Potential iPhone 5 screen size?

[Sedrick]

LOL. That looks like every other HTC phone thats come out the last 2 years At least Apple has only made a few iPhones that look the same, HTC has made what? 734 Android phones the last 2 years? Aside from the few wide ones, they all basically look the same

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And they all look better than the iPhone (imho). Your point?

 

[mbell1975]

And they all look better than the iPhone (imho). Your point?

He said the iPhone design looked old and showed off an HTC phone as a great, new design. Its the same crap they have been pumping out for years...but unlike the iPhone, HTC has like 60 phones that all look alike LOL

 

[shurcooL]

I hope they keep it at 3.5 960X640. It's a phone. When I needed a larger multi-touch display, I grab my iPad.

Also, I think people who have/want to get an iPad are happy with 3.5" iPhone, but those who prefer to have just a single iOS device want a slightly larger screen.

Exactly what I meant.

 

[applefanDrew]

Exactly what I meant.

But even if you had a single 5 inch iOS device...you get a compromise instead of best of both worlds. You don't get the 10 inch display which is great for lounging around and using to surf. You don't get the smaller size of the phone, which is what phones should be...small and portable. A 5 inch phone/tablet represents a compromise...which means you're not getting the advantages of either a smaller or larger device.

 

[drkryn]

I hope they keep it at 3.5 960X640. It's a phone. When I needed a larger multi-touch display, I grab my iPad.

It's not just a phone though. People are using these devises for watching movies, reading books, playing games, video chatting etc. Saying it's just a phone at this point is asinine.

Also, not everyone can afford to buy an iPhone at $200 and then drop another $500 on an iPad just so they can have a bigger screen.

This is almost like saying "Why do I need a 40 inch high definition television? It's just a TV. If I want a big screen I'll just go to the movies."

 

[mbell1975]

But even if you had a single 5 inch iOS device...you get a compromise instead of best of both worlds. You don't get the 10 inch display which is great for lounging around and using to surf. You don't get the smaller size of the phone, which is what phones should be...small and portable. A 5 inch phone/tablet represents a compromise...which means you're not getting the advantages of either a smaller or larger device.

Tell that to the over 5 million people who have bought the 5.3 inch Note and the many millions who have bought the 7 inch Kindle Fire. Its clear there are a growing number of people who want something between the size of a phone and a 10 inch tablet. Just because YOU don't see a use for it doesn't mean millions of others agree.

 

[applefanDrew]

Tell that to the over 5 million people who have bought the 5.3 inch Note and the many millions who have bought the 7 inch Kindle Fire. Its clear there are a growing number of people who want something between the size of a phone and a 10 inch tablet. Just because YOU don't see a use for it doesn't mean millions of others agree.

Ooooooo 5 million? Yea those 37 million who bought the 3.5 iPhone must not count. And that was just one quarter. No telling how this quarter has gone.

 

[shurcooL]

But even if you had a single 5 inch iOS device...you get a compromise instead of best of both worlds. You don't get the 10 inch display which is great for lounging around and using to surf. You don't get the smaller size of the phone, which is what phones should be...small and portable. A 5 inch phone/tablet represents a compromise...which means you're not getting the advantages of either a smaller or larger device.

A 5" iOS device would not completely replace a 10" iPad in my book. It would just make using the iPhone more pleasant. And assuming the bezel is cut down to keep nearly identical outside dimensions of the iPhone, nothing is compromised at all.

iPad is a tablet. It's something large, in between a phone and a laptop. It's something you use in the comfort of your home or wherever you took it with you. It's something that's good for showing stuff to friends and other people.

iPhone is a personal phone. It's for doing whatever you're doing, when all you have on you is your phone. It's small, portable, fits in a pocket. But whenever you use it to browse the internet or do any activity, a larger screen real estate would make that experience more pleasant.

Once again, I'm advocating making the screen of iPhone larger without significantly increasing the size of the outside dimensions. It's win win, the main thing holding it back are technological challenges and I'm counting on Apple to tackle those.

 

[applefanDrew]

It's not just a phone though. People are using these devises for watching movies, reading books, playing games, video chatting etc. Saying it's just a phone at this point is asinine.

Also, not everyone can afford to buy an iPhone at $200 and then drop another $500 on an iPad just so they can have a bigger screen.

This is almost like saying "Why do I need a 40 inch high definition television? It's just a TV. If I want a big screen I'll just go to the movies."

Believe me I use my iPhone like a computer. Pages, keynotes, etc. all kinds of productivity. 3.5 is just fine. And again, the record breaking 37 million in one quarter would seem to prove that people are ok with the size.

 

[lordofthereef]

Believe me I use my iPhone like a computer. Pages, keynotes, etc. all kinds of productivity. 3.5 is just fine. And again, the record breaking 37 million in one quarter would seem to prove that people are ok with the size.

There is nothing to compare it to. I would be willing to bet my life earnings that most of those people simply want iOS. There currently is no option of getting iOS on a bigger screen, so there really isn't anything to compare it to. I am sure a lot of the people here asking for a bigger screen yet staying on iOS do it for the OS. The bigger screen isn't enough to make everyone that wants it jump to Android because there are enough rewarding qualities of iOS to keep those people around.

 

[shurcooL]

Believe me I use my iPhone like a computer. Pages, keynotes, etc. all kinds of productivity. 3.5 is just fine. And again, the record breaking 37 million in one quarter would seem to prove that people are ok with the size.

3.5 is fine. But isn't 4.375 or 5 better?

People buy iPhones because of iOS, not because they figured "hmm, I'd like a 3.5-inch screen, so let's see what phones are available in that range." So judging the popularity of 3.5" screen phones based performance of iPhone sales is a moot point.

Just because people are buying lots of 4.5"x2.31"x0.37" iPhones with a 3.5" screen doesn't mean they wouldn't buy any 4.6"x2.5"x0.37" iPhones with a 5" screen.

 

[applefanDrew]

There is nothing to compare it to. I would be willing to bet my life earnings that most of those people simply want iOS. There currently is no option of getting iOS on a bigger screen, so there really isn't anything to compare it to. I am sure a lot of the people here asking for a bigger screen yet staying on iOS do it for the OS. The bigger screen isn't enough to make everyone that wants it jump to Android because there are enough rewarding qualities of iOS to keep those people around.

Exactly. So bigger screen size is not something that is hurting apple. Their overall package keeps people in. So the note and fire are not stealing away users simply because of the screen size....

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3.5 is fine. But isn't 4.375 or 5 better?

Just because people are buying lots of 4.5"x2.31"x0.37" iPhones with a 3.5" screen doesn't mean they wouldn't buy any 4.6"x2.5"x0.37" iPhones with a 5" screen.

People buy iPhones because of iOS, not because they figured "hmm, I'd like a 3.5-inch screen, so let's see what phones are available in that range." So judging the popularity of 3.5" screen phones based performance of iPhone sales is a moot point.

Again exactly my point. iPhone sells b/c it's an iPhone. Not having a bigger screen is not a problem for apple.

 

[mbell1975]

Ooooooo 5 million? Yea those 37 million who bought the 3.5 iPhone must not count. And that was just one quarter. No telling how this quarter has gone.

Apple is turning their attention to mobile devices, you are going to see more devices then the iPhone and iPad coming very soon. Look at the Macbook line. You have 13, 15 and 17 inch screens and then they went and made a MacBook Air line with 11, 13 and soon 15 inch screens. If you think Apple is only going to continue with a 3.5 inch iPhone and a 10 inch iPad, you are sadly mistaken.

 

[lordofthereef]

Exactly. So bigger screen size is not something that is hurting apple. Their overall package keeps people in. So the note and fire are not stealing away users simply because of the screen size....

I don't know that anyone is really making an argument that screen size is stealing users. I think they are just saying that it would be nice to at least have the option, is all. I do a lot on my phones. I do prefer a screen around 4", which I didn't know I did until I started using one. Do I do less on my iPhone as a result? Not at all, but that doesn't mean a little more real-estate wouldn't be convenient.

The bottom line is that the fact that Apple's current phones sell well is not evidence that a larger-screened iPhone wouldn't sell equally well, or perhaps even better. The question is whether or not Apple views that as a risk worth taking or not. You can bet that screen size is a topic of discussion amongst the engineering and design teams, much like widgets and many other features "first seen in Android" were and continue to be.

 

[applefanDrew]

I don't know that anyone is really making an argument that screen size is stealing users. I think they are just saying that it would be nice to at least have the option, is all. I do a lot on my phones. I do prefer a screen around 4", which I didn't know I did until I started using one. Do I do less on my iPhone as a result? Not at all, but that doesn't mean a little more real-estate wouldn't be convenient.

Fair enough.

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I don't know that anyone is really making an argument that screen size is stealing users. I think they are just saying that it would be nice to at least have the option, is all. I do a lot on my phones. I do prefer a screen around 4", which I didn't know I did until I started using one. Do I do less on my iPhone as a result? Not at all, but that doesn't mean a little more real-estate wouldn't be convenient.

The bottom line is that the fact that Apple's current phones sell well is not evidence that a larger-screened iPhone wouldn't sell equally well, or perhaps even better. The question is whether or not Apple views that as a risk worth taking or not. You can bet that screen size is a topic of discussion amongst the engineering and design teams, much like widgets and many other features "first seen in Android" were and continue to be.

I don't doubt they talk about all kinds of different screen sizes and designs and even have prototypes. I just don't think the public sees a bigger screen for another 2-3 years though.

 

[lordofthereef]

I just don't think the public sees a bigger screen for another 2-3 years though.

This is based one what? A gut feeling? (genuinely interested)

 

[mbell1975]

I don't doubt they talk about all kinds of different screen sizes and designs and even have prototypes. I just don't think the public sees a bigger screen for another 2-3 years though.

True, Steve Jobs was adamant about keeping the iPhone 3.5 inches and he was heavily involved in the makings of the new one coming up. However, Apple will be releasing a new device with a larger screen (5-7 inches) this summer or very soon, I am willing to bet on it.

 

[applefanDrew]

This is based one what? A gut feeling? (genuinely interested)

The fact that Jobs said the Retina Display of the iPhone 4 sets the standards for the next 5 years. It's well known he didn't want to change the size. Retina has been around for 2 years....3 more to go. And also, apple has a history (generally) of making things smaller, thinner, etc....not bigger...which a bigger screen would neccesitate. They won't go bezeless...and they also keep their bezels semetrical. (not more chin than forehead nor more forehead than chin..if you catch my metaphor).

Of course there are exceptions...iPad being the most recent one.

 

[lordofthereef]

The fact that Jobs said the Retina Display of the iPhone 4 sets the standards for the next 5 years. It's well known he didn't want to change the size. Retina has been around for 2 years....3 more to go.

Retina is a term that defines a certain dpi at a certain viewing distance, not physical screen size. Apple can call any screen a retina screen if it meets their own "made up" standards.

Jobs also said we didn't need MMS on the iPhone because we had e-mail (among other things, I am sure). The guy was brilliant, but that doesn't mean he saw every aspect of what the future can and should bring.

 

[macMD]

You're confusing screen size vs. phone size.

I'm suggesting the screen can be made much larger while keeping the physical phone size nearly the same, since the current iPhones have *really* thick bezels.

Would you rather look at useless bezel or screen real estate?

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I want Apple to make better use of the physical space for the screen and not a bezel.

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Wirelessly posted

Says the guy who claims to have owned 7 Android phones. You crack me up dude

I have owned 10 different phones in the last 14 months, Android & iOS and your point it what.

 

[lordofthereef]

I want Apple to make better use of the physical space for the screen and not a bezel.

+1

But I get other's points of view here. Apple seem to be pretty proud of how their phone looks from the front. It is the one thing that has seen absolutely no change since the first iPhone. They even go so far as suing others over this "look" (and other things of course! LOL!!!)

 

[macMD]

A 5" iPhone, no thanks, 4" display would be ideal for me. I also get tired of the same two excuses/BS comments that if I want a larger iPhone I use my iPad, not everyone can afford an iPad or wants one. So that is really an opinion and not a practical answer. Also saying get an Android device if you want a bigger screen.

 

[shurcooL]

I want Apple to make better use of the physical space for the screen and not a bezel.

Me too.

That's why I made this quick mockup of what the physical outer dimensions of an iPhone would have to be, in order to fit a 5" screen.

If they made the iPhone into a completely square brick (even more so than now), and kept the bezel to 1 mm or so, existing iPhone height is enough and the width would have to increase from 2.31 inch to 2.5 inch. Not too bad IMO.

Of course, they'd also have to figure out where to put the front facing elements (ear piece, FaceTime camera, ambient light & proximity sensors, home button), perhaps on the sides of the phone or behind the screen somehow. (Or they can increase the height slightly over 4.5 inches to make room, or use a shorter 4.375" screen.)

For reference, here are existing iPhone 4S outer dimensions:

 

[cynics]

Although it would screw everything up a change in aspect ratio and less bezel could yield a larger screen with minimal increase in overall physical size.

 

[shurcooL]

Although it would screw everything up a change in aspect ratio and less bezel could yield a larger screen with minimal increase in overall physical size.

It wouldn't screw anything up, as current iPhone apps would run in 3.5" legacy mode in the middle no worse than they do on iPhone 4S, until they're updated for a slightly larger screen/resolution.

Did iPad screw everything up by forcing developers to make iPad apps?