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Is 5.5" the Biggest It's Going to Get?

MICHAELSD

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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Back when the iPhone 5 was released, it felt huge compared to the extremely tiny 3.5" display but now of course we've grown accustom to this size. So, then is 5.5" the biggest it's going to get? I honestly believe it's not and that customers will want more in a few years, although I have an idea of how they could fit a bigger display into a pocketable design. 5.5" may very likely be the biggest option for 5-6 years though.

3.5" felt satisfactory for a while, and customers will tire of a minuscule 5.5" eventually too.
 
If you get into the 6 inch territory it's:

- Basically a tablet
- Not going to fit in many pockets

Smartphone size is increasing basically because they're running out of ways to innovate, as the smartphone platform starts to plateau.
 
Dwalls90 said:
If you get into the 6 inch territory it's:

- Basically a tablet
- Not going to fit in many pockets

Smartphone size is increasing basically because they're running out of ways to innovate, as the smartphone platform starts to plateau.
Click to expand...

This is true. I don't see anything much larger than 5.5 in the future because of pants size. My 3DS barely squeezes in there with the thickness, I'm very sure I wouldn't buy any bigger for an iPhone.
 
I believe the consideration given to these two sizes are very deliberate. The physical screen footprint will remain the same for many years, with a new goal of reducing the overall form factor… smaller bezels, thinner profile all while maintaining symmetry.
 
I would say the overall size of the phone will not change for a while, but the screen size will, once they've had a chance to shrink the bezels.

Please god shrink the bezels!!
 
ZBoater said:
I don't know. This Lumia is hot.

http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/lumia1520/
Click to expand...

Had it, it was pretty much the best phone i have ever had other than a few WP8 quirks that really bugged me, those are all fixed now with WP8.1. If i don't end up liking the Iphone 6 plus i will probably switching over the second gen 1520 whenever that is released.

The phone fit in the pocket pretty easily as well...unless your the type of person that wears skinny jeans you should not have any problems.
 
robostig said:
I would say the overall size of the phone will not change for a while, but the screen size will, once they've had a chance to shrink the bezels.

Please god shrink the bezels!!
Click to expand...

Until they can put touch ID in the screen itself, don't expect those bezels to shrink.

PS

They make handling the phone in landscape much easier.
 
MICHAELSD said:
Back when the iPhone 5 was released, it felt huge compared to the extremely tiny 3.5" display but now of course we've grown accustom to this size. So, then is 5.5" the biggest it's going to get? I honestly believe it's not and that customers will want more in a few years, although I have an idea of how they could fit a bigger display into a pocketable design. 5.5" may very likely be the biggest option for 5-6 years though.

3.5" felt satisfactory for a while, and customers will tire of a minuscule 5.5" eventually too.
Click to expand...

Personally I am hoping we settle into 5.2(3?) with a slimmed down bezel.
 
Shockwave78 said:
Had it, it was pretty much the best phone i have ever had other than a few WP8 quirks that really bugged me, those are all fixed now with WP8.1. If i don't end up liking the Iphone 6 plus i will probably switching over the second gen 1520 whenever that is released.

The phone fit in the pocket pretty easily as well...unless your the type of person that wears skinny jeans you should not have any problems.
Click to expand...

I was playing with that phone at the AT&T store and dang! I had a serious case of screen envy. The screen was GORGEOUS, I'm not a fan of Windows tiles but that UI was smooth and fluid, and the screen! Did I mention the screen?

Yeah, I would fit it in my pocket if I had to. Unfortunately I'm a iOS prisoner. At least I can now get close to that Lumia screen.
 
TommyA6 said:
Until they can put touch ID in the screen itself, don't expect those bezels to shrink.

PS

They make handling the phone in landscape much easier.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping they can achieve that by 2016, which is when we're due for another shift in physical format. I don't think it's entirely out of reach. They can still have bezels, they just need to be a lot smaller.
 
I think long term the phone screen could grow simply because a smaller outer shell, but the footprint is unlikely to change. Going back to 2007 I waited 12 hours to get the first iPhone. I waited in line with my trusty Treo Smartphone. Look how much has changed since that day. I suspect the smartphone will yet change again. Sooner than later.
 
Not so long as competitors are hovering around/just above 5.5". In 2010 we all thought 3.5" would be the "biggest it's going to get" because no one had dared to go significantly higher yet. That was the average screen size at the time; times have changed and they may change again.
 
I think it can go to 6", like the Lumia 1520. 7" and you are in tablet territory. 6-7" that's phablet territory. 5.5"? That's just a big phone.
 
At some point they will have to make my dream phone.

Front is all screen.

At this point focus should be on bezel. Make it disappear.
 
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