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I have one of the original Nexus 7's that was given out at Google I/O a few years ago. After I got it I used it all the time around the house, and sometimes on

I have one of the original Nexus 7's that was given out at Google I/O a few years ago. After I got it I used it all the time around the house, and sometimes on the road (using the mobile hotspot on my Droid Charge) when I didn't mind carrying around an extra device. Then I got a Galaxy Note 2. The day I got it was literally the last time I used the Nexus 7. It did everything the Nexus 7 could do and it was always with me. It had almost the same display resolution in a much smaller overall package thanks to the slimmer bezel. It was bigger than the Droid Charge, but it actually fit better in my pants pocket. My carrying system for years has been to put the phone (with no case) in my left front pants pocket with the screen facing in to protect it. Keys and change go in the right front pocket so they never scratch the phone. Don't need cargo pants for this, just regular slacks or shorts. This worked OK for the Droid Charge, but the phone always ended up sideways in my pocket. When I sat down, the Droid would stick out because it was crosswise with the long end against the curve of my leg. The Note 2 was big enough that it wouldn't tip on its side in the pocket like that; it stayed upright with the long end parallel to my leg and the short end going across. So despite being a bigger phone, it ended up being less in the way. Later upgraded to a Note 3 and Note 4, and wouldn't go back to a smaller phone at all. I do pay attention to pocket depth when I buy pants, but most of the styles I like have reasonably deep pockets anyway. I don't talk on the phone much, and when I do the larger size isn't a problem. I mostly use my phone as a portable always-connected tablet. For anyone who thinks these large phones exist only to give manufacturers bigger numbers they could brag about, well, I'm your counterexample. They are ideal for me.

kelnos 12y ago
Do you ever run into problems dropping it? I stuck with the Nexus line from the Nexus One all the way up to the 4, but even the 4 was too big for my hand. I could barely use it one-handed, and I believe that contributed greatly to me frequently dropping the phone (went through 2 screen replacements). Never had I had this problem with a previous, smaller phone. After the N4, I downsized and I'm much happier. (I suppose that's also a thing: I want to be able to primarily use my phone one-handed. If you're consistently a two-hand user, I guess this isn't much of a problem.)
- Stratoscope 12y ago
  Interesting point about the one hand vs. two hand operation. I haven't had a problem with dropping the phone, but I do use two hands to operate it except for simple things like scrolling. That's easy with one hand - at least for normal vertically scrolling websites. It does get annoying reading Kindle books with their ridiculous sideways page turns where you have to tap the right side of the screen or drag the page sideways. I love having all my books and magazines on my phone, but hate the Kindle UI. Why can't I just scroll my books vertically like a normal website? Being right-handed, I hold the phone in my left hand, so it's a pretty awkward reach. [1] The few close calls I've had were when I tried to get fancy and reach across the phone with my thumb to tap some button on the screen - or flip a Kindle page. Definitely see how it would be easier to drop if you're using it one-handed. [1] This reminds me of a question I've been curious about: I've read a few times that most people hold their phone in their dominant hand (e.g. my right hand). I never understood this, since I use it more like a small pad of paper and pencil - the pad of course would be in my left hand and the pencil in my right. Naturally when I'm using the Note's stylus I do it that way, but even without the stylus I've always thought of it like a pad and pencil with my finger being the pencil. I've always assumed that people who use their phone with two hands do it this way, but I'd be interested to know whether people who operate their phones with one hand use their dominant hand or the other hand.
- __xtrimsky 12y ago
  I was able to operate the Nexus 5 even with one hand. (my hands aren't too big). But I had to get a slim case, the heavy case was too big for it. After a year I dropped the phone for the 700th hundred time and it broke, now I got the Xperia Z3 Compact. I do agree with you, I never want a phone I can't fully operate with one hand. I often can only use one hand (the other carries a kid, or a kid bike or something kid related).

kelnos 12y ago

Do you ever run into problems dropping it? I stuck with the Nexus line from the Nexus One all the way up to the 4, but even the 4 was too big for my hand. I could barely use it one-handed, and I believe that contributed greatly to me frequently dropping the phone (went through 2 screen replacements). Never had I had this problem with a previous, smaller phone. After the N4, I downsized and I'm much happier. (I suppose that's also a thing: I want to be able to primarily use my phone one-handed. If you're consistently a two-hand user, I guess this isn't much of a problem.)

Stratoscope 12y ago
Interesting point about the one hand vs. two hand operation. I haven't had a problem with dropping the phone, but I do use two hands to operate it except for simple things like scrolling. That's easy with one hand - at least for normal vertically scrolling websites. It does get annoying reading Kindle books with their ridiculous sideways page turns where you have to tap the right side of the screen or drag the page sideways. I love having all my books and magazines on my phone, but hate the Kindle UI. Why can't I just scroll my books vertically like a normal website? Being right-handed, I hold the phone in my left hand, so it's a pretty awkward reach. [1] The few close calls I've had were when I tried to get fancy and reach across the phone with my thumb to tap some button on the screen - or flip a Kindle page. Definitely see how it would be easier to drop if you're using it one-handed. [1] This reminds me of a question I've been curious about: I've read a few times that most people hold their phone in their dominant hand (e.g. my right hand). I never understood this, since I use it more like a small pad of paper and pencil - the pad of course would be in my left hand and the pencil in my right. Naturally when I'm using the Note's stylus I do it that way, but even without the stylus I've always thought of it like a pad and pencil with my finger being the pencil. I've always assumed that people who use their phone with two hands do it this way, but I'd be interested to know whether people who operate their phones with one hand use their dominant hand or the other hand.
__xtrimsky 12y ago
I was able to operate the Nexus 5 even with one hand. (my hands aren't too big). But I had to get a slim case, the heavy case was too big for it. After a year I dropped the phone for the 700th hundred time and it broke, now I got the Xperia Z3 Compact. I do agree with you, I never want a phone I can't fully operate with one hand. I often can only use one hand (the other carries a kid, or a kid bike or something kid related).