Mockups of a 4.94-Inch 'iPhone Plus' Show Why a Larger iPhone Might Make Sense

[MacRumors]

Amid rumors of a significantly larger "iPhone Math", Instapaper developer Marco Arment has spent time developing some speculation and a few mockups showing how Apple could achieve an iPhone with a nearly 5-inch without disrupting the existing app ecosystem.

The recently rumored, larger-screened "iPhone Math", or more likely "iPhone Plus", is plausible as an additional model (not a replacement) alongside the 4" iPhone. And there's a good chance that it would have a 4.94", 16:9 screen.

The theory is easy to understand: perform John Gruber's Mini-predicting math backwards. The iPad Mini uses iPhone 3GS-density screens at iPad resolution. What if an iPhone Plus used Retina iPad screens with iPhone 5 resolution, keeping the rest of the design sized like an iPhone 5?

In the scenario put forth by Arment, an 1136x640 screen matching the iPhone 5's resolution but blown up to the Retina iPad's 264 pixels-per-inch resolution would measure 4.94 inches diagonally.

Left to right: iPhone 5, Galaxy S III, "iPhone Plus", Galaxy Note II​

Arment notes that such an iPhone Plus maintaining the same relative proportions as the iPhone 5 but with the larger screen would measure somewhere between the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II, but that Apple would likely be able to trim down the chin and forehead of the device somewhat to bring the device closer to the Galaxy S III's overall size.

At an iPad-like pixel density of 264 ppi, Apple could have a hard time positioning the iPhone Plus as a Retina device given that a phone is assumed to be held closer to the eye than a tablet, but some consumers may still prefer the option of having a larger screen to offer more flexibility such as being able to zoom out further on text or view small text with the device held further from the eye.

Arment offers several other mockups showing what Apple's iOS device lineup would look like with a larger iPhone in it, as well as how users could take advantage of smaller font sizes on the larger screen to show more text.

Article Link: Mockups of a 4.94-Inch 'iPhone Plus' Show Why a Larger iPhone Might Make Sense

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Why did anyone actually waste their time in making these composites?

Added:
Originally Posted by burnside: "Why did you waste your time with that comment?"

Because it isn't a waste of time to stop and wonder why people would take time to do what has historically not worked in the past? Apple nearly died when they decided that innovation wasn't as important as providing choice. Remember the early 90's when there were so many Apple models that had only one or two differences and how each of these models clouded/confused the customer?

 

[ECUpirate44]

4" is here to stay for a while.

 

[impulse462]

4.2" seems like the sweet spot to me. Anything above 4.5" is just too large for a phone imo.

 

[MTL18]

Ugh, this is the end for Apple. Exploring new markets for potential increased revenue.

How dare they not innovate more!

Sorry for the sarcasm, just wanted to get that in before the drama queen's rain down!

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'll get one

 

[burnside]

Why did anyone actually waste their time in making these composites?

Why did you waste your time with that comment?

 

[Blackberryroid]

This is just to catch up with the competition. It better have something new and exciting, not just spec bumps.

 

[Anti-Lucifer]

For the love of jesus christ, why don't you just stick with 1280x768 or use an actual HD resolution, apple!?

You're just making it hard on yourself for any sort of proper design upgrades because your iPhones have really stupid resolution dimensions.

 

[appleguy123]

I would probably buy this phone. Depends on how much "quality" is lost because of the lower Resolution(PPI).

 

[antster94]

A larger screen with no real increase in real estate is essentially useless, unless you value sacrificing PPI for size.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Why did you waste your time with that comment?

Because it isn't a waste of time to stop and wonder why people would take time to do what has historically not worked in the past? Apple nearly died when they decided that innovation wasn't as important as providing choice. Remember the early 90's when there were so many Apple models that had only one or two differences and how each of these models clouded/confused the customer?

 

[RazorSharp69]

So many screen size options. I'll be in the store for ages now trying to decide what size I want

 

[Thares]

Actually, I start to like the idea of a bigger iphone. At first, I wasn't really a fan because I thought it would be too big. But in that comparison, it looks very good.

Maybe, maybe... But I'd rather wait for the redesigned - it has to be lighter - iPad.


byebye

 

[Nunyabinez]

I glad there are people out there to show Apple how they should run their business. I'll bet they had no clue what the iPhone would look like in different sizes and compared next to other phones /s

 

[dkersten]

Would only be interested if the resolution was higher than the iPhone 5. Otherwise there are no advantages to a larger screen

 

[camnchar]

Just put some phone buttons on the iPad Mini and call it good.

 

[Dr McKay]

4.2" seems like the sweet spot to me. Anything above 4.5" is just too large for a phone imo.

Yes I dont know how I cope walking about with this Plasma TV in my pocket. Look how dinky the iPhone 5 looks next to it.

 

[HishamAkhtar]

Why don't they make the new iPhone with the retina iPad's resolution on a 5 inch screen?

2048 x 1536 resolution with a 512 PPI would be sick.

 

[Keane16]

Some people would get this for the battery life. If the extra space was utilised for battery it would probably get close to 2 days (keeping all other internals on par with the iPhone 5).

Not for me. But some people would LOVE this.

 

[ghettochris]

well, it would be easy to translate iphone plus as iphone math. Maybe it's real and that's what happened.

 

[Small White Car]

I'm nearly positive I would never buy this, but I've run into enough people who want something like this that I now think Apple should do it.

 

[burnside]

Because it isn't a waste of time to stop and wonder why people would take time to do what has historically not worked in the past? Apple nearly died when they decided that innovation wasn't as important as providing choice. Remember the early 90's when there were so many Apple models that had only one or two differences and how each of these models clouded/confused the customer?

Android phones have a gazillion different models to choose from and they seem to be holding their own. If you want to talk confusing, how about we start with the naming convention of the different iPads.

 

[mkoesel]

There is positively no chance in hell Apple will shoot their Retina initiative in head by introducing a 264 PPI phone. None. Sub 5" 1080p phones are coming soon and from a number of manufacturers. I don't know what pixel density that works out to, but it is higher than the current iPhone by a good margin. You don't answer that with a new phone with giant pixels by comparison. That's backward progress, and will get the device panned.

If we get a larger screen option, PPI is going up or at the very least staying the same.

 

[shurcooL]

While the "iPhone Plus" would not be able to display more pixels than the iPhone 5, Android devices have demonstrated that larger screens are popular with consumers.

Larger screens are popular PRECISELY because you can fit more information and content there. Not because of larger pixels.

This would be so useless.

Also, 16:9 sucks for phones. It's too narrow in portrait and short in landscape. See how narrow it feels?