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Well, as another data point, I used big-ass android and switched to 4S and found it to be much more appropriate size. Ordered in 5S not 10 minutes ago, and I'm

Well, as another data point, I used big-ass android and switched to 4S and found it to be much more appropriate size. Ordered in 5S not 10 minutes ago, and I'm afraid it's not really gonna be better form factor. I do find your "toylike" adjective appropriate. But I don't think that's neccesarily a critique.

neals 12y ago
Interesting indeed! I usually struggle with the general size of the icons and the width of inputs being so short that only a dozen characters fit on there. What are some advantages that you experience with the 4s screensize?
- dsirijus 12y ago
  Mostly single-hand maneuverability of device, is what I find most useful. I'm pretty dexterous person with medium-sized hands, and weight and form factor of 4S allows me to easily fetch it from any side, flip it, access any button, and manipulate any point on screen while still keeping weight center in palm of my hand, not fingers or, god-forbid, fingertips. I sort of could work with Samsung's SII, but SIII I couldn't tolerate.
- runako 12y ago
  Smaller phones fit more easily into pockets. Also, anecdotally and in my experience, they have better battery life.
  - cpwright 12y ago
    I actually find that a bit surprising. I would expect with a larger form factor one could fit a bigger battery into the phone (like an iPad has much better battery life than an iPhone). A longer charge would be more motivation for me to upgrade my phone to a larger size than a bigger screen.
    - neals 12y ago
      Indeed, my iPad lasts days longer than my iPhone.
    - w1ntermute 12y ago
      The Galaxy Note line is well known for its battery life. Note that screens are 2D, while batteries are 3D. So battery size can increase faster than screen size.
    - runako 12y ago
      Possibly this is due to the larger screens being primarily Android, which had/has worse power management than iOS. I'm out of the loop on the current state of the relative power management between the two, so this may have changed in the last year or so. But anecdotally, my friends who carry Android phones keep their chargers nearby in their purses/briefcases.
      - Zak 12y ago
        Current Android devices with smaller screens almost universally have less powerful hardware. A slower CPU, slower GPU and smaller amount of RAM will consume less energy. They also tend to have lower pixel densities, which usually mean higher light transmission (with LCDs) and therefore less energy spent running the backlight. There's also less area to illuminate.
- NamTaf 12y ago
  As the sibling said, I immensely value the single-handed usability. Even the 5/5S screen is approaching too big, because my thumb cannot reach to the far corner of the screen. If the rumours of the iPhone 6 having a bigger screen are true, I really hope they don't gimp a smaller version to have less grunt. That's my main gripe with small-screen android phones - they're technically inferior to their physically larger counterparts and marketed as the midrange option.
- otikik 12y ago
  I am a big guy with big hands. And yet, anything bigger than 4 inches is too big for me. I want to use 1 hand. I want to toss it on my pocket and forget about the thing. If I need a tablet, I will get one.

neals 12y ago

Interesting indeed! I usually struggle with the general size of the icons and the width of inputs being so short that only a dozen characters fit on there. What are some advantages that you experience with the 4s screensize?

dsirijus 12y ago
Mostly single-hand maneuverability of device, is what I find most useful. I'm pretty dexterous person with medium-sized hands, and weight and form factor of 4S allows me to easily fetch it from any side, flip it, access any button, and manipulate any point on screen while still keeping weight center in palm of my hand, not fingers or, god-forbid, fingertips. I sort of could work with Samsung's SII, but SIII I couldn't tolerate.
runako 12y ago
Smaller phones fit more easily into pockets. Also, anecdotally and in my experience, they have better battery life.
- cpwright 12y ago
  I actually find that a bit surprising. I would expect with a larger form factor one could fit a bigger battery into the phone (like an iPad has much better battery life than an iPhone). A longer charge would be more motivation for me to upgrade my phone to a larger size than a bigger screen.
  - neals 12y ago
    Indeed, my iPad lasts days longer than my iPhone.
  - w1ntermute 12y ago
    The Galaxy Note line is well known for its battery life. Note that screens are 2D, while batteries are 3D. So battery size can increase faster than screen size.
  - runako 12y ago
    Possibly this is due to the larger screens being primarily Android, which had/has worse power management than iOS. I'm out of the loop on the current state of the relative power management between the two, so this may have changed in the last year or so. But anecdotally, my friends who carry Android phones keep their chargers nearby in their purses/briefcases.
    - Zak 12y ago
      Current Android devices with smaller screens almost universally have less powerful hardware. A slower CPU, slower GPU and smaller amount of RAM will consume less energy. They also tend to have lower pixel densities, which usually mean higher light transmission (with LCDs) and therefore less energy spent running the backlight. There's also less area to illuminate.
NamTaf 12y ago
As the sibling said, I immensely value the single-handed usability. Even the 5/5S screen is approaching too big, because my thumb cannot reach to the far corner of the screen. If the rumours of the iPhone 6 having a bigger screen are true, I really hope they don't gimp a smaller version to have less grunt. That's my main gripe with small-screen android phones - they're technically inferior to their physically larger counterparts and marketed as the midrange option.
otikik 12y ago
I am a big guy with big hands. And yet, anything bigger than 4 inches is too big for me. I want to use 1 hand. I want to toss it on my pocket and forget about the thing. If I need a tablet, I will get one.