Will iPhone X screen size satisfy Plus users?

[garrym13]

Haha, I don't think you and I will ever agree. At least you have good taste in cars.

View attachment 723936

You both are wrong! This is the way to go!
Untitled by Garry Metcalfe, on Flickr

 

[jamesrick80]

It's true. I never use landscape on my iPhone 7 Plus either. And one of the reasons I actually thought I would like the iPhone Plus model, was landscape. But it requires me to use two hands and I find that to be more uncomfortable. I would say for those who are gaming on their iPhone Plus, it be more of an advantage.

I guess you dont watch youtube videos much then. I love watching them only in landscape.

 

[MEJHarrison]

The most significant thing to me is keyboard size. The more narrow the screen. The closer/smaller the keys will be in portrait mode.

I did fine on a 3.5” phone. Then a 4” phone. Then a 5.6” phone. I’ve used my girlfriend’s S8 and didn’t have any issues whatsoever. I think I’ll be just fine.

 

[JPack]

I did fine on a 3.5” phone. Then a 4” phone. Then a 5.6” phone. I’ve used my girlfriend’s S8 and didn’t have any issues whatsoever. I think I’ll be just fine.

Standards evolve, Americans were fine riding in sedans for decades. Today, consumers are used to SUVs. When paying top dollar for a phone, many don't want to compromise.

 

[eVolcre]

i too think the X will feel larger than the Plus.. however, i'm not quite sure i'd say it's because of 'trickery'.. it's just smarter and/or more efficient&optimized space planning.

a few examples to illustrate:

say you're faced with choosing one of the following two bedrooms:

View attachment 724052


..they're both the same size.. the one on the left is a rectangle and the one on the right is the same rectangle except 1' has been removed from the length and this area was reshaped/relocated to form a nook or closet.

which one do you pick?
which one is the better use of space?

with the rectangle, all of your objects will need to be contained within a single active space.. the other one is more functional as there's now a dedicated area for less active but still necessary elements (clothes/shoes/book shelf/etc)

with the iPhone X, something similar is happening as there are now nooks to contain things like time/signal strength/battery/etc.. they no longer need to share space with the otherwise active area.. in this regard, the X is more organized than the rectangular screen..

further, on a rectangular screen (plus), the whole top of the screen is dedicated as a 'closet' which houses the status info.. then there is another section above that (the top bezel) which contains the speaker and camera.. on the X, these two stagnant areas have been condensed into one row.. time/battery/signal status/camera/speaker/microphone/trueDepth sensors... all of that.. has been condensed into a thin strip along the top of the phone.. on the plus, it's taking about 6or7 of those strips to do the same (well, less) functions..

the top of the X (ie- the part with the notch), is superior* use of space over the plus in regards to space efficiency and organization.. again, not 'trickery'.. just smart planning

(* and yes, it's soo much better in these regards that i'll be so bold as to call it 'superior'.. it's a fact and not arguable)



-----------------
also, i feel like many people look at the X layout and think this is what happened:

they feel Apple started with a rectangle:
View attachment 724053

....then they chopped off the corners:

View attachment 724054

... then they cut a notch out of the display.. which leaves us with a hacked up version of what should of stayed as the original rectangle:

View attachment 724055

-----------------------

..but what they really did is more like this:
started with a smaller rectangle then appended more screen.. something like:

View attachment 724049

in regards to iPhone8+ comparison and/or an evolution of iPhone design (meaning, it's still roughly an iPhone-- thin slab of glass and metal with a rounded rectangular shape).. it would look something like:

View attachment 724050

turning into this:

View attachment 724051

and further, it's less of a 'dumb' rectangle and more of functional layout (in the context of the bedroom example)

Excellent post. This needs to be on the front page.

 

[Hackett00]

I know right! Great post! It's just a phone.

I could care less what phone you get! You could care less what phone I get!

You think the bezels are horrendous, and I think the notch is horrendous. What's cool though is you don't have to look at my 8 Plus and I don't have to look at your X.

What I think is hilarious is how far people will go to have the current flagship phone. They'll bypass bills, sell jewelry, be late on the rent, pawn the car title... max out the CC... etc... just so they can have the iPhone X. It's a status symbol.

Me? I could give a rats... I survived the last year with the 6s Plus and not the flagship 7. Now I've got the 8 Plus... soon to be overtaken by the X as the flagship iPhone.

I really wanna be one of those guys to run out and buy the X and yell "I just got the iPhone X, my epeen is THIS BIG!" but that's just not how I roll...

Right on bud. Who cares what someone else likes? I'm excited for the X for the change in form. Functionally speaking, the 8 series is a fantastic option, its just not for me however I'm glad its there for people that shrivel at the thought of the notch...same sentiment for those that crave the smaller screen and go for the SE (hopefully they update that too). Options are a good thing. I'm not a latest and greatest type, otherwise i wouldn't be rocking my 6s plus after two subsequent updates, or living with a 3 year old ipad, or cruising along with a 5 year old MB Pro. I just know what I want in a phone, and it doesn't involve bezels. If my ship date is post January, i'll cancel my pre-order and probably take a flyer on the new stock android Pixel. It's not the prettiest thing in the world but I like its functionality and potential. There are things about IOS that absolutely drive me nuts so I'm actually excited if I have to go down that route. Just wish people wouldn't get so overly dramatic about their own pet peeves and act like even considering the X is an "insult" to humanity. Additionally, be careful with making assumptions. The price of the X, for me at least, is a non issue. I manage my affairs wisely. I'm not selling kidneys, renting my relatives, or stealing copper from the local construction sites to finance this potential purchase (which i will buy outright, no monthly payments). Relax a little, I can treat myself if I want to after holding out on all my tech for a while. How I do it, or why I do it is my business. It's certainly not a status symbol, lol...its a freaking phone.

 

[a_v_k]

i too think the X will feel larger than the Plus.. however, i'm not quite sure i'd say it's because of 'trickery'.. it's just smarter and/or more efficient&optimized space planning.

a few examples to illustrate:

say you're faced with choosing one of the following two bedrooms:

View attachment 724052


..they're both the same size.. the one on the left is a rectangle and the one on the right is the same rectangle except 1' has been removed from the length and this area was reshaped/relocated to form a nook or closet.

which one do you pick?
which one is the better use of space?

with the rectangle, all of your objects will need to be contained within a single active space.. the other one is more functional as there's now a dedicated area for less active but still necessary elements (clothes/shoes/book shelf/etc)

with the iPhone X, something similar is happening as there are now nooks to contain things like time/signal strength/battery/etc.. they no longer need to share space with the otherwise active area.. in this regard, the X is more organized than the rectangular screen..

further, on a rectangular screen (plus), the whole top of the screen is dedicated as a 'closet' which houses the status info.. then there is another section above that (the top bezel) which contains the speaker and camera.. on the X, these two stagnant areas have been condensed into one row.. time/battery/signal status/camera/speaker/microphone/trueDepth sensors... all of that.. has been condensed into a thin strip along the top of the phone.. on the plus, it's taking about 6or7 of those strips to do the same (well, less) functions..

the top of the X (ie- the part with the notch), is superior* use of space over the plus in regards to space efficiency and organization.. again, not 'trickery'.. just smart planning

(* and yes, it's soo much better in these regards that i'll be so bold as to call it 'superior'.. it's a fact and not arguable)



-----------------
also, i feel like many people look at the X layout and think this is what happened:

they feel Apple started with a rectangle:
View attachment 724053

....then they chopped off the corners:

View attachment 724054

... then they cut a notch out of the display.. which leaves us with a hacked up version of what should of stayed as the original rectangle:

View attachment 724055

-----------------------

..but what they really did is more like this:
started with a smaller rectangle then appended more screen.. something like:

View attachment 724049

in regards to iPhone8+ comparison and/or an evolution of iPhone design (meaning, it's still roughly an iPhone-- thin slab of glass and metal with a rounded rectangular shape).. it would look something like:

View attachment 724050

turning into this:

View attachment 724051

and further, it's less of a 'dumb' rectangle and more of functional layout (in the context of the bedroom example)

here is an illustrated example showing the screen size difference between 8+ and X:


(note-- there are no CAD drawing or official specs given for the corner curves and notch curves.. so these numbers are based off the true rectangular outline of the X screen but the little curve details may be slightly off as those sections are moreORless traced off of a raster image.. this is how the outline (green) in the following calculations looks when imposed over the raster... maybe a tiny bit off but not enough that i think anyone would be bothered by it.. otherwise, we'll need to wait for official prints to be leaked for deadnutz accuracy)

View attachment 724068


-----------------------------------

from the Apple specs:

iPhone 8+ is 1920 x 1080 at 401 ppi...

1920 ÷ 401 = 4.79" long
1080 ÷ 401 = 2.69" wide​

iPhone X is 2436 x 1125 at 458 ppi..

2436 ÷ 458 = 5.32" long
1125 ÷ 458 = 2.46" wide​

at this point, the X is the larger screen:


View attachment 724070


once the corners are removed, the sizes get even closer to equal while the X still has the slight edge:

View attachment 724071

if the corners stayed 90º and only the notch was removed, the two screens are basically identical in size:

View attachment 724073


when you remove the area of the notch and the corners, the X then becomes the smaller screen:

View attachment 724074




-------------------------------------------------

so, the 8+ screen size is 12.89 square inches and the X is 12.76 square inches
a difference of 0.13 sq.in.. to visualize that, it's a 9mm square..

so concluding-- imagine the area of 1cm x 1cm... that is how much smaller the X screen is than 8+... (roughly an app's icon)


...
[edit] oh.. the regular iPhone 6/7/8 is 9.4 sq.in... in case you're wondering how the X compares to that one)

Great explanations! You deserve some gold!

 

[johannnn]

Me personally I have no problem with the notch. You need a lot of space for all the sensors if you want a reliable faceID. Many people seem to prefer if they made the space around the notch black. But then it cant be used for 3G signal, battery etc. Meaning they would need an extra row on the display to show all that. So I like the notch, and I think we will see it for at least five more years (Apple don’t want touchID on the back, and fingerprint sensor behind the glass is NOT easy. All major fingerprint sensor companies are trying to do it but it’s still ****)

The only problem I have with the iPhone X screen, is that Apple decided it won’t have landscape mode. I absolutely love using landscape in various apps (eg omnifocus). I learnt about it here on MR, but I doubt average Joe knows about it, especially since the screen is advertised as bigger than the Plus.

 

[pat500000]

i too think the X will feel larger than the Plus.. however, i'm not quite sure i'd say it's because of 'trickery'.. it's just smarter and/or more efficient&optimized space planning.

a few examples to illustrate:

say you're faced with choosing one of the following two bedrooms:

View attachment 724052


..they're both the same size.. the one on the left is a rectangle and the one on the right is the same rectangle except 1' has been removed from the length and this area was reshaped/relocated to form a nook or closet.

which one do you pick?
which one is the better use of space?

with the rectangle, all of your objects will need to be contained within a single active space.. the other one is more functional as there's now a dedicated area for less active but still necessary elements (clothes/shoes/book shelf/etc)

with the iPhone X, something similar is happening as there are now nooks to contain things like time/signal strength/battery/etc.. they no longer need to share space with the otherwise active area.. in this regard, the X is more organized than the rectangular screen..

further, on a rectangular screen (plus), the whole top of the screen is dedicated as a 'closet' which houses the status info.. then there is another section above that (the top bezel) which contains the speaker and camera.. on the X, these two stagnant areas have been condensed into one row.. time/battery/signal status/camera/speaker/microphone/trueDepth sensors... all of that.. has been condensed into a thin strip along the top of the phone.. on the plus, it's taking about 6or7 of those strips to do the same (well, less) functions..

the top of the X (ie- the part with the notch), is superior* use of space over the plus in regards to space efficiency and organization.. again, not 'trickery'.. just smart planning

(* and yes, it's soo much better in these regards that i'll be so bold as to call it 'superior'.. it's a fact and not arguable)



-----------------
also, i feel like many people look at the X layout and think this is what happened:

they feel Apple started with a rectangle:
View attachment 724053

....then they chopped off the corners:

View attachment 724054

... then they cut a notch out of the display.. which leaves us with a hacked up version of what should of stayed as the original rectangle:

View attachment 724055

-----------------------

..but what they really did is more like this:
started with a smaller rectangle then appended more screen.. something like:

View attachment 724049

in regards to iPhone8+ comparison and/or an evolution of iPhone design (meaning, it's still roughly an iPhone-- thin slab of glass and metal with a rounded rectangular shape).. it would look something like:

View attachment 724050

turning into this:

View attachment 724051

and further, it's less of a 'dumb' rectangle and more of functional layout (in the context of the bedroom example)

Ff, no need to get pro on us. Your presence is good enough to know that your calculations is beyond correct.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

...Apple decided it won’t have landscape mode.

Yes, it will. What about browsing? What about videos?

 

[JPack]

so, the 8+ screen size is 12.89 square inches and the X is 12.76 square inches
a difference of 0.13 sq.in.. to visualize that, it's a 9mm square..

Even if we pretend the iPhone Plus and X have the same display area, the X loses a 1/4" of display height due to the gesture area. The status bar is also taller to accommodate the notch and ears.

Psychologically, the notch will compress the height of the display. The dedicated gesture area and taller status bar reduces the usability of the display.

 

[fokmik]

The bot area from that picture disappear when you start scrolling,also happens with photos videos etc

 

[MEJHarrison]

Standards evolve, Americans were fine riding in sedans for decades. Today, consumers are used to SUVs. When paying top dollar for a phone, many don't want to compromise.

Compromise what? It either works or it’s too small to type on. I’ve recently typed on an S8. Much smaller than my Plus. I had no issues. Thus I strongly suspect I’ll have no issues adapting to the new X. There’s no compromise involved for me. If the smaller keyboard works, I’m not giving up a thing (keyboard related). My only requirement is that I can type on it.

What keyboard related compromises would you be making by going to a smaller keyboard?

 

[fokmik]

I dont know why iphone plus users are looking at iphone x??
Iphone x is meant for those with iphone 4.7", and it gives for those a larger screen/area in almost the same dimensions
The plus users will get their update late 2018 with that 6.4"

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Iphone x is meant for those with iphone 4.7", and it gives for those a larger screen/area in almost the same dimensions

Got a citation for that?

 

[MEJHarrison]

I dont know why iphone plus users are looking on iphone x??
Iphone x is meant for those with iphone 4.7", and it gives for those a larger screen/area in almost the same dimensions
The plus users will get their update late 2018 with that 6.4"

The iPhone X is for anyone who wants it. Some are upgrading from smaller screens, some are downgrading from bigger screens. Screen size has absolutely nothing to do with my decision. And I strongly suspect that applies to many who are switching from a plus model.

 

[decder]

Using the diagonal as a measure of screen size may be industry standard, but it becomes progressively misleading as the aspect ratio of the screen increases.
As an extreme example, a display of infinite height and zero width would have "infinite" size using the diagonal measurement.
Great many people will be mislead by the statement that iPhone X will have bigger screen than (or even equal to) the plus.

 

[fokmik]

The iPhone X is for anyone who wants it. Some are upgrading from smaller screens, some are downgrading from bigger screens. Screen size has absolutely nothing to do with my decision. And I strongly suspect that applies to many who are switching from a plus model.

Why than have a plus if you wanted a smaller device?
I thougt the plus users are for the bigger screen estate and for that plus UI

 

[johannnn]

Yes, it will. What about browsing? What about videos?

It will be like the iPhone 8. But it won’t do stuff that the Plus models can do, like Mail (list of mails + show current mail), Notes (list of notes + current note), Messages (list of conversations + current conversation), etc

 

[JPack]

Compromise what? It either works or it’s too small to type on. I’ve recently typed on an S8. Much smaller than my Plus. I had no issues. Thus I strongly suspect I’ll have no issues adapting to the new X. There’s no compromise involved for me. If the smaller keyboard works, I’m not giving up a thing (keyboard related). My only requirement is that I can type on it.

What keyboard related compromises would you be making by going to a smaller keyboard?

Compromise on comfort and hit accuracy.

Display width:

• iPhone Plus: 2.70"
• Galaxy S8: 2.54"
• iPhone X: 2.46"

Most people don't view keyboard size as a binary feeling. Comfort level is a continuum. Just because someone can use a keyboard on iPhone 5 doesn't make it ideal.

 

[MEJHarrison]

Why than have a plus if you wanted a smaller device?
I thougt the plus users are for the bigger screen estate and for that plus UI

I got the plus because I wanted a bigger screen, better camera and to be able to use my phone more in landscape mode. Probably another a thing or two that don't come to mind.

I'm getting the X because I want the new design, FaceID, the depth sensing cameras, the better cameras, OLED screen and probably a few other things that aren't coming to mind.

Why must it be reduced to a single feature? I'm a geek. I love my toys. I like being on the bleeding edge of technology. Thus, I'm not interesting in a faster version of what I already have. This really isn't that difficult as long as you can accept that other people have different preferences and priorities than you.
[doublepost=1507357971][/doublepost]

It will be like the iPhone 8. But it won’t do stuff that the Plus models can do, like Mail (list of mails + show current mail), Notes (list of notes + current note), Messages (list of conversations + current conversation), etc

I won't miss that stuff. I was always turning my phone sideways expecting to get a more comfortable reading experience for email only to be reminded that it doesn't work that way. I'm sure some find it quite useful. I LOVE it on my iPad. On my phone however, I would have preferred a wider layout for easier reading. Same with the other apps. I also hated my home screen rotating. Not the end of the world. Just little annoyances I personally had the with plus model.
[doublepost=1507358372][/doublepost]

Compromise on comfort and hit accuracy.

Display width:

• iPhone Plus: 2.70"
• Galaxy S8: 2.54"
• iPhone X: 2.46"

Most people don't view keyboard size as a binary feeling. Comfort level is a continuum. Just because someone can use a keyboard on iPhone 5 doesn't make it ideal.

I'm used to typing on a 5.6" iPhone, a 9.7" iPad, a 13" MacBook Pro and a full sized keyboard at work on a regular basis. I'm not compromising on either comfort (if I EVER get too uncomfortable from typing on my phone, it's time to put the stupid thing down for a while) or hit accuracy. Perhaps those are challenges for you, but I've been typing for over 30 years. I have absolutely no problem with smaller keyboards. I did just find on my original 3.5" iPhone years ago. I'll do just fine now.

And if by some odd chance I don't know myself as well as I think I do, I'll still have that 14 day return window to change my mind. So this non-issue is less of an issue now. For me at any rate.

 

[johannnn]

I won't miss that stuff. I was always turning my phone sideways expecting to get a more comfortable reading experience for email only to be reminded that it doesn't work that way. I'm sure some find it quite useful. I LOVE it on my iPad. On my phone however, I would have preferred a wider layout for easier reading. Same with the other apps. I also hated my home screen rotating. Not the end of the world. Just little annoyances I personally had the with plus model.

I agree that I think Apple does a much better job with the landscape mode on the iPad. Just look at Reminders.app on the iPhone. In landscape it only shows maximum 4 todos. That’s ridiculous, more than half of the right screen is just graphics. Luckily, most third-party developers do a much better job.

 

[fokmik]

I got the plus because I wanted a bigger screen, better camera and to be able to use my phone more in landscape mode. Probably another a thing or two that don't come to mind.

I'm getting the X because I want the new design, FaceID, the depth sensing cameras, the better cameras, OLED screen and probably a few other things that aren't coming to mind.

Why must it be reduced to a single feature? I'm a geek. I love my toys. I like being on the bleeding edge of technology. Thus, I'm not interesting in a faster version of what I already have. This really isn't that difficult as long as you can accept that other people have different preferences and priorities than you.
[doublepost=1507357971][/doublepost]

for me its easy since im a 4.7" user...i thought you will miss the plus UI and wait for the 2018 edge to edge 6.4" iphone plus but hey, a reason to buy also the next year iphone plus or you will remain at the 5.8" size?

 

[MEJHarrison]

for me its easy since im a 4.7" user...i thought you will miss the plus UI and wait for the 2018 edge to edge 6.4" iphone plus but hey, a reason to buy also the next year iphone plus or you will remain at the 5.8" size?

I’ll just have to see what next year brings. I have large hands, so I’m not opposed to a bigger phone. But carrying a giant phone can also be inconvenient from time to time. But if it comes out, it will probably have more features than the standard sized model which means I’ll likely go for it. Short answer, I’ll worry about that a year from now. I might even wait two years. That’s what I’ve always done before. In fact, if I did go two years, that’s even more reason for me to get on the future train and not stay on an older design.

 

[Aydy]

If im being honest i would like, no, love one of samsungs infinity displays with an iOS operating system. I hate compromising so this would tick all my boxes.