Apple Reportedly Developing iPhones with Large Curved Screens for 2014, Enhanced Touch Sensors for Later Models

[dBeats]

Still trying to understand why people want larger phones and smaller tablets. How is this logical?

If your making a curved glass phone just to make it more comfortable to handle with such a large screen, then your trying to solve a problem that shouldn't exist.

 

[wiz329]

Still trying to understand why people want larger phones and smaller tablets. How is this logical?

If your making a curved glass phone just to make it more comfortable to handle with such a large screen, then your trying to solve a problem that shouldn't exist.

http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_Round_ShootOut_1.htm

 

[AppleHater]

Unapologetic larger screen expected

 

[radiologyman]

If your making a curved glass phone just to make it more comfortable to handle with such a large screen, then your trying to solve a problem that shouldn't exist.

Curved at the edge only. Helps to make screen without bezel.

 

[Zerilos]

A curved display would mean it would take more space in your pocket. It would also mean that the battery, circuit board, etc would have to be curved.

I see no real reason for Apple do make a curved display iPhone.

And why would Apple make a Boom-Box phone like the Samsung?
I don't get those people walking and talking on those huge telephones they can barely hold in their hands.
I wonder if these huge phones are Samsung's way of stopping their users from talking-while-driving.

Apple doesn't want to compete with Samsung in the low end market, but they would love to steal some of the high end market from them. Samsung sold over 100 million Galaxy phones in the last fiscal year, almost all having 4.7" or larger screens. Samsung does offer a 4.3" in S4 Mini, but almost nobody chooses them over the 4.7" or larger screens. While I do think Apple should keep a 4" screen available for people who prefer that size; unfortunately smaller phone means smaller battery which will limit Apple's ability to increase pixel density and increase the amount of RAM. A larger phone would allow Apple to keep the logic board approximately the same width, while including a longer and wider battery. This would allow the battery to go from taking up about 40% of the interior of the phone to about 50-55%.

 

[Aston.Zagato]

Still trying to understand why people want larger phones and smaller tablets. How is this logical?

I think people are trying to find devices that best allow them to consume and create content at a comfortable size while maximzing portability as society is becoming more mobile and consumers are demanding more from their devices.

I know quite a few people who would prefer to text, e-mail and watch videos on a slightly larger screen, without sacrificing portability (myself included )

I think it's nice to have the choice. Apple would be crazy to pass up an opportunity to capitalize on this trend.

Business Insider has put together a few reports on the topic several months ago. Phone/Tablet combos are becoming increasingly popular globally.

http://http://www.businessinsider.com/bii-report-why-the-rise-of-phablets-matters-2013-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-phablet-shipments-are-exploding-in-asia-2013-9

 

[341328]

iPad Mini (phone)

Just keep the currect size iPhone (4 inch will suit most)... and put cellular calls support inside the iPad Mini for the nerds (and me) who want a larger phone.

Solved!

You won't confuse the general public and tech nerds will understand the iPad Mini can be used as a phone.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I think people are trying to find devices that best allow them to consume and create content at a comfortable size while maximzing portability as society is becoming more mobile and consumers are demanding more from their devices.

I know quite a few people who would prefer to text, e-mail and watch videos on a slightly larger screen, without sacrificing portability (myself included )

I think it's nice to have the choice. Apple would be crazy to pass up an opportunity to capitalize on this trend.

Business Insider has put together a few reports on the topic several months ago. Phone/Tablet combos are becoming increasingly popular globally.

http://http://www.businessinsider.com/bii-report-why-the-rise-of-phablets-matters-2013-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-phablet-shipments-are-exploding-in-asia-2013-9

How about they drive their car and not worry about chatting and being `creative' when heading down the intersection?

 

[3282868]

Hmmm

Bigger isn't always better. At this rate, throw a Qualcomm chip into an iPad Mini and call it a day.

While the iPhone has had impressive hardware improvements, it's stretching out developed tech by creating more variations of the same product.

I believe Jobs' biggest contribution to Apple wasn't the iPod or the iMac or the iPhone, it was Jobs' business model. By cutting production of lackluster products, Apple was able to focus on quality, not quantity. In fact, Steve Jobs' "Four Quadrants" in 1997 is so well regarded, among the first search results is a Harvard Business School article from 2012 by Walter Isaacson, "The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs"

When Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, it was producing a random array of computers and peripherals, including a dozen different versions of the Macintosh. After a few weeks of product review sessions, he’d finally had enough. “Stop!” he shouted. “This is crazy.” He grabbed a Magic Marker, padded in his bare feet to a whiteboard, and drew a two-by-two grid. “Here’s what we need,” he declared. Atop the two columns, he wrote “Consumer” and “Pro.” He labeled the two rows “Desktop” and “Portable.” Their job, he told his team members, was to focus on four great products, one for each quadrant. All other products should be canceled. There was a stunned silence. But by getting Apple to focus on making just four computers, he saved the company. “Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do,” he told me. “That’s true for companies, and it’s true for products.”

It's rather ironic that Apple cut their successful and stellar desktop products such as their three CCFL LCD Cinema Displays to 1 iMac LED LCD panel, "thinned" and lightened a desktop system by removing technology many still require and adding back mobile parts for some models, and left their most expensive power system sit untouched for over three years. Yet, we have last years iPhone 5 in new colorful poly shells, a $499 "iPad Air" next to a 2011 $399 iPad 2, with more sizes on the horizon.

Arguably, Apple needs the new Mac Pro to be a success or it may cut it after all. Further iOS device fragmentation while taking focus off proper and timely desktop systems has some weary without Steve Jobs, Apple may get lost in iOS "Candy Land".

 

[fourthtunz]

Take a look at something like the Moto X. Marginally larger than the iPhone 5S with a 4.7" screen.

It's not 2010. You can cram a lot if screen into a tight fitting form factor these days.

That moto actually looks like a cool phone.
I hope they don't go any bigger than that tho.
I wonder how many sizes the market will bear?

 

[staveb]

I want one!

 

[AppleScruff1]

The Note III is not a phone....it's a tablet with the ability to make phone calls. It's way, way too big to be used as a phone.

Several million people who own them would tend to disagree.

 

[MikeyMike01]

Looking forward to the release and the comments from all those iPhone purists who have been laughing at any screen bigger than 4 inches.

I'll be laughing all the way to a non-Apple phone. If I have to put up with a giant screen, I won't be paying the premium Apple commands any longer.

 

[Kaspersky]

I do not see Apple giving up from that fingerprint sensor... So, a huge iPhone redesign is very improbable...
Anyway, I want a 5" screen!

 

[Soulweaponry]

Here's Apple's biggest problem when (not if) they go bigger, they've been marketing the importance of one handed operation. And their followers have been eating it up and puking this garbage on forums such as these since forever. The flowers had already agreed 3.5 inches is the perfect screen size, then 4 inches became the perfect size. But in the end we all know the perfect screen size is whatever the screen size is on the current gen iPhone. Never understood how anyone could laugh at choice.

This is why I think the rumors of a curved glass display are true. This will be apples huge marketing speech about how "4 inches was perfect then. But we found a way to make the display larger while also keeping the footprint smaller with our new curved glass display. It makes the iPhone contour to the palm of your hand and easier to reach all sides of the display with your thumb"

I called it here. Come back next year to this comment and tell me I'm right

 

[zgh1999]

Yes, Apple and Tim Cook should continue to stubbornly defend the iPhone 5's screen size.

Cannot and should not cede one bit.

The current screen size must not be changed because it is dictated by God.

 

[errorunknown]

I think the real reason why so many people don't want an iPhone over 4" is because it would be bigger than their penis!

 

[Rad99004]

That would be epic! 4.7" iPhone for me, please.

Yep, I'll take one at 4.7"


I predict they will release this model in the first quarter of 2014 and ADD it to the current line up.

They will also release the iPad "PRO" at the same time.

 

[iZac]

Curved at the edge only. Helps to make screen without bezel.

Like an infinity pool, but you know ... with a screen. I quite like the idea!

 

[Drag'nGT]

I personally believe they have to be careful and offer two sizes. The nurses I work with, and I have talked about the possibility of a larger iPhone screen and many of them say they wouldn't buy it or at least they want the choice of a smaller one since a big phone is more than they want to use and would fit their hand well.

 

[DesertEagle]

Just put a cellular chip in the Mini already, and all those clamoring for huge screens will (hopefully) go away.

You may think that if I prefer a 5-inch display, then an 8-inch display would be even better, but it doesn't work that way.

In terms of screen size, the SGS4 is perfect for me. As for mobile telephones, 7.9 inches is way too much for me, though.

 

[yodaxl7]

Current iPhone 5s is packed full. Benefit for Apple to do a larger iPhone would allow to have bigger battery, new sensors, better cameras, etc. Not sure, if the 4 inch is the sweet spot or not, though. Maybe 4.8 inch or 5 inch is the sweet spot. Wider phones are harder to hold in one hands, especially, those with smaller hands. The curve could help with that. Also, could add touch points for volume controls and have less buttons.

 

[TrashCanBin]

Current iPhone 5s is packed full. Benefit for Apple to do a larger iPhone would allow to have bigger battery, new sensors, better cameras, etc. Not sure, if the 4 inch is the sweet spot or not, though. Maybe 4.8 inch or 5 inch is the sweet spot. Wider phones are harder to hold in one hands, especially, those with smaller hands. The curve could help with that. Also, could add touch points for volume controls and have less buttons.

Bigger screen would mean price increase most likely.

 

[Troneas]

Bigger screen would mean price increase most likely.

yes.

thats why the ipad is more expensive than the iphone.

 

[Technarchy]

Yes, Apple and Tim Cook should continue to stubbornly defend the iPhone 5's screen size.

Cannot and should not cede one bit.

The current screen size must not be changed because it is dictated by God.

I don't get the religious devotion to screen size. Just because Apple makes a certain screen size currently does not make it the end all be all.

And as was said many times over, it is not 2010 or 2011. Phones don't need to be huge to feature a larger screen.

In 2011 the Sprint GS2 was 130 x 70 x 10 mm with a 4.5" screen
In 2013 the Moto X is 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4 mm with a 4.7" screen
Smaller device, bigger screen.

There is absolutely no reason for Apple, a company with incredible engineering prowess, to not be able to get a larger screen into reasonably sized device.