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Why does everyone keep saying that Apple needs to make a bigger iPhone?

I had the original galaxy note, sold it after a couple of days. It was so difficult to use in one hand moments, like shopping at the supermarket, eating a burger, drinking coffee, carrying an umbrella... All real world situations that I took for granted on the iPhone 4S. Have been using the 5 for the last couple of months and while I absolutely love it, it is slightly less comfortable as a one handed device compared to the 4S.

Maybe we can get an iPhone that has a flexible extendable display that you can pull out for "tablet mode" or a back screen that swish into place next to the front screen at a press of some combination unlock key.

Unlikely to see apple compromise on one-hand ease of use, just for a giant screen.
 
kdarling said:
That's not correct for Normal. It goes more like 3.5" to 4.8". The charts are tricky to read, and more importantly, each manufacturer sets what their device displays.

When programming for Android, here are the categories that developers actually use:

  • Galaxy Mini (3.1") - small, ldpi
  • Galaxy Ace (3.5") - normal, mdpi
  • Galaxy S (4.0") - normal, hdpi
  • Galaxy S2 (4.3") - normal, hdpi
  • Galaxy S3 (4.8") - normal, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Nexus (4.65") - normal, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Note - large, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Nexus 7 - large, tvdpi
  • Galaxy Tab 10.1 - xlarge, mdpi

Notice that screens from 4.0" to 4.8" use the "normal/hdpi" and "normal/xhdpi" categories. Looking at the Android dashboard for those stats, you'll see that (37.9% + 25.0%)

= 62.9% of devices using the Play Market in the past two weeks are probably between 4.0" and 4.8".

However, the thing to remember is that the dashboard doesn't show "market share" or sales. It only shows who's currently hitting the Play Market, numbers which ... like those web / ad page hit stats that people often quote... do not tell us what is selling the most. So the actual percentage of those devices being sold is likely much less.

All I'm saying is, Market stats and web/ad stats, are all worthless when it comes to figuring out sales share. In fact, you need to already know the sales share in order to make sense of those access stats.
Click to expand...

Informative post by a guy who seems to now his stuff (based on all of your previous posts). Too bad this is getting overlooked in the see of worthless posts. In a way, this is an excuse to give your post a bit of a bump. :)
 
lordofthereef said:
Informative post by a guy who seems to now his stuff (based on all of your previous posts). Too bad this is getting overlooked in the see of worthless posts. In a way, this is an excuse to give your post a bit of a bump. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you. I was going to write something similar. It was probably the best, and most accurate, post in this entire thread. Yet it was ignored. :rolleyes:



Michael
 
kdarling said:
That's not correct for Normal. It goes more like 3.5" to 4.8". The charts are tricky to read, and more importantly, each manufacturer sets what their device displays.

When programming for Android, here are the categories that developers actually use:

  • Galaxy Mini (3.1") - small, ldpi
  • Galaxy Ace (3.5") - normal, mdpi
  • Galaxy S (4.0") - normal, hdpi
  • Galaxy S2 (4.3") - normal, hdpi
  • Galaxy S3 (4.8") - normal, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Nexus (4.65") - normal, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Note - large, xhdpi
  • Galaxy Nexus 7 - large, tvdpi
  • Galaxy Tab 10.1 - xlarge, mdpi

Notice that screens from 4.0" to 4.8" use the "normal/hdpi" and "normal/xhdpi" categories. Looking at the Android dashboard for those stats, you'll see that (37.9% + 25.0%)

= 62.9% of devices using the Play Market in the past two weeks are probably between 4.0" and 4.8".

However, the thing to remember is that the dashboard doesn't show "market share" or sales. It only shows who's currently hitting the Play Market, numbers which ... like those web / ad page hit stats that people often quote... do not tell us what is selling the most. So the actual percentage of those devices being sold is likely much less.

All I'm saying is, Market stats and web/ad stats, are all worthless when it comes to figuring out sales share. In fact, you need to already know the sales share in order to make sense of those access stats.
Click to expand...

This is correct, and it explains the discrepancy with Google's data. While I'm sure it contributes to the fragmentation issue, setting a 4.8" phone to "normal" (Samsung Galaxy S3) renders the comparison in this thread invalid.

Bravo kdarling, I've thrown out this same comparison many times in the past, and you're the only one to counter it :)
 
minimo3 said:
The tech bloggers, pundits, analysts, and many MR forum posters keep insisting that phablets are all the rage and Apple has missed the boat. We keep hearing that Apple is doomed because everyone has moved to large screens. Well let's see what Google's own data says about the breakdown of Android devices by screen size:

Screen size - market share
--------------------------------
Small (2"-3.5") - 9.5%
Normal (3.5"-4.3") - 79.9%
Large (4.3"-7") - 5.7%
XLarge (greater than 7") - 4.9%

Source: http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html (as of April 24,2013)

That means that phablets (Samsung GS3, GS4, Note, Note2, LG Optimus Pro, HTC Butterfly, HTC One S, One X, One, Xperia Z, etc) PLUS all the 7" tablets (Galaxy Tab 7, 7 Plus, 7.7, Nexus 7, Archos, Asus, HP, Acer, Sony etc) combined make up just 5.7% of the entire Android installed base. Its probably reasonable to assume that phablets alone constitute somewhere less than 5% of all Android devices. This sure sounds like a niche category to me. As can be seen from Google's data, the vast majority of consumers purchase devices in the (gasp) Normal size.

Some of you like big phablets. That's great, and there are many great devices out there for you. But as a company that releases just one phone, I think its clear why Apple picked a screen size of 4".
Click to expand...

90% of those phones you listed are not phablets
 
Zerilos said:
The fact of the matter is that "we" do not need smartphones, we want them. Just because a person's position on screen sized is their 'opinion" does not make it wrong or invalid. An opinion Can be based on fact. Your position is no less an opinion than that of the other side.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? I never said their opinion was wrong, I said stating that "we" (the apple users) Do not all want bigger screens. So saying things like "Apple needs to step up their game, or they wil be beaten by android." Is a completely ludicrous statement. It shouldn't be uttered ever, people who do, don't really know what they are talking about at all.
 
TroyBoy30 said:
90% of those phones you listed are not phablets
Click to expand...

Ya, he was just grouping all screens larger than 4.3" and just said phablet. What I'd disagree w/ is that 4.3" is a niche. It's more like, a lot of people love the idea of screen sizes larger than 4.3", but they like the idea of cheap phones more.
 
Serelus said:
What are you talking about? I never said their opinion was wrong, I said stating that "we" (the apple users) Do not all want bigger screens. So saying things like "Apple needs to step up their game, or they wil be beaten by android." Is a completely ludicrous statement. It shouldn't be uttered ever, people who do, don't really know what they are talking about at all.
Click to expand...

Your post that I responded to was an attempt to invalidate the opinion of those who think Apple should release a larger phone by dismissing it as just their opinion. The fact that you don't want a larger phone is fine; however in a discussion about whether or not it is in Apple's best interests to release a larger phone, opinions are valid. Ultimately it will be our opinion that determines whether or not we will stick with an iPhone next time we upgrade. Nobody is suggesting that Apple stop selling 4" phones, but there' are compelling reasons for Apple to introduce a larger screened phone. Why just hand Android that entire market of high-end phones without a fight?
 
^ without some sort of insider information, everything you just said is likely baloney.

Samsung is just in it to disrupt Apple? Nonsense. They are in it to make money. Lots of money. Same as any company. If you think they, along with oodles of other manufacturers, are dumping R&D into mobile phones you are lying to yourself.
 
minimo3 said:
Screen size - market share
--------------------------------
Small (2"-3.5") - 9.5%
Normal (3.5"-4.3") - 79.9%
Large (4.3"-7") - 5.7%
XLarge (greater than 7") - 4.9%
Click to expand...

Just playing devil's advocate here...

1. Big tech blogs creating buzz for phablet sized screens are sponsored by the companies that make them. Just sayin.

2. Those numbers make sense because a huge portion of the market likely has contracts that were started while "normal" size was in fact normal and phablets were few and far between. That millions of people are mid contract and aren't eligble for an upgrade to a phablet doesn't neccessarily mean they won't want one when they are eligible. Just sayin.
 
Am3r1ca16 said:
i hate how people defend the iPhone size with "oh i can touch all 4 corner with my thumb compare to the galaxy S3." Oh stop whining its not going to kill you 2 use both hand. And you can still use the S3 with one hand if you really wanted to.
Click to expand...

Why would you? It's easier with a smaller device. Why don't you stop whining about what people prefer?
 
Hankster said:
Put it this way. When the next iPhone comes out and if it's the same size as the i5, lets see how well it sells. If it sells great then you're right Apple doesn't need to create a larger size phone. But, if it does not sell well and it's clear people want more options then Apple needs to focus on customer needs.

It is very clear that more and more people are looking for a larger screen. There is nothing wrong with giving that option. Palm refused to change with time. RIM refused to change with time. Apple is far from Palm or RIM, but it starts somewhere.

Anyone who thinks Apple "can do no wrong" is simply ignorant. It's a company run by humans. It's not God.

PS: My brother has the BlackBerry Z10 and that phone is the perfect size. It's just slightly larger than the i5. If Apple launched the next iPhone with that same it would sell volumes.
Click to expand...

If Apple launched next iPad mini with phoning feature it would sell volume.
Size brings new usages

----------
Hamza Tariq said:
All I say is, Apple is working with facts & figures! While Samsung and other Android dumb phone manufacturers are just following each others ideas and plans.

Samsung is just keep busy in developing mid-range Android phones to somehow damage the market of iOS, while Google is supporting Samsung.

I have Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5. I have also used the Galaxy Note II & Samsung Galaxy S2 in the past! But believe me, all these bigger screen phones sucks big time. I can't even hold them properly in my hand. Sometimes while reading something on my mobile, while laying I dropped it on my face.

However, on the other side! People (Android lovers, or dumb people) are just demanding the big screens, because Samsung clearly tricked them with clear screen resolutions on their Galaxy devices.

I say Apple should move on, but not to go mad with screen-size of their phone. Apple should increase the width of device to minimum 3.8 inches to 4.2 inches. It will work perfectly with 4-inch taller screen. :eek:
Click to expand...

I had the opportunity to use a SGS4 for 24 hours last week, courtesy of Orange.
Size of the phone is definitely OK even for calling, screen/real estate is great in all ways. What I disliked is actually Android, with this strange feeling of icons and system not being polished enough and screen being too empty (lots of space in 5").
 
Luuthian said:
People call iOS stale because it's static. It hasn't felt different for some time. And we're not talking about features so much as we are appeal. When you press the power button you get the same lock screen you've been getting for nearly five years.

Consider Android. It added widgets to the lock screen. It changed the "tray" at the bottom of the screen. It added better widgets. It has a fantastic task manager. It changed its icons. It added animated wallpaper. It has scrolling wallpaper. It has better folders. Etc. etc.

Why listen to me? Go here: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-2-3-gingerbread-vs-android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-37742/

The point is that each version of Android has been a progressive, noticeable change. It felt fresh and better every single time, and each time it received new visual cues.

iOS hasn't had this in a very, very long time. Partially because it was ahead of the curve, yes, but they're now the ones behind. iOS just needs that boost in the arm visually. Absolutely nothing is wrong with Apple's hardware... It's the core aesthetics of iOS itself that feel mundane. It's just not exciting any more.
Click to expand...


I'm not criticising, but android authority is one of the most bias sites on the Internet.

----------
Twixt said:
If Apple launched next iPad mini with phoning feature it would sell volume.
Size brings new usages

----------



I had the opportunity to use a SGS4 for 24 hours last week, courtesy of Orange.
Size of the phone is definitely OK even for calling, screen/real estate is great in all ways. What I disliked is actually Android, with this strange feeling of icons and system not being polished enough and screen being too empty (lots of space in 5").
Click to expand...

Hack, people cry for a bigger screen so much, and pay so little attention to portability, that apple can release a 50" television, add phone capabilities, then people can stop the nonsense of screen real estate

----------
MacLappy said:
I had the original galaxy note, sold it after a couple of days. It was so difficult to use in one hand moments, like shopping at the supermarket, eating a burger, drinking coffee, carrying an umbrella... All real world situations that I took for granted on the iPhone 4S. Have been using the 5 for the last couple of months and while I absolutely love it, it is slightly less comfortable as a one handed device compared to the 4S.

Maybe we can get an iPhone that has a flexible extendable display that you can pull out for "tablet mode" or a back screen that swish into place next to the front screen at a press of some combination unlock key.

Unlikely to see apple compromise on one-hand ease of use, just for a giant screen.
Click to expand...

A fully flexible phone is still way off. You still need a flexible SoC, and a flexible battery.
 
SILen(e said:
Or the Galaxy Note.

If people wanted the biggest phones possible, Samsungs best selling high end model wouldn't be the Galaxy S but the Galaxy Note (which is essentially a bigger Galaxy S).

They could have next years Galaxy S display size now, by buying the Note (2014s Galaxy S will probably have an even larger screen, 5.3" or so).

But they buy the S instead.
Click to expand...

It's not correct to say they are buying the s instead, they are buying both. it's not like the note is struggling:

"Our business earnings grew from the previous quarter driven by an increase in smartphone sales and decreased marketing expenses," Hyun Joon Kim, Samsung's vice president of mobile planning told analysts.
In other words, Samsung sold more phones while pumping less money into marketing. Kim further pinned the quarter's success on sales of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S3, and its oversized Galaxy Note 2 handset.

Both are doing incredibly well, the note FAR better than many small phone "enthusiasts" claimed it wood. To mention it in the same breath as the streak is very misleading.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/tech/mobile/samsung-spanking-apple
 
MacLappy said:
I had the original galaxy note, sold it after a couple of days. It was so difficult to use in one hand moments, like shopping at the supermarket, eating a burger, drinking coffee, carrying an umbrella... All real world situations that I took for granted on the iPhone 4S. Have been using the 5 for the last couple of months and while I absolutely love it, it is slightly less comfortable as a one handed device compared to the 4S.

Maybe we can get an iPhone that has a flexible extendable display that you can pull out for "tablet mode" or a back screen that swish into place next to the front screen at a press of some combination unlock key.

Unlikely to see apple compromise on one-hand ease of use, just for a giant screen.
Click to expand...

How about Apple gives us options. Stick with the 4" while also making a larger screen version 4.7" - or 5" screen for those that want the bigger screen. And for those that say just buy an Android, some of us want the larger screen with IOS.
 
Peanut207 said:
How about Apple gives us options. Stick with the 4" while also making a larger screen version 4.7" - or 5" screen for those that want the bigger screen. And for those that say just buy an Android, some of us want the larger screen with IOS.
Click to expand...

Serious question: would you pay more for that option?
 
And by the time Apple releases a 4.99" device (that's the size you get when you use the iPad 4 display and cut it to pieces with the same resolution as the iPhone 5 has now) Samsung will have announced the SGS 5 with a 5.3" screen and everyone will say how Apple is just following Samsung without ever catching up to them, 5" displays being a thing of the past and 5.3" being the future (until the SGS 6 will be released with a 5.5" display).
 
SR45 said:
No in my opinion. It will be more like 4.3 with the same form factor as the iPhone 5 today
Click to expand...
Agreed 4.3" same overal length as iPhone 5. The thinness of a iPod touch. Should make everyone happy. I used the HTC one on friday and I'm impress by the overall form factor.
I'm sure apple will nail it.
 
Twixt said:
If Apple launched next iPad mini with phoning feature it would sell volume.
Click to expand...

Considering how little I use my phone as a phone I would certainly scoop up a phone capable mini as my primary device.
 
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