As the title says really. I've seen people not happy with the perceived lack of current apple devices that can be used with one hand and was just curious as to what people mean when they're posting - for me, I can't really recall a iPhone since the OG se that I could easily navigate to the top bar in safari for example. Or am I getting completely the wrong end of the stick?!
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Other One handed use: what does it mean to you?
- Thread starter awintersdaybyth
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The last time I can truly use phones one-handed quite easily was the iPhone 4S. With that said, I don't want to go back to such a small display.
For me, as long as I can reach the full width of the display and I'm not prone to dropping the phone when sliding it around trying to reach different parts of the display, then that's good enough. Also, I started getting constant pinky pain so I need to be able to support the phone without having the bottom resting on my pinky.
I know there's the reachability accessibility setting but I hate it. I always trigger it accidentally when I don't want to and can't use it when I need it.
Granted, I have small hands (~6 1/4" from base of palm to tip of middle finger). My brother has no problem using Plus/Pro Max iPhones and I think his hands are like 3/4-1" longer than mine.
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Thank you for the reply, from reading posts of yours on other threads I think we're fairly similar in having small hands and also hating rachabiltiy
I'm a vocal member of the Mini Gang. For me, one-handibility means narrow, specifically so that I can reach the full width of the keyboard with my thumb. I'm right-handed, which means I need to be able to reach the Q key and the emoji button with my thumb. This is easy on an iPhone 13 Mini (5.4"), I could even do this on an iPhone X (5.8"), but I cannot do it on any 6.1" or 6.3" display.
Yes, I know about one-handed mode for the software keyboard. It's not very good. Moreover, it can only be initiated from the Emoji button - on the opposite side from my thumb. Make the thing that makes the keys reachable hard to reach - great job, iOS team!
Yes, I know about one-handed mode for the software keyboard. It's not very good. Moreover, it can only be initiated from the Emoji button - on the opposite side from my thumb. Make the thing that makes the keys reachable hard to reach - great job, iOS team!
Cheers, I get you - just given it a try out of curiosity and I can reach the W but not quite the Q key (both on a iPhone 15pro and an air that I'm thinking about replacing it with)
I could do one-hand typing on the 4.7" iPhones but anything bigger requires two hands for me. I reckon it would be doable for me on a 5.8" display but only if they reduce the bezels so it's closer in width to iPhone SE2/3.
I am not a big person. Around 5’7’ and I can reach all the keys you mentioned with 1 hand. Although it is easier to type with both hands.
I'm short - 5'2" with short stubby fingers. My aunt is shorter than me but she actually has bigger hands and longer fingers than I do. I've given up on typing with just one hand on newer iPhones.
You're kind of missing the point here mate...
Always nice to hear from an anatomy expert though. Its "born" btw
I’m currently on an iPhone SE 3. Never had anything bigger. I’m getting a new phone soon. Probably from the 17 series. I look forward to some things but I dread the size. I don’t have big hands but I can currently use the whole screen with one hand. Bottom half very comfortably. Top half less so but possible. Most things are in the bottom half or can be moved to the bottom half so width matters more than height
For me I’m on my phone A LOT while sitting around at work and care much more about screen size, battery life, and cameras over the ability to use my phone one-handed.
I’ve owned the 6S+, 8+, 12 PM, 13 PM, and now 17 PM so I’m used to the phablet size 😄
However it would be really nice if Apple ever copied Samsung and their one-handed mode:
I’ve owned the 6S+, 8+, 12 PM, 13 PM, and now 17 PM so I’m used to the phablet size 😄
However it would be really nice if Apple ever copied Samsung and their one-handed mode:
It doesn't for me. I find the narrower 17 Pro easier to use one-handed compared to the Air.
Yes, I do have both and am currently using the Air as my primary phone. So far, I think I'll be replacing the Air with the regular 17 though.
Last phone I remember using with one hand was the iPhone 5. I have fairly big hands. Since then it's always been a 2 hand operation unless I'm reading a book or an article (just swiping up).
Never used reachability or whatever that was where you could "pull down" the screen - always found it annoying so I turned it off cuz I'd activate it by accident.
Never used reachability or whatever that was where you could "pull down" the screen - always found it annoying so I turned it off cuz I'd activate it by accident.
I have iPads for that.
Even the iPad mini has a noticeably bigger screen and better aspect ratio for web browsing compared to phones (apart from foldables I reckon).
That Samsung one-handed mode does look far more usable than Reachability.
Been use to it, so it doesn’t really mean anything anymore! Even on the Mini, I was using it with 2 hands.
Agreed. Even my iPad mini has taken most of my screen time at home since I got it. Just so more pleasant to read on. And yeah, two hands for that device too. lolI have iPads for that.
Even the iPad mini has a noticeably bigger screen and better aspect ratio for web browsing compared to phones (apart from foldables I reckon).
Of all past iPhone, that’s a bit of a stretch!
The air is not more one hand friendly than the mini or the iPhone 5, 5s, 6 through 8 etc that’s just nonsense. From your recent posts we get you’re an air fan, but for the average hand sized person it’s no more a one handed phone than the max.
I was not gifted with big hands either. I guess I have just gotten used to using both of my hands.
I have the iPhone 16e, which is currently the smallest iPhone Apple sells, at least new that is, and while I can reasonably type well with one hand, I can't reach the the top of the screen, in safari web browsing for example, with just one hand.
But I will say that I usually gravitate towards the bigger iPhone's, with the one exception of having bought the 16e as a temporary stop gap after my 12 Pro Max was crushed.
I just like more screen real estate. I kinda feel like the larger screen comes in handy when I am watching a video or even web browsing is more enjoyable.
But I certainly get the complaints of the iPhone owners who would like to see Apple release a smaller iPhone.
I have the iPhone 16e, which is currently the smallest iPhone Apple sells, at least new that is, and while I can reasonably type well with one hand, I can't reach the the top of the screen, in safari web browsing for example, with just one hand.
But I will say that I usually gravitate towards the bigger iPhone's, with the one exception of having bought the 16e as a temporary stop gap after my 12 Pro Max was crushed.
I just like more screen real estate. I kinda feel like the larger screen comes in handy when I am watching a video or even web browsing is more enjoyable.
But I certainly get the complaints of the iPhone owners who would like to see Apple release a smaller iPhone.
Totally understandable for your situation. I’m glad there are different solutions available depending on one’s preferences 🙂I have iPads for that.
Even the iPad mini has a noticeably bigger screen and better aspect ratio for web browsing compared to phones (apart from foldables I reckon).
For me I’d much rather have a phablet in my pocket for better viewing experience when I’m out-and-about and wanting to be productive in between times of boredom that would otherwise go to waste.
It’s also easier at times to be on a smartphone data connection rather than trying to pay for an additional iPad data plan or iPhone battery draining hotspot if WiFi isn’t around.
Some jobs might not allow you to be on an iPad at work, while a smartphone is more easily concealable and able to be quickly put away when you see the boss coming 😉😄
Not an issue for me thankfully. And you know what they say about guys with big hands……..
We need large gloves.
We need large gloves.
I use a Pro Max iPhone. Originally, I didn't want to get one, because I thought I wouldn't be able to use it one handed. I chose it becuase of battery life. I do not have large hands. I use my phone one handed with almost no issue 90% of the time, this is because I use Reachability. And the only time this becomes an issue is when the UI of the App I'm using gets in the way—for example if I try and use it in IG, I trigger Reels.
Just something I noticed recently, I've always had a hard time reaching and swiping from the bottom to unlock the Air. Apparently, on the 15/17 Pro I rest my index finger under that huge camera wart which helps keep the phone stable in hand. The Air is both taller and the plateau sits higher so I can't use it as support making the Air more unbalanced when I swipe to unlock and use the phone in general.