Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
4.7" iPhone
- Thread starter blairh
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I would take a 4.3-4.5 inch iPhone.
After using the android mini tablets (that's what i call my android smartphones, and that's what they look to me), i am not very happy with huge screens.
The thing is, watching videos is not as much fun even on a 5 inch screen as on a 7-10 inch screen. If i am watching something in a pinch, even a 4 inch screen is fine in that case, the 5 inch does not make it much better for me.
Reading big PDFs isn't as awesome on a 5-5.5 inch screen as reading them on 7-10 inch screen sizes. I only keep Moonreader+ on my GS4 because of that odd small one-two page PDF that i might need to glance on, but in that case an iPhone did fine too in the past. Again not so great for my needs.
Reading websites even on a 5 inch screen for long periods isn't as much fun as on a 7-10 inch screen, again for me at least. I use feedly on GS4 not because i like to read long news articles, but because it has that awesome title only view that can show me all news in a couple pages which i can skim through. If something is very important, i will send that link to pocket, open it in my laptop or PC or N7, and read it there.
And we see where we are going on and on...
However, for general smartphone stuff, i don't need such a huge screen. Music management, alarms, note taking, reminders, communication, social, emails, you name it, all work fine on a 4-4.5 inch screen, again at least for me.
This is why i liked the moto X, as though it was 4.7 inch the build was very ergonomic. I hate this huge screen trend. Ideally in future i would rather have technology that allowed a 4 inch smartphone to stretch and turn into a 7,8, or 10-13 inches screen as needed, rather than going for a 5-6 inch smartphone. I would rather carry a small tablet in my coat pocket.
This is why i think Apple should not follow this stupid trend of making monster sized phones, and i hope they don't give us a 5 inch 6S and 6C. At least have an option of a smaller iPhone with decent enough internals to sill do every thing fine (which actually isn't such a problem for iPhones in general, apart from Apple screwing up iOS sometimes which they can fix in an update though).
I am strongly considering an iPhone again (or a WP8.1/WP 9 if a good notification screen comes and some minor annoyances get fixed) for my next upgrade. As much as i appreciate android, i am quite tired of some of the things which is a topic for another thread, and have come to appreciate iOS again after handling my wife's new iPhone 5C. I guess i should stop here before another war starts 🙂
After using the android mini tablets (that's what i call my android smartphones, and that's what they look to me), i am not very happy with huge screens.
The thing is, watching videos is not as much fun even on a 5 inch screen as on a 7-10 inch screen. If i am watching something in a pinch, even a 4 inch screen is fine in that case, the 5 inch does not make it much better for me.
Reading big PDFs isn't as awesome on a 5-5.5 inch screen as reading them on 7-10 inch screen sizes. I only keep Moonreader+ on my GS4 because of that odd small one-two page PDF that i might need to glance on, but in that case an iPhone did fine too in the past. Again not so great for my needs.
Reading websites even on a 5 inch screen for long periods isn't as much fun as on a 7-10 inch screen, again for me at least. I use feedly on GS4 not because i like to read long news articles, but because it has that awesome title only view that can show me all news in a couple pages which i can skim through. If something is very important, i will send that link to pocket, open it in my laptop or PC or N7, and read it there.
And we see where we are going on and on...
However, for general smartphone stuff, i don't need such a huge screen. Music management, alarms, note taking, reminders, communication, social, emails, you name it, all work fine on a 4-4.5 inch screen, again at least for me.
This is why i liked the moto X, as though it was 4.7 inch the build was very ergonomic. I hate this huge screen trend. Ideally in future i would rather have technology that allowed a 4 inch smartphone to stretch and turn into a 7,8, or 10-13 inches screen as needed, rather than going for a 5-6 inch smartphone. I would rather carry a small tablet in my coat pocket.
This is why i think Apple should not follow this stupid trend of making monster sized phones, and i hope they don't give us a 5 inch 6S and 6C. At least have an option of a smaller iPhone with decent enough internals to sill do every thing fine (which actually isn't such a problem for iPhones in general, apart from Apple screwing up iOS sometimes which they can fix in an update though).
I am strongly considering an iPhone again (or a WP8.1/WP 9 if a good notification screen comes and some minor annoyances get fixed) for my next upgrade. As much as i appreciate android, i am quite tired of some of the things which is a topic for another thread, and have come to appreciate iOS again after handling my wife's new iPhone 5C. I guess i should stop here before another war starts 🙂
tbayrgs
macrumors 604
Pretty much my sentiments as well. Doing something on a 4" screen isn't really much better on a 4.7-5" display, but becomes significantly better on a 7"+ display, and is why I generally almost always have a tablet with me as well.
I too also don't need the extra size for what how my phone is generally used, and I'd actually rather have the smaller size for portability. My phone is also my music/internet radio device and a smaller phone is much easy to manage when active.
I'm by no means stating smaller is better, especially considering we all use our phones quite differently, just that I prefer a smaller size than most of the newer devices being released and fear available high quality devices of this size are going the way of the Dodo.
Jessica Lares
macrumors G3
Thought about it, But still no. After having my S2, it's definitely the size of the screen itself that is an issue.
TacticalDesire
macrumors 68020
Yes. I would be highly tempted. That combined with what I'd like to see in iOS 8 could be my next daily driver. But only if apple looses the reigns on iOS.
That's not a big deal. Android already provides a back button so there's the choice. We don't want to play the back button roulette on every platform 🙂
tbayrgs
macrumors 604
I like the back button as well but, even with it not being yet integrated into all apps, I've found the swipe from the left to go back motion on iOS to be pretty nice. As often as I've tried to push the 'back' button when using my iPad (not quite so much anymore), I've done the same think with the 'swipe from left to go back' motion on my G Pad. 😉
It is not consistent. On my devices, both GS4 and Nexus 7, i cannot always predict what it can do. Sometimes it closes the app, sometimes it takes me to the previous frame in an app, sometimes it back tracks to the previously open app.
May be google can use the swipe approach to go back in the app, and leave the back button hard coded in next version of android to always go back to previous screen.
Unless they figure out a way to make devices that big more usable with one hand, then nah. I have an HTC One which isn't terribly difficult to use one handed but not exactly convenient and there's always a fear of dropping it.
4.5 is probably the max I would go on a phone
4.5 is probably the max I would go on a phone
I would love a 4.7" iPhone but I also would like a notification light and a rounded back. Not flat.
The larger screen size is the most needed change IMO. Keep the 4" model, offer a 4.7" model. But a notification light is awesome once you've used a phone with one. A flat back iPhone means I'll need to use a case.
The larger screen size is the most needed change IMO. Keep the 4" model, offer a 4.7" model. But a notification light is awesome once you've used a phone with one. A flat back iPhone means I'll need to use a case.
+1 for the curved back. I hate the squarish build since iPhone 4.
I don't care for notification light though. Moto has already shown that android can have viable Lock screen notifications. As for the amoled requirement, I don't think that's needed much as iphones light up with notifications all the time and it doesn't hurt much despite the LCD.
Dustman
macrumors 65816
Screen size is a start. But I'd also need the following:
Mass Storage support - for the ability to sync sans iTunes.
Smaller Bezels (on the top and bottom)
Wider aspect ratio for additional thumb room (phone's too damn skinny)
'Til then, I'm an LG fan boy. It started with my nexus, and has followed to my G2 <3.
Mass Storage support - for the ability to sync sans iTunes.
Smaller Bezels (on the top and bottom)
Wider aspect ratio for additional thumb room (phone's too damn skinny)
'Til then, I'm an LG fan boy. It started with my nexus, and has followed to my G2 <3.
jrswizzle
macrumors 603
I'm selling my Nexus 5 and getting an iPhone 5C....if/when Apple releases a larger iPhone, I'll definitely be moving to it.
Just getting tired of moving back and forth. The iPhone/iOS just works for me. It may be "less advanced" for some, but for me - its just better.
My initial reason for getting an Android is the idea I didn't need/want to carry around 2 iPhones....now, at this point, I'd rather just carry ONE phone around. And I prefer to have my (an) iPhone with me.
I'll pick up an Android device again in the future - but honestly, 5" displays are too large for me. 4.7" is the sweet spot and I really don't mind 4". Just something about the iPhone 5S form factor....
----------
You realize the Nexus 5 and most every Android smartphone on the market is the same aspect ratio as the iPhone 5/5S/5C.....
When the iPhone gets larger, it'll get wider as well at this point. I'm with you on the smaller bezels....but I'm not a fan of the "edge to edge" designs and concepts.
Just getting tired of moving back and forth. The iPhone/iOS just works for me. It may be "less advanced" for some, but for me - its just better.
My initial reason for getting an Android is the idea I didn't need/want to carry around 2 iPhones....now, at this point, I'd rather just carry ONE phone around. And I prefer to have my (an) iPhone with me.
I'll pick up an Android device again in the future - but honestly, 5" displays are too large for me. 4.7" is the sweet spot and I really don't mind 4". Just something about the iPhone 5S form factor....
----------
You realize the Nexus 5 and most every Android smartphone on the market is the same aspect ratio as the iPhone 5/5S/5C.....
When the iPhone gets larger, it'll get wider as well at this point. I'm with you on the smaller bezels....but I'm not a fan of the "edge to edge" designs and concepts.
Savor
Suspended
No.
I will keep running back to Android. Like others said, Android fits my needs better. It isn't simply based on screen size anymore.
And with Android apps being able to run on Windows, it looks like I will be a PC/Android guy for a long, long time. I can understand many others never leaving iOS/ecosystem since it just works for them, but for me, it just has too many limitations. I don't need to be stuck on an ecosystem.
I will keep running back to Android. Like others said, Android fits my needs better. It isn't simply based on screen size anymore.
And with Android apps being able to run on Windows, it looks like I will be a PC/Android guy for a long, long time. I can understand many others never leaving iOS/ecosystem since it just works for them, but for me, it just has too many limitations. I don't need to be stuck on an ecosystem.
Stuntman06
macrumors 6502a
Screen size was not the reason I did not choose the iPhone when I last bought a new phone. I'm very happy with my Android phone and I just feel I would be losing too much switching to iOS.
That is no where to the inconsistency of the back button.
Plus that doesn't let Google off the hook for making it so.
----------
After endless tinkering with my gs4 to make it as close to how I want it for my daily use, I dont see how iOS so much less advanced. For all the talk of apps, can't find an email client like mailbox or calendar like fantastical on android. Can't find a stable, bug free lockscreen notifications app. Tried many of them including a paid o e. They either add a widget, or a layer on top of existing lock screen, handle multiple notifications in less than ideal manner, and are buggy.
For all the crying about customization, I have yet to see something that can ungroup the notifications in the shade as well. Funny how I was instead told to not rely on the shade and use my phone the "normal way" instead on an android forum. Wow.
As for the rest, I can play music, manage my time, do social stuff, read, play, browse on both platforms. I am just tired of this tinkering and playing with custom Roms and still can't find something that I can settle on. I am hard pressed to see the "advanced by miles" part.
blackhand1001
macrumors 68030
Phones with onscreen buttons function as a device that is less narrow than 16x9 with regular buttons. That because part of the screen is where the buttons would normally be.
Why would you want a rounded back? The HTC One is kind of like that and it's a design flaw. Whenever the phone vibrates on a desk it comes out completely distorted and super loud. It pisses me off especially when I'm sleeping and I get a notification. The phone should be flush with a flat surface
tbayrgs
macrumors 604
I have no preference either way, don't mind the flat back on the iPhone and the rounded rear panel on the One didn't bother me either. The benefit of the rounded back is a more ergonomic shape that feels better in the hand. And the flat back design is in the minority considering most flagship devices (Galaxy S4 and Note III, HTC One series, Moto X, Droid Ultra and Maxx, LG G2, Nokia devices) all have varying degrees of rounded backs.
Off the top of my head, only iPhones and Sony Xperia Z series devices are flat.
Put your phone on silent and your problem is solved. Or use a dock.
It depends on how curved the back is. Completely flat phones are awkward to handle IMO. Something with rounded edges is a lot more enjoyable to handle.
Oohara
macrumors 68040
Quite true. I found the back button behaviour on my Note 2 more predictable than what iOS 7 back motions have been so far (I'm back on my 4S since three months).
The back button is one of the things I miss the most since going back to iPhone. Funny how I do more uncomfortable stretches to go back in iOS apps with my 3,5" iPhone than I ever did with the 5,5" Note 2...
With that said though, I do agree that the Android back button isn't quite what it should be. Still wishing they'd make the three on screen buttons (or tactile hardware buttons) into a gesture/tactile strip. Swipe left for back, right for forward (+ add other gestures, multitouch, long press etc. for extended functionality).