A 4" iPhone Will Not Be Enough In The Long Run

[Darrensk8]

It is a mobile phone. Not a tablet, netbook, laptop, desktop, TV, computer monitor, etc. A mobile phone first and foremost. If you want a bigger iPhone? Keep your current phone and buy an iPad.

People really need to stop with the, if you want a bigger iPhone get an iPad

 

[Sedrick]

Any sort of numbers to back up your "assurance" that Apple has "lost" sales because of your "theory?" I get what you are saying, but making wild claims without statistical support is just asking for trouble on these here forums.

I did a small sample of iPhone owners (me) and 100% of that sample did not by the iPhone 4 or the 4S from Apple. This is 100% because of the antiquated 3.5" screen size. So, from that sample, they lost the sales of both the 4 and 4S.

An uneducated guess would be that 50% of Android owners would rather have an iPhone but moved on because of the kiddie sized screen.

I'm 45% sure these numbers are correct.

 

[aleni]

I did a small sample of iPhone owners (me) and 100% of that sample did not by the iPhone 4 or the 4S from Apple. This is 100% because of the antiquated 3.5" screen size. So, from that sample, they lost the sales of both the 4 and 4S.

An uneducated guess would be that 50% of Android owners would rather have an iPhone but moved on because of the kiddie sized screen.

I'm 45% sure these numbers are correct.

I moved from 4s to galaxy note in order to get the bigger screen. Watching
Movies is terrible with this thing because of the black clipping isue in every note shipped to customers, and ics didn't fix that. Now im back to 4s and my god, i really missed the iOS's smoothness in eery aspect, and of course the app store.

 

[BK.]

I did a small sample of iPhone owners (me) and 100% of that sample did not by the iPhone 4 or the 4S from Apple. This is 100% because of the antiquated 3.5" screen size. So, from that sample, they lost the sales of both the 4 and 4S.

An uneducated guess would be that 50% of Android owners would rather have an iPhone but moved on because of the kiddie sized screen.

I'm 45% sure these numbers are correct.

And all the people that have an iPhone that wouldn't buy an iPhone again if it was made any bigger?

Yeah, exactly. Swings and roundabouts.

There are enough options out there, IMO. People need to start weighing up the pros and cons of each device they're looking at (bigger screen, ******** OS, etc.) compared to (smaller screen, better OS, etc). and make up their own decisions from that.

We can't just make billions of different phones so that everyone has their own perfect phone. It's like anything else in life, sometimes you have to be willing to compromise. You can't have everything.

Also, people who complain about watching movies/playing games on an iPhone are hilarious to me. Those things come secondary to it being a mobile phone.

If you're buying a phone to watch movies on, then........... well, I'm not allowed to say what I think of you on here, but it'd be like buying a car to walk to the shops in. It doesn't really work. Sure, you can do it, but it's daft and when you complain people aren't going to be that sympathetic.

----------

People really need to stop with the, if you want a bigger iPhone get an iPad

No they don't. It's exactly what it was created for.

 

[entatlrg]

Screen size is NOT the biggest problem. The problem is iOS. After 5 years it's really showing its age and not much has changed in terms of UI and looks.

I would be happy with a 4" screen BUT with a major overhaul in iOS6.

But then again it may be hard to switch back to a smaller screen after getting used to my HOX's 4.8"

To the people that says it's too large, you really have to own and use it for a while. Trying it in the shops is not the same thing. Give it a couple of weeks and you will not want to switch back. It's not cumbersome at all and your eyes will thank you for it.

You should speak only for yourself.

I had the HOX, didn't like the 4.8" size, it is cumbersome, sold it and tried the 4.3" HOS. While I like the size more than the 4.8" it's still a taller and wider than I prefer in a phone, plus it's buggy Android and HTC's One X and S both have weak wifi and cellular reception, VERY weak in comparison to our i-devices and blackberries.

I use my phone for quick in the go stuff, checking not surfing the web, little gaming or movie watching ... 3, 4, 5" screens all to small for that, imo. I use my iPad for those activities instead.

 

[Sedrick]

You should speak only for yourself.

I had the HOX, didn't like the 4.8" size, it is cumbersome, sold it and tried the 4.3" HOS. While I like the size more than the 4.8" it's still a taller and wider than I prefer in a phone, plus it's buggy Android and HTC's One X and S both have weak wifi and cellular reception, VERY weak in comparison to our i-devices and blackberries.

I use my phone for quick in the go stuff, checking not surfing the web, little gaming or movie watching ... 3, 4, 5" screens all to small for that, imo. I use my iPad for those activities instead.

So, I'm curious, what exactly would you have Apple release this fall if the (then 2 1/2 year old model) iPhone is already perfection? Nothing? (keep in mind, not everyone has a $600+ iPad to make up for the iPhone's shortcomings)

 

[entatlrg]

So, I'm curious, what exactly would you have Apple release this fall if the (then 2 1/2 year old model) iPhone is already perfection? Nothing? (keep in mind, not everyone has a $600+ iPad to make up for the iPhone's shortcomings)

You make a habit of either not accurately quoting what people say or spinning their words to make them sound like something they're not. Why? Like to argue or don't read what's written??

I didn't say or imply the current iPhone was perfection. Your last sentence makes zero sense, $600 won't give the iPhone a 10" screen.

What would I like to see in the next iPhone? My list isn't short here's a few that come to mind. Edge to edge screen, same physical size, wouldn't mind an ever so slight increase in width and height, a few mm at the most. I care less about thin that I do how it feels in the hand, also wouldn't mind better battery life as opposed to making the phone thinner.

Of course pay attention to form and beautiful design but make the phone a hell of a lot more rugged, out with the glass, in with a strong metal or carbon fiber. A $600 phone needs to pass a 6' drop test without having to hide its design with a case.

UI - some change would be nice for the eye candy but it's not something I'm lusting for like some. The UI is just a gateway to apps as far as I'm concerned and how the iPhone works within those apps is stellar. Keyboard the best out there, I like its dictation more than Dragon, fast, smooth, no lock ups or need to restart phone often, certainly not much to complain about in my heavy use. I don't need animated widgets if they're going to suck battery, hog resources and cause lock ups. I see a need for more features in certain apps I use than I do for the iPhone UI itself, but this is all just my opinion and things I like.

 

[onthecouchagain]

The current iPhone fits in my pockets - not super amazingly well - but it just about fits. Any bigger and it wouldn't.

I'm going to wager that if and when Apple releases a larger screen, larger sized iPhone, you'll suddenly find a way to fit it into your pocket.

The second a mobile phone becomes less mobile is the second a mobile phone manufacturer needs to have a sit down with themselves and rethink their priorities.

It is a mobile phone. Not a tablet, netbook, laptop, desktop, TV, computer monitor, etc. A mobile phone first and foremost. If you want a bigger iPhone? Keep your current phone and buy an iPad.

This makes little sense. The size of a phone doesn't necessarily equate to whether it can or cannot be a mobile device, especially when we're talking about changing the size by ~1 inch.

Also, whether you use the extra features or not, smartphones these days are becoming more than just a "mobile phone." They are computers, televisions, gaming platforms, etc. Otherwise, the App Store, streaming data, constant attention to things like camera, video, maps, sharing, cloud storage, etc. wouldn't be such a focal point. Just look at Siri, which Apple touts is your personal assistant who helps with setting up appointments, reminders, looking up restaurants and information, and so forth.

If all you want to do with your iPhone is make calls, that's your choice, of course. But the whole "it's a mobile phone so it needs to remain the same size" is an absurd argument in every way possible.

EDIT: I see you've followed up your post with this:

Also, people who complain about watching movies/playing games on an iPhone are hilarious to me. Those things come secondary to it being a mobile phone.

If you're buying a phone to watch movies on, then........... well, I'm not allowed to say what I think of you on here, but it'd be like buying a car to walk to the shops in. It doesn't really work. Sure, you can do it, but it's daft and when you complain people aren't going to be that sympathetic.

Is it also hilarious that Apple's own marketing constantly pushes the iPhone as precisely more than just a mobile phone? When was the last time they talked about the "phone" features? What are they constantly pushing actually? It seems to me they're far more interested in talking about apps, their camera, SIRI, soon-to-be new Maps system, Safari, music player, pictures/video playback, reminders, ebooks, movies and TV shows from iTunes, etc. -- it goes on and on.

Secondary or not, it's not at all "hilarious" to regard these features as important to a mobile device in today's day and age.

 

[ah123]

We all want 5" or more. I hate only using one hand to operate my phone. What am I to do with my other hand?!?!?

Erm, well, you could, erm, ahem, that's what she ... You know.

 

[b166er]

I still don't care about the screen size that much. I welcome a slight increase in the screen size, but I'm ok without it too. It is NOT the make or break feature for me. I need to hear more about the guts before I'm ready to decide on whether or no to upgrade.

 

[rgctx]

Seriously who wants a 5" screen on a phone ?

Im happy with the 3.5 apple has now, graphics are nice. Sure android has bigger screens but the quality of game and ui graphics sucks, not all games/apps are made for a 4.5 or 5" screen.

 

[blairh]

Seriously who wants a 5" screen on a phone ?

Im happy with the 3.5 apple has now, graphics are nice. Sure android has bigger screens but the quality of game and ui graphics sucks, not all games/apps are made for a 4.5 or 5" screen.

5" screen would be perfection. Are you kidding me. The iPhone is essentially a 5" screen when you include the front bezel.

LG just announced a 5" display with 440 ppi. Put a slight bezel around said screen and you'd have my dream smartphone.