benefits of a taller phone?

[NoOneHitsHarder]

I love the larger screen for landscape safari internet browsing. Before on my 4s I would go to a website and need to zoom in to read text but now with the 5 everything is bigger so I don't need to. I can simply go to a page like nytimes.com and read everything without the tedious task of zooming in and scrolling over every article like on the 4s.

Other benefits:
- Fullscreen video now due to 16:9 ratio

Not sure what other benefits someone would expect from a screen size improvement

Taller screen = more viewing area. Period.

 

[newone757]

I'm comparing it to the previous iPhone 4S.

In landscape, because it scales up to fit a wider screen, the top and bottom content is cut off. Had the aspect ratio stayed the same then you would see the same amount of content as you do on the 4S. Admitedly, full screen Safari helps but other apps like mail are worse in landscape than if the 5 had a larger 4:3 screen.

I made this for a discussion of a 16:9 iPad, but its the same idea. The page fits the width of the screen and the red box is 16:9 compared to the rest of the image which is 4:3.

I do see your point. There are other variables as well. If it scales to fit the 16:9 box the text will be bigger and more readable as opposed to the full 4:3 image which will have smaller text. All depends on what you prefer though, If I'm reading on my i4 at a comfortable distance I find I'd have to zoom in, and because the text doesn't wrap, I have to scroll horizontally to read full lines. With the 16:9 scaled image I imagine it wouldn't be as worse. But I have had experience with it yet so I will reserve final judgement

Come to think of it, since iOS doesn't wrap text (which is extremely annoying) i definitely think that landscape reading will me more enjoyable on 16:9. Less scrolling, if any

I think it comes down to personal preference though. Ive havent been a fan of the 4:3 ratio since all of our monitors, tv's, and video content went away form it. The only things binding me to it now is my iPad and sensors in my interchangeable lens cameras (which will likely never change aspect ratio since it would render most lenses useless)

 

[CatsTide]

everyone who see's me will say...OOOO he's got a new iPhone

 

[darngooddesign]

Come to think of it, since iOS doesn't wrap text (which is extremely annoying) i definitely think that landscape reading will me more enjoyable on 16:9. Less scrolling, if any

As you said its a trade off, the text is larger but there is definitely more scrolling. Look at the image I posted, to see all the text visible on a 4:3 screen you have to scroll. Its worse with the keyboard on because even less text is visible.

 

[spiralynth]

A deeper ride.

 

[newone757]

As you said its a trade off, the text is larger but there is definitely more scrolling. Look at the image I posted, to see all the text visible on a 4:3 screen you have to scroll. Its worse with the keyboard on because even less text is visible.

Yeah. I was talking horizontal scrolling though, which, to me, is more annoying than vertical scrolling (still in landscape mode). So with 4:3 you have to do more horizontal scrolling and with 16:9 you have to do more vertical scrolling. lol pick your poison i guess.

 

[PAC88]

you know.. After thinking about it and reading some perspectives, the taller screen is now starting to grow on me and make sense..

I took a ruler to my current phone and realized the ip5 is half as thick, only .4mm taller and the same width haha Not to mention about 100x the performance.. For some reason I thought it was going to be like 2X the size.

Also, I ordered a 64 with intentions to record video so 16x9 playback will actually be nice..then you have the benefit of landscape browsing (debatable I guess) and all the other stuff. It's such a giant upgrade from what I have. So, I'm laying this issue to rest in my mind.

 

[Bswartz95]

Apps that have an ad banner at the bottom are much less noticeable and not as intrusive. More content is visible.

 

[sviato]

I was hoping Apple would take advantage of the bigger screen for Messages and add another row on the keyboard but nope. Definitely went bigger just for the sake of it, hopefully more apps take advantage of the longer screen instead of just stretching out to fill the space

 

[Sedrick]

And don't forget that while this is Apple's first 16:9 phone, a large majority of modern Android phones are 16:9 as well.

And have been for 2+ years. That same large majority of modern Android phones are also larger than 4". It can be argued that a 4" screen at 16:9 is very, very cramped and not much of an advantage over their old screen. Apple doesn't get a pass just because they finally, begrudgingly, went 4" two years after everyone else, especially when they just stretched it vertically.