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For iconic, read dated. They got away with the big bezels and hardware home button when the screens were so tiny but now they've released supersized screens the Android variants look both more modern and, crucially, smaller.
The three pointed star on the bonnets of Mercedes cars was iconic. See them now? Nope. History is littered with iconic designs which have fallen by the wayside and I'll promise you this, as soon as Apple ditch the home button and bezels all the apologists will love it.

Android phones are all ugly compared to the iPhone. The iPhone is an iconic piece of hardware design which is perfectly weighted. And I am sure they will 'ditch' the home button when they have a reason to, and when they have a better solution for incorporating touch ID.
 
They need to do something about the big physical home button. The new non-Samsung Android devices look sleek and modern with their on-screen buttons, plus it allows for massively slimmed down bezels. Even Samsung can achieve a large degree of bezel reduction thanks to their original choice of home button shape. That lozenge-shaped button can be put into a much smaller bezel than Apple's 'iconic' round button. Basically Apple need a design rethink because their phones are not only too big now, but they look dated. Throw in 2012 hardware and iPhones are becoming a bit of a dinosaur, both internally and visually.

I would guess the "iPhone 10" is when this will happen. Touch ID will be integrated into the entire sapphire display. They are already talking about so it's just a matter of time.
 
The moto X was an iPhone 6 with a shorter bezel? Wow I must have missed that...
You did. Pics above. It's thicker, but Moto hasn't made skinny a priority. Besides Apple is the one that self-proclaims 'innovation' and 'most advanced.'
 
Android phones are all ugly compared to the iPhone. The iPhone is an iconic piece of hardware design which is perfectly weighted. And I am sure they will 'ditch' the home button when they have a reason to, and when they have a better solution for incorporating touch ID.

I think the Note 4 took a huge step forward in looks and materials but iPhone took a step back with a huge body (for a 5.5" phone), ugly lines on the back instead of glass, camera hump and the lost of chamfered body. I even prefer the buttons of the iPhone 5/5s. Can anyone here honestly say that iPhone 6/6 plus looks better than the iPhone 5?
 
Well yes, since it's completely subjective, I think the 6 looks better than the 5.

I do think the top and bottom bezels could use a wee bit of trimming, though...if it were just about looks. However, when it comes time to handle the iPhone, especially in landscape mode, I appreciate the generous bezels.

And since apparently Apple airbrushed the camera protrusion or somehow hid it in their own side view photos on their site, they must not be too proud of the protruding 6 and 6+camera, either, as regards aesthetics. I concede that point to the 5.

But I still am not bowled over by the looks of the 5 and prefer the 6, warts (or protruding camera) and all.

I think both the 5 and the 6 look too long to be pleasing to the eye, but handling them is more pleasant than handling the Samsung models I tried for comparison.
 
And now you know why they didn't do that.

The iPhone's shape is iconic. It is it's branding. It would be like changing the shape of a Coke bottle.

If they did that the phone would look like every other phone out there and not like an iPhone.

Lmao. Wow.
 
I would love a slimmer phone, but how do you keep from accidentally triggering the touch screen with the bezels missing? I know other phones have this sort of design: do you have to hold them differently or do they somehow know how to identify an intended touch?
 
I agree- I did this same sort of mockup on paper to help decide which 6 to get. The deal killer for the 6+ (for me) is how long/tall it is. I could live with the extra width - which could also be reduced somewhat- but not the added length.

I expect at some point Apple will finally have to change the top and bottom sections of their phones to keep them current looking. As such, I went with the 6 for now - with the hope that the next gen version of the 6+ will be smaller.
 
Uneven bezels looks horrible. But yes they should cut them down as much as possible while still being symmetrical.
 
My 1520 is bigger in every way. That being said, I have a 6 inch screen. Nonetheless I've had no issues with the size and weight. Smaller bezels would have definitely been nicer. Big bezels look dated on any display. Not a deal breaker for now anyway.
 
And now you know why they didn't do that.

The iPhone's shape is iconic. It is it's branding. It would be like changing the shape of a Coke bottle.

If they did that the phone would look like every other phone out there and not like an iPhone.

Lol yeah right we'll see a slimmer version maybe even get rid of the home button completely on the next gen. You can book that. Now maybe not the S but the iPhone 7 will be a slimmer frame. It's the way they're going now that's obvious.
 
The moto x is the perfect size for a 4.7 inch. I had a one plus one and loved the size. The i6 plus is about the same so I know I will love it.
 
So someone posted a link to a 3D rendering on another thread and it looks like Apple actually DID reduce the bezel quite a bit even though visually it is not that apparent...?

Screen Shot 2014-09-13 at 9.28.22 PM.png
 
I think the Note 4 took a huge step forward in looks and materials but iPhone took a step back with a huge body (for a 5.5" phone), ugly lines on the back instead of glass, camera hump and the lost of chamfered body. I even prefer the buttons of the iPhone 5/5s. Can anyone here honestly say that iPhone 6/6 plus looks better than the iPhone 5?

From the look and design, I think the iPhone 6 is different from the iPhone 5/5s, but equally attractive. I'm excited to get it in my hands to see how it feels. My hope is that it feels more comfortable in the hand compared to the iPhone 5/5s (which, in turn, was more comfortable in the hand than the 4/4s).

Design features I like:
1. I like how the antenna breaks in the back echo the glass section of the back on the iPhone 5/5s. I think the shift toward a single material reflects Jony Ive's design ethos of building as much as possible out of the fewest materials. [Note: I think this particularly design fails with the gold.]
2. I like what appears to be the seamless flow from the curved glass to the metal back. If it feels as smooth as it looks, that will be pretty amazing. There is a slight offset from the end of the glass on the iPhone 5/5s to the chamfered edge.

Design features I'm not so sure about:
1. Raised camera "ring." As a long-time SLR/DSLR owner, it makes it feel more camera-y, if that makes sense. But it also breaks from the seamlessness of the design elsewhere.
2. The gold back (see above).

Since the bezels are the main point of this thread, I'll comment on them, as well. I think the bezels will eventually go away, but I think it may not happen until the structures in the bezel can be integrated into/under the display. I don't know when that will be accomplished, but I suspect Apple will try to be the first to achieve such a thing. Until then, the bezels are a part of the design DNA of the iPhone.
 
I don't mind the bezel on the bottom because it's functional - for Touch ID + home button - but they really do need to change the design next time around. I won't expect them to do it next year because design changes always hold for at least two years but in 2016 I expect a revamped design that reduces the enormity, especially for the 6+.
 
Smaller bezels would definitely be good, but they should keep them symmetrical. Apple really needs to change something eventually. I would have gone with a 6+ if the bezels were a more reasonable size
 
If Apple slimmed down the iPhone 6 & Plus bezels...

I don't know when that will be accomplished, but I suspect Apple will try to be the first to achieve such a thing. Until then, the bezels are a part of the design DNA of the iPhone.

Many other manufacturers make phones with virtually not existent bezels. the LG G3 is an excellent example. It's shorter than the 6 and only a hair wider yet has a 5.5" screen.

The technology is capable. I'm pretty sure the bezels were an Apple design choice to maintain "iPhone proportions." It's a mistake.
 
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