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

Simple calculation

dagamer34 said:
The problem isn't the screen size, the problem is resolution. Making a change to one of them means making a change to the other in order to maintain the "retina display "claim.
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I agree. My prediction is Apple might increase it a bit while making the bezel smaller.

In order to keep the "Retina" claim with a 300DPI linear resolution, the largest possible diagonal is 3.84", which according to the DPI calculator site gives us a 3.2" × 2.13" screen.

You might say that's too small as it's still under 4", but one thing to keep in mind: iPhone's display is larger than its diagonal indicates in comparison to Android phones because of the more square aspect ratio. An iPhone at 3.84" diagonal will be plenty big.

To give a quick comparison, an Android phone with a 4.3" qHD display like many HTC and Motorola phones will have a dimension of 3.75" × 2.11". The hypothetical 3.84" iPhone display will actually be (extremely slightly) wider than the 4.3" Android phone. To me the width of the phone is what really matters for usability within reasons and I think I'll be very happy with an iPhone with a ~3.8" display, as long as the bezel is kept in check. I don't really want to see it get much bigger physically.

p.s. I just read the original Korean article in question and it sounds very dubious. Not only the reporter gets fact wrong - "the iPhone display is 1:2" - he claims "Apple's new management team is following Samsung's lead by going with a bigger screen" (not HTC?) and adds that this is a great news for Korean display suppliers as the prices for LCD panels will go up which should help the bottom line of the display makers. Pumping up the display stocks?
 
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I'm pretty sure the screen won't change size because of ergonomics, not resolution. The screen will hardly lose its retina quality if they used a slightly bigger screen with the same pixel ratio(?).

Ergonomically, if I hold my phone with one hand, my thumb can touch virtually the whole screen with a little effort. I do have big hands but that's aside the point. If the screen gets bigger, suddenly I'm not able to touch as much of the screen. I mean, just look at that picture, that's a whole extra centimeter added vertically, just by moving to a screen that's 0.5" bigger.

I'm sure I saw a graphic that explained this, but that was a while ago and I can't find it.

kylera said:
I forget which blog I saw this off of, but apparently with the current screen size, the majority of users can reach the entire screen including opposite borders with the thumb of the hand they're using to hold the iPhone, therefore making one-handed operation a cinch.
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Oh, hello there ninja post
 
As the iPhone currently is, with the 3.5" screen, your thumb can reach the entire screen while holding the phone one handed. Unless you have really small hands or really short digits. You would lose that if you went to too large a screen.

If you had a 4" screen that extended to the edge of the phone on either side, you'd retain a size that makes one handed use practical. Some of the Android phones are so large they look like they'd be a pain to carry around because of their size.

The compact size of the iPhone makes it a very convenient portable device. You could probably enlarge the screen without enlarging the phone too much, something slightly wider and thinner overall.
 
Wirelessly posted

Noooo I don't like 4.6". Too big. Hope they go with 4.3". Regardless, this "could" be a sign that there will be some type of updated UI in iOS 6?
 
Personally I think a 4.6" screen would be ridiculous. On another note what are they talking about in regards to a summer release? iPhone 4S on the market for less than a year and Apple is going to hit us with the iPhone 5? Yeah right. They're lined up for the Holidays now. Would be a bad position to leave.
 
Wirelessly posted

People who say they want a bigger screen on the iPhone don't own an iPad or tablet, and people that want the screen to stay the same own an iPad or tablet.
 
beangibbs said:
Easy fix. Don't like it, don't buy it.
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Indeed. Problem is if you want to stay in the Apple eco system you have little choice but to buy a product you don't really like. Eventually people will start to get fed up with this hobsons choice. If they are going to sell new and old models together there's no reason we can't have some choice on screen size.

This is why the Samsung Galaxy SII is selling so well. If Apple keep the 3.5" screen I wouldn't be surprised if the SIII overtakes it in sales.
 
This Will Never Happen.

Someone probably said this on another thread, but I cannot keep quiet any longer.

Apple will not make an iPhone with a larger screen unless they can keep the resolution the same. Right now developers who write universal apps have to account for four different resolutions (iPhone 3G(S), iPhone 4(S) retina, iPad, iPad retina). That has got to be tedious for developers. I happen to think that this fragmentation is bothering Apple and was an unplanned consequence of the availability and lower price of higher-resolution screens. Hence, this seems to me to be the primary reason that we have already seen the original iPhone and iPhone 3G being weaned off of iOS updates. I would not be surprised if with iOS 6 the iPhone 4 is the oldest iPhone supported.

Fragmentation is bad. (Ex. Android and Microsoft)

Mat
 
budakpisang said:
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.
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Its this what makes me love Apple. I love a company that gives me the finger to what I think I want and then turns around and gives me exactly what I need.

Keep it up Apple your doing just fine in my book. Retina blows bigger screen. UI is another story they do need a bit of work just no Android or Windows 8 bloatware. :cool:
 
Wirelessly posted

I 100% need a bigger screen but absolutely not at the expense of the current dimensions. If the screen can be 4.6 inches and keep the same dimensions bring it on. I cannot stand looking at those gigantic android slabs. I am perfectly fine with what ever screen size will keep the current dimensions. The iPhone is the perfect size.
 
alexlovesmacs said:
Wirelessly posted

People who say they want a bigger screen on the iPhone don't own an iPad or tablet, and people that want the screen to stay the same own an iPad or tablet.
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That's not completely true. I have an iPad, and I would love a 4" or even 4.3" screen on my phone. I don't always have my iPad with me...
 
I'm calling it now. Next iPhone will keep the same form factor, 3.5" screen that is tried and true, but it will gain the A5X chip and 4G LTE.

But we will see claims for all different screen sizes for the next 7 months. I'm guessing at least 192 unique insider tips claiming so.
 
I liked the look of the aluminium iPhone design that was rumoured to be the new model before the 4S came out. I hope we do see that as suggested in this rumour.

The suggestion in this thread of 3.8" allowing the current resolution and still remain Retina sounds plausible.

I would be happy with that combination.
 
Wirelessly posted

Personally, just can't imagine a bigger iPhone. The size is perfect, the resolution is awesome, the battery life is great. I don't need a bigger screen. It's a phone. Make it a little thinner if you want (but the thinness is perfect too), put an A5X in it (but maybe not run quite as much juice through it to keep the heat down) or maybe A6 (quad core CPU & dual core gfx?), LTE or whatever and that ought to be good for this round. Oh right, probably a 10MP camera too. Just leave the screen be.

Please?
 
When I had a Samsung Infuse 4G... the 4.5" screen was too big. I really like the iPhone screen the way it is... and I can only judge a different size if I handle it first.
 
As long as they offer a 3.5" one, it's OK with me.

Whenever I've used those huge Android phones I can't stop thinking how uncomfortable they must be in the pockets.
 
Lalror said:
Honestly, I am waiting for a bigger screen before a buy another iPhone or iPod touch. The screens are just too small, its a problem, fix it.
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A problem for you, maybe. Deal with it. If I want a bigger screen, I put my iPhone in my pocket and use my iPad.
There... Fixed.
 
God I really hope not. 3.5 is great. I don't want a phone that won't fit into my pockets. 3.7 max. Maybe if everyone wasn't obese we wouldn't have a problem with the smaller screen and fat fingers.
 
Zwhaler said:
4" would be nice. I don't need the device to be too big, but I think going larger than 3.5" would keep the device more competitive.
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Definitely, Apple needs to be more competitive. :rolleyes: Since the only three phones they make are #1, #2, and #3 in overall sales. Definitely screwing something up.

Wow.


Shaun said:
This is why the Samsung Galaxy SII is selling so well. If Apple keep the 3.5" screen I wouldn't be surprised if the SIII overtakes it in sales.
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By "selling so well", you mean selling less than a 2.5 year old iPhone 3GS. Gotcha. Well, at least we're on the same page now.

Again... wow.

The geeks on this board continue to amaze me with their complete detachment from reality.
 
No way, 4.6" screen eliminates one handed operation for more than half the population.

Android can get away with it because their back button is on the bottom. Pretty much every iOS app has its "back" button in the top left corner, which means for right handed people you have to reach across the entire screen.

I could see 4" happening though.

Also another argument against 4.6": button sizes. If they kept the same resolution buttons and toolbars would be way too big and look goofy. If they increase the resolution, apps designed for the "old" resolution will either be imperfectly scaled (And look crappy plus have the huge button issue) or displayed inset (and look crappy).

At 4" I think they could stick with 960x640 and still be retina.
 
re original article

the iphone looks like a girly phone compared to the galaxy big boy
 
Wirelessly posted

Has anyone ever used the nexus s? A four inch phone is absolutely perfect. The iPhone is media device know and it needs a bigger screen than 3.5"
 
The screen is big enough. I'd kinda like it if they made it bigger without making the phone bigger (less bezel), but I don't care much.
 
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