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New iPhone 5 Cases Suggest Longer and Wider Form Factor
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Well there are two problems here.
First, while Big phones get the most press and impress nerds the most, all of these companies selling big phones also sell small phones. Phones smaller than the iPhone. HTC sells several models with with 3.2" screens even.
Second. Apple has a different Aspect ratio. A 3.5" 3:2 Apple screen is already as (1.94") wide as 4.0" 16:9 Android screen (1.96").
A 4.3" Android 16:9 screen is 2.11" wide.
A 3.8" Apple 3:2 screen would be 2.11" wide.
So more small Android phones are being sold than you think and Apples screen is already bigger than you think.
A 3.7" to 3.8" will be plenty big and comparable to 4"-4.3" Android in hand, it just wont impress spec sheet junkies who need the biggest number.
Unless Apple starts selling small and large models they won't be competing for the biggest smart phone. 3.7" remains the most likely size.
I have put my iPhone 4 next to the latest HTC model, trust me, it doesn't look as big and physically isn't larger, it's smaller in every way.
I am not advocating a larger phone, I am just saying it the way I see it.
Good point about the width of the iPhone and its aspect ratio...
But what about the height?
You're right... the 3.5" iPhone is roughly the same width as this 4" Android phone. But the LG's height gives you much more screen real estate.
You don't have to be a spec-junkie to notice that. If these two phone were sitting next to each other... the LG looks "bigger"
If Apple increases their screen to 3.8" while keeping the same aspect ratio... it still wouldn't be as tall as the 4" LG phone in that picture... (even if the iPhone technically gives you more viewing area because of its aspect ratio, pixel density, etc)
And a 4.3" Android phone would have an even taller screen.
Now... I know most people shouldn't be too concerned with most specs on a spec sheet.
But screen size... or screen size appearance... is easy to see.
I don't know why I quoted you and made the iPad 2 comment? Too tired I think?
And for the screen to be 'retina' according to apple it has to be 'the highest resolution phone screen, ever'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeDTJZtFfI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHY5GKrQT_c
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Just assuming for a moment that this case is really for an iPhone 5 and that the measurements are accurate: 2.8" is half an inch wider than the iPhone 4. Let's be generous and say that the case adds 1/4", which means the new iPhone would be 1/4" wider than the current model. The current iPhone screen is 1.96" wide, so assuming the same bezel width the screen could be ~12.5% wider.
Keeping the same resolution would reduce the pixel density to 289ppi. While it's a possibility that Apple would keep the same resolution with a bigger screen, I think it's unlikely. It would make the UI appear larger, it would annoy some people with good eyes, and it would be bad for marketing. I think it's more likely that Apple would try to keep the pixel density the same, and let apps which cannot deal with an increased resolution/screen size run letterboxed.
Conveniently, 12.5% more than 640 pixels is 720. If this hypothetical iPhone 5 kept the 2:3 aspect ratio, this would mean the screen is 1080 pixels and 3.3" tall, for a 3.97" diagonal. However, if existing applications ran letterboxed, there would be no need to keep the same aspect ratio! What if the new phone was 16:9 and 1280x720? It would obviously be of advantage for video playback, but it also makes better use of the front area.
Such a screen would be 3.92" tall, with a 4.5" diagonal (at the same 326 ppi as the iPhone 4). It's not hard to imagine that, with a screen almost a full inch taller than the current one, they could get rid of the physical home button and use an on-screen button instead. This would also explain the "home button with gesture area" rumors. Of course this raises the question of whether apps could use the full screen. It could be that only the video player app can do it. Or that apps can move the home button to a convenient location. Alternatively, a multitouch gesture could bring back the home screen.
Finally, if this case is really genuine and Apple produces such a large phone, I wouldn't be surprised to see an iPhone 4S as a simple speed upgrade for people who like the current form factor. But it's a big if in any case.
Keeping the same resolution would reduce the pixel density to 289ppi. While it's a possibility that Apple would keep the same resolution with a bigger screen, I think it's unlikely. It would make the UI appear larger, it would annoy some people with good eyes, and it would be bad for marketing. I think it's more likely that Apple would try to keep the pixel density the same, and let apps which cannot deal with an increased resolution/screen size run letterboxed.
Conveniently, 12.5% more than 640 pixels is 720. If this hypothetical iPhone 5 kept the 2:3 aspect ratio, this would mean the screen is 1080 pixels and 3.3" tall, for a 3.97" diagonal. However, if existing applications ran letterboxed, there would be no need to keep the same aspect ratio! What if the new phone was 16:9 and 1280x720? It would obviously be of advantage for video playback, but it also makes better use of the front area.
Such a screen would be 3.92" tall, with a 4.5" diagonal (at the same 326 ppi as the iPhone 4). It's not hard to imagine that, with a screen almost a full inch taller than the current one, they could get rid of the physical home button and use an on-screen button instead. This would also explain the "home button with gesture area" rumors. Of course this raises the question of whether apps could use the full screen. It could be that only the video player app can do it. Or that apps can move the home button to a convenient location. Alternatively, a multitouch gesture could bring back the home screen.
Finally, if this case is really genuine and Apple produces such a large phone, I wouldn't be surprised to see an iPhone 4S as a simple speed upgrade for people who like the current form factor. But it's a big if in any case.
The ad didn't say that in order to be "Retina" it has to be the highest resolution. That would mean that when somebody else comes up with a 350 ppi screen, the iPhone would no longer have a "Retina" display. That is bull.
The ad also didn't say that 300 ppi wouldn't be sufficient for iPhone 5.
You are constantly basing your conclusions only on your own ideas instead of facts. There is no reason Apple couldn't call 300 ppi display a "Retina" display.
It is the width that governs holding comfort. Apple are not going to make a phone so wide that they start to lose customers. They only have one model it has to be more middle of the road.
Also for those who have their manhood wrapped up in how big their phone screen is there is always going to to be bigger screens. Buy a Dell streak if your current device is making you feel inadequate. It has a 5" screen.
Apple have had two iPhone models for sale simultaneously for quite a few years now. It will also in the future.
Agreed completely. It always frustrates me to see supposed geeks keep repeating the diagonals as if that's the direct indicator of the size or the usability without taking the critical aspect ratio into account.
But in terms of usability, usually it's the width that determines how easy the phone is to grip, how nice the onscreen keyboard is to type on, how easy it is to click on the buttons, etc, not the height. Also if the iPhone gets a screen that is as tall as the LG's screen, it'll be too wide for many people and uncomfortable to use, just think how difficult it would be to reach the back button with that large of a screen. Already there are people who complain it's hard to reach the notification shade in the latest Android.
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