What is the absolute perfect size for the iPhone's screen?

[sentinelsx]

I don't see why someone sticking with 3.5" gets labelled as anti-choice.

So now anything 4 and above is choice, and lower doesn't deserve to be called choice? In the name of the greater android good?

3.5" is just as much of a choice as any other size. Why is it hard for some to get this in their brains: someone CAN have a choice of the current screen size. Oh god forbid that ever happens!

 

[ucfgrad93]

I don't see why someone sticking with 3.5" gets labelled as anti-choice.

So now anything 4 and above is choice, and lower doesn't deserve to be called choice? In the name of the greater android good?

3.5" is just as much of a choice as any other size. Why is it hard for some to get this in their brains: someone CAN have a choice of the current screen size. Oh god forbid that ever happens!

Agreed. I have seen Android phones with screens ranging from 3.2 inches to 5.3 inches which should indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all "absolute perfect size" for a screen choice.

 

[decksnap]

If Apple changes their phone's size up from 3.5 inches, then Apple's decision to make it 3.5 inches in the first place was wrong. If they actually were making an educated decision on what the best screen would be for their phone, Apple would have gone with the larger screen size in the first place and never changed it. Ever.

I haven't read this thread but I don't think this is true. Apple has to balance what it thinks is the perfect screen size with what it thinks is the perfect phone size, among other 'perfect' specs. So it may be that they compromised both or either of those specs to get as close as they could to the best of both worlds with current tech. If they come out with a 4" screen on a phone that is essentially the same size, then their decision was not wrong. Further, you couldn't even claim influence from android handsets.

 

[Calidude]

The statement of an accurate fact is not fanboyism.

Duh. Why are you even saying that? Nobody has claimed that it is fanboyism.

Another fact, there is no absolute best size, its a matter of preference.

Tell that to Apple, as they don't give you any choice when it comes to their phone offerings.

 

[torana355]

Agreed. I have seen Android phones with screens ranging from 3.2 inches to 5.3 inches which should indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all "absolute perfect size" for a screen choice.

Absolutely, everyone has their own preference but the majority of people want at least a 4" screen in their smartphone. The people that don't want a screen any bigger then 3.5" are going to be disappointed as the screens are only going to get bigger on smart phones while they can still fit in a pocket. My sisters 4.3" Galaxy S2 EASILY fits in my pocket so i can see the iphones screen being AT LEAST this size in the next few years.

 

[Calidude]

I haven't read this thread but I don't think this is true. Apple has to balance what it thinks is the perfect screen size with what it thinks is the perfect phone size, among other 'perfect' specs. So it may be that they compromised both or either of those specs to get as close as they could to the best of both worlds with current tech. If they come out with a 4" screen on a phone that is essentially the same size, then their decision was not wrong. Further, you couldn't even claim influence from android handsets.

The screen size directly affects phone size no matter what. There is no way to make the same size phone with that screen size.

You will see a larger phone come November, and you won't complain about it, because Apple fixed the biggest flaw in their phone design, which was the small screen.

 

[sentinelsx]

Absolutely, everyone has their own preference but the majority of people want at least a 4" screen in their smartphone. The people that don't want a screen any bigger then 3.5" are going to be disappointed as the screens are only going to get bigger on smart phones while they can still fit in a pocket. My sisters 4.3" Galaxy S2 EASILY fits in my pocket so i can see the iphones screen being this size in the next few years.

I don't think fitting in pocket is a big deal. People stuff those 7 inch tablets in jeans and it doesn't look that strange.

But the usability suffers. Sure i wouldn't mind 4 inch, but i wouldn't like much higher. Maybe if they can manage 4.3 in a smaller form factor some how. Also, with a tablet i cannot warrant a 5 inch phone for myself. Infact even a 5.3 inch screen is not that easy on your eyes for prolonged gaming/reading/videos. I prefer the tablet. That allows me to not care about my phone screen size that much.

 

[decksnap]

The screen size directly affects phone size no matter what. There is no way to make the same size phone with that screen size.

You will see a larger phone come November, and you won't complain about it, because Apple fixed the biggest flaw in their phone design, which was the small screen.

I think they can and will come extremely close. Guess we'll find out. Personally I find the current iPhone too large. Not the screen, the phone.

My point was Apple isn't just targeting a screen size, they are targeting a phone size.

 

[Calidude]

Absolutely, everyone has their own preference but the majority of people want at least a 4" screen in their smartphone. The people that don't want a screen any bigger then 3.5" are going to be disappointed as the screens are only going to get bigger on smart phones while they can still fit in a pocket. My sisters 4.3" Galaxy S2 EASILY fits in my pocket so i can see the iphones screen being AT LEAST this size in the next few years.

The majority are just people who aren't sucked into this Apple worship.

As for those that ARE sucked in:

If they really believe that anything bigger than 3.5 inches is too big, and Apple comes out with a 4 inch screen this year and only that size, they would (and should, if they were being genuine freethinkers) simply stop buying the latest iPhone. However, they won't, because they actually worship Apple. They'll have a headache due to cognitive dissonance as to the idea that Apple betrayed it's previous phone screen size and then they'll just accept whatever Apple gives them.

 

[iPhysicist]

If Apple changes their phone's size up from 3.5 inches, then Apple's decision to make it 3.5 inches in the first place was wrong.

Call yourself analyst and get rich.

If they actually were making an educated decision on what the best screen would be for their phone, Apple would have gone with the larger screen size in the first place and never changed it. Ever.

But they didn't. Conclusion?

To go with a wrong decision simply because Apple ...is pure fanboyism. You're not thinking of what the absolute best size is, but rather, what Apple THINKS is the absolute best size.

I do, I do. My MBP is 13" because of I wanted a small Laptop. Unfortunately is wanting a small phone Fanboyism.

You'll see this when people get used to having a 4 inch screen and everybody forgets how "great" a 3.5 inch screen was and how PERFECT the new size screen is simply because Apple made it whatever it's going to be.

For some of those, maybe. You can't say for sure and you should not generalize it.
I for myself think - whatever.

Does it come with 4" screen without getting bigger I will get used to it. Not because Apple made it but because I can adopt.
Making the screen bigger without changing the iPhones footprint would be great.

 

[Calidude]

I think they can and will come extremely close. Guess we'll find out. Personally I find the current iPhone too large. Not the screen, the phone.

My point was Apple isn't just targeting a screen size, they are targeting a phone size.

The phone size will always shrink as in get thinner and more streamlined, but it will have to get wider and longer. The screen will stay at 4 inches henceforth, starting this Fall.

Think about what Apple does. They will NEVER make a phone with no vertical bezel to accommodate a 4 inch screen in the same size phone, so it will never happen. You don't have to "wait and see" if a 4 inch screen will produce a bigger Apple phone. It's just common sense based on what we know.

 

[iPhysicist]

Tell that to Apple, as they don't give you any choice when it comes to their phone offerings.

Buy / don't Buy

read / don't read

learn / ...

 

[torana355]

I don't think fitting in pocket is a big deal. People stuff those 7 inch tablets in jeans and it doesn't look that strange.

But the usability suffers. Sure i wouldn't mind 4 inch, but i wouldn't like much higher. Maybe if they can manage 4.3 in a smaller form factor some how. Also, with a tablet i cannot warrant a 5 inch phone for myself. Infact even a 5.3 inch screen is not that easy on your eyes for prolonged gaming/reading/videos. I prefer the tablet. That allows me to not care about my phone screen size that much.

I find the usability on the Galaxy S2 is better then the IP4, especially with my large hands. If you think the IP4 is to big as it is then you are not going to be happy in a few years time when almost all smart phones will have 4" > screens. Im also different as i have a MBA if i need to browse for long periods but having a 4.5" screen on my iPhone would be perfect for all other browsing needs.

 

[darngooddesign]

Tell that to Apple, as they don't give you any choice when it comes to their phone offerings.

Tell what to Apple, they never said its the best size, that's just the size they use. Everyone is welcome to disagree with their wallets, but so far the size hasn't been enough of a deal breaker.

Perhaps they will come out with one 4" phone, perhaps they will have two sizes. That, and only that scenario will provide imperical evidence as to which size people like the most.

Still, the fact remains that there is no best size.

 

[stickybuns]

Due to the almost completely useless pockets found on women's clothing (if they exist at all) my response is "as small as possible without making me go blind!"

I assume that Steve Jobs had small, girlish hands because my hands are small and girlish (I'm 5 feet tall) and the 3.5" inside of a Speck Candyshell case is as big as I can comfortably hold. If Apple came out with a more rugged body (negating the need for a case), I'd be ok with a slightly larger phone BUT there would need to be other improvements to get me to actually buy a new phone.

 

[mrochester]

Broadly speaking, there is no perfect size because what's perfect for one person isn't perfect for another. Personally, the perfect iPhone screen size would be the one that continues to allow me to comfortably use my phone one handed. At a rough guess, probably around 3.8", but it's also going to depend on body shape/size/design?

I'm a firm believer that the width of the device has the biggest impact on whether it is too big. I could use the 3GS comfortably one handed, so whatever the max screen size you can get into a 62mm wide body would probably be OK. Any wider than that (SGS2 etc) is too wide for me to use.

 

[Zwhaler]

I voted 3.8

I would like the size of the phone to remain as close as it can to what it is now, but a slightly larger screen without becoming too big would be nice.

 

[nelly29]

As big a screen as they can fit into the current sized iPhone! I would rather keep the same size screen then increase the phones current size....my guess is they could squeeze in a 3.8 inch screen.....galaxy s II is way to big a phone for me

 

[Calidude]

I have a question for those worried about phone size:

What's the hangup about? Small hands? Tight jeans?

The increase in phone size would be virtually negligible if the screen size went to 4 inches.

 

[mrochester]

I have a question for those worried about phone size:

What's the hangup about? Small hands? Tight jeans?

The increase in phone size would be virtually negligible if the screen size went to 4 inches.

Being able to use it single handed and comfortably reach all parts of the screen with my thumb is the main reason I don't want a physically larger iPhone. If they can increase the screen size without making the device much/any bigger, great!

 

[Calidude]

Being able to use it single handed and comfortably reach all parts of the screen with my thumb is the main reason I don't want a physically larger iPhone. If they can increase the screen size without making the device much/any bigger, great!

Yeah but be honest. Doesn't your thumb already reach significantly past the iPhone's screen? Would 4 inches really make it useless to your single hand, especially considering that Apple would put countless millions into research as to how to make the phone small enough and shaped accordingly so this isn't a problem?

I can understand 4.7 inches being too big for some hands, but 3.5 inches is clearly too small for all hands, unless you're under 5 feet tall.

 

[gaanee]

If Apple indeed comes up with a different screen size (and aspect ratio) then wouldn't it cause problems with resolution, that old apps won't look good on the new screen and requiring different versions of apps to cater different screen sizes leading to fragmentation?

 

[mrochester]

Yeah but be honest. Doesn't your thumb already reach significantly past the iPhone's screen? Would 4 inches really make it useless to your single hand, especially considering that Apple would put countless millions into research as to how to make the phone small enough and shaped accordingly so this isn't a problem?

I can understand 4.7 inches being too big for some hands, but 3.5 inches is clearly too small for all hands, unless you're under 5 feet tall.

As it stands, I can just comfortably reach the top right hand corner of the iPhone screen with my left thumb. If I really stretch my thumb, I can reach a bit further, but that isn't conducive to long-term comfortable use. To reach further than the current iPhone screen size, I have to hold the device lower in my hand. However, in turn, that makes hitting the bottom left hand corner of the screen difficult due to having to bend my thumb back on itself. I'm 5'7" and I have reasonably large hands.

 

[decksnap]

You don't have to "wait and see" if a 4 inch screen will produce a bigger Apple phone. It's just common sense based on what we know.

The increase in phone size would be virtually negligible if the screen size went to 4 inches.

Well which is it? I'm pretty sure I said the same thing and you directly disputed it.

 

[Calidude]

Well which is it? I'm pretty sure I said the same thing and you directly disputed it.

What are you talking about? I always said the iPhone would get bigger with a 4 inch screen, and I always said that size increase would be no big deal.