PSA to those switching from a Plus to the X - The screen is NOT bigger

[UK-MacAddict]

If you like walking around with phat tablets in your pocket yeah.

I've grown used to the size after having the 6/6S and 7 Plus. Ive managed to fit the phone into my skinny jeans pockets without issue, though there is a big bulge lol. But its not irritating.

I can use my 7 Plus one handed as well without issue, so its just like a normal sized phone to me.

 

[WilliamG]

Yeah, look, I mean, I realize this is _very_ unscientific, but here's my X over @Technarchy's X (scaled to where the devices are roughly the same size), and you can see my John Wick 2, running full width, not cropped comes completely to the very bottom of the notch, and matches the other end symmetrically, his is clearly not optimizing the available space:

View attachment 732844

It almost seems like that dingus logo is creating a "false bezel", THEN the movie is scaling from there.

That’s exactly what’s happening. However, the notch is frustrating in regular use. For 2:35.1 content the image is either quite small or expanded to fill the screen (no cropping) but the notch is cut out which is distracting.

There’s no halfway point here..

 

[D.T.]

For 2:35.1 content the image is either quite small or expanded to fill the screen (no cropping) but the notch is cut out which is distracting.

The point is: 2.35:1 content is NOT smaller on the X vs. the Plus, it appears at worst case to be the same, best case a little bigger. If you "expand" the content on either device, you're losing part of the video anyway, so it's almost not even worth the comparison. Not sure if/what you're missing[?]

 

[Technarchy]

Here’s Fight Club which is 2.35:1.

There’s no real size difference to note, but since the X is narrower the black bars are smaller. But there’s also the notch to consider.

(Apple TV app)

Though What happens when I want to watch Game of Thrones?

(HBO Now app)

[doublepost=1509976382][/doublepost]

And what happens when I watch Creed? You get OLED bars, smaller content and cropping...

(Hulu App)

Summary: you have to cherry pick your apps and content to say the X has an equal video experience as the iPhone 8+.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Aside from Fight Club (2.35:1), the X is smaller. I typically watch TV on my Plus so it won't do.

 

[D.T.]

Summary: you have to cherry pick your apps and content to say the X has an equal video experience as the iPhone 8+.

Several of us aren't saying video is better in all cases, only that with some content, it's equal size (maybe slightly bigger), and potentially a better video experience due to the OLED/HDR vs. not.

Simple, right?

(BTW, Hulu must be doing some kind of scaling with their streams, because Creed even W I D E R, at 2.39:1 according the tech details on IMDB. The wider ratio on the X should've been slightly more advantageous over a 2.35:1)

Aside from Fight Club (2.35:1), the X is smaller. I typically watch TV on my Plus so it won't do.

Yeah, if you're a big consumer of a wide range of video formats, and a phone is your primary viewing device / a device you really rely on for the largest video presentment, then a Plus is probably better.

Like I said in a different thread, for the occasional YT video, quick entertainment here and there, the difference means almost nothing to me - when I'm *really* engaged in GOT, Stranger Things, most movies we take the time to sit down and really watch, I'm more about a large TV sized display, with supporting audio, etc.

(So clearly, this is personal Use Case driven ... like most things in tech )

 

[eyeseeyou]

Really?

Native, no zooming or cropping.

View attachment 732841

And we’re not going to talk about the thick black bezel like bars on the left and right of the video on the X?

 

[bopajuice]

Reminder that, despite some questionable marketing by Apple to use the 5.8" horizontal measurement, the screen on the X is NOT bigger than the screen on the Plus. All it is is taller. The X screen is significantly more narrow, and the total AREA is also less on the X.

And please no comments about pixels and useable space. The laws of physics have not changed because Apple says so. If anything, the X losses space due to the unibrow and the rounded corners. Nothing wrong with it, to each their own, but don't expect to have a screen that is marketed as bigger, actually be bigger.

See attachment.

As you can see by the comments, when people spend over a grand on a phone, and a phone has become part of their identity and a measure of status they will take it personally.

To all those offended supporters, it was obvious the OP is trying to point out to those who think the X screen is bigger that it is not. I am sure all those who bought the phone were aware the screen was smaller, and were familiar with the industry method of measuring screens. Kind of like mileage MPG ratings when you buy a new car. We all know trickery is involved, but we buy into it anyways.

 

[fayraree]

Damn, I'm one of the idiots that bought into the "5.8 inch" marketing. Haven't unboxed yet but will be doing some comparisons myself, since I do most of my entertainment watching on the phone (6+ and 7+).

 

[oneMadRssn]

I find this image to be most informative, personally.

 

[durangojim]

I like the X and will be keeping it, but for most video which is in a 16x9 format it is considerably smaller than the Plus which I've been used to for the past 3 years. My kids who I watch videos with before I put them to bed, noticed the size difference right off the bat and said they liked my old phone better. I wish Appple had released an X Plus, which would have been perfect IMO. Hopefully next year.

 

[Technarchy]

I like the X and will be keeping it, but for most video which is in a 16x9 format it is considerably smaller than the Plus which I've been used to for the past 3 years. My kids who I watch videos with before I put them to bed, noticed the size difference right off the bat and said they liked my old phone better. I wish Appple had released an X Plus, which would have been perfect IMO. Hopefully next year.

I’m not sure why this is a big deal to admit for some, but everything you said was spot on.

And as it stands, you’re more likely to encounter 16:9 content on a daily basis.

 

[eyeseeyou]

The iPhone X isn’t as perfect as people make it sound out to be but some of us, even though we won’t openly admit it, just want the latest and greatest even if it is a flawed product.

 

[WilliamG]

The point is: 2.35:1 content is NOT smaller on the X vs. the Plus, it appears at worst case to be the same, best case a little bigger. If you "expand" the content on either device, you're losing part of the video anyway, so it's almost not even worth the comparison. Not sure if/what you're missing[?]

It is smaller the way Apple has designed their UI. It’s either much smaller when the notch isn’t cutting off the image, or larger with the notch cutting off that part of the image.

So it’s smaller in an “unmolested” state.

I’m only interested in an image that doesn’t have parts cut off due to either cropping/zooming, or the notch being in the way.

 

[bbowser12]

It is smaller the way Apple has designed their UI. It’s either much smaller when the notch isn’t cutting off the image, or larger with the notch cutting off that part of the image.

So it’s smaller in an “unmolested” state.

I’m only interested in an image that doesn’t have parts cut off due to either cropping/zooming, or the notch being in the way.

Exactly. And even if you give the win to the 2.35:1 argument camp, it still doesn't change the fact that an overwhelming majority of media we consume is in the 16:9 format.

 

[linkgx1]

I’m not sure why this is a big deal to admit for some, but everything you said was spot on.

And as it stands, you’re more likely to encounter 16:9 content on a daily basis.

Because quiet a few people are insecure here and think that just because they spent the most on an iPhone it must be the best in all cases. Everything has trade offs you gotta deal with.

When Apple finds a way to fix the flaws of the X, then they'll suddenly start ''discovering'' the flaws on the X.

 

[Mojopin]

I personally was a bit disappointed that going from my reg 6 to the X I didn't feel I had a much bigger display, longer, yes, but not wider or hugely bigger. I have bad eyesight and find that the lack of display zoom on the X makes me feel like I'm looking at a smaller screen than my 6 with display zoom, for someone with crap eyes it feels like a strange step back. Just my two cents as a half blind kid.

 

[caesarp]

I find this image to be most informative, personally.

Exactly. And even if you give the win to the 2.35:1 argument camp, it still doesn't change the fact that an overwhelming majority of media we consume is in the 16:9 format.

I don't do critical viewing on a phone - so I'm happy with the X as the latest and the greatest. If I'm watching movies, I'm watching on a 65 inch HD TV, with 5.1 surround sound, or maybe my iPad Air on an airplane. So the video ratios don't bother me. 99% of the time I'm using the iPhone just like displayed in the graphic above (portrait). So on that basis (and I'm coming from a 6 plus), it's fine even compared to the plus. The slight narrowness compared to the plus isn't an issue in portrait, and the benefits of face ID outweigh (by far) any negatives on width.

So it all depends on your use case. Movies on a phone, plus size or not, aren't my thing.

 

[Smtevo]

I personally was a bit disappointed that going from my reg 6 to the X I didn't feel I had a much bigger display, longer, yes, but not wider or hugely bigger. I have bad eyesight and find that the lack of display zoom on the X makes me feel like I'm looking at a smaller screen than my 6 with display zoom, for someone with crap eyes it feels like a strange step back. Just my two cents as a half blind kid.

Seriously? I think it’s a massive difference.

 

[bbowser12]

As you can see by the comments, when people spend over a grand on a phone, and a phone has become part of their identity and a measure of status they will take it personally.

To all those offended supporters, it was obvious the OP is trying to point out to those who think the X screen is bigger that it is not. I am sure all those who bought the phone were aware the screen was smaller, and were familiar with the industry method of measuring screens. Kind of like mileage MPG ratings when you buy a new car. We all know trickery is involved, but we buy into it anyways.

Thanks for the summary and the support. I do have one point though

Here’s Fight Club which is 2.35:1.

There’s no real size difference to note, but since the X is narrower the black bars are smaller. But there’s also the notch to consider.

(Apple TV app)
View attachment 732863

Though What happens when I want to watch Game of Thrones?

(HBO Now app)
View attachment 732870
[doublepost=1509976382][/doublepost]

And what happens when I watch Creed? You get OLED bars, smaller content and cropping...

(Hulu App)

View attachment 732875

Summary: you have to cherry pick your apps and content to say the X has an equal video experience as the iPhone 8+.

Smoking gun here folks. Good info, real world examples. The average user consumes 16:9 content a large majority of the time. You can have the win on 2:35:1 for your occasional movie not from a popular streaming service.

 

[Mojopin]

Seriously? I think it’s a massive difference.

I compared them side by side and with digital zoom the icons, etc are def bigger on the 6 and the larger texts fits nicer on my 6, again, I'm a minority with really crap eyes, but just my personal take.

 

[bbowser12]

The title of the tread was a factual statement, not sure why everyone is arguing. The 8 Plus has more square area and a friendlier aspect ratio for main stream media consumption... Fact, just wanted to let people know. It's obvious there are plenty who did not (and we're talking about macrumors forum members here).

What about older demographic, or those who use the phone as their primary media consumption device? They will be disappointed when they get out Netflix or Hulu. It is a deciding factor for some, especially with the price. If this post has helped one person avoid wasting money to feel like they are getting a worse consumption experience, then the hate is well worth it.

 

[eyeseeyou]

A little off topic but I’m confident that the non plus 8 model, at a similar price, would’ve sold a lot more if it had the same cameras as the Plus/X models do.

Based on this thread the video viewing experience isn’t that much better than than the non plus 8.

 

[Steve686]

I see the consumer market has to now start stating screen sizes in Square Inches to appease some people.

 

[bmac4]

I find it funny all these Plus users whining on the the screen size not being as big, and talking about how they will take the screen real estate all day to justify their purchase. If you like your phone, great, but don’t keep telling everyone else how it’s better and Apple lied to everyone. Seriously we are all tired of hearing and reading it.