Larger iPhone 6, 'iPad Pro' and iWatch Could Tap New Display Sizes in Development

[Renzatic]

But the use of bitmaps only complicates things when it comes to screen density. If those new devices don't go over 324 PPI, the same bitmaps/buttons can be used.

The problem holding the release of a larger iPhone as more to do with resolution (and thus size) than PPI.

Yeah, resolution is the biggest issue here. A larger device with the the same pixel density would obviously be using a larger resolution screen, which would mean that the icons and buttons would be smaller on a larger iPhone if they were directly ported over. A developer would have to design larger icons to maintain consistency, regardless of pixel density.

For something the size of the iPads, a difference in screen size isn't that big of a deal, hence why the new Mini and Air use the same icons, layout, and resolution. You can still use both comfortably, even if the icons are a little smaller on the Mini. But for something as small and concentrated as the iPhone, it'd be a much bigger deal.

What held Apple up is the lack of auto-layout APIs until iOS6, and the fact that many devs don't even use them now as they were used for many years to deal with a limited number of fixed size screens on iOS.

It was an advantage for developers and helped the Appstore flourish since they didn't have to care about making flexible layouts, but it's become a problem now for many reasons (Apple won't stay at 3.5"/4"/7.9"/9.7" forever)

I think this year will be the ultimate push in that direction and we may even see those devices unveiled at WWDC as an incentive to developpers to make use of those APIs.

The groundwork has been all but laid out by Apple. I just hope they execute on it soon, because I'd love to see more screen sizes come out of Apple.

...which if the rumors of a larger iPhone and iPad are true, I think it's definitely gonna happen.

 

[vomhorizon]

Hardly. According to Google's Android Developer Dashboard, 78% of Android devices run using the "Normal" screen size range of 3.5 inches to 4.3 inches.

I bet the iphone 4/4s were also the most popular phones of their times..and comparable devices running android or symbian or whatever also had comparable screen sizes (those that were selling in high numbers anyhow)..Apple still upped the screen size by 14% on the 5..A similar size bump on your 5s will give you a 4.5 inch device..and i bet given 2 years of development Jony Ive can put that real estate onto a form factor that could be the same size of the iphone 5/5s and still manage to produce a design with a much better feel than the 5/5s that is in fact much easier to handler compared to the phone it is replacing..I am totally for such a phone..I am advocating apple entering the Phablet market, not replacing the iphone with a iPhablet..

 

[Renzatic]

Because your idea of a phone would ruin the experience of those who prefer
smaller screen sizes, even though alot of people here think it won't.

That's just it. It doesn't have to be an either/or situation. When it comes to screen sizes, it's all subjective opinion, and no one's wrong. If you like smaller devices, then...well...you like smaller devices. You're not wrong. Neither am I for wanting a larger device.

People get defensive about that stuff. But seriously fragmentation sucks, I assume you think it's something that sucks on android. Why would you want apple to bring that to their devices.

That's not fragmentation. A larger iPhone would only be a concern to developers, and wouldn't prevent end users from getting the same updates, or having trouble running the same apps as anyone else with other sized iDevices.

 

[mscice]

yay iPhone Air soon

 

[Navdakilla]

i was like this too until got a note 2 now i couldn't go back to apple unless the screen got much bigger.

I am the same way. Got the nexus 5 recently and am loving the screen size. Can't go back to apple unless they make their screens bigger.

I can live with the negatives of android because there are plenty of positives that I like

 

[Smartass]

By the nature of your post I can only assume you know very little when it comes to programming.

who cares what i know about programming, i dont see a point why should developers cry about bigger screens. I mean they are paid for what they do, this is their job, so they really need to stop whining and complaining about it.

 

[vomhorizon]

I am the same way. Got the nexus 5 recently and am loving the screen size. Can't go back to apple unless they make their screens bigger.

Tried using the iphone 4S after a month or so with the 5/5s/c..It was painful for me ..

 

[Black Magic]

Is there really a market for a 12in iPad?

Would Apple try to do their spin on the Microsoft Surface by having 2 OSes built inside? When plugged into keyboard, Mavericks. When detached, iOS 7?

 

[olowott]

crazy year ppl

back to the drawing board for everyone

 

[ironsienna]

oh boo hoo, so you'll need to sit a couple of more hours to make your apps fit bigger screen.
It's like a bus driver would be pissed off because he has to make a little longer detour once in 2 years on his daily route.

A *couple* of hours... You my friend are an ignorant and the same applies to the ones that gave you an up... but what do you expect with such a nickname...

 

[Z8beema]

I hate this argument so much.

If you love 7 out of 10 things a product does, but would love to see it do more, wouldn't you want to your otherwise favorite product do those last 4 things as well? Why do you have to settle? Why be forced into a take it or leave it situation? Why justify it?

Lol

 

[vomhorizon]

Is there really a market for a 12in iPad?

As a scaled up version of Ipad Air running the same OS and essentially doing the same thing but with a bigger screen and battery? NO

A Touchscreen enabled PRO device that combines/blends the functioning of IOS and OSX, provides a genuinly different Expereince to the Mac Book Air feature set and costs under a 1000$..Then YES...I can see such a device do extremely well for apple..

Would Apple try to do their spin on the Microsoft Surface by having 2 OSes built inside? When plugged into keyboard, Mavericks. When detached, iOS 7?

Why be enabled to run on 2 OS"s? Why not develop a OS that is an extension of IOS but that allows full scale software to run on it? We can dream can't we? Ditching IOS in favour of OSX would keep this device away from the remarkable app expereince/linup apple has on IOS..Incorporating elements of IOS and allowing for full scale versions of productivity software etc and increasing power , speed and features to mirror an OSX device would certainly be a better bet for me. If apple can create a Hybrid IOS device that takes over the ROLES of even 50% of the Mac Book Air userbase , you'd see plenty of mac book air users switching and getting this device..And the price will ensure that many folks looking at a cheap computer would look to spend a bit extra and pick this up!

2 bootable OS's is a simple idea, but apple should do something different..

 

[Renzatic]

Lol

Roflmao.

 

[PortableLover]

I personally prefer that they increase the resolution of the current 4inch design, instead of making a larger 4.7inch iPhone

 

[Bishope1999]

Why 1600x900 and 1920x1080? This doesn't make sense since there are already 4,7" big screens with 1920x1080.

Because even the iPhone 5S has an odd resolution of
1136 x 640. They don't even offer an HD screen for their flagship phone. So a sub Full HD resolution for a 4.7 inch phone is to be expected. Although the 1920x1080 resolution seems a bit odd for the larger phone. You would expect something like 1880x1040 coming from Apple. Just to fall in line with their "retina" marketing term and not the HD standards.

 

[sulpfiction]

Once you go big screen, you can't go back. I love my Note 3. Even 5" phones feel puny now. Whoever wants to stick to 4" phones must wear skinny jeans or is a young Asian chick.

Anything over 5" is rediculous for a phone. And when I see people talking on a Note 3 sized device, it makes me laugh. It just looks stupid...(In my opinion) When I want to make a call or do something on the fly, I pull out my nice portable phone, get it done, and put it back into my pocket. I just can't see the need to have a 5.7" screen on your phone that you carry around with you all day. And I do have a huge need for a 6"+ device. But that's my ipad mini. Im all for buming the width of the iphone a bit and making it 4.5 or even 4.7". But that's the max. Anything bigger is a bad idea.

 

[H2SO4]

I personally would like a larger screen, but it's understandable people like the current size.

Best thing would be to offer different sizes.

Edge to edge screen, best of both works?

 

[yegon]

5"+, no chance, but next one will undoubtedly be bigger.

I used to really want a bigger screen, even flirting with a Note 1 while I still had a 4. These days, with the retina mini slipping so easily into my coat pockets, not really fussed about a larger phone and would actually miss one handed use. The mini caters for all my portable entertainment needs, bar audio from my phone, so a bigger screen wouldn't make much of a difference to me.

 

[flottenheimer]

I think there is only one way for Apple, when it comes to screen resolutions on iOS devices.
Either double up or stick to the existing resolution.

My guess is that a new, bigger iPad, would have the same screen resolution as the current iPad Air & Mini — 2048 x 1536.

And that a new, bigger iPhone, would have the same screen resolution as the current iPhone 5-series — 1136 x 640 (or, highly unlikely, go for the double of that).

— That is until the day when the entire OS becomes vector based and therefor truly resolution independent (Apple should, IMHO, be working on this for both iOS and OS X).

 

[oliversl]

An Apple phablet will really depress me

 

[rajat8676]

Make it quick, Apple. Running out of patience now

 

[macs4nw]

I don't know how few we truly are.

These rumors make me sad. I'm all for Apple releasing a giant screen iPhone to compete in the market that wants that, but I value portability and pocketability in my phone. These rumors keep hinting at two sizes, but even the smaller is still a size bump. Why? If you're going to make a big one to satisfy those guys, why can't you leave the small alone? I don't want a size bump; it was already difficult to stomach the transition to 4".

A somewhat larger, but edge-to-edge screen --in roughly the same physical dimension shell-- would be very welcome!

The 12.9 "iPad Pro" is going to turn out to be a Macbook. (Feel free to quote this if/when I'm wrong)

Probably some smart ass will…...

 

[NoNothing]

Hmmm, I guess I am only one of the few who prefer a smaller device.

I don't want my phone to be of the gigantinortisours size. I have used 4.3" devices and going them too big for most use cases.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

The thing that strikes me with those possible screen sizes is that if Apple could make an edge-to-edge from left to right screen with the 4.7" display, the device could be approximately the same size as the iPhone 5S now.

I don't mind having a bigger screen if the iPhone itself stays physically about the same size as it is now.

 

[iRun26.2]

What about a retina MBA? I don't care about iOS devices. I use my MBA for work and not for play.