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Apple Suppliers Starting to Ship 4" Screens for Next iPhone?
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I too would consider the idea of a 4" as long as the physical phone size doesn't change. I think the phone size is perfect and any increase in screen size should fit within the existing chassis. With that being said I've never thought to myself, "gee, I wish this screen was bigger"... but that's not to say I wouldn't welcome the change. I will tell you though I have used other phones and felt they were too big and bulky with many having underwhelming display qualities.
I bet they will make the screen bigger but keep the phone almost the same size by getting rid of some unused space on the top and bottom while making the home button smaller.
MrCrowbar
macrumors 68020
I say keep the size of the iPhone, but make the home button a bit smaller, move it down one or two millimeters and do something similar with the phone speaker, IR sensor, front camera. Then make the display a tiny bit longer. Most apps wouldn't need adapting to the resolution. iAd-Supported apps could show more of the app and have less of the ad covering the application. Or simply have the status bar always showing in "old" apps.
I'm personally perfectly fine with the current iPhone 4S, I need it to be handy and ergonomic. Lost of phones are larger and thinner and really awkward to make phone calls on. The iPhone form factor is as close to perfect for a handheld do-it-all as it gets. I have a feeling Apple can increase the screen size without compromise, however the current iPod nano has gone backwards in usability IMO.
I'm just glad I bought the 4S and sold the oooooold iPhone for a decent price. If something groundbreaking comes out, I might just switch to that new thing.
I'm personally perfectly fine with the current iPhone 4S, I need it to be handy and ergonomic. Lost of phones are larger and thinner and really awkward to make phone calls on. The iPhone form factor is as close to perfect for a handheld do-it-all as it gets. I have a feeling Apple can increase the screen size without compromise, however the current iPod nano has gone backwards in usability IMO.
I'm just glad I bought the 4S and sold the oooooold iPhone for a decent price. If something groundbreaking comes out, I might just switch to that new thing.
Gemütlichkeit
macrumors 65816
GenesisST
macrumors 68000
The crop was badly done to begin with. They could've just cut the left and right a BIT, not not a part of the bottom as well.
That being said, I'd rather have black bars and a smaller image, than to go to Pan&Scan all over again! Let the phone optionally crop it, if you want but please, no P&S!
Edit: I was not complaining about the screen size of the iPhone, but about the crop used. The following post put my thought into words much better:
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ambiguish
macrumors newbie
I'm surprised there are so many votes for the 4" screen. I think one of the great things about the iPhone is its more compact sizewhenever I see my friend's large Droid, I dread the thought of having to lug it around all the time.
Besides that, I'm not convinced they will be able (/ want) to do this technically. This has been brought up earlier, but what would the new resolution be for a 4" device? They had done so much marketing for the retina screen and its 326ppi(?)would
want to ruin that now?
The only possibility would be if the iPad steps up to 2048x1536 and the iPhone to 4"/1024x768 (still ~320ppi), but what would this difference do to the apps that have been created with specific dimensions in mind? Any developers have a thought?
Besides that, I'm not convinced they will be able (/ want) to do this technically. This has been brought up earlier, but what would the new resolution be for a 4" device? They had done so much marketing for the retina screen and its 326ppi(?)would
want to ruin that now?The only possibility would be if the iPad steps up to 2048x1536 and the iPhone to 4"/1024x768 (still ~320ppi), but what would this difference do to the apps that have been created with specific dimensions in mind? Any developers have a thought?
Well sure it does. For example tiping would be much better on a larger display because the touch targets are bigger.
I also don't want a bigger iphone , but you could fit a larger screen in the iphone without making the whole display much larger.
Yes the developers would cry. But Apple was never really about satisfying the developers - apple always tryed satisfying the consumer.
I'm surprised there are so many votes for the 4" screen. I think one of the great things about the iPhone is its more compact sizewhenever I see my friend's large Droid, I dread the thought of having to lug it around all the time.
Besides that, I'm not convinced they will be able (/ want) to do this technically. This has been brought up earlier, but what would the new resolution be for a 4" device? They had done so much marketing for the retina screen and its 326ppi(?)would
The only possibility would be if the iPad steps up to 2048x1536 and the iPhone to 4"/1024x768 (still ~320ppi), but what would this difference do to the apps that have been created with specific dimensions in mind? Any developers have a thought?
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 🙄
Well...for all those who are so attached to the iphone 4 & 4S design....you should be prepared...the iphone 5 WILL have a new form factor. That is just a given.
I think the tear drop design with the larger screen that was leaked over the summer is a good guess where the design is headed.
But one thing is certain....it WILL look different than the current design. I think we can say goodbye to the glass back. And a larger screen is almost a given.
Perhaps Apple will give two screen size choices? Who knows.
Either way, the iphone 5 ain't coming until next summer....so....no sense in complaining now. You have plenty of time to buy an iphone 4S if you like the current design. 🙂
I think the tear drop design with the larger screen that was leaked over the summer is a good guess where the design is headed.
But one thing is certain....it WILL look different than the current design. I think we can say goodbye to the glass back. And a larger screen is almost a given.
Perhaps Apple will give two screen size choices? Who knows.
Either way, the iphone 5 ain't coming until next summer....so....no sense in complaining now. You have plenty of time to buy an iphone 4S if you like the current design. 🙂
Shrink
macrumors G3
If it is possible to have a 4" screen without enlarging the phone - that would be great. I really like the size of the phone and wouldn't want it to be larger.
I don't understand the technology well enough to know if this can be done without losing any of the great sharpness and definition the Retina display offers now.
I don't understand the technology well enough to know if this can be done without losing any of the great sharpness and definition the Retina display offers now.
D.T.
macrumors G4
It seems like a potential design direction (I mentioned in a few other posts) but I think there's a couple of major issues:
First, according to PPI calcs, 1024x768 would put a 4" at ~320ppi (still outstanding). I'm assuming the basic resources from the iPad version of an app (icons/ UI widgets) would be of the correct relative scale, but I'm not sure how that would affect usability[?]
Secondly, the bigger issue is in regards to the layout: the iPad is a ~1.33 ratio and iPhones are 1.5 ratio. So the screen organization would be funky ... panels would overlap/extend out of the visible user space ... ?
dylin
macrumors 6502a
Well from the looks of things, most people are forgetting about resolution in comparison to the screen size. some have already mentioned that if the screen was to be 4 inchces, then of course we would no longer have a retina display if they decided to keep the resolution at 960 by 640. But if they did decide make it bigger with the same ppi it would have an awkward resolution that make the applications currently created for the 960 by 640 resolution look stretched and not match exactly.
If they really did want to make the screen bigger, i think that it would have to keep the same form factor as the current phone, but make it edge to edge, but it might only increase the screen to 3.7" inches rather than reach 4". The most concern for me is just being able to keep that high ppi. Since the android platform has so many different screen sizes and different resolutions, certain apps look off on one or the other.
If they really did want to make the screen bigger, i think that it would have to keep the same form factor as the current phone, but make it edge to edge, but it might only increase the screen to 3.7" inches rather than reach 4". The most concern for me is just being able to keep that high ppi. Since the android platform has so many different screen sizes and different resolutions, certain apps look off on one or the other.
Please, just don't increase the overall size of the phone. I don't want a huge phone to carry around in my pocket.
AppleScruff1
macrumors G4
I agree. My eyes would like a bigger screen too. My mother was right, it does make you go blind. 😀
acfusion29
macrumors 68040
i love my iPhone 4, and it's fine the way it is. it's time for a change though. Apple won't be using a 3.5" screen forever...
Any size between 3.5" to 4.0".
I have used 4.3" devices and they are deal breakers for me. 3.5" is the small side and 4.0" is the large side.
I have used 4.3" devices and they are deal breakers for me. 3.5" is the small side and 4.0" is the large side.
daveathall
macrumors 68020
Careful. I said the samein the iPad thread and got my head bitten off. People dont get that when you've got a number of images, its a huge PITA to have to save them out for all sorts of resolutions.
