Questionable Claims of a 4.6" Screen on Next iPhone, But 4" Screen Still Seems Very Possible

[Colpeas]

I guess Apple took Samsung's commercials way to serious...

If the next iPhone i gonna have a screen such big, I will have to keep my 4S for a loooong time...

 

[Zwhaler]

So I guess by 2017 the "next gen" of people's hands will have evolved to the point that they can comfortably hold a gigantic "phone" with a 5.6" screen.

Lol. By 2017 most of the things that we're talking about here will be obsolete anyway. I personally don't mind the screen the way it is, but for the late 2012 model iPhone you know people will be complaining if the screen doesn't get larger. I could see a slight increase in screen size as a good thing that doesn't wreck the integrity of the device by making it too big.

 

[StyxMaker]

Wirelessly posted

At one point, you are going to cross the phone category, and enter the small tablet category. To be honest, a 3.5" display is perfect. Anything larger looks too big imo.

IMO, the stamp-sized iPhone display is too small. Once you've used a phone with a Samsung display of the Samsung AMOLED familiy, you won't go back to the tiny iPhone.

If you like a bigger screen then buy one of the phones that have a bigger screen. That's what free choice is all about. I'm perfectly happy with the size of the iPhone's screen.

 

[Dr McKay]

Benjy91-approved jeans:

I genuinely laughed out aloud, good show sir.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Big screens are a matter of preference, but Apple isn't particularly inclined to catering for everyone's preferences.

The 3.5" screen is really a matter of principle to them - it's the size they've decided a smartphone should be, and the size they've designed their UI to fit into (just like the iPad being the size they've decided a tablet should be) and we'll probably never see a device they put out that changes that anytime soon without a really good reason.

Well, a good reason might be that LTE is power hungry so thus it requires a larger battery if you expect to maintain performance with the current iPhone. So, it's possible that a larger screen would be, rather then the goal, merely a byproduct of the battery need. Almost hiding it in a way.

That being said, I think a 4.6" claim is off the mark. But I could see a 4" one easily being released.

Wirelessly posted

Good for 'old people'? I'm 62 and I will speak for myself. The currant screen size is fine, no reason to change it.

Well it's nice to assume because it works for you that it works for everyone. I know for a lot of you, the screen size is fine as it is. But there are plenty of people out there, such as myself, that find the current iPhone screen just too small. I have some vision problems, so it's a major deal-breaking issue for me. Seems like some other people have some vision issues too...cause the view that "it's fine for me so must be for everyone else too" seems pretty myopic.

 

[StyxMaker]

Wirelessly posted

Big screens are a matter of preference, but Apple isn't particularly inclined to catering for everyone's preferences.

The 3.5" screen is really a matter of principle to them - it's the size they've decided a smartphone should be, and the size they've designed their UI to fit into (just like the iPad being the size they've decided a tablet should be) and we'll probably never see a device they put out that changes that anytime soon without a really good reason.

Well, a good reason might be that LTE is power hungry so thus it requires a larger battery if you expect to maintain performance with the current iPhone. So, it's possible that a larger screen would be, rather then the goal, merely a byproduct of the battery need. Almost hiding it in a way.

That being said, I think a 4.6" claim is off the mark. But I could see a 4" one easily being released.

Wirelessly posted

Good for 'old people'? I'm 62 and I will speak for myself. The currant screen size is fine, no reason to change it.

Well it's nice to assume because it works for you that it works for everyone. I know for a lot of you, the screen size is fine as it is. But there are plenty of people out there, such as myself, that find the current iPhone screen just too small. I have some vision problems, so it's a major deal-breaking issue for me. Seems like some other people have some vision issues too...cause the view that "it's fine for me so must be for everyone else too" seems pretty myopic.

Then you should definitely buy a phone with a larger screen. iPhones aren't going to be the right choice for everyone.

 

[BiggAW]

Well, a good reason might be that LTE is power hungry so thus it requires a larger battery if you expect to maintain performance with the current iPhone. So, it's possible that a larger screen would be, rather then the goal, merely a byproduct of the battery need. Almost hiding it in a way.

That being said, I think a 4.6" claim is off the mark. But I could see a 4" one easily being released.

Exactly. LTE needs more power. Personally, I'm on AT&T so LTE is more or less irrelevant to me, and the 4S will be supported for at least 4-5 years from now, so I'm all set. At some point, I will have to upgrade, but I'm not worried about it for now. The point that I have to upgrade is when AT&T cannibalizes HSPA+ spectrum for LTE, and that's years off.

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Well it's nice to assume because it works for you that it works for everyone. I know for a lot of you, the screen size is fine as it is. But there are plenty of people out there, such as myself, that find the current iPhone screen just too small. I have some vision problems, so it's a major deal-breaking issue for me. Seems like some other people have some vision issues too...cause the view that "it's fine for me so must be for everyone else too" seems pretty myopic.

3.5" is the right size for a smartphone. It just feels right in the hand, and landscape typing actually works. Unfortunately, the LTE battery issue comes around.

Also, if you want/need a bigger phone, buy a DROID RAZR MAXX, or maybe even a Samsung Galaxy Note if you really want a MASSIVE device.

 

[east85]

I hope these rumors of a bigger phone end up being true. I've been waiting for them to expand the screen for awhile now, and I'm in no hurry to run out and buy every new iPhone release, but this would be the update I'm looking forward to.

4" sounds rational, 4.6" sounds like a questionable claim, just as has been written. The form factor as it is now is fine for me, but I would like a bigger screen if Apple offers it. With all the cross platform perks coming up in ML, plus the ones that exist already there's no way I'm switching over for a little extra screen space. Not worth it.

 

[mcman77]

Give us a 4.6" screen please! not a 4"

.5" is not such a big deal!!

 

[Taz Mangus]

I love the whole upvoting and downvoting in these threads. It's pretty ridiculous to look at all the logical posts that are downvoted. If anything I can come to the conclusion that everything that makes sense is downvoted and all the fanboy garbage is upvoted into oblivion. It's pretty obvious why nobody can stand Apple fanboys. Sometimes I'm ashamed to admit that I also am a fan of Apple because I get lumped in with the idiots.

Proceed with the downvoting.

Now you are making an assumption on who is doing the up or down voting.

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Wirelessly posted
Then you should definitely buy a phone with a larger screen. iPhones aren't going to be the right choice for everyone.

^^^ This is what some people don't get.

 

[Taz Mangus]

All the fanboiz neg'ing my comments are actually trying to press the up arrow but there fat fingers cannot operate on the postage stamp sized 'screen' on the iPhone.

Galaxy Nexus > iPhone 4S

Not everyone uses a phone to view the web, so the down votes probably aren't by mistake. You really are taking this way too personal.

 

[Ajones330]

I'm just happy they are talking about a summer release...

 

[blackhand1001]

I'd love a bigger screen but not at the expense of a bigger phone. It needs to easily fit in my jean or pants pocket, which the current iPhone does. I can't wait to see what Apple dreams up.

I have a galaxy nexus. There is room to spare for it to fit in my pocket. In fact I can fit both my old droid incredible and my nexus at the same time. I am wearing regular jeans with normal sized pockets. I thought the nexus looked huge when i first saw them take it out of the box at the store when I was buying it but now I would never go back. The screen size is really an asset.

 

[MythicFrost]

For a smartphone, do we really need something more powerful than A5? What are we missing now? 4S is very smooth with all the features. I fear battery life on 5 may suck badly...

We don't need it, but it's just the continual progression of the device.

Battery life should actually be better. The quad-core Cortex A15 at 28nm should use less power with two cores powered up (and two sleeping) than a dual-core Cortex A9 at 45nm. And it wouldn't be often when all four cores would be powered up, only in some games or specific apps, and even in the latter case, using all four cores may use less power than a dual-core Cortex A9 because it can finish the task much quicker.

Plus the actual size of the battery can increase greatly with a 4.4-4.6 inch smartphone. So we really should see much better battery life.

 

[rquick]

The screen size is just fine as is. I've had one of each iPhone and iPad, but if they make the phone any bigger, I will stay with the 4s as long as I can.

 

[twoodcc]

i doubt it will be 4.6" screen. but i'm looking forward to a 4" screen though

 

[quickmac]

3.5 is fine. I have no idea what people's fascination with "giant" cell phone screens .

I thought as a society we were past the stage of carrying bricks around. I mean in early 90s the phones were big enough, now we've just flattened them out and made them wider instead of thicker. They look clunky, fragile, and awkward.

And another consideration is that a high resolution screen at a larger size = less battery life, more heat.

 

[albusseverus]

This has got to happen. Make it bigger, 16:9, and you get more room inside for more goodies.

Plus, it can be thinner.

I'm not holding out hope for lighter. That's just too much to ask.

This is not too big for a pocket, ask any Samsung owner. And with the functionality in iPhone these days, a larger screen SHOULD be inevitable.

Resolutionary, my [rse!

 

[MatthewStorm]

Maybe it's already been linked but Reuters agrees:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012...20120322?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews

 

[sueperdave]

Anybody who claims any size is 'perfect' are clueless.
There is no optimal size for everybody.
Myself, I would like larger...but I am a big guy with big pockets and hands. Comparatively the 3.5" screen to a 120lb women would be huge compared to a 4.6" to me.
Perfect indeed...sheesh.

 

[devilstrider]

This comparasion makes more sense.

4.65" Galacy Nexus by iPhone.

Image

How is this a better comparison? You know those buttons on the bottom of the Galaxy Nexus are part of the actual screen right?

 

[burtba]

IMO, increasing the screen size, keeping the phone size the same and changing the form factor is a 'no brainer' for iPhone 5.

 

[MythicFrost]

Does anyone else find it funny that almost every post in favour of an iPhone with a larger screen size is down voted...

We've got a serial down-voter amongst us...

 

[pkson]

I gave up reading all the opinions on such an unfounded rumor.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Wirelessly posted
Then you should definitely buy a phone with a larger screen. iPhones aren't going to be the right choice for everyone.

But they could be for people like me who need a larger device...that's the point.

3.5" is the right size for a smartphone. It just feels right in the hand, and landscape typing actually works. Unfortunately, the LTE battery issue comes around.

Also, if you want/need a bigger phone, buy a DROID RAZR MAXX, or maybe even a Samsung Galaxy Note if you really want a MASSIVE device.

For YOU and YOUR hand it might be right, but different people have different sized hands! Phones should definitely not be considered a one-size-fits-all affair because they truly do not.

I did check out the Droid Razr Maxx out last week. Seemed like a pretty sweet device in the short amount of time I had to play with it. However, why should anyone be forced onto the Android ecosystem just so they can get a larger screen? That notion strikes me as rather odd.

Apple makes different sized screens on Macbooks. I wonder if the same people who think only one size of phone is fine, think Apple will only make one size of TV when they come out with one?

3.5 is fine. I have no idea what people's fascination with "giant" cell phone screens .

I thought as a society we were past the stage of carrying bricks around. I mean in early 90s the phones were big enough, now we've just flattened them out and made them wider instead of thicker. They look clunky, fragile, and awkward.

And another consideration is that a high resolution screen at a larger size = less battery life, more heat.

Well, perhaps you like squinting at a small screen while watching a video or something but others prefer something better than that. It's like saying a 15 inch black and white TV is fine, so why do you need a 55" color one?