y ago
  I, however, fail to see why Apple wouldn't offer iPhone in its "standard" size, as well as a "big" size - the 5" model.
  - dreamfactory2 13y ago
    The rumor sites have them bringing out two models - one a bit bigger and one much bigger. If anyone brings out an android nano I'll defect immediately (having been on iphone since day 1).
    - soperj 13y ago
      There are definitely smaller ones out there. Htc one mini. Galaxy s4 mini. ect.ect. 4.3 inch screens for both of those ones.
      - dreamfactory2 13y ago
        Both bigger than an iphone 5 in all dimensions. Really looking for something with a hi-res screen, apple-speed touch latency, maximum but preferably smaller footprint than an iphone 4, and at least as thin as an iphone 5. This should be doable in 2014 and I think would be distinct enough without being ridiculously niche to have a reasonable market segment.
        clarky07 13y ago
        You aren't likely to get apple-speed touch latency outside of apple. They have worked much harder on this than everyone else and do a much better job of it. Sadly for you, I don't see them releasing something that small again. The 4S is still a decent phone, but you might have to settle for the 5 sized phones. Unlikely they ever release something smaller at this point.
hrktb 13y ago
There is definitely a sweetspot. I understand 4 inches is very small for any mildly serious task, it can be done but it's painful. But IMO 5 or 6 inches don't feel so liberating. It's better, but not that much, and at the end of the day I really want an iPad to do any task that will last more than 5 min. For people who usually have a carry bag, an iPad is not so big or clunky. Having a 4 inch phone to pocket is then good enough.

Supermighty 13y ago

I love my Note 2. It is close to perfect in the size category. As part of my job I sometime test on a 4" iPod Touch, and it feels to very tiny. I can't remember how I even used my old iPhone 3G. Typing on the 4" was painful; the hit target was so small. I think this is one of the reasons that Samsung has taken such a large share of the market. They offer devices in a variety of sizes, for which they've been criticized, but allows for a perfect size for everyone. I know I could never go back to a smaller screen size.

clarky07 13y ago
Yeah I do some testing on the 4S and it feels tiny now compared the my 5S. As for the typing though, software plays a big part in this too. I absolutely hate the default keyboard on my HTC One and I have no problems with my 5S and even the smaller 4S.

radley 13y ago

Should point out the most popular devices, Samsung's Galaxy S3 & S4, are 4.7" & 5" phones. The Galaxy Note series is 5.3", 5.5", and 5.7" respectively.

dreamfactory2 13y ago

I will likely end up upgrading my iphone 4 to a 5 instead of a 6 if the rumoured size increase happens. The only reason I still use an iphone is the smaller screen size. I would bet that Steve Jobs had the nous to make sure that the iphone comfortably fits in the front pocket of a pair of jeans.

Deusdies 13y ago
I, however, fail to see why Apple wouldn't offer iPhone in its "standard" size, as well as a "big" size - the 5" model.
- dreamfactory2 13y ago
  The rumor sites have them bringing out two models - one a bit bigger and one much bigger. If anyone brings out an android nano I'll defect immediately (having been on iphone since day 1).
  - soperj 13y ago
    There are definitely smaller ones out there. Htc one mini. Galaxy s4 mini. ect.ect. 4.3 inch screens for both of those ones.
    - dreamfactory2 13y ago
      Both bigger than an iphone 5 in all dimensions. Really looking for something with a hi-res screen, apple-speed touch latency, maximum but preferably smaller footprint than an iphone 4, and at least as thin as an iphone 5. This should be doable in 2014 and I think would be distinct enough without being ridiculously niche to have a reasonable market segment.
      - clarky07 13y ago
        You aren't likely to get apple-speed touch latency outside of apple. They have worked much harder on this than everyone else and do a much better job of it. Sadly for you, I don't see them releasing something that small again. The 4S is still a decent phone, but you might have to settle for the 5 sized phones. Unlikely they ever release something smaller at this point.

hrktb 13y ago

There is definitely a sweetspot. I understand 4 inches is very small for any mildly serious task, it can be done but it's painful. But IMO 5 or 6 inches don't feel so liberating. It's better, but not that much, and at the end of the day I really want an iPad to do any task that will last more than 5 min. For people who usually have a carry bag, an iPad is not so big or clunky. Having a 4 inch phone to pocket is then good enough.