May I ask, why do people keep make comments that 4/4.5 screen is LARGE? Its the same.

[AnthonyHarris]

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...and you know this from fact? You have an iPhone 5 and have run the needed tests?

As others have said, while a quarter inch may not seem like much or be that big a difference to you, it very easily could be to others.

Increasing the surface area will make the phone just a touch bigger. If you were able to comfortably reach the 'P' key while typing with one hand, you may need to stretch. If your pocket fit it comfortably, now it may be snug.

Now, throw on a cover to the already larger phone and some may not be able to reach to type single handed and it may not fit in some pockets.

Or maybe some people simply don't want to hold something the size of their face up against their head to talk. Many of the current phones available remind me of the boom boxes of the 80's.

The size of my face?
That reminds me of when people say they "don't want to hold an iPad" to their head, or how they'd be "holding a brick", or they say I should "just buy an iPad"

Definitely an exaggeration. But, even with that said, I do see reasons why people would want small screens. I think that the only logical solution for manufactures is to make 2 phone sizes. Small and big. Not in-between. In-between sizes like 4" isn't usually big enough for big-phone people, and small phone people don't seem to like the idea of it.

Personally, I've owned every screen size you can think of. 3.5", 3.7", 4", 4.3", 4.5" And I honestly can't STAND small screens. I'd consider anything 4" and below small. I really really want a bigger iPhone, but I know that not everyone will. If Apple made 2 sizes I'd be very pleased, and I know everyone else would too. Best of both worlds

A 3.5" screen isn't small by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, it is smaller when compared to 3.7", 4", 4.3", 4.5", 5" and so on.

I guess we have been spoiled by other phone companies who wish to turn mobile devices into minature HD televisions and have forgotten about what these devices are intended to be used for.

How did you cope 10 years ago?

 

[Bobby Corwen]

...and you know this from fact? You have an iPhone 5 and have run the needed tests?

As others have said, while a quarter inch may not seem like much or be that big a difference to you, it very easily could be to others.

Increasing the surface area will make the phone just a touch bigger. If you were able to comfortably reach the 'P' key while typing with one hand, you may need to stretch. If your pocket fit it comfortably, now it may be snug.

Now, throw on a cover to the already larger phone and some may not be able to reach to type single handed and it may not fit in some pockets.

Or maybe some people simply don't want to hold something the size of their face up against their head to talk. Many of the current phones available remind me of the boom boxes of the 80's.

No I don't know for a fact but neither does anyone, including those of us who decided they would hate a larger screen. If your mind is so made up that you don't want a bigger screen WITHOUT SEEING the new phone and holding it/inspecting it and you're making purchase ultimatums, why can't I make assumptions that it will be awesome having a bigger screen?

Before knowing this in person, there is no reason to have negative assumptions of the ergonomical logistics. Even if it is different than before, why was the 3.5 the correct amount of space from the P? If the 4inch was invented first, and we went down to 3.5, you would never have thought the P was too far. That is what I am trying to get at.


Oh here we go... see you just did it again!

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I think you must have skipped math class or something.

You must have skipped "do you get what I am trying to convey? -class"

 

[tjb1]

Its a phone, if you want to watch your pr0n so bad, go get an ipad or laptop. Once again...its a PHONE, for calling and texting. You seem to forget everything else are benefits to a PHONE. If you have so much damn trouble reading, zoom the screen. Its a PHONE and is not meant to display a whole webpage on its screen.

When you hold a Droid X and an iPhone 4, you will soon realize the differences are minuscule.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

The screen is a huge power draw compared to the rest of the device.

Exactly like the post below you said.

The power management scenario is not quite certain because this is an iOS ran battery and we have not seen the performance ability that Apple can create with a larger screen.

Comparing it to other phones that have poor (in comparison) battery life in general due to Android being Android, its unscientific reasoning to assume that because Androids with larger screens have horrendous battery life compared to Androids with average screens, that this is automatically true for Apple.

Obviously Apple won't release a backwards step in battery life. It will be the same or more even with a larger screen.

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I am ready for a larger iPhone screen, maybe a 4" so long as the physical size of the phone does not increase by more than a 1-2 mm AND so long as the battery life does not decrease.

I think the market is ready for slightly bigger phones now that people are getting used to smart phones and their added size and functionality.

the iPhone is useable as a reading device and a browser but that extra half inch of real estate would make it so much easier to use - especially for us older people!

I agree with this man

 

[cyks]

If the 4inch was invented first, and we went down to 3.5, you would never have thought the P was too far. That is what I am trying to get at.

Again, you are the one making assumptions. You started this by saying there was virtually no difference in size or that any size difference wouldn't matter...completely ignoring that for some people, it might.

If the first phone was a 4.5", I'm sure there would have been plenty of people proclaiming how great it was, but wishing it was a touch smaller so they could type one handed.

 

[Brien]

It's not so much 'big' screen wise as it is on the battery life. Although I'm tempted to buy a phone with a 5.3inch screen so naturally I'm supportive of big screens.

Me too. The Galaxy Note is tempting...

 

[ckurt25]

No I don't know for a fact but neither does anyone, including those of us who decided they would hate a larger screen. If your mind is so made up that you don't want a bigger screen WITHOUT SEEING the new phone and holding it/inspecting it and you're making purchase ultimatums, why can't I make assumptions that it will be awesome having a bigger screen?

Before knowing this in person, there is no reason to have negative assumptions of the ergonomical logistics. Even if it is different than before, why was the 3.5 the correct amount of space from the P? If the 4inch was invented first, and we went down to 3.5, you would never have thought the P was too far. That is what I am trying to get at.


Oh here we go... see you just did it again!

Dude, what's with all the colors? It makes it difficult to read.

I think many people feel that a bigger phone might be hard to carry. If someone puts their phone in their pocket when not in use and its a tight fit already, why would they be interested in a phone that has a much bigger screen?

I just randomly picked a phone - the Droid X2 and thats has a 4.3" screen and it's dimensions are over 30% bigger than the iPhone. 30% is huge difference when you're talking a true comparison.

If I had to bet I'd say we may see the iP5 come in between 3.7 - 4." Apple has a pretty loyal following and they may have done some studies to determine how many customers they'd gain and lose by maintaining the current size or going with a modest or even a significant size increase. You have to draw the line somewhere. Why not a 5" screen? Remember the Dell Streak? That thing was a monster. 5" screen is only 1/2" bigger than a 4 1/2" screen, right? The Dell Streak's dimensions are almost 50% bigger than the Droid X2. IMHO, way too big to be a jeans pocket phone. Not one device out there is going to appeal to everyone. Apple is designing for the masses.

 

[djransom]

The bigger the better

 

[Tones2]

If I had to bet I'd say we may see the iP5 come in between 3.7 - 4." Apple has a pretty loyal following and they may have done some studies to determine how many customers they'd gain and lose by maintaining the current size or going with a modest or even a significant size increase. You have to draw the line somewhere. Why not a 5" screen? Remember the Dell Streak? That thing was a monster. 5" screen is only 1/2" bigger than a 4 1/2" screen, right? The Dell Streak's dimensions are almost 50% bigger than the Droid X2. IMHO, way too big to be a jeans pocket phone. Not one device out there is going to appeal to everyone. Apple is designing for the masses.

That's why it makes sense for Apple to design TWO phones instead of one, as is rumored. One slightly upgraded for the masses (4s) and one higher-end phone with a larger screen and hopefully more capacity for the specialists. I makes no sense why they keep only making one phone to try to please everyone, whereas Samsung, HTC and others churn out many different phones for many different audiences.

There's no right or wrong here - there are two groups of people with different desires. Hopefully, as the rumors suggest, Apple has caught onto this and will release the 4s AND 5. But we'll see.

Tony

 

[ckurt25]

That's why it makes sense for Apple to design TWO phones instead of one, as is rumored. One slightly upgraded for the masses (4s) and one higher-end phone with a larger screen and hopefully more capacity for the specialists. I makes no sense why they keep only making one phone to try to please everyone, whereas Samsung, HTC and others churn out many different phones for many different audiences.

There's no right or wrong here - there are two groups of people with different desires. Hopefully, as the rumors suggest, Apple has caught onto this and will release the 4s AND 5. But we'll see.

Tony

I have to agree. It looks like there is a good chance we'll see a 4s and 5. I just don't now how big the 5 will be. I don't see Apple making more than 2 different screen sizes and I would imagine that Apple will try and make it easy to port apps from one size to another.

It's been documented that developers don't like to develop for Android becuase there are so many different screen sizes / resolutions to worry about. Apple doesn't want to upset the apple cart (pardon the pun).

If I'm placing a bet, I'd say the 5 will have a 4" or smaller screen.

 

[ritmomundo]

Look at the phone, its so beautiful

Image

Thats not bad at all

Its not going to look like that. That looks like a mockup from the iPhone 3G. I seriously doubt Apple will take a step backward in design.

 

[Tones2]

I have to agree. It looks like there is a good chance we'll see a 4s and 5. I just don't now how big the 5 will be. I don't see Apple making more than 2 different screen sizes and I would imagine that Apple will try and make it easy to port apps from one size to another.

It's been documented that developers don't like to develop for Android becuase there are so many different screen sizes / resolutions to worry about. Apple doesn't want to upset the apple cart (pardon the pun).

If I'm placing a bet, I'd say the 5 will have a 4" or smaller screen.

If there are two phone, it would be pointless for the 2nd phone to have less than a 4" screen. The screen size would be the major differentiator, and a 0.2" increase is not big enough to justify and entirely different phone. I don't know how many people willl buy an iPhone 5 over and iPhone 4s for just a 0.2" screen difference and a slightly tapered design. The difference would have to be a bit more dramatic.

Tony

 

[ToroidalZeus]

You need to remeber the iPhone is a 16:10 format screen compared to Android 16:9 format.

Over all I think 4.5 is a little on the large size. 4in is great and 4.3 can work pretty well.
Samsung seem to of gotten pretty good with its 4.3-4.5 in phones but those things are pretty much all screen and they are very thin and that thinness makes up for it and makes it a lot smaller.

iPhone is and has always been 3:2 not 16:10.

 

[Dandrews524]

the original poster has obviously never had a droid x in his pocket. that thing feels like a beast

 

[Tones2]

the original poster has obviously never had a droid x in his pocket. that thing feels like a beast

That depends on the size of the person, the size of your pockets, and the person's tolerance for having things in your pocket. Everyone is different. Thus, two iPhone sizes hopefully.

Tony

 

[ckurt25]

If there are two phone, it would be pointless for the 2nd phone to have less than a 4" screen. The screen size would be the major differentiator, and a 0.2" increase is not big enough to justify and entirely different phone. I don't know how many people willl buy an iPhone 5 over and iPhone 4s for just a 0.2" screen difference and a slightly tapered design. The difference would have to be a bit more dramatic.

Tony

Where are you getting .2" from? 3.5" (iP4) to a 4" screen is a .5"

What I'm saying is that the iP4s may have a 3.5" screen and whatever the the iP5 has (3.8", 4"?) is going to be the standard next year. You probably wont see 2 sizes when the iPhone 6 comes out. When the Steak came out Apple said they'd never make something close to that big so that leads me to believe you won't ever something over 4.3". If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I'll just be fairly surprised.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

I don't wear skinny jeans

 

[AdrianK]

You realize its like the same overall size in your pocket and hand right?

For 4.5"? Definitely not.

Assuming apple goes for edge-to-edge glass for the width:

• The display will be 3.86" tall
• That leaves 0.64" on the device vertically for other crap (home button below, earpiece on top)
• Half that for the size each side of the display and you're looking at 0.32" or 0.8cm.

I'm pretty sure the home button's diameter is larger than that, and I *highly* doubt Apple would push the display up to accommodate for it (ok in portrait, awful in landscape) or make the home button smaller (usability nightmare).

 

[Bobby Corwen]

For 4.5"? Definitely not.

Assuming apple goes for edge-to-edge glass for the width:

• The display will be 3.86" tall
• That leaves 0.64" on the device vertically for other crap (home button below, earpiece on top)
• Half that for the size each side of the display and you're looking at 0.32" or 0.8cm.

I'm pretty sure the home button's diameter is larger than that, and I *highly* doubt Apple would push the display up to accommodate for it (ok in portrait, awful in landscape) or make the home button smaller (usability nightmare).

Ive had a sidekick, Ive had a treo, I've had the ol audiovox 6700, and various other bulky phones and handsets.

All of them have been fine. I mean I used them. I survived with them. They fit in my hand... I used them. They were there.

I don't know what some of you can't comprehend about the word tradeoff? The erganomics difference in the human hand does not equal the visual/functional benefit of extra screen real estate. One is way more important than the other.

For the size to be an actual downside, it would have to be a much more annoying size jump than 3.5 to 4/4.5.

 

[cyks]

I don't know what some of you can't comprehend about the word tradeoff? The erganomics difference in the human hand does not equal the visual/functional benefit of extra screen real estate. One is way more important than the other.

Exactly. What can't you comprehend about different people having different values than you?

To many, the way it feels while holding or resting in a pocket means much more than a small screen size increase.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

In real life do you only choose to hold things that are 4.5 x 2.3?

Do you stray away from holding things of different sizes because that size is the optimal size of things to hold in the human hand?

ITS A BIGGER SCREEN!

It will also be thinner...

 

[AdrianK]

Ive had a sidekick, Ive had a treo, I've had the ol audiovox 6700, and various other bulky phones and handsets.

All of them have been fine. I mean I used them. I survived with them. They fit in my hand... I used them. They were there.

I don't know what some of you can't comprehend about the word tradeoff? The erganomics difference in the human hand does not equal the visual/functional benefit of extra screen real estate. One is way more important than the other.

For the size to be an actual downside, it would have to be a much more annoying size jump than 3.5 to 4/4.5.

Bah, I completely misunderstood the point you were trying to make in the OP.

Carry on, folks.

 

[greytmom]

Here's the thing. The phone is going to be the size that it is, regardless of how much people b!tch about it. The ones who think it is too big or too small won't buy it, the ones want to buy it, will buy it.

All the pontificating in the world isn't going to change that.

 

[tjb1]

In real life do you only choose to hold things that are 4.5 x 2.3?

Do you stray away from holding things of different sizes because that size is the optimal size of things to hold in the human hand?

ITS A BIGGER SCREEN!

It will also be thinner...

Its still a brick in the pocket. Thats like saying oh making it 8.5x11 is ok because its only .004" thick.

 

[Greatbape]

Let's put the truth out there. Most people are idiots. Even more are hypocrites. All the people arguing about 3.5, 4, 4.5 inches screens are just wasting their time. At the end of the day.... you'll buy whatever crap/holy grail hardware apple puts out there. You see cause apple "does" what "they" want. They don't jump on band wagons or follow trends. They have the sheep(all of you) already hooked. Chances are they will only release a 4s iphone, and it will still sale better than any other phone out there. The brand is there best feature.