Ahead of iPhone 6 Launch, One-Third of Smartphones Sold Have Screens Larger Than 5"

[DELLsFan]

Correct. Mega-phones are a small portion of the market. Big enough for Apple to go after, but certainly not deserving of 3+ years of endless media attention. Most people want their portable devices compact.

Not anymore. I think it's telling it's taken Steve Jobs' death and 3+ years of endless media attention for Apple to realize a significant portion of older geeks like me prefer usability over utilty. If I can't see the stuff on the screen with my aging eyes, I'll buy my phone from a company who will offer larger screens.

 

[Switchback666]

Why do people want something so freaking large?!

I wear jeans like a lot of people try stuffing a 6" phone in your pocket. Thats 13" of stuff in my pants! Haha. I'll have to dig my combat trousers (from the 90's) out of the loft as they are the only things with a big enough pockets.

Or maybe it comes with a free minion to carry it around?

My 5.7" phone fits with no problem and I use tight jeans...

Just like the iPhone 5 sold like hot cakes, if apple finally release a bigger screen it will continue the trend.

Hopefully they introduce a new 4" with same update to keep everyone happy and I'm sure it won't outsell the bigger model.

 

[Zendokan]

The PIE CHART means absolute NOTHING! It's just clickbait.

The market has been driven by the companies and not the consumers:

Samsung hasn't produced a high-end smartphone in 4" size.
All their Galaxy S mini's have been lower specced mid range phones
So we din't know how many high-end Android phone users would prefer to have a 4" high-end Android smartphone

Apple hasn't made a high-end smartphone bigger than 4", so again, we absolute don't know how many iOS users would go for a 4.7" or 5.5" iPhone.

Making the pie chart complete useless.

In each demograph of users (Android, WP8.1 AND iOS) there will be people that prefer a 3.5", 4", 4.7" and 5.5" screen sizes.
In reality, the people that make the switch solely on screen size would be a negligible number, so Apple wouldn't really take back Android users and Android wouldn't take back iOS users if they could make a 4" high-end Galaxy S mini. In both cases, they would give just more choice to the users that they already have.


We can't even make a conclusion on which size will be better when the sales start and analyst are pitching these models against each other:
- iPhone 5S (4") vs Samsung Galaxy S4 mini (4.3") or Samsung Galaxy S4 (5")
- iPhone 6 (4.7") vs Samsung Galaxy S5 (5")
- iPhone 6 (5.5") vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (5.7")

All in all, it will be better for us consumers if Samsung now really makes a high-end S5 mini (4.3") and the iPhone 6 also comes in 4" as a seperate model besides the iPhone 5S.


Message to Apple: If you are finally adding different screen sizes to the iPhone, please add also a 15" MBA and a 17" rMBP (one can dream)

 

[Cali Fornia]

I remember when this was cool

Image

True, but only because phones were only used for calling these days - a larger screen would not even have made sense back then. Today though, it's a little different...

 

[brendu]

I agree, but most don't. Those that like small screens seem to complain about larger ones. Those that like larger complain about smaller ones. A few, like me, know that ideally a manufacturer caters for both markets. I expect the 5S and 4S will be around for a good while, so there you have 4 sizes, perfect.

If a user doesn't like larger, do not buy it, and vice versa

I doubt the 4s will be sold after the new models are released. The 5c will drop to free on contract ($449 unlocked).

 

[SgtFire]

It's funny

But when I was in the store the other day, I put my hands on a 4.7" and a 5" phone and the 5" felt a little better. A 4.7" screen was still great though. IMHO, this is the sweet spot. Big enough yet not a phablet.

 

[benji888]

Apple will sell more of the 4.7" than the 5.5", if they indeed make two new screen sizes.

Large smartphones/phablets are a trend that won't last.

As already stated, others have big handsets because they don't know how to pack it all into small packages like apple.

I was hoping for nothing larger than 4.3" from apple...my 4" iPhone 5 fits nicely in my pocket, and I can one-hand it.

IT'S A smartPHONE... ...what happened to smaller being better?

 

[TallManNY]

Nokia 8810

The Nokia 8810 still is cool looking. One of the best looking phones of all time.

 

[kdarling]

What a stupid chart. It doesn't even break up screen sizes smaller than 5". It would have been interesting to see the breakdown of Smaller than 3.5", 3.5", 4.0", 4-5", etc.

Let me dig around. In the meantime, this chart is from mid 2013, but it shows the screen sizes for Android phone sales in the US at the time: 55% were 4.5" or above. Only 16% were less than 4".



Currently, over 30% of smartphones sold in China are 5" or larger. China is the world's largest smartphone market now.

Mega-phones are a small portion of the market. Big enough for Apple to go after, but certainly not deserving of 3+ years of endless media attention. Most people want their portable devices compact.

1/3 of world sales is a HUGE market.

Heck Apple "only" has 1/6 of world sales, and yet no one considers iPhone sales too small to deserve media attention.

 

[prowlmedia]

The point is that when Apple release a Larger phone and a smaller counterpart. They will bothe be as powerful as each other... Unlike the S4 mini or HTC ONE Mini 2 (seriously what is that!)

They are crippled version of the big phones - or in S4 mini's case completely different.

I am fairly sure the only difference will be longer battery life in the larger phone - especially if the pixel density is the same as is being hinted at. They will have the same chip / graphics RAM etc... I suppose there is a possibility of larger Storage - but I suspect there will be a 128gb all round now.

Personally I'll be getting the smaller one. There is only enough room for one large object in my pocket And well... I am not blind.

 

[teme]

I don't understand some of you. Are you really so loyal to that Steve Jobs' "customers don't know what they want" that you think more choices is a bad thing? One size must fit all? Apple already offers computers with multiple screen sizes, why phone should be different?

 

[bazinga!!]

I seriously don't understand that people are still complaining about a bigger iPhone and advocating a small size. If a big screen isn't your thing then that's your feeling but please stop wasting all the posts about big screen iPhone rumors.

 

[whcchief]

So that means 66% would be the iPhone. Still pretty good market share

Pretty much what I came in to say.

 

[Googlyhead]

I wasn't too worried when that apple research data leaked showing how they don't cater for large-and-cheap or just cheap smartphone markets.
That made it quite obvious they realised a large slate could be the replacement for the budget 5c, rather than compete with the premium size.

Obviously now, I'm a little concerned that no sensible size has leaked (both leaks are LARGER), and if the premium version is indeed larger too, apple could really mess up here.

 

[cleirac]

My 5.7" phone fits with no problem and I use tight jeans...

Just like the iPhone 5 sold like hot cakes, if apple finally release a bigger screen it will continue the trend.

Hopefully they introduce a new 4" with same update to keep everyone happy and I'm sure it won't outsell the bigger model.

Picture, please or your post is worthless BS (re: 5.7" smartphone will fit in the pocket of a tight fitting jeans).

Even if it fits, it sounds ridiculously hilarious and that fashion culture must not grow.

----------

I google images it and could not find any. I was hoping it will make my day. So please make my day.

 

[osofast240sx]

I don't understand some of you. Are you really so loyal to that Steve Jobs' "customers don't know what they want" that you think more choices is a bad thing? One size must fit all? Apple already offers computers with multiple screen sizes, why phone should be different?

Apple introducing a new 4.7 inch screen size will be the turning point of smart phone size. More people will choose the 4.7 inch than any other size. People will adapt and adjust to this new size

 

[iamPro]

The PIE CHART means absolute NOTHING! It's just clickbait.

The market has been driven by the companies and not the consumers:

Samsung hasn't produced a high-end smartphone in 4" size.
All their Galaxy S mini's have been lower specced mid range phones
So we din't know how many high-end Android phone users would prefer to have a 4" high-end Android smartphone

Apple hasn't made a high-end smartphone bigger than 4", so again, we absolute don't know how many iOS users would go for a 4.7" or 5.5" iPhone.

Making the pie chart complete useless.

In each demograph of users (Android, WP8.1 AND iOS) there will be people that prefer a 3.5", 4", 4.7" and 5.5" screen sizes.
In reality, the people that make the switch solely on screen size would be a negligible number, so Apple wouldn't really take back Android users and Android wouldn't take back iOS users if they could make a 4" high-end Galaxy S mini. In both cases, they would give just more choice to the users that they already have.


We can't even make a conclusion on which size will be better when the sales start and analyst are pitching these models against each other:
- iPhone 5S (4") vs Samsung Galaxy S4 mini (4.3") or Samsung Galaxy S4 (5")
- iPhone 6 (4.7") vs Samsung Galaxy S5 (5")
- iPhone 6 (5.5") vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (5.7")

All in all, it will be better for us consumers if Samsung now really makes a high-end S5 mini (4.3") and the iPhone 6 also comes in 4" as a seperate model besides the iPhone 5S.


Message to Apple: If you are finally adding different screen sizes to the iPhone, please add also a 15" MBA and a 17" rMBP (one can dream)

As you said, the same goes for Apple. They don't make 4" plus phones. Many are stuck with iOS without an option for purchasing a large phone. However, internal documents of Apple clearly points out the growing trend towards larger phones.

Also, I haven't heard from anyone personally or articles where people complain about the size of their Android phones. If anything, it seems like they can't go back to using a smaller phone.

Yes, many still want a smaller phone (mostly Apple users) but at the same time, a fast growing number of people actually "want" a larger phone.

 

[bsolar]

I wasn't too worried when that apple research data leaked showing how they don't cater for large-and-cheap or just cheap smartphone markets.
That made it quite obvious they realised a large slate could be the replacement for the budget 5c, rather than compete with the premium size.

Obviously now, I'm a little concerned that no sensible size has leaked (both leaks are LARGER), and if the premium version is indeed larger too, apple could really mess up here.

Apple is doing exactly what their research suggested: the research showed as most growing sales segments the "large-screen premium" and the "small-screen cheap" formats. Apple is not interested in the cheap segment, so it's going to release a large-screen premium smartphone.

 

[Navdakilla]

5.0 is as large as I'll go. 4.7 sounds good.

That's what I thought too, I have the nexus 5 right now, and I love the big screen and feel like I could go a bit bigger. Like note 3 size.

Might upgrade to that size and see how it is for me.

 

[ShiftyOne]

Remember the days of 'iPhone nano' speculation? I'm still holding onto that dream!!

I still have my 4s and i only want to go smaller (not in screen size though.)

 

[kdarling]

Apple will sell more of the 4.7" than the 5.5", if they indeed make two new screen sizes.

I think you're right about the 4.7", at least in the US and Europe. China seems to especially like 5"+ though.

Also, some people apparently want only a single device... whether as a professional, or as someone who can afford just one. In that situation, phablets are popular as an all-in-one solution.

Large smartphones/phablets are a trend that won't last.

As already stated, others have big handsets because they don't know how to pack it all into small packages like apple.

I remember back in 2012 when Gruber started the whole "Android needs a large screen in order to hold a big battery" nonsense. Ironically, he ended his theory with a prediction:

"If I’m right, we will start seeing smaller LTE Android handset sets a year or so from now, and the tech press will collectively forget the “bigger is inherently better” mindset that pervades phone reviews today."

Of course, that did not happen at all.

I was hoping for nothing larger than 4.3" from apple...my 4" iPhone 5 fits nicely in my pocket, and I can one-hand it.

Hopefully Apple will continue to make a small screen version.

IT'S A smartPHONE... ...what happened to smaller being better?

Because it's used more as a SMARTphone, not a smartPHONE

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

IT'S A smartPHONE... ...what happened to smaller being better?

I suspect for many, the "phone" portion is like the "tunes" portion of iTunes. Yes, it is also a phone but the majority-to-vast-majority of the time, this "phone" is used as a portable computer for non-phone tasks. And even when it is used as a phone, I'd personally separate out voice from texting. In my own case, I find it easier to text on an iPad mini right now as the iPhone's keyboard- even in landscape- is just too little for me. I hardly ever use the "phone" functions for actual voice calls.

So, for those that really use the voice portion of the "phone" functionality a lot, I can easily see an argument for an iPhone mini. Maybe the fabled "iWatch" will hit that target? However, for the rest, I suspect that even if Apple rolled out a 6 at 5.5, 4.7, 4 and 3.5- all at the same time and in good enough supply so that anyone wanting any of them could get it- they'd probably sell in volume in that order (most at 5.5, next most at 4.7 and so on).

Personally, I bet a lot of iPhone defectors and a lot of Android only smart phone users envious of iOS breadth & depth will come running to the bigger screen iPhones. I also bet that a whole bunch of people that gripe about 4" being perfection and the larger size being "stupid", "can't fit my pants pockets", et all will be in the "shut up and take my money" fervor after Apple rolls them out and then they'll be posting gushing love for their new bigger-screened iPhone post launch. Those with any integrity might post something like "but when I actually saw one…" and similar but many will just shift as soon as Apple formally endorses the new sizes with the launch show… as if they never said a negative word about bigger screens pre-launch.

This all reminds me of the massive spin of negative arguments when there wasn't an iSight camera in iPad 1 ("why does anyone need a front facing camera in an iPad", "why would anyone want to look up at my nose hairs in video chat", "how would one ever stabilize the iPad enough to use video chat?")… that flipped to gushing love about the incredible "FaceTime" upgrade in iPad 2. Or how "720p was good enough" before there was an TV3 but then all of that pile of supporting argument seemed to evaporate overnight when Apple rolled out 1080p TV3. There's so much "whatever Apple says" following which, right now, clings to what Apple has available right now. However, as soon as Apple shifts and spins 4.7" and 5.5" as magical/wonderful/etc, the vast majority of this crowd will shift right with them. It's all "stupid", "an abomination", "need new pants" before Apple speaks but Apple is never "stupid", "releasing that abomination", "pants magically adjusted" afterwards. Instead, all of these negative arguments against bigger iPhones will just evaporate right at launch and many of the most passionate posters of them will flip that passion to supporting the amazing, magical, new bigger-screened iPhones. Over and over and over.

 

[Meandmunch]

Many people go practically masturbatory over big screens, missing the obvious drawback that 'bigger' also means unwieldy.

Unless your a chick with a purse or have a place to stash like a backpack or brief case phones with 5"+ screens are kind of joke. You can't pocket it, if you can squeeze it in you can't sit down without crushing it. I can't help but get the impression they are more about "look at me" status than true functionaility.

Sorry huge phone lovers. But seriously where is the line where a phone, a compact, transportable, personal device primarily designed to communicate with someone via voice becomes tablet with phone capability? This is not an Apple versus anyone thing, is a serious question as old as time. Form vs function. Just curious.

 

[sofila]

Jesus Christ. Am I the only sane person on the planet who DOESN'T WANT a larger screen size?!? I don't have freaking Inspector Gadget thumbs... I can barely reach the corner of the screen as it stands now without using 2 hands. Plus, since I'm one of the few people in America who isn't obese, my pockets aren't oversized enough to hold a larger iPhone anyways. I seriously hope that Apple hasn't completely lost their minds on this, and that they still offer the existing sized iPhone as an option.

in the same post you're angry for being part of a minority (people who doesn't want larger screens) and you seem proud of being part of a minority (few non obese Americans)
Guess Apple should produce your personal iPhone, completely ignoring markets/statistics/polls and all countries outside USA, all other 6,900,000 human beings on this planet, Let's take off obese, let's take off people with large hands, perfect sight and different needs from yours.

Choose carefully your color, because this new personal iPhone of yours is going to cost you about 25,000 dollars

 

[morespce54]

Great news...
I want a 6+ inches phone so I can finally use my iPad mini as my main phone and my iPhone as my main iPad...
Can't wait to ditch that tiny 4.5 inches phone. It seems it always get lost in my pocket.

/s