Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

gkpm said:
Many are saying edge-to-edge is the solution, but think about how you hold the phone. You'll always lightly touch the screen with the finger on the edge.

The bezel needs to be there so that the phone doesn't register it as a touch command. Sure Apple can use some sort of erroneous touch rejection in software, but it'll never be foolproof.

The bezel on the 4(S) is already very small.
Click to expand...
Well one could argue that there is no bezel on the 4/4S already as the front is completely glass.

Also, the touch area is independent of the display area. They could make the touch area slightly smaller than the display area--you would probably not even notice this.



Michael
 
NickFalk said:
Just how popular are these huge-screen phones? From most sources I can find none of them are anywhere near Apple's own phone in popularity. The closest being Samsung's latest Galaxy but it still seems to trail the iPhone sales-wise.
Click to expand...

Why change the default font of Macrumors ?

Anyway, why are you comparing 1 model iPhone to 1 model with a big screen ? There's tons of 4"+ phones, you should be adding up all the 4" model sales and then comparing that number to the number of iPhones. It makes no matter that a single model trails the iPhone in sales when you want to claim a 4" screen is either desirable or not. You need to look at all models offering that particular feature.
 
re original article

keep the same overall dimensions/form factor

just stretch out the screen size to 4incher
 
Tinmania said:
Well one could argue that there is no bezel on the 4/4S already as the front is completely glass.

Also, the touch area is independent of the display area. They could make the touch area slightly smaller than the display area--you would probably not even notice this.



Michael
Click to expand...

Make the bottom with the home button a bit "shorter" with the new, elongated home button, make the display area taller and edge-to-edge.

It could work.
 
There is a demand for at least 2 screen sizes: 3.5" and larger 4-4.5". I actually see a need for three:
3.5" iPhone Classic
4.5" iPhone Grande
5.5" iPhone Note

MacBooks come in all the different sizes and no one complains about "fragmentation" or lack of "retina".
 
VivaLaDricas said:
My main point is, it would be good for the to have a foot in enterprise, regain the media market they somewhat lost. FCPx, soon to be Logic.
Click to expand...

Not sure why you'd lump in Logic with FC, it's a totally different team and the app is in a totally different state. What reason is there to believe that Logic would go through the same thing FC did?

And what does any of it have to do with phones?
 
If Apple moved to a 4" screen you'd hear plenty of MR posters whine about it but ultimately they would still buy one (whether the 1st gen or 2nd) and also eventually love it/praise it. Statistically proven on here.

I can't believe how many people "fought" me and others on the idea that the iPad should have a camera for Facetime and other things and how stupid I/we was/were because there's no reason to have a camera on an iPad and it would be unwieldy to even use. We all know how that turned out...
 
samcraig said:
If Apple moved to a 4" screen you'd hear plenty of MR posters whine about it but ultimately they would still buy one (whether the 1st gen or 2nd) and also eventually love it/praise it. Statistically proven on here.

I can't believe how many people "fought" me and others on the idea that the iPad should have a camera for Facetime and other things and how stupid I/we was/were because there's no reason to have a camera on an iPad and it would be unwieldy to even use. We all know how that turned out...
Click to expand...

There is a fickle bunch here, that's for sure.
 
samcraig said:
If Apple moved to a 4" screen you'd hear plenty of MR posters whine about it but ultimately they would still buy one (whether the 1st gen or 2nd) and also eventually love it/praise it. Statistically proven on here.

I can't believe how many people "fought" me and others on the idea that the iPad should have a camera for Facetime and other things and how stupid I/we was/were because there's no reason to have a camera on an iPad and it would be unwieldy to even use. We all know how that turned out...
Click to expand...

Facetime is a poor example. It doesn't detract in any way from a product if you don't want to use it. You can just ignore if you have no use for it.

But a bigger phone, because of the screen will become more unwieldy, especially for people with smaller hands. That can't be ignored.

Unless Apple is going to branch into to two models (big and small) they won't go to 4". And old models (4S, 3GS) don't count as that smaller model as they will quickly get left behind.

It isn't just Apple. No company only sells cell phones with 4"+ screens. All the players selling big screen phones, also have small screen phones (many smaller than the iPhone).

A 4" screen is simply too big to cover the bulk of the market in one model.
 
The two biggest pros for the iPhone when I was deciding on a something to replace my BB Storm 2 earlier this year was the screen size and iTunes integration. I ended up going w/ a Thunderbolt and was afraid I'd not like the screen size. After having it for a few months now my wife's iPhone feels way too small. I think after some of you get a 4" iPhone(if that's what they move to) you'll look back 6 months later and wonder why you ever wanted anything different.
 
I wonder if the big screen bashers have actually tried a bigger screen before sheeping around. Up to 4.5" is fine, and there is no reason to go below 4" unless you are targeting kindergarten hands. Just drop the marketing excuse of not being able to see the pixels if you hold the phone close to your eyes, and realize how better content looks on a big phone at proper distance.

It could be the right time to bring resolution to the next level as well. I wonder how 1440x960 (3x original iPhone, 1.5x Retina) looks, and how well could apps scale.
 
Bytor65 said:
Facetime is a poor example. It doesn't detract in any way from a product if you don't want to use it. You can just ignore if you have no use for it.

But a bigger phone, because of the screen will become more unwieldy, especially for people with smaller hands. That can't be ignored.

Unless Apple is going to branch into to two models (big and small) they won't go to 4". And old models (4S, 3GS) don't count as that smaller model as they will quickly get left behind.

It isn't just Apple. No company only sells cell phones with 4"+ screens. All the players selling big screen phones, also have small screen phones (many smaller than the iPhone).

A 4" screen is simply too big to cover the bulk of the market in one model.
Click to expand...

The market changes.

Guess what - phones used to be HUGE. Then they got TINY. Now they are growing again. People adapt.
 
I answered 4" to the poll, but I need to add a qualifier:

4" is fine, provided the phone itself doesn't grow significantly larger.
 
ChrisTX said:
That's why every smartphone on the planet now looks like an iPhone. Everyone was too busy chasing RIM, and the Blackberry before Apple changed the mobile industry forever!
Click to expand...

Hmm.. you must be blind if you think the new Windows Phone looks like an IPhone. Hell hasn't frozen over yet.

----------
iEvolution said:
The one thing I really love about Apple is the quality materials they use in their products, its not cheap 15 times over recycled plastic that feels like it'll be crushed by gripping it.
Click to expand...

Don't grip that IPhone 4 too hard.. you might cause the antenna to stop working :p
 
I want a 3.5" screen for portability but I can barely read a 4" screen so I prefer an iPad.
 
Premonition said:
so your saying 4 inches is to big?
Click to expand...


I do not think it is too big, I just don't feel that I need my iPhone screen to be bigger than it already is. I use my phone for text, talking and email on the go. I know others use their iPhones as a smaller computer though. I just don't want to see Apple fall into this screen size hype like Android makers, they make the phones bigger and the tablets smaller. Choice is good for the consumer though.
 
Would be interesting to see results by regions, I have a feeling it's mostly Americans saying they'd like a larger phone.
 
iCrizzo said:
I do not think it is too big, I just don't feel that I need my iPhone screen to be bigger than it already is. I use my phone for text, talking and email on the go. I know others use their iPhones as a smaller computer though. I just don't want to see Apple fall into this screen size hype like Android makers, they make the phones bigger and the tablets smaller. Choice is good for the consumer though.
Click to expand...

Okay then, don't buy the next iPhone. :rolleyes:
 
Tinmania said:
Well one could argue that there is no bezel on the 4/4S already as the front is completely glass.
Click to expand...

Call it whatever you want: bezel, border, edge. It doesn't make it an edge-to-edge screen, which is what we're discussing.

Also, the touch area is independent of the display area. They could make the touch area slightly smaller than the display area--you would probably not even notice this.
Click to expand...

Then you would have a display area which you couldn't touch. Makes no sense to me and would be confusing at best.
 
saturn88 said:
There is a demand for at least 2 screen sizes: 3.5" and larger 4-4.5". I actually see a need for three:
3.5" iPhone Classic
4.5" iPhone Grande
5.5" iPhone Note

MacBooks come in all the different sizes and no one complains about "fragmentation" or lack of "retina".
Click to expand...

I'm getting a headache.

----------
gkpm said:
Would be interesting to see results by regions, I have a feeling it's mostly Americans saying they'd like a larger phone.
Click to expand...

Because they have bigger asses and bigger pockets come preinstalled by default so a smaller phone is just floating out there in that huge space :D /just a joke, relax.
 
Last edited:
gnasher729 said:
The first sentence is most likely wrong. Apple has already about 5.2% of unit sales world wide, and about 12.5% of total revenue world wide. So if we count revenue, you are already wrong today. If we count unit sales, then the "netbook" part of the market is dying off (Samsung is already rumored to be leaving the netbook market in 2012), and that is a part where Apple has zero market share, so that alone will make Apple's market share go up. I can easily see Apple having 10% world wide market share in unit sales in three or four years time.
Click to expand...

I think you missed my point.

I don't think Apple is trying to reach a certain percentage of the market. They seem to be interested in making great machines... and making a healthy profit. Apple has no desire to be in the bargain computer business.

That's why I mentioned HP. They have a huge market share... but they barely make any money doing it.

That's the complete opposite of Apple.

You say the netbook market is dying... so people are gonna buy a $1000 Mac instead? Don't forget there are tons of HP, Dell and Acer machines being sold at bargain prices. That's why those other companies have huge market share.

If Apple wanted to gain market share... they'd sell the 11" MacBook Air for $599. But that wouldn't make them any money. Again... that's not what they're about.

Maybe I was too quick to say that Apple will never reach 10%.... I guess I was thinking after 27 years the Mac is still sittin' pretty at 5.2%

You're right... anything is possible.

And if you're talking about profit share.... Apple undoubtedly wins :)

Here's a great video from Steve Jobs on the topic of market share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAo8gnUCWzE#t=28s
 
Jerome Morrow said:
Because they have bigger asses and bigger pockets come preinstalled by default so a smaller phone is just floating out there in that huge space :D
Click to expand...

LOL!

Sad but true . . .

I would like an iPhone with a 4" screen. I have a 3GS now, and find the screen (and the phone) just a bit smaller than I'd like.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back