Tim Cook Comments on 5-Inch Phone Market, Reiterates Commitment to Quality Over Size

[CrimsonKnight]

I love Apple products, don't get me wrong, but... Apple should take exception to the HTC one. What tradeoffs?

I have been debating.. HTC one or iphone 5s. I also thought.. wait till the 6, but why wait when the HTC one is here now?


I don't understand what apple is doing here, and .. I may jump ship.

Come on, Apple.. go bigger!

 

[jimbo1mcm]

Read between the lines here. This is as close as you’ll ever get to an Apple confirmation. IOW, you could interpret Cook as saying that they may (my guess is most likely) ship a larger display iPhone when they can do so without making unacceptable tradeoffs. That could be this fall, or it could be next year. But based on this quote a larger display iPhone is almost definitely coming.

I agree completely. They want the new 20nm processor. It will all come together but not before 2014.

 

[64Mario64]

I still don't understand why they chose to go longer with the 5 rather than proportionally larger.

If it was wider, you'd have to hold it differently. Making it longer does not affect that. Also, the 4:3 aspect ratio was too squatty compared to 16:9, which most phone-makers use.

 

[sleepydinosaur]

agreed...the only question is...iPhone 6?

 

[barkomatic]

I just saw the HTC One in person today and wow that thing is beautiful. I must say that its display and overall build quality trumps the iPhone 5 in every way. Too bad it's running Android.

I was also impressed the first time I saw one in person. Then I went back a few days later and noticed that the headphone jack and the port where the charger cable plugs into the phone is made of soft plastic without any metal liner or reinforcement. Both areas has become a little jaggy and stained from wear as people plugged and unplugged headphones and he charger. I also saw a drop test where it was revealed that the speaker grills are glued onto plastic underneath. One flew off after a drop--it's not a solid piece of aluminum like many have been led to believe.

It's still a gorgeous phone, but I now question how well it will hold up over time. It does not trump the iPhone in build quality--other areas perhaps.

 

[64Mario64]

The "longer" screen was a move to a 16:9 aspect ratio from the former 3:2 aspect ratio.

It was no accident that 1136x640 is 16:9

It's actually exactly one pixel too wide (holding the phone vertical) to really be 16:9, so the 'Droid screens are the ones that are taller... by a hair

1136x639 would have the aspect ratio of EXACTLY 16:9.

 

[Rocco83]

Apple is in the business of giving customers what is best for them, not what they want. What people say they want is not always what works best.

Specifically the larger phones. Yes, I have some 6'5" friends who feel the iPhone is too small, but they're a very small part of the market. I have fairly average sized hands, any phone wider than the current iPhone is a no-go for me. I hike a lot and use my phone as a GPS/mapping tool. I need to be able to use the GPS with one hand only, using the thumb alone for touch. I can't do that on any of the other larger-sized flagship smartphones made today.

If you have small children, you already appreciate the fact that the iPhone is one of the only flagship smartphones you can use with one hand.

As to why Apple doesn't make a lot of differently-sized iPhones for different people, it goes back to the first point. A lot of people will buy a larger-sized iPhone just because it's larger, despite the fact that it would provide a worse user experience. In the end, they'd have the sale anyway, but a larger group of customers are going to be unhappy with their experience than would otherwise have been the case. Apple won't do that.

So because I'm 6'5" with hands big enough to palm a medicine ball the size of the iPhone 5 is "what's best for me" because Apple says so? I love Apple more than the average person, but I will not drink the Kool-aid to the point I take their doctrine as law. Do I like the way their phone fits in my pocket, yes. Do I like the way their phone fits in my palm, no. When I use it, it is in my hand, not my pocket. I want a bigger phone, I'm going to the HTC One.

I guess tomorrow is the release date for the HTC One on T-Mobile. Get to cut cell phone ties to Apple and Verizon all on the same day, One small step towards the gate of the walled garden.

 

[sneaky butcher]

they should have went 4.3inch instead of 4inch thin last time.

then add 5inch this year. 2 nice sizes to keep everyone happy

 

[hummus]

The quote seems to leave a lot of wiggle room. The fact that he's not shooting it down on the basis that Apple doesn't believe in a phone with a screen that size is encouraging. Now hurry up ... I want a bigger phone but I really can't stand Android.

 

[rdlink]

That’s because the purpose of phones has completely changed. Ten years ago most phones (like the nokia bricks) were smaller in terms of height and width than even the iPhone - Which is great for calling and texting... But not so much for web browsing, gaming, emails, photos, videos etc etc. Phones these days are used to do tasks that computers and TV’s do - And computers and TV’s aren’t getting much smaller, are they?

No, and pockets aren't getting much bigger.

 

[JayCee842]

An iPhone that would allow me to talk through my friends as holograms would be nice! Thanks Tim!

 

[rdlink]

So because I'm 6'5" with hands big enough to palm a medicine ball the size of the iPhone 5 is "what's best for me" because Apple says so? I love Apple more than the average person, but I will not drink the Kool-aid to the point I take their doctrine as law. Do I like the way their phone fits in my pocket, yes. Do I like the way their phone fits in my palm, no. When I use it, it is in my hand, not my pocket. I want a bigger phone, I'm going to the HTC One.

I guess tomorrow is the release date for the HTC One on T-Mobile. Get to cut cell phone ties to Apple and Verizon all on the same day, One small step towards the gate of the walled garden.

Android over iOS, and T-Mobile over Verizon. Two steps down in quality in one day. See you when you come back.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Seems like a throw away comment. The 'competitors' havent really had to sacrifice quality for a larger screen. He's effectively saying that the iPad and iPad Mini screen's are of poor quality there, as they are larger than the iPhone screen.

No, what he's saying is that there are certain tradeoffs of using a larger screen in a phone that Apple is not willing to make. What does that have to do with screens for a product that are in a totally different size category? He is talking about phones - not tablets.

He also mentioned portability as a tradeoff, and that won't change because the size is what it is. Given that comment, don't expect a 5" iPhone from Apple ever.

 

[JayCee842]

Yes, the iPhone 5 has a great display. But with the 1080p panels on the htc one/galaxy s4, Apple will need to step up.

The 1080p displays (minus the xperia z) are very,very good looking and better then the iPhone 5. Please make atleast a 720p or even better a 1080p .

And yes, I have a iphone 5.

I can't even notice the difference between 1080p and 720p. It's BARELY noticeable.

The iphone 5 has a gorgeous display. Better than Samsungs, and HTC one IMHO.

 

[BowTheMan89]

Definitely ok with this. I don't really care for a 5 inch screen. It's not a feature. I don't want a giant phone I can't hold in one hand. Trying to keep inching in every single size imaginable just because Samsung and LG do it would be a mistake. What's next? Build a 6 inch iPhone?

If you want a bigger screen, go buy a tablet. Oh wait, you probably already have one. And a 10 inch tablet. And a laptop. And a desktop.

The last part of your comment, though very cynical, highlights the problem. It has gotten to the point with all these devices that people are beginning to value the idea of a more all-in-one. The demand for larger screen phones is a result of increased use and reliance upon the phones.

There is a happy medium between a browsing friendly phone, and a portable phone, pretty much every other cellphone/mobile device on the planet is finding that it is somewhere between 4.5in and 5in, Apple is choosing not to respond to these demands and continue with their "we know better than you attitude."

 

[xkmxkmxlmx]

The "longer" screen was a move to a 16:9 aspect ratio from the former 3:2 aspect ratio.

It was no accident that 1136x640 is 16:9

Yes, I understand *that*, but what is the logic? None of their other devices use a widescreen format, nor does it matter to have a 16:9 aspect ratio on a phone that size.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Since we've purchased technology (starting in 1986) we've been Apple users.

But this is just dumb.

Kinda like "we'll never have a two-button mouse" -- give the people what they want, please (if a larger screen is an option they want).

Apple is what it is. Why do you think the iPhone still has a home button? It's the same one-button philosophy, except the iOS home button is the new one-button mouse. Why hasn't Apple ditched the mechanical button? You'd think it would be simpler and cheaper to make with a touch button instead. Apple is Apple.

 

[solamar]

Watch

It wont be 5".... It will be a 4.8" iphone instead.

 

[chadley_chad]

That's funny, because a larger screen size is predominantly the reason why I and many friends moved away from iPhone. Yes, I value a large screen size and resolution, color quality, white balance, reflectivity, power consumption and compatibility of apps ... and that's just what both my S3 and works Lumia 820 give; so why does Cook try to make out the iPhone is any better at these things when it's not (IMO) but even if it were, not significantly to make a difference over the benefit of a larger screen, NFC, wireless charging, SD slot, removable battery etc etc. just more sour grapes from Apple ... STILL NOT GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!

 

[lilo777]

There is only one problem with Tim Cook's statement

iPhone's screen is now one of the worst screens among all high end smart phones.

 

[daneoni]

Yes, I understand *that*, but what is the logic? None of their other devices use a widescreen format, nor does it matter to have a 16:9 aspect ratio on a phone that size.

App compatibility and one-handed use

iPhone's screen is now one of the worst screens among all high end smart phones.

Nope. It most certainly is NOT.

 

[XboxMySocks]

Agreed, if I recall isnt the iPhone 5 screen one of the ones that has a slight yellow tint. I own one, but have nothing to compare it against.

Edit: Yep, it is the iPhone 5: http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/index.php?topic=312426.0

Hahaha, no yellow tint. It's called 'calibrated correctly'. Android screens are just blue

 

[lilo777]

I was also impressed the first time I saw one in person. Then I went back a few days later and noticed that the headphone jack and the port where the charger cable plugs into the phone is made of soft plastic without any metal liner or reinforcement. Both areas has become a little jaggy and stained from wear as people plugged and unplugged headphones and he charger. I also saw a drop test where it was revealed that the speaker grills are glued onto plastic underneath. One flew off after a drop--it's not a solid piece of aluminum like many have been led to believe.

It's still a gorgeous phone, but I now question how well it will hold up over time. It does not trump the iPhone in build quality--other areas perhaps.

But this does not make iPhone's screen any better

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Others value other factors such as resolution, color quality, white balance, reflectivity, power consumption, compatibility of apps, and portability. Our competitors have made some significant tradeoffs in many of these areas to ship a larger display.

How are any of the bold problems listed a problem with a larger screen? I understand power consumption and resolution, but the rest have nothing to do with the size of the screen and the HW running it.

Wow Tim... WOW!

Maybe not, but the problem in red is one that cannot be overcome because a 5" phone can only get so small. Given that you can't change physics and 5 inches will always be 5 inches, portability will always be a trade-off and Apple will never sell such a phone. At least if we are to believe tim Cook.

 

[chadley_chad]

That's great! Having a samsung is like carrying a tablet in your pocket as a phone. The iPhone is just perfect in size. Also, it's like everyone else is going backwards in time when the phones were larger.

Yeah, because the extra 1" of the S4 turns it into a tablet!!!! (yes, sarcasm just in case you didn't get it!)