Smartphone sizes

Poll: Smartphone sizes

Total Members Polled: 117

About 3.5" (orginal iPhone had it nailed: 9%
Around 4.3" was perfect (SGS2, iPhone 5): 31%
About 5", like the SGS3-5, Nexus 5,...: 44%
Bigger is better, 5.5" is a great tool (: 17%
Author
Discussion

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
So,

I've had a number of phones over the past couple of years. My next phone has always been bigger than my previous ones.
I've started with a 3.5" iPhone, SGS2, Nexus 5 and now I've got an Oppo Find 7a.
The Oppo is an amazing phone and has a lot going for it. But... the size. It's huge. It's not that it's too big for one handed use, it's that it's even too big to hold in one hand in some cases.
I still love it, but it's the first time a phone size has bothered me and there deffo is a trade off compared to the svelte form factor of the Nexus 5 or a number of 5" phones.

Apple has finally caught up as well, but their 5.5" phone is so large it dwarfs the 5.7 Note 3 by quite some margin. Their 4.7" phone, with dimensions very similar to the 5" Nexus 5, will be spot on I reckon.
Of course, if we have the choice, I'm all for it. But it seems that people who really want a smaller phone are a bit left behind by all but Sony.

TL;DR
Where should manufacturers place their "high end" devices if they only make one?

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
I think reasonable to large screen size is good, I'm a Note user and, same as you had a range of iPhones from the 3 to the 4S on personal contracts, 5 through work

I prefer the size of the Note, it took me about a week to get used to it but it's second nature now. I think with the amount of apps out now that need that level of screen size it makes sense to have something in that phablet. People who dont, probably wont get much mindshare. I'm looking at Blackberry, again.

I'd go bigger if I can, but that's more down to personal preference of not wanting to compromise on things, I dont like squinting at the sat nav map while I'm driving, which I was doing on the iPhone but not so much on the Note.

If phones get to iPad sizes then we're probably in trouble but I think the Jeans Back Pocket scale of measurement will come into play by then.

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
Have to agree there, the 5.5" screen is amazing on the bike for navigation. I sometimes try to use the 4S when abroad but it's borderline impossible to read in comparison.

As for the pocket, the F7a is a bit bigger than a Note, but it fits in all my trousers, including suits. Have no problems when sitting down either. (unlike the Nokia 5110 that tried to stab me everytime I sat down biggrin)

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 22 September 09:19

onlynik

3,978 posts

192 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
Had a Sony Z1 and moved to a iPhone 6 Plus, via a 4S.

The 6 Plus is easier to hold than the Z1 despite being bigger.

My wife says I have small hands, but I can easily use the 6 Plus with one hand.

VEX

5,256 posts

245 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
I am growing to like the 6 size but I voted for the 5 for one reason.

It fits up through a downlighter hole and was perfect for looking for cables left up in ceilings!

Not tried the 6 up there yet!

Durzel

12,232 posts

167 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
iPhone 6/Nexus 5 is the sweet spot in my opinion, at least for devices you carry everyday.

I'd feel very self conscious holding a 6+/Note up to my ear.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
TBH it depends on what you use it for.

Until recently, my 2.5" HTC Tytn was perfectly fine - texting, making calls, logging stuff in Excel.

Started using my S3 (4.8" screen) for browsing the web on the move. It's like a mini mini tablet. biggrin

Mr Will

13,719 posts

205 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
Personally I'd like a small phone (~3.5" size, maybe smaller) plus a 7" tablet. That way I have a big screen when I want it, but don't have to carry it around all the time. Unfortunately nobody seems to make a decent one at the moment, so I've settled for a Sony Z1 Compact (4.3") which is smaller than most without giving up too much in specs.

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
yes The Sony compacts do seem to cater for the smaller sizes.

Was also just looking at this, Samsung haven't really grown their devices since the S3. S3, S4 & S5 are all very close in size, with increasing screen size.
A good thing imho.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
VEX said:
I am growing to like the 6 size but I voted for the 5 for one reason.

It fits up through a downlighter hole and was perfect for looking for cables left up in ceilings!

Not tried the 6 up there yet!
Not just me that doesmnthat then, sorting through some old photos this weekend and found a load of photos of random ceiling voids, took me a while to work out what the hell they were.

Pixelpeep7r

8,600 posts

141 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
you haven't got 4.7 on the options frown

i think the new iPhone 6 with its one hand mode and curved screen is the right combination of size vs practicality.

I do not think we can go any bigger.

iPhone 6 plus is for someone who doesn't put their phone in a pocket or doesn't spend much time actually on the phone for a voice call.

MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

190 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
My Ascend P6 is a very nice size. 4.7". Seemed huge coming from an Iphone 4 but quickly got used to it and it seems just about right. the 5" on my missus Nexus 5 is about as big as I think I would want to go on a "phone". The Nexus device itself is no bigger than my P6 anyway, just smaller edges around the screen.

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
I bought a 5" android iNew V3 a few months ago as I needed a dual sim handset for the wilds of Africa. At first I was surprised at how large it was compared to my 5 but you soon get used to it. Shame that I haven't used it much for anything other than calls/texts (not much hope of data connection out here) but we'll see how it does when I come back to the UK in the new year. My work phone 5c seems tiny in comparison; luckily it's only used for email.

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
Pixelpeep7r said:
you haven't got 4.7 on the options frown

i think the new iPhone 6 with its one hand mode and curved screen is the right combination of size vs practicality.

I do not think we can go any bigger.
The ip6 is as big as most 5" phones (huge bezels) . So that's your option.

Here it is, next to the 5" Nexus 5 and 5" SGS4:
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Google-Nexus...

Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 23 September 07:53

Lobsta

12,543 posts

180 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
I have the SGS5 Mini.
Perfect.