iPhone X The Truth About the iPhone X's Screen Size

[JPack]

Is no content going to be visible in the margins? Is content confined to just the safe area?

There's no simple answer. Many apps respect the bottom safe area. For instance, the Photos and Messages app doesn't display any content in the bottom gesture area. The top status area (ears) are taller than a conventional iPhone. This means the advantage of the taller display of the X is largely negated. So users are left with a taller, but not usable display. In apps like Safari, content is displayed in gesture area while scrolling.
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How is it a legitimate complaint? This phone was never marketed or meant to replace the Plus so the complaint that it has less screen area than the plus really isn't a legitimate complaint.

If it was meant to be replacing the Plus but had less usable area then that certainly would be a legitimate complaint.

The iPhone X is marketed as "the future of the smartphone" meant to replace existing iPhones. Apple's product positioning couldn't be more clear.

 

[Knowimagination]

There's no simple answer. Many apps respect the bottom safe area. For instance, the Photos and Messages app doesn't display any content in the bottom gesture area. The top status area (ears) are taller than a conventional iPhone. This means the advantage of the taller display of the X is largely negated. So users are left with a taller, but not usable display. In apps like Safari, content is displayed in gesture area while scrolling.

How is the taller display negated by the ears?

 

[ericgtr12]

Sounds like the bottom line is that if you're "upgrading" from your plus model you're still actually downsizing. This was my impression all along and why I decided just to go from the 6 Plus to the 8 Plus, prior to that I was going to wait it out.

BTW kudos to this woman's explanation, just excellent.

 

[JPack]

How is the taller display negated by the ears?

The taller display has a lot of area dedicated to white space.

The height of the X status bar is double compared to a conventional iPhone. The bottom area is dedicated for gestures in many apps.

The X display is taller but much of that advantage is negated by iOS design considerations.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Not everyone hates the notch you know.

And not everyone who says that is ‘pretending’ not to hate the notch.

What do you like about the notch?

 

[roeiz]

but I was one of the Plus owners who hated how big the device was but loved the larger screen. The fact that I can now get a similar experience in a much smaller form factor is one of the main reasons I am getting the X.

but all the discussion around the size differences proves the you will actually go back down in screen size almost as the non plus screen. see the comparison above.. it's only stretched up and down, and if you take away the ears area and the home screen swap line at the bottom you are left almost at the non plus size.
so you WON'T have a larger screen. just sayin'.

 

[Michael Scrip]

And the argument that a 1080p video is larger on a Plus than an iPhone X. Well duh! The iPhone X is barely larger than a non Plus iPhone. You’re also “trying” to compare two completely different screen aspect ratios directly to each other. A 16:9 video needs to size down to fit properly on an X due to the longer ratio of the screen. A Plus does not, because it’s screen is natively 16:9.

People are upset to pay $1,000 for this new flagship phone... and their videos will be smaller than on the Plus phone they bought last year for $769

That seems like a fair argument.

I know, I know... it's a physically smaller phone. But I can see their point. (and I'm one of them)

 

[Radon87000]

but all the discussion around the size differences proves the you will actually go back down in screen size almost as the non plus screen. see the comparison above.. it's only stretched up and down, and if you take away the ears area and the home screen swap line at the bottom you are left almost at the non plus size.
so you WON'T have a larger screen. just sayin'.

Its actually slightly larger than a 5 inch Pixel 2 and those rounded corners at the bottom are even more limiting. It seems like a 5.2 device but this cannot be compared to the 5.5 Plus because of lesser width

 

[Aydy]

People are upset to pay $1,000 for this new flagship phone... and their videos will be smaller than on the Plus phone they bought last year for $769

That seems like a fair argument.

I know, I know... it's a physically smaller phone. But I can see their point. (and I'm one of them)

It would be bliss if everyone could just accept the reality that it is the slightly smaller screened device of the two but loved it anyway and didnt give a monkeys about a slightly smaller display area because they have the best of both worlds. A great display, close to plus size, in a nice useable form factor

 

[roeiz]

People are upset to pay $1,000 for this new flagship phone... and their videos will be smaller than on the Plus phone they bought last year for $769

That seems like a fair argument.

I know, I know... it's a physically smaller phone. But I can see their point. (and I'm one of them)

you're payin' for the technology, man! the technology! state of the art innovative stuff

 

[Michael Scrip]

It would be bliss if everyone could just accept the reality that it is the slightly smaller screened device of the two but loved it anyway and didnt give a monkeys about a slightly smaller display area because they have the best of both worlds. A great display, close to plus size, in a nice useable form factor

Yep... that's what I'm gonna have to do. Just accept it.

My biggest concern is the X's smaller keyboard in portrait than on the Plus phones. I have really enjoyed all the space for my fat thumbs.

 

[Knowimagination]

People are upset to pay $1,000 for this new flagship phone... and their videos will be smaller than on the Plus phone they bought last year for $769

That seems like a fair argument.

I know, I know... it's a physically smaller phone. But I can see their point. (and I'm one of them)

If all I cared about was playing videos on my phone it might be a fair argument.

 

[Jrsmooth]

This is what I think will happen -

There will be a lot of Plus owners that will order the X. Once they get it they will be disappointed in the screen size, which will trigger massive returns of the X back to Apple.

Who knows, I might be in the minority, but the screen size is the only deal breaker for me. I'll stick with my 7 plus and hope that next year they come out with an X+

 

[Michael Scrip]

If all I cared about was playing videos on my phone it might be a fair argument.

You don't care about mobile video... but it matters to some people.

Especially in a $1,000 phone.

 

[Jimpilot]

This is what I think will happen -

There will be a lot of Plus owners that will order the X. Once they get it they will be disappointed in the screen size, which will trigger massive returns of the X back to Apple.

Who knows, I might be in the minority, but the screen size is the only deal breaker for me. I'll stick with my 7 plus and hope that next year they come out with an X+

I am coming from the 7+. I am a bit concerned about the narrower keyboard but I’m pretty confident that I will be able to adapt.
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You don't care about mobile video... but it matters to some people.

Especially in a $1,000 phone.

Good don’t buy it.

 

[roeiz]

This is what I think will happen -

There will be a lot of Plus owners that will order the X. Once they get it they will be disappointed in the screen size, which will trigger massive returns of the X back to Apple.

Who knows, I might be in the minority, but the screen size is the only deal breaker for me. I'll stick with my 7 plus and hope that next year they come out with an X+

don't think so. they will probably "slug it out" until the bigger model arrives.
they will feel the new screen etc. compensates for the size. if i'll get it that's what i'll do anyway.
especially withan upgrade program.
UNLESS something will go wrong with the X usage or something. but it's unlikely.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Good don’t buy it.

I'm still gonna buy it.

I'll just take your advice and "adapt"

 

[Knowimagination]

You don't care about mobile video... but it matters to some people.

Especially in a $1,000 phone.

I didn't say I don't care about it, I said if it was all I care about. The difference to me is well worth the slightly smaller video on the X and I have no issue using zoom and having the notch cut out for me it won't be an issue at all.

 

[Jrsmooth]

don't think so. they will probably "slug it out" until the bigger model arrives.
they will feel the new screen etc. compensates for the size. if i'll get it that's what i'll do anyway.
especially withan upgrade program.
UNLESS something will go wrong with the X usage or something. but it's unlikely.

Apple is really going to learn a hard lesson if what I think is going to happen.

Sure there are going to be people like you that suck it up and "slug it out", but a lot of people don't shell out over a grand to compromise. We will see.

 

[roeiz]

Apple is really going to learn a hard lesson if what I think is going to happen.

Sure there are going to be people like you that suck it up and "slug it out", but a lot of people don't shell out over a grand to compromise. We will see.

they wouldn't DARE

 

[MEJHarrison]

People are upset to pay $1,000 for this new flagship phone... and their videos will be smaller than on the Plus phone they bought last year for $769

I watch videos on my iPad, not my iPhone. I very much suspect I use my phone quite a bit differently than you do. So I fail to see the point of your post. No one on the planet can tell me if I'll love or hate the new phone. So I'll just go get one and decide for myself.

 

[jamesrick80]

Apple is really going to learn a hard lesson if what I think is going to happen.

Sure there are going to be people like you that suck it up and "slug it out", but a lot of people don't shell out over a grand to compromise. We will see.

People will buy it but there will be a greater potential for returns once they really see how small that screen gets when watching video or having the notch in the way. Many people have got use to watching video on a larger screen area.

 

[MEJHarrison]

Sure there are going to be people like you that suck it up and "slug it out", but a lot of people don't shell out over a grand to compromise. We will see.

Your argument is invalid because it's based on false information. There is no compromise. Maybe for you. But you can't extrapolate your personal feelings to the whole world. I know what I'm gaining and what I'm giving up. I've played with it in the simulator. I know what it's going to cost me. I'm an educated consumer and as a developer, I'd like to think I'm fairly knowledgeable when it comes to technology. I totally get aspect ratios, pixels, points, diagonal measurements, safe areas, etc. I've been on here daily filling in any gaps in my knowledge. Baring my eyes being opened when I actually get to play with one, I'm happy with my choices. So your prediction of "a lot of people..." doesn't really hold any water. Unless you accidentally left out "a lot of people, who agree with me, ...".

 

[_Refurbished_]

This year I used an LG G4, an iPhone 7, an iPhone 7 + and now the iPhone 8 (T-Mobile upgrade anytime).

All phones handled texting, browsing, app usage similarly. The main advantage the 7 + had over the competition was its larger screen for photos and videos. The X, though having a larger screen than a standard 7, uses about the same screen real estate for photos and videos compared to the standard 7.

The problem is that people keep comparing the “7 Plus” to the “X”, when they should be comparing the “7” to the “X”. I’m pretty sure the X is a bezeless 7 and we’ll be seeing it’s larger brother next year. That being said, the X is a taller version of the 7...with a notch and no home button.

If you told me you were going to take the 7, remove the home button, make the screen taller, but stick a notch on top....I would tell you to shove it where the sun don’t shine! I want my home button! I want a four corner display! I don’t want a thicker, heavier phone!

A taller display does what exactly? I can see 1/4 more of an image on the bottom of a webpage? I get one more line of text in a Messages conversation? Ridiculous and meaningless. People like shiny new toys. Troll me all you want, it’s just sad that this is the direction Apple went. Nothing more than disappointment on my end.

The only thing I hear is the distant laugh of Scott Forstall.

 

[MEJHarrison]

For those that prefer the X design over the 8, good grief.

For those that prefer to tell others what phone will work best for them, good grief.