I love the 5S / SE design over the 6 / 6S

[rijc99]

A smaller screen will be a smaller screen no matter how you justify it. Face it. You may like the smaller form factor but the trade off is the smaller screen. Fonts are smaller, pictures are smaller, etc.

Stop trying to say it's the same. Sure you might be able to zoom in when browsing but even then it's still a smaller screen. There are also many times when zooming is just not possible (i.e. Apps.)

 

[Traverse]

A smaller screen will be a smaller screen no matter how you justify it. Face it. You may like the smaller form factor but the trade off is the smaller screen. Fonts are smaller, pictures are smaller, etc.

Stop trying to say it's the same. Sure you might be able to zoom in when browsing but even then it's still a smaller screen. There are also many times when zooming is just not possible (i.e. Apps.)

Actually, most fonts are not smaller, there's just less of it. Pictures embedded into apps or sites are smaller though.

 

[rijc99]

Actually, most fonts are not smaller, there's just less of it. Pictures embedded into apps or sites are smaller though.

Sure if you're talking about safari and some apps. But not in all apps. They are definitely smaller in those instances.

 

[Savor]

I agree and disagree with the OP.

From pure aesthetics, I like the 4 and 5 series better than the 6 series only because the 6 has an ugly back from the lines and camera hump. But from pure ergonomics and practicality, I prefer the 6 series. It might seem slippery, but the rounded edges feels better in my hand. And most users are looking at their screen anyway which the 6 series offers better contrast and more size to type and view on.

Who really takes the time to look at the design of their phone especially since most cover it up with a case? So the small "4 display kills all the design points for the smaller iPhones for me. I have a "4 inch Android with SwiftKey and it is a pain to type messages on Camfrog because I can't the input bar unless I keep SwiftKey to a lower size.

I can never really go back to a display below "4.5. I am saying this in 2016 but watch when foldable screens come out. A "5.5-"6 would be too small for a phablet by the year 2020. If Apple came up with a design on the level of the 4 and 5 series and add a bigger and better display like the 6 series, then that's marrying the best of the best together.

 

[bufffilm]

It is massive difference when you browsing webpages. It is huge difference.

You see way more of webpage on bigger screen, there is less zooming or scrolling.

The keyboard itself takes more than 1/3 of the screen.

Posting on Macrumors on iPhone SE takes lots of scrolling, if you are going to post somewhat long post

P.S. It takes me 24 scrolls to go from top of the page to bottom of the page.

The keyboard taking up more screen is only if you are composing a post. Otherwise, it just more scrolling which is to be expected.

And personally, one-handed use and 100% accuracy with the keyboard more than trumps more scrolling.

But text on the 4" screen is not harder to read. Actually, it's easier.

 

[LovingTeddy]

The keyboard taking up more screen is only if you are composing a post. Otherwise, it just more scrolling which is to be expected.

And personally, one-handed use and 100% accuracy with the keyboard more than trumps more scrolling.

But text on the 4" screen is not harder to read. Actually, it's easier.

Maybe you want blaming Apple for the poor optimization for one hand usability?

For long, using bigger Android phone is not a problem, becuase there is one handed use mode. Basically shrinking down the interface to an smaller screen level.

For one hand typing, you can just use Google Keyboard's one handed mode.

Curiously what phone is the "bigger screen?" Because I have not noticed this much difference between the SE and 6 or 6s

That was Nexus 5X with 5 inch screen. Massive difference.

Here is the screen shoot of Android phone vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone SE.

This is Meizu Note 3 with 5.5 inch screen

This is iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen

This is iPhone SE with smaller screen. Way less information being displayed.

I would really argue that if you want do anything meaningful other than texting and calling, 4 inch is way to small for anything. Yes, it is true that you can do anything bigger phone can do with iPhone SE, but it is very annoying for the need of constant zooming and panning and scrolling.

 

[Tthomas612]

Maybe you want blaming Apple for the poor optimization for one hand usability?

For long, using bigger Android phone is not a problem, becuase there is one handed use mode. Basically shrinking down the interface to an smaller screen level.

For one hand typing, you can just use Google Keyboard's one handed mode.

That was Nexus 5X with 5 inch screen. Massive difference.

Here is the screen shoot of Android phone vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone SE.

This is Meizu Note 3 with 5.5 inch screen

This is iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen

This is iPhone SE with smaller screen. Way less information being displayed.

I would really argue that if you want do anything meaningful other than texting and calling, 4 inch is way to small for anything. Yes, it is true that you can do anything bigger phone can do with iPhone SE, but it is very annoying for the need of constant zooming and panning and scrolling.

I understand completely what you are saying, but I have went from
iPhone 6 to 6 Plus to 6s Plus to a 6s at times to an SE and have not been agitated or annoyed by it

 

[bufffilm]

Maybe you want blaming Apple for the poor optimization for one hand usability?

For long, using bigger Android phone is not a problem, becuase there is one handed use mode. Basically shrinking down the interface to an smaller screen level.

For one hand typing, you can just use Google Keyboard's one handed mode.

That was Nexus 5X with 5 inch screen. Massive difference.

Here is the screen shoot of Android phone vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone SE.

This is Meizu Note 3 with 5.5 inch screen

This is iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen

This is iPhone SE with smaller screen. Way less information being displayed.

I would really argue that if you want do anything meaningful other than texting and calling, 4 inch is way to small for anything. Yes, it is true that you can do anything bigger phone can do with iPhone SE, but it is very annoying for the need of constant zooming and panning and scrolling.

I'm not denying that you have to do more scrolling w/the SE...but your screenshots w/Safari show exactly what I mean.

Between the SE and 4.7" models, the text on the screen for the SE is actually easier to read, not harder. Ppi is the same on both screens.

And I wear glasses, too.

Yes, there is some 'adjustment' when going from the larger screen back to a 4" one, but from a purely "Can I read the text on a 4" phone as opposed to a larger screen with the same degree to ease?"...the answer is a resounding 'Yes'.

 

[LovingTeddy]

I'm not denying that you have to do more scrolling w/the SE...but your screenshots w/Safari show exactly what I mean.

Between the SE and 4.7" models, the text on the screen for the SE is actually easier to read, not harder. Ppi is the same on both screens.

And I wear glasses, too.

On a bigger phone, especially with Chrome, you can adjust font size to fit your needs. With higher PPI (higher resolution, PPI is the same with 1080P 5.5 inch, both my Moto X Play, Meizu Note 3) on Android phone and larger screen, I never feel text is harder to read.

This is from a person with -550 and -600 left/right eye.

 

[bufffilm]

On a bigger phone, especially with Chrome, you can adjust font size to fit your needs. With higher PPI (higher resolution, PPI is the same with 1080P 5.5 inch, both my Moto X Play, Meizu Note 3) on Android phone and larger screen, I never feel text is harder to read.

This is from a person with -550 and -600 left/right eye.

My vision is worse than that. / smile/

If Chrome supports this, then good. But Safari on the iPhone suffices and I'm loathe to change.

And right now, text on either the 4" and 4.7" isn't a problem for me. Later on, it might be.

I just think when people say the 4" screen is harder to read, that is not quite true. In fact, far from it.

 

[akash.nu]

My vision is worse than that. / smile/

If Chrome supports this, then good. But Safari on the iPhone suffices and I'm loathe to change.

And right now, text on either the 4" and 4.7" isn't a problem for me. Later on, it might be.

I just think when people say the 4" screen is harder to read, that is not quite true. In fact, far from it.

I completely agree with that. It's personal preference at the end of the day but I don't have any issues with 4" screen at all.

 

[C DM]

Maybe you want blaming Apple for the poor optimization for one hand usability?

For long, using bigger Android phone is not a problem, becuase there is one handed use mode. Basically shrinking down the interface to an smaller screen level.

For one hand typing, you can just use Google Keyboard's one handed mode.

That was Nexus 5X with 5 inch screen. Massive difference.

Here is the screen shoot of Android phone vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone SE.

This is Meizu Note 3 with 5.5 inch screen

This is iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen

This is iPhone SE with smaller screen. Way less information being displayed.

I would really argue that if you want do anything meaningful other than texting and calling, 4 inch is way to small for anything. Yes, it is true that you can do anything bigger phone can do with iPhone SE, but it is very annoying for the need of constant zooming and panning and scrolling.

Pretty much everyone with an iPhone was using it for basically anything and everything without any real issues with a screen no more than 4" for years until a couple of years ago (and even then many still continued with those phones for at least some time).

 

[Traverse]

I finally got around to exchanging my iPhone 6 for an iPhone SE. I never had a 5/5S so this design is new and "fresh" for me.

Honestly, I've never thought the 6/6S was ugly, it was just kind of average. However, after using and looking over my device, I have to say that that the iPhone 6/6S don't seem finished to me. The 5/5S looks so refined, the 6/6S look kind of like a prototype that got pushed through in my opinion.

 

[Tthomas612]

I finally understand got around to exchanging my iPhone 6 for an iPhone SE. I never had a 5/5S so this design is new and "fresh" for me.

Honestly, I've never thought the 6/6S was ugly, it was just kind of average. However, after using and looking over my device, I have to say that that the iPhone 6/6S don't seem finished to me. The 5/5S looks so refined, the 6/6S look kind of like a prototype that got pushed through in my opinion.

This has always been my opinion on the 6 series

 

[Drestin-Black]

I honestly like the 6 series phone design over the 5 series design. To me the 6 series is more sleek, the 5 series boxy. I'm glad they did not stick with that design into the 6 series.

Everyone has different likes though.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

I prefer the iPhone 5(s)/SE form factor. Tastes differ.

 

[ABC5S]

I like both in there respective sizes. Had both, but the 6s just seems to be right in the middle for me over too big and too small.

 

[Traverse]

I honestly like the 6 series phone design over the 5 series design. To me the 6 series is more sleek, the 5 series boxy. I'm glad they did not stick with that design into the 6 series.

Everyone has different likes though.

The box design would have been very uncomfortable in a larger size. The curved design is the way to go for large phones, but I just don't think the 6/6S is a pinnacle

 

[Drestin-Black]

The box design would have been very uncomfortable in a larger size. The curved design is the way to go for large phones, but I just don't think the 6/6S is a pinnacle

I never said it was a pinnacle.

I agree the curved back phones with smoothed edges like the moto x style, which I have along with my 6s plus, is much comfortable in the hand than a larger phone completely flat. I wish the 6s plus was shaped like it, same small bezels included.

Both are still better than the boxy design for me.