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fruitninja

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 28, 2014
133
4
I'm reading on this forum and elsewhere that iOS 11 (10? 9? 8? really, when did it start?) isn't really optimized for 4" devices, such as the semi-dead iPod Touch, and the ain't-dead-yet iPhone SE. I would truly appreciate if you attached your a few screen shots to prove your point.

I would really love the 4" screen, but if Apple couldn't optimize the OS for this size, then really, what to do here?

Some of you may follow Neil Cybart (Above Avalon) more closely. Does he have some good, estimated sales figures of the SE? I heard it's popular, at least in Britain: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iphone-se-britains-most-popular-smartphone-1575277

Let's add it all up: it's a popular screen size (even in developed markets, as much as the UK counts for a developed country), and Apple still doesn't care to optimize the OS for the 4" screen size? How come? What the future might hold in this space?
 
I have been running iOS 11 PB3-6 on iPhone SE and have no complaints. In earlier betas the Maps driving directions at roundabouts were quite squashed at the top, with “1st exit”, etc. going over other elements, but this has been fixed now. Otherwise, it looks quite nice. Even the new Control Center bits fit fine, imo, see the screen shot attached.
 

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  • 67AC11EB-0C85-4638-9FE7-7C8D06D67E3A.png
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I have been running iOS 11 PB3-6 on iPhone SE and have no complaints. In earlier betas the Maps driving directions at roundabouts were quite squashed at the top, with “1st exit”, etc. going over other elements, but this has been fixed now. Otherwise, it looks quite nice. Even the new Control Center bits fit fine, imo, see the screen shot attached.

I find SE control centre excellent and simple to use

Music sound is much improved since iphone6
 
IOS 10 and 11 are bad on some parts when using a 4 inch screen, just look at those notification banners, they take up 1/3 of the screen when in portrait and almost half in landscape.
 
I'm reading on this forum and elsewhere that iOS 11 (10? 9? 8? really, when did it start?) isn't really optimized for 4" devices, such as the semi-dead iPod Touch, and the ain't-dead-yet iPhone SE. I would truly appreciate if you attached your a few screen shots to prove your point.

I would really love the 4" screen, but if Apple couldn't optimize the OS for this size, then really, what to do here?

Some of you may follow Neil Cybart (Above Avalon) more closely. Does he have some good, estimated sales figures of the SE? I heard it's popular, at least in Britain: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iphone-se-britains-most-popular-smartphone-1575277

Let's add it all up: it's a popular screen size (even in developed markets, as much as the UK counts for a developed country), and Apple still doesn't care to optimize the OS for the 4" screen size? How come? What the future might hold in this space?
iOS 7 was designed with the 4-inch iPhone 5 and 5s in mind and the general UI has been the same since then.
However, in iOS 10 there are a couple of areas with large fonts. In iOS 11 there are larger, bolder fonts and headers throughout the OS. It's definitely still usable but there's a bit less space on screen at times:

10 on the left, 11 on the right. (Note: These images appear to be from a Plus model iPhone.)
iOS-10-vs-iOS-11-Phone-Favorites.png
 
Let's add it all up: it's a popular screen size (even in developed markets, as much as the UK counts for a developed country), and Apple still doesn't care to optimize the OS for the 4" screen size? How come? What the future might hold in this space?
I don't think it's really a popular screen size as much as it is a popular price. a 4.7 SE could be even more popular, IMHO
 
iOS 7 was designed with the 4-inch iPhone 5 and 5s in mind and the general UI has been the same since then.
However, in iOS 10 there are a couple of areas with large fonts. In iOS 11 there are larger, bolder fonts and headers throughout the OS. It's definitely still usable but there's a bit less space on screen at times:

10 on the left, 11 on the right. (Note: These images appear to be from a Plus model iPhone.)
iOS-10-vs-iOS-11-Phone-Favorites.png


Wow. That's a lot of wasted space up top just to accommodate one hardware model.
 
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iOS 7 was designed with the 4-inch iPhone 5 and 5s in mind and the general UI has been the same since then.
However, in iOS 10 there are a couple of areas with large fonts. In iOS 11 there are larger, bolder fonts and headers throughout the OS. It's definitely still usable but there's a bit less space on screen at times:

10 on the left, 11 on the right. (Note: These images appear to be from a Plus model iPhone.)
iOS-10-vs-iOS-11-Phone-Favorites.png
Would reducing font sizes make that any better? Or does it not apply to headers?
 
Thanks for everyone's inputs, especially @one more's and @Paddle1's for the screenshots!

To sum it up, the reports of iOS 8-9-10-11 being not optimized for 4" were greatly exaggerated, if I understand you correctly.

I don't think it's really a popular screen size as much as it is a popular price. a 4.7 SE could be even more popular, IMHO
I see this one differently.

Current basic 4.7" iPhone: USD649
Last year's model: USD549
Budget option from 2 years before: USD449

SE with a 4" screen: USD399 - not that big of a difference.

The way I see it - and I didn't open this topic to debate about personal references -, if I were uncompromising and stay true to myself, I would get the 4", one-handed phone. If I were to cave in, bite the bullet and go in with the program and just buy what everyone else is buying, I'd opt for the 4.7" phone. So in my case, different thinking processes would lead to these two, different outcomes. But that's just me. FYI, for most people, screen size alone should be the deciding factor.
 
I don't think it's really a popular screen size as much as it is a popular price. a 4.7 SE could be even more popular, IMHO

Popular screen size, popular phone size for me. Price had f all to do with it.
 
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