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Android is designed to be resolution independent. iOS isn't. There is a reason Apple choose 960x640 for the iPhone 4: It is exactly twice as wide and twice as tall as the pixel resolution on the earlier iPhones (480x320). Which means you just have to scale up each pixel into four.

I understand what happened before. Are we saying it could/should never change? iPhone's should forever be tied to a 3:2 aspect ratio? We should have media letterboxed on our devices forever?
 
Guys, I'm really thinking that we might be seeing a 4" screen on the next iPhone. There have been a few credible people who point to this, and the CAD drawings also point to a ≥4" screen. Plus, not to mention that report about LG Display partnering up with Apple to provide some Retina Plus display.

I think what Apple has done with the iPhone 5 is shrink the bezel such that we get big screen within a reasonable sized device. I'm still a bit confused about whether or not it will be taller than the IPhone 4 or shorter. I know it'll be a bit wider.
 
Guys, I'm really thinking that we might be seeing a 4" screen on the next iPhone. There have been a few credible people who point to this, and the CAD drawings also point to a ≥4" screen. Plus, not to mention that report about LG Display partnering up with Apple to provide some Retina Plus display.

I think what Apple has done with the iPhone 5 is shrink the bezel such that we get big screen within a reasonable sized device. I'm still a bit confused about whether or not it will be taller than the IPhone 4 or shorter. I know it'll be a bit wider.

They certainly had a lot of bezel to shave off. If they're keeping the same 3:2, they could probably make it 4" and have it actually be a bit shorter...I guess depending on the size shape of the home button anyway.
 
I don't expect this to be true, however it is interesting that CNET is keeping this story on their front page.
 
Even though I am probably not getting the next iPhone and planning to jump from 3.5 to 5.3-inch screen as soon as the Note arrives to AT&T hopefully by early next year, I'm still happy to see the next iPhone is evolving to 4.3 inches if this was true. Apple is really behind the times when it comes to the screen size of their phone. Android is already moving onto 4.5+ inches. WP7 already had 4.3-inch screens their first year.

I used to not think anything bigger than 4-inches would be too big . But really, 4.3 inches isn't even that bad at all. I was playing with my stepdad's Droid X the other day which also had a thick case, and it wasn't that bad. I guess I am so used to the size of my iPhone 4 that anything bigger than it becomes too big. Last year, Droid X would feel too big for me. This year, it doesn't seem so bad. All a matter of getting used to it. If people can tolerate carrying a Kindle with a 5-inch screen or 7 through 9.7 inch tablet, I think people can start to tolerate carrying slightly bigger phones. All about adapting to change. Only direction for screen sizes is to go up.
 
I'm getting whiplash from all these opposing rumors. Getting a larger screen, not getting a larger screen, now we are getting a larger screen.. Come on Tuesday!
 
Yeah, let's make it with a larger screen and a lower resolution :rolleyes:

Hold the phone an extra 1" from your face and it'll still qualify as "retina" :rolleyes:

Seriously though, I don't know the exact math of it, but why do you (and others here) think it's such a downgrade?
 
I understand what happened before. Are we saying it could/should never change? iPhone's should forever be tied to a 3:2 aspect ratio? We should have media letterboxed on our devices forever?

I'm saying the operating system and its applications are not designed to run at any resolution. At this point it can't be changed without creating serious compatibility issues.

And personally I think 3:2, which approximates the golden rectangle, is much better general purpose display ratio. I only find 16:9 useful for video.
 
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Hold the phone an extra 1" from your face and it'll still qualify as "retina" :rolleyes:

Seriously though, I don't know the exact math of it, but why do you (and others here) think it's such a downgrade?


Because unlike you I don't have the arm span of an orangutan ;)

Besides if the were to increase the size of the screen they would at least keep to the current resolution.
 
Hold the phone an extra 1" from your face and it'll still qualify as "retina" :rolleyes:

Seriously though, I don't know the exact math of it, but why do you (and others here) think it's such a downgrade?

Remind us the last time Apple reduced the performance/capabilities for one of their products (excluding the Shuffle, which they quickly corrected in the following revision)? I'd wager any amount of money that the next iPhone resolution will not be less than the current model--especially after one of their key marketing points was the 'Retina Display'. It may have a lower ppi but only because of a screen size increase.
 
Because unlike you I don't have the arm span of an orangutan ;)

Besides if the were to increase the size of the screen they would at least keep to the current resolution.

Hahahaha

I don't see why it could never be changed. And if there is a major redesign, wouldn't now be the time to do it? Going to a 4-4.3" display w/a 3:2 ratio would make for a fairly wide device. If you don't have arms like an orangutan, I'm guessing you don't have abnormally large hands either...the wider the device, the more awkward one hand operation would become :)

Again, not saying that a 4.3" qHD is what we are getting, just pointing out a couple reasons why it doesn't not make sense. Oh, and that it's not a terrible display resolution like some seem to think.
 
Remind us the last time Apple reduced the performance/capabilities for one of their products (excluding the Shuffle, which they quickly corrected in the following revision)? I'd wager any amount of money that the next iPhone resolution will not be less than the current model--especially after one of their key marketing points was the 'Retina Display'. It may have a lower ppi but only because of a screen size increase.

Take a poll of iPhone 4 users asking them if they know what 'retina display' means. Hell, what % of iP4 users think their phone is "4g" capable?

And you defeat your point of saying the 'Retina Display' was a major marketing point by saying it 'may have a lower ppi'. If the phone is even only 4", with the same resolution, will it hold the pixel density to be called "retina" being held at the same distance?
 
Apple at some point has to do a screen resize and this is most likely the year they do it. Although after this, i dont see them doing it again for another 4-5yrs.

Why go from a 3.5" screen to only 4" screen when every popular phone out there is coming out with 4.3/4.5 and in the future 5" screens. I think if it was apples preference then yes they would have only gone to a 4" screen. BUT, to future proof the phone and not have to go through this again with app developers(screen res) they decided to go to a 4.3".
 
Hahahaha

I don't see why it could never be changed. And if there is a major redesign, wouldn't now be the time to do it? Going to a 4-4.3" display w/a 3:2 ratio would make for a fairly wide device. If you don't have arms like an orangutan, I'm guessing you don't have abnormally large hands either...the wider the device, the more awkward one hand operation would become :)

Again, not saying that a 4.3" qHD is what we are getting, just pointing out a couple reasons why it doesn't not make sense. Oh, and that it's not a terrible display resolution like some seem to think.


I agree a 3:2 ratio 4+ inch screen would be quite wide. I don't think a screen over 4 inches is on the cards to be honest, not while Apple believe 3:2 is better than wide screen on their iOS devices.
 
I agree a 3:2 ratio 4+ inch screen would be quite wide.

Done the calculation for you.

A 4.3 inch screen at 2:3 aspect ratios is 2.385 inch wide and 3.578 inch high.
A 4.3 inch screen at 3:5 aspect ratio ( e.g. 480x800screen) is 2.2123 inch wide and 3.687 inch high.

Difference:
It is .17 inch (4.3 mm) wider, and 0.11 inch (2.8mm) shorter for iPhone.
 
Done the calculation for you.

A 4.3 inch screen at 2:3 aspect ratios is 2.385 inch wide and 3.578 inch high.
A 4.3 inch screen at 3:5 aspect ratio ( e.g. 480x800screen) is 2.2123 inch wide and 3.687 inch high.

Difference:
It is .17 inch (4.3 mm) wider, and 0.11 inch (2.8mm) shorter for iPhone.

Then add a bit of bezel.
 
Rumors have suggested that the screen would stretch pretty much edge to edge.

I have my doubt on this one. Cases are very hard to design to not cover part of the sides. Also it makes it challenging touch the edge of the screen. Finally, it looks a little unartistic, although this is subjective you may argue.

But, if you turn out correct, then with the width of the cases we've seen so far, we will be looking at a 4.3 inch screen instead of 4 inch. My calculation assume 1mm bezel width on each side.
 
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