5.5 inch iPhone - why?

[Oohara]

People with phablets always claim web browsing as being superior on a phablet, but most of the time I doubt it, it would be for me personally. I'm not one of those guys who claims that what works for me, must work for everyone else, but would like to hear an opinion from someone on the other side.

I'm surfing the web on my iPhone 5 very often and 99% of the time the experience is fine for those reasons: 1.) Webpages often are fitted to smartphones. 2.) if not the double tap on text columns I want to read makes it big enough most of the time. 3) if not The reader option is there.
It sometimes happens, that nothing works (very rare these days) and then I can still turn my phone to landscape.

Again, I don't want to claim that a bigger phone can't be better or so, just that I never understood why surfing was any problem on a smaller smartphone.

For me it's just more convenient and enjoyable on a 5.5" phone. Less pinching and less double tapping. And the ability to get a better overview of the whole thing. And for reader mode, I also enjoy reading on a large screen more. I can readily hold my Note 2 in my lap and read, whereas the 4" iPhones I have to hold up to my face.

But, ultimately of course it comes down to personal preference and I realise that others will prefer to surf the web on smaller phones

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I have a 6.4" Xperia Z Ultra and even that fits into my pockets no problem. 5.5" is nothing. People will look back at this kind of argument and laugh as much as the Gates quote about 640k be it enough for anybody.

Well you are not me are you? I've already discussed how a Galaxy Note is not practical for me due to its size and I don't wear baggy jeans with deep pockets. If the iPhone is the same size then it applies exactly the same. I will buy the 4.7" option and don't have to justify it to anybody except myself.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If portability is the main influence of this line of thinking, why a full sized iPad instead of the Mini? Why a 15" Macbook instead of the smallest Air? Why a 27" iMac instead of the 21"? Etc.

Why?

There's a market that wants it so badly they'll forgo iOS to get it and just deal with Android. That means there's money there… lots of money. Apple is a business and wants the money. If you want to ask a "why?" question: why not build one rather than leave all that business to the Android competitors? A 5.5" will really impact that competition as those who choose screen over iOS will now have a real choice.

You don't like 5.5"? No problem. Buy the 4.7" and enjoy what you think is best for yourself. Wishing away another size would be like wishing away a full-sized iPad, larger MacBook sizes, 27" iMacs, etc just because you like the smaller versions of those devices. Other people feel differently. They are not you. They have different needs & wants out of their devices. And choices like this allows them to get what they want too.

And again, if portability is the dominant here, why the 4.7" too? It seems the 5s would be the way to (continue to) go as it is more portable and runs every single app in the store. Or buy nothing and if enough others do the same, Apple will feel that pain and realize there is this huge market that wants smaller instead of bigger, perhaps resurrecting the 3.5" or maybe motivating them to go for 3", 2.5", 2" or smaller.

Personally, I don't see that happening. Instead, I see Apple being tremendously rewarded for shifting to these 2 larger sizes. Finally bringing iOS to bigger screens should unlock a whole new wave of first-time buyers while also luring many Android people back to iPhones too. This "I don't want a…" sentiment from a segment of THIS crowd HERE will mostly evaporate as soon as Apple presents them and only a smaller segment will still whine about "too big". Nobody will have to buy "new pants" and "one handed use" will also evaporate about as quick as Apple drops it from the marketing bullet list (now that they don't have to spin concepts to try to slow down the migration of buyers to bigger phones from competitors). The remaining whiners will start getting the collective comebacks from the Apple faithful like "how did we ever get by with those puny screens?" and similar such that their psychology about this topic will shift. And then they'll do the "but then I got to actually see one" just before giving their money to Apple and subsequently gushing about the greatness of their new bigger-screen iPhone.

 

[Kealohilani]

Why?? Because no one uses phones to make calls anymore. 99% of my time with a phone is screen based. Communications are data based eg whatsapp, text, facebook etc. Therefore I welcome a larger screen to read things better. Also 5.5 inches is a tiny screen. I carry a 6.4 inch Sony Ultra and that is too small for me. A 4.7 inch would be a joke for me to use.

This exactly (except for the Sony Ultra). I use my phone mostly for texting, browsing, reading, playing games, and watching video. Basically I don't really use my phone as a phone nearly as much as I do for other purposes.

 

[nnacrumors]

Or buy nothing and if enough others do the same, Apple will feel that pain and realize there is this huge market that wants smaller instead of bigger, perhaps resurrecting the 3.5"

Oh man... a boy sure can dream!

Imagine a 4s with current internals like the A8 chip? :drools:

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

While I can imagine it, I (personally) would definitely not want it. I think the 5s screen is much too small at 4". 5.5" is THE one for me.

BUT, that said, if there is a market for smaller-screen smart phones, I wish Apple would build for that market too. And note this: one of the reasons Android has had some great smart phone success is because Apple hasn't been competing at these bigger-screen sizes. So Android makers have been able to carve out a profitable business at sizes above 4" partially because Apple has left it to them.

Now Apple is going to encroach on that space. I think that means a LOT of that bigger-screen business for Android is about to dry up, as I suspect many would rather have iOS but couldn't sacrifice the bigger screens. Now they don't have to.

However, Apple is apparently vacating 4" and smaller. So if there is a market that wants a 4" or smaller screen so badly they will NOT buy these bigger-screen iPhones, Android should jump on that hole(s). Thus, if there is still a lot of profitable opportunity down at <= 4" sizes, I would expect a flood of new Androids trying to fill the hole left by Apple leaving the size.

Android already has some phones down in those sizes but I doubt they sell very well. Perhaps this will boost demand for them? Or perhaps it will take a new generation of Androids to stir up demand for the smaller? Or perhaps its just over down at the small end and that's why Apple is leaving it rather than rolling out 3 models of iPhone 6?

 

[asleep]

Because no one uses phones to make calls anymore...

Phablets are stupid.

Pretty much sums up the division.

Extrapolate into personality types as you please.

 

[VidPro]

Reading glasses. Once you need to wear them large phones seem like a great idea.

 

[Olivia23]

Agreed, maybe I'll change my mind once I have one but I've tried the Galaxy Note 3 before and hated how it two-hands was an absolute requirement to function

At the moment the Xperia Z3 Compact is my personal favorite device on the horizon based on its compact size for one-handed use, flagship specs (snapdragon 801, 2gb RAM, micro SD, 20mp camera) and great battery size at 2600mAh.

I saw that with the iPhone 5.5 screen they will have one handed operations. Don't know how they will do that.

 

[sfwalter]

I want a 5.5 so that my content has room to breathe

 

[Oohara]

I want a 5.5 so that my content has room to breathe

LOL best explanation so far. Thanks, I'm going to steal this one

 

[steve32c]

I will probably go for the 4.7" phone rather than the 5.5"; however it would be nice to actually get a hands on feel first, but if as the rumours suggest the larger phone won't be released until after the 4.7" phone then do I wait depending on time scale for a hands on feel or just blindly go for the 4.7" phone, which in itself will seem a massive increase in screen size from my 4s. I've also got an iPad mini 4g which I'm using to type this up on as well as a 'New iPad' (3) which is wifi only.

 

[Project]

Well you are not me are you? I've already discussed how a Galaxy Note is not practical for me due to its size and I don't wear baggy jeans with deep pockets. If the iPhone is the same size then it applies exactly the same. I will buy the 4.7" option and don't have to justify it to anybody except myself.

I don't wear baggy jeans either. I've never seen a Galaxy Note for instance protruding above the jean pocket when I'm out and about.

Not saying you have to justify anything, but people's arguments against large phones over the years have largely been nonsense.

 

[famoussasjohn]

Asides from that, are there any other reasons people are opting for these big screen phones? Or is it a case of 'bigger=better'?

I've wanted a bigger phone for a while. Bigger screen = more viewable items on the screen all at once instead of compacting everything. Games will look nicer and play even better as well.

If you're thinking of getting the 5.5 iPhone, why over the 4.7? How will you carry it and do you own a tablet?

I will carry it in my hands or in my pocket. I wear normal jeans so it will fit fine. I've had a Galaxy Note 2 in my pocket and it fit perfectly fine. I don't own a tablet however.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don't wear baggy jeans either. I've never seen a Galaxy Note for instance protruding above the jean pocket when I'm out and about.

Not saying you have to justify anything, but people's arguments against large phones over the years have largely been nonsense.

I can assure you when I put a Note in my pocket it sits large on my thigh and digs in when I sit down. To me that is impractical. The arguments are not nonsense because they are subjective to the individual and what you put up with or like is not going to be the same for everybody.

The Note isn't very popular where I am from and for reasons I don't know. I know one person in our office that has one and its very rare I see them being used when out and about. I think if the preference for phones that big was just everybody being wrong, the manufacturers would have just produced all phones that size. Choice is great and again for me the 4.7" iPhone is slightly bigger than I had liked but suitable as an option. The 5.5" will not even be consider for myself.

 

[Shuri]

For me it's just more convenient and enjoyable on a 5.5" phone. Less pinching and less double tapping. And the ability to get a better overview of the whole thing. And for reader mode, I also enjoy reading on a large screen more. I can readily hold my Note 2 in my lap and read, whereas the 4" iPhones I have to hold up to my face.

But, ultimately of course it comes down to personal preference and I realise that others will prefer to surf the web on smaller phones

Well I wouldn't say I prefer it all together, but I prefer it on the go, though I understand very well, that this is not so important to everybody. Thank you for an answer far from: "how can you do this on such a tiny screen".

 

[Peanut207]

This is going to be a tough choice for me. I keep going back and forth on which size I want. On one hand I love the screen real estate of the 5.5" but on the other hand love the more pocket friendly and the ease of use with one hand that the 4.7" offers you when you only have one hand available. They both have their pros and cons...I'm leaning slightly towards the 5.5" right now only because more often than not I'm using my phone with 2 hands. Ahhhhh...decisions.

I'm really looking forward to hands on impressions to help me get a better feel for how both phone sizes actually feel in the hand. The wait is almost over.

 

[RenoG]

Most people do not want to carry two devices. Its easier to carry one big device than two smaller ones. Tablets did not have a dialler until recently with the Tab S and possibly the Z3 compact tablet.

Therefore phablets were the only option. Also a 4.7inch screen is too small when you surf or are using the phone for 6 plus hours a day. Fine for the odd 5 mins etc.

This was my reasonining as well until I thought about my real life usage of these devices. I own both an ipad and iphone and its simply not serious enough to convert them to a phablet as they both have their place. At no time do I sit in front a phone for more than 20min at a time.

GagetSN seriously 6 hours a day, do you not own a television or PC/Mac? I couldn't sit in front of nothing for six hours.

 

[sunapple]

For me (based on rumors):

- Software-enhancements (more than just blown-up 4" iOS)
- Camera
- Battery

The Note 3 might be very close to its dimensions and when I tried it in a store today (risking looking stupid by being interested in a Samsung) I found it actually quite enjoyable.

I've also owned a Lumia 1520 which was a lot bigger, but the not-really-optimized software made it feel awkward and unnecessary huge. It really depends on how iOS will be optimized.

 

[phpmaven]

I've always had the same attitude about the bigger phones calling them "ginormous" and "ridiculously huge" etc...

But I have quite a few friends with the Note, and every one of them loves it. I've caught myself thinking "man, if that was running IOS, it would be pretty sweet". I'm seriously considering getting the 5.5 on launch day, but I'm still waffling between the 4.7 and 5.5

 

[saxjonz]

Well, rest at ease. Both sizes released today!

 

[poppy10]

From the 2012 thread on the launch of the 4.8inch Galaxy S3:

What a difference two years makes. Wonder if these guys are still around...

That's no phone... that's a space station.

It's too big to be a space station.

Comes a size where it's not a phone, it's a tablet with a voice app.

That dwarfs the iPhone in every stretch of the imagination in terms of size. That's crazy big.

OMG, it's ****** huge!!!

On a similar note, stock prices for makers of "man purses" skyrocketed today; as sales are expected to get a jump from people looking for ways to carry this beast around.

I want something that will fit in my pocket and not make me look like I am happy to see everyone all the time. These new phones are getting crazy.

I think a 7" tablet is more possible that a 5.5" iPhone.

Way way too big. I wouldn't want that in my pocket. I have an iPad already.

What is the point of that? At that size how much more difficult would it be to put my iPad in my pocket and just use Skype on it. Its almost as though they've never seen those spoof videos of people holding phones larger then their heads screaming into them. They might as well un-retire the old brick phones that weighed 80lbs through a screen on them and call it a laptop phone.

Holy crap! Look at the size of that f*er! As a guy, I like to be able to easily pocket my phone, especially when I go out at night. I like when I can sit down and the phone fits easily in my pocket. I would be forced to buy a holster or backpack harness if I bought that phone.

WOW that thing is huge! I think it will be great for people who want a tablet, that makes phone calls! Why didn't they just bump it up to 7 inches from the near 5 it is now and make it compete with the kindle fire tablet.

It looks like the trend that used to be , smaller, faster, lighter is now....., bigger, brighter and mini-tablet! While I am sure it will eventually cycle back to phones that are small enough to be functional phones and not approaching the size of an envelope, it amazes me that they are making such HUGE phones!

5 inches is massive when holding a device you will use frequently in your hands. I've tried usin 4.5-5 inch phones, it's great for watching video, but besides that it's no fun to carry or hold in the hand.

I've found the iPhone to be the perfect balance. 4 inches is likely the sweetspot for everyday general use. It's all about balance folks.

Design is good, but my GOD that thing is too damn big. 4.8 inches screen alone?! I shouldnt have to buy gangster size XXXL jeans just to fit the thing into my pockets.

The size is actually laughable. Your definitely stretching the definition of phone.

Sweet! I got he Galaxy III, it's so awesome you can't put it in your pocket but thats good, everyone will be forced to see it's awesomeness.

4.8" is way too big. I think 4" is the perfect size (and 3.5" is good too).

5 inches is massive when holding a device you will use frequently in your hands. I've tried usin 4.5-5 inch phones, it's great for watching video, but besides that it's no fun to carry or hold in the hand.

I've found the iPhone to be the perfect balance. 4 inches is likely the sweetspot for everyday general use.

 

[Razeus]

Because it's easier to read (websites, messages, apps) with a bigger screen. The only time I use the actual phone is when my mother calls.

I'm all in for the 6+ @ 64GB. I'll gladly pay $100 for bigger screen, 1080p screen, and OIS camera.

 

[Lindsford]

Because, People like options. There's a market for it.

 

[iososx]

Hey guys,

I've always been struck with questions when I see people carrying around really big phones like the Galaxy Note, and I see a lot of people really wanting the 5.5 inch iPhone too.

There looks to be a lot of compromises with these devices, mainly portability. It seems like most men would find it tricky fitting in the front pocket of their jeans. It looks cumbersome to use it as a phone holding it to your head. It's difficult or impossible to use one handed.

The main purposes seem to be for someone that is interested in watching a lot of video, playing games or as an e-reading type device in place of an iPad or Kindle.

Asides from that, are there any other reasons people are opting for these big screen phones? Or is it a case of 'bigger=better'?

If you're thinking of getting the 5.5 iPhone, why over the 4.7? How will you carry it and do you own a tablet?

Interested for some discussion on this.

There's nothing to discuss, it's an Apple forum with the usual mix of buyers. You either get it or you don't, it's of little consequence.