Apple Suppliers Starting to Ship 4" Screens for Next iPhone?

[Lumi]

Go back to before the iPhone....

I am flabbergasted after reading some of the comments here.

Does a quarter of an inch on all sides really make that much difference?

You can say that, but in Europe, before the iPhone came out, pretty much everybody had phones that were half the size of an iPhone and about a quarter of the weight. In the US, most people who even had cell phones (of which there was far much less penetration than in Europe) were tugging around Nokia's which were stone age by comparison and more on par in terms of size with the iPhone.

Bearing in mind that in places like the UK, 80+% of the population had a 'cell' before the iPhone even existed and almost all of those were smaller than the iPhone, yes the phones did less than an iPhone, but manufacturers were competing on who could build the smallest phone and the phones were tiny and still had days of standby time. The iPhone brought in a new era of functionality for phones and really set the standard in what a phone could do, but it's never come close in terms of the way in which Europeans traditionally measure phones and that is in terms of size and weight, if a girl cant stash the phone between her boobs, it's simply not going to pass muster.

 

[MattInOz]

Would it surprise you to find out there are probably 3", 5", and every quarter inch in between screens used as prototypes as well? Some guy with too much time and money built an actual physical (non-working) prototype based on the rumor you mention. I'm thinking Apple probably sprung for more than a few prototypes. Maybe you thought Steve and Jonny were sitting around one day and thought, yeah, 3.5 inches, not 3 or 4, but 3.5 exactly. Nah, we don't even need to see anything else, lets build it. LOL Maybe they should have done a poll!

Yes they would have done a lot of testing, but they would have come to a idea goal that was a maybe not workable with current tech, or device budget. Then worked back from there generating probably the bones of the models we've seen so far and maybe a few more to come.

So I think that testing would have locked the physical size of the device face at least until something pretty major happens. Anywhere on the device face still works with one handed operation. That pretty much locks in the width of the screen. Fully agree Apple is probably going to Pixel lock the screen width to multiples of 320.

Still taking that into consideration the screen length could be up for grabs.
The home button seems like one of weakest parts of the iPhone design and the one of the main reason older phones fall out of use. Considering how much of the one handed control zone it takes up it removal could add a lot of pixels.

Sure extending the screen will create a developer transition but one that doesn't break anything Apple could reserve the space for the multi-tasking dock unless the apps gets reworked to comply with guidelines and take advantage.

 

[Chris in IL]

The Android phones are 16:9 aspect ratio (the same as a widescreen TV). The iPhone is a 3:2 ratio (wider than a standard 4:3 TV but not as wide as a newer 16:9 TV). So a 4" screen on an iPhone will seem bigger (taller in landscape mode or wider in portrait mode) than a 4" Android phone.

4" is probably the perfect size for the iPhone. It really won't seem much smaller at all than the larger 4.3 to 4.5" Android phones because of its different aspect ratio.

The sole advantage to a 16:9 screen is that movies fit the screen better (newer movies at least). But for everything else I think 3:2 is an advantage.

 

[pic620]

Better resolution on the 4 inch screen yes. And i cant stand these developers crying about extra work. Developers on pc platform have been developing for different resolutions and x amount of configurations for years! And these iOS developers are crying if a resolution change comes once every 2 years gimme a break

It's not about the extra work. It's about the purity of the OS. And the lazy developer who makes an app with ONE resolution in mind.

i.e. Apps that stretch on the 4" phone, and get less clear (not Apple-like, not a Job's perfectionist product). or Apps that are not compatible with iPhone/iPod Touch Gen 1-5. Neither scenario is desirable - for the developer or Apple.

Fragmented OSs are the characteristic of Windows and Android. Personally, I do not think there is room for fragmentation in Apple's ecosystem.

 

[iEvolution]

Why is everyone assuming this would make the phone any bigger? It may be possible to squeeze it on to its existing size and reduce the size of the home button (or even move it)

 

[sinsin07]

You can say that, but in Europe, before the iPhone came out, pretty much everybody had phones that were half the size of an iPhone and about a quarter of the weight. In the US, most people who even had cell phones (of which there was far much less penetration than in Europe) were tugging around Nokia's which were stone age by comparison and more on par in terms of size with the iPhone.

Bearing in mind that in places like the UK, 80+% of the population had a 'cell' before the iPhone even existed and almost all of those were smaller than the iPhone, yes the phones did less than an iPhone, but manufacturers were competing on who could build the smallest phone and the phones were tiny and still had days of standby time. The iPhone brought in a new era of functionality for phones and really set the standard in what a phone could do, but it's never come close in terms of the way in which Europeans traditionally measure phones and that is in terms of size and weight, if a girl cant stash the phone between her boobs, it's simply not going to pass muster.

Europe. UK. That explains it. Isn't that wear men wear were 'dem skinny pants? Pant's so tight you can see the face of dollar bill through the back pocket?
The type of phone you want still exists. Nothing stopping you from getting a flip phone. But if you think time is going to be reversed and we are going back to them tiny phones, you're bound to be disappointed.

 

[johnhf]

Why not make the 4' display 1024x768?

This way all iPad apps are already "iPhone 5" compatible, and I think (not sure) that at this size it would still be retina?

Not a bad idea but there are problems with it. Firstly, you go from an already squarish 3:2 ratio to an even more square 4:3 ratio which is bad for movies and bad for reading in landscape. Secondly, you're adding half an inch to the width of the phone which is the direction you can't grow (small hands and all that).

How about going to 1024 and keeping the width at 640. This would keep it in the "retina display" range at 302dpi while adding some optional pixels for apps that want to use it. The new ratio is much better for reading in landscape and movie watching. Other apps that have pixel-perfect design, like games, don't have to make use of the extra space on the end so no apps need to be redesigned.

 

[SandynJosh]

I guess I'm spoiled by being able to have an iphone and an iPad, but having a bigger screen on the phone for me would just take up more space in my pocket and be a bother more than anything.

Pay attention...a 4" screen doesn't mean a bigger phone. It means using more of the front of the current sized iPhone.

 

[skinnylegs]

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I hope it's gonna stay the same. From a Dev point of view it'll be a potential nightmare making apps with 3 different resolutions and ratios. Pain in the ass doing stuff for retina as it is.

Also the whole point of the current screen size is to make the whole display accessible with one hand. If you want to see movies etc on a larger screen...buy a TV.

...or if you want our business, do whatever you have to do to accommodate three separate devices.

 

[k1121j]

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it's not even the same picture on either one. is it?

 

[pic620]

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it's not even the same picture on either one. is it?

nope. the iPhones image is purposely edited to that size. 0.5" is nothing that dramatic.

 

[Lumi]

Europe. UK. That explains it. Isn't that wear men wear were 'dem skinny pants? Pant's so tight you can see the face of dollar bill through the back pocket?
The type of phone you want still exists. Nothing stopping you from getting a flip phone. But if you think time is going to be reversed and we are going back to them tiny phones, you're bound to be disappointed.

Obviously you get your fashion awareness from the TV of yesteryear. But still it does help to be skinny if your going to wear skinny jeans.

As it happens I don't like flip phones and I don't think flip phones are needed now in the age of touch screens, but that doesn't mean that you cant make a touch screen phone that isn't smaller than the current iPhone and that having a phone that fits in to a smaller pocket is a bad idea. Maybe if I had a really fat ass and fat fingers I wouldn't mind a phone with a bigger screen as I'd have bigger pockets and bigger hands. But as it happens I'm sort of average sized and I'd like to keep my wallet, keys and phone in the side pockets of my jeans without there being additional bulges.

 

[yakapo]

I still don't understand why Apple just don't make 2 phones - One that retains the 3.5" screen and one that is biigest than 4" (like 4.3") so that the difference is more apparant. We can all argue for the next year which is better, but the fact is that some people prefer 3.5" and some want a lot larger phone like the current crop of Androids to accomodate bigger hands, video watching, older eyes, etc.

Neither group is right or wrong. There are clearly two markets here. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Tony

"You can have any color you want as long as its black." -Henry Ford

 

[AppleScruff1]

Hopefully the iPhone 5 will be released in the early spring with 4G LTE.

 

[iSRS]

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Bigger? Maybe. But 4" is too big.

 

[toddybody]

Yeah, who the heck wants a silly 4" iPhone.


Oh wait, 68% of us INFORMED, LOYAL, and CAPABLE Apple supporters do.

 

[cdmoore74]

You guys (or girls) wanting to keep the iphone screen the same size are nuts. Do you people want more iphone users switching over to Android? And there is no way in hell you are going to attract Android users to a 3.5 inch screen.
I love competition but Apple needs to man up and make some serious changes if they want me and other Android users to make the switch. People wanting the 3.5 inch display are only thinking about themselves; to blind to see that Android is too much for them. Devotion has blinded to many iphone fanboys.

There is an old saying, "Time to fight fire with fire!"

 

[sinsin07]

Obviously you get your fashion awareness from the TV of yesteryear. But still it does help to be skinny if your going to wear skinny jeans.

LOL. Yep you got that right. Probably would pay more attention if either UK or Europe produced something worthwhile to me.

As it happens I don't like flip phones and I don't think flip phones are needed now in the age of touch screens, but that doesn't mean that you cant make a touch screen phone that isn't smaller than the current iPhone and that having a phone that fits in to a smaller pocket is a bad idea. Maybe if I had a really fat ass and fat fingers I wouldn't mind a phone with a bigger screen as I'd have bigger pockets and bigger hands. But as it happens I'm sort of average sized and I'd like to keep my wallet, keys and phone in the side pockets of my jeans without there being additional bulges.

Your jeans are too tight. That's the problem. Apple does not address fashion issues.

However, to help you on your way, here is what you are looking for:

This phone was a flop, people didn't seem to catch on to a smaller touch screen, but I''m sure you can still find one.

If you are waiting for Apple to help you along your way on your fashion requirements, be prepared to wait.

 

[cdmoore74]

LOL. Yep you got that right. Probably would pay more attention if either UK or Europe produced something worthwhile to me.



Your jeans are too tight. That's the problem. Apple does not address fashion issues.

However, to help you on your way, here is what you are looking for:
Image
HP Veer

If you are waiting for Apple to help you along your way on your fashion requirements, be prepared to wait.

That looks like something I crapped out on Thanksgiving night!

 

[devilstrider]

LOL this would be nice but it's funny to see everyone so happy when they knocked android phones for having 4in screens. All the sheep turn this around, how they like a big screen better, when they used to always say some dumb stuff about the bigger screens with Android.

 

[makingdots]

My guess,

current iPhone, 3.5" display, 960x640 = 326 ppi
next iPhone, 4" display, 960x640 = 285.25 ppi

current iPad, 1024x768 = 132 ppi
next iPad, 2048x1536 = 264 ppi

 

[Rot'nApple]

Does that mean if the next iPhone is a 4 inch'er, can Samsung's Galaxy 4 inch'er Sue Apple for copying?

Just so everyone knows, I jest!

AS IF a screen size alone can make the case for Samsung!

It's just the photo MR is using, if Apple goes to 4 inch does that mean they will be nearly the same size? I dunno, but it won't be what's in that photo...
/
/
/

 

[devilstrider]

Why is everyone assuming this would make the phone any bigger? It may be possible to squeeze it on to its existing size and reduce the size of the home button (or even move it)

Exactly. It won't make it much bigger. Look at the SGSII its only a little bigger than the iPhone 4 but it's just as thin and is much liter. A 4in screen can be done. I think it's time apple got rid of the home button.

 

[D.T.]

From my perspective, the size of the display is secondary to the PPI, form factor (and "pocketability"), overall design/aesthetic/materials - and also, the speed that devs can get apps (and updates) to market.

If none of those are [severely] compromised, I'm totally up for a screen size increase.

I also think there's a little bit of a slippery slope in some people's minds. If larger displays are better - as Android devices might be an indicator - then how much bigger is big enough? If the average high[er] end Android device becomes 5", then is that the new design target?

Anyway ... I for one welcome our 4" display Apple masters.

 

[sinsin07]

LOL this would be nice but it's funny to see everyone so happy when they knocked android phones for having 4in screens. All the sheep turn this around, how they like a big screen better, when they used to always say some dumb stuff about the bigger screens with Android.

Those people are still around. They are the ones being out voted in the poll on the front page, complaining of pocket size, one hand usage, etc.

You know, the Cabbage Patch people.