So, Apple releasing larger screens now makes "sense" for Apple and its users who are more accustomed to the smaller screen (although, some by lack of choice, yet stuck with Apple as they considered the benefits outweighed a larger screen and having to switch).
No, they had no choice for iOS on a larger screen. It's not about other benefits outweighing their desire for a bigger-screened iPhone; it's about having NO CHOICE but to go with the screen size Apple deemed "perfect" IF one wanted iOS.
Whereas, its different for people with Android where they were somewhat forced to use larger phones "prematurely" yet, nowadays, fully experience its benefits with an abundance of choices.
No, there was no "forcing". Android comes with LOTS of choices of screen sizes. So if one can be happy with Android, they can pick just about any screen size. There was no "prematurely". Instead, there was a variety of choices and customers who could not see the ONE and ONLY way to go for phone OSs voted with their wallets.
If there was this big market of people wanting small-smaller-smallest smart phone screens, the Android-makers could jump on it… and would. What Android makers appeared to figure out some time ago is that a fair chunk of the market wanted screens bigger than what Apple deemed "perfect".
Apple itself acknowledged this as revealed in the Samsung trial. So Apple is shifting to give the market what it wants. It's not some natural progression where it just now makes sense for Apple to go there. It's the marketplace being heard (again as evidenced within that trial). It's consumer wallets actually driving some change at Apple (which, IMO, is very good).
I think it's great for us consumers AND great for Apple. One of the most tangible reasons to buy Android is about to fall. I think sales will be crazy now that Apple is giving the big-screen Android crowd a real iOS alternative(s). As such, I think a lot that went there because of the influence of that bigger screen will come back to iPhones with bigger screens. It will bring 2 big draws together- bigger screens + iOS- for the first time.
Those locked up on "one handed use" and the perfection of 4" or 3.5" will likely just shift as soon as Apple drops the one-handed use bullet from the marketing spin and anoints the bigger screens as the new perfect size. Sure, there will be a few longing for the old perfection but the mental shift is already on ("abomination" to "wait & see" to "kind of growing on me") and will significantly spike as soon as rumor becomes Apple-endorsed reality.
We saw this movie when the rumors of a 4" iPhone began. The idea was abhorrent at first then grew on many as the rumors piled up. Then, it was launched and the old "perfection" of 3.5" was dropped almost overnight. No one called that phone an "abomination" and the .1% of the "99.9% don't want a bigger screen" crowd must have bought 100 units each to drive all the sales volume. I expect a repeat here, with the same shift to the new "perfection" as soon as Apple rolls it out.
