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One handed use with the IPhone X

C

Ceviche Lover

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 15, 2012
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I picked up an Iphone X yesterday and am thinking of returning it due to me not being able to use it with one hand like my 6s. Anyone else in this situation? When the 6 Plus first came out, I immediately returned it due to not being able to use it one handed. I was hoping with the X I wouldn't have the same issue but I find it difficult reaching to the upper parts of the screen one handed. I especially hate the location of the Control Center. Seriously thinking about getting an 8 instead.

For those of you who went from a 4.7 to a larger size, did you get used to losing the one-handed use of the smaller phones? While I hate using the phone with 2 hands, I'm wondering if I will get 'used to it' over time and it won't be an issue.


Tthanks
 
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I can’t use the Plus models, they’re too big for me generally. Even using a friend’s Plus for a few minutes is awkward and heavy. It doesn’t work for my needs.

I went from the 7 to the X last Friday, and I’ve been using it one-handed ever since. I’m typing this reply one-handed. The slight additional thickness was an adjustment at first, but probably by Monday I was fine, and my 7 felt weird to my hand.

Two things that help: moving the keyboard over (use the world symbol), and adding reachability to be able to easily access control center if that’s too far a reach for you. I have shortish fingers, and mostly skip reachability, only because I didn’t use it often before. I hold the phone in my right hand, and my thumb can juuuuuust reach the top right corner without it. If I held the phone in my left hand, I’d definitely need it.

ETA: I forgot to add I’m a woman. My hands are average length for a woman of average height.
 
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Thanks dude, yeah I'm just trying to get a feel if this is something I will get used to over time, or if it's something that will annoy me to no end. I'm so used to doing everything with one hand on my 6s.
 
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Have you tried reachability? It happens, plenty of people with small hands have issues with bigger phones, that is why having the 8 is a great option. Go with what works best for you.
 
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Ceviche Lover said:
I picked up an Iphone X yesterday and am thinking of returning it due to me not being able to use it with one hand like my 6s. Anyone else in this situation? When the 6 Plus first came out, I immediately returned it due to not being able to use it one handed. I was hoping with the X I wouldn't have the same issue but I find it difficult reaching to the upper parts of the screen one handed. I especially hate the location of the Control Center. Seriously thinking about getting an 8 instead.

For those of you who went from a 4.7 to a larger size, did you get used to losing the one-handed use of the smaller phones? While I hate using the phone with 2 hands, I'm wondering if I will get 'used to it' over time and it won't be an issue.


Tthanks
Click to expand...
This is just bizarre. Who returns a phone due to size?
 
I have small lady hands and moved from a 5s to the X. I can use the X one handed for all but very lengthy emails/posts (where it is just easier at that point to use both hands). To type I just sort of rest the phone in my hand (and use pinky at bottom for stability). I do have a case on (Spigen Slim Armor).

I use reachability to help out at times with top gestures (ie control centre). Otherwise I just sort of shift my phone around on my hand/fingers.
 
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I don't consider my hands to be small, but even after using my iPhone 6S (and a 6 before that) for the last 2-3 years, I still miss the easier one-handed usage of the earlier models. I played with an X today and specifically tried to do things one-handed, and I didn't find it noticeably worse than my 6S. I wasn't sure how to invoke reachability (which I've never really liked or used much anyway).

After playing with the X for a couple of minutes, I went over and played with the SE. Love the compact size. Losing all of that screen real estate would hurt, but an X SE (same size as SE but with edge-to-edge plus notch) would be my ideal size. The other appeal of the X for me is the dual-cam.
 
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Tbh, I don't use my iPhone X one handed. I came from the SE to the X, and so there is an adjustment for me, yet with that said I find two handed usage to be ok.
 
I have pretty large hands so the iPhone X is “relatively” easy to use one handed. The only time I run into an issue is if I am using it with my left hand and I need to access the control center. Getting to that right upper corner is a little bit of a hassle.
 
GloriousAndrew said:
I have pretty large hands so the iPhone X is “relatively” easy to use one handed. The only time I run into an issue is if I am using it with my left hand and I need to access the control center. Getting to that right upper corner is a little bit of a hassle.
Click to expand...
Engage Reachability and you don't have to reach the upper right corner. With Reachability, the right corner swipe area moves down along with the rest of the screen.
 
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The X is on the very upper sizeof what I would want to use one handed. Honestly, the biggest problem is that it has right hand bias due to the control center being at the top right corner. When I hold it in my left hand, I can type, but if I need the control center, I have to juggle it over to my other hand, which really sucks. The reachabiliity gesture also sucks. I usually have to swipe three or four times at the bottom of the screen to activate it.

I am really hoping they implement a software fix to some of these gestures because they are decidedly inconvenient right now and make one handed use nearly impossible for me.
 
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Ntombi said:
I can’t use the Plus models, they’re too big for me generally. Even using a friend’s Plus for a few minutes is awkward and heavy. It doesn’t work for my needs.

I went from the 7 to the X last Friday, and I’ve been using it one-handed ever since. I’m typing this reply one-handed. The slight additional thickness was an adjustment at first, but probably by Monday I was fine, and my 7 felt weird to my hand.

Two things that help: moving the keyboard over (use the world symbol), and adding reachability to be able to easily access control center if that’s too far a reach for you. I have shortish fingers, and mostly skip reachability, only because I didn’t use it often before. I hold the phone in my right hand, and my thumb can juuuuuust reach the top right corner without it. If I held the phone in my left hand, I’d definitely need it.

ETA: I forgot to add I’m a woman. My hands are average length for a woman of average height.
Click to expand...
macher said:
Thanks!
Click to expand...

on the X it’s the emoji lower left that gives option to shift kybd right or left.

generally I can use X one handed coming from 6s plus. i do find my fingers dance along the back to shift the X down or up to accommodate thumb, possible thanks to the stickiness of my clear silicone Luvvitt case. occassionally balance on left hand, or chair arm/thigh if sitting.
 
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Much easier to use the X one handed than the Plus.

And I've used the Plus models since 2014 with the 6 Plus.
 
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