just make normal sized cellphones again, please!
Large phones are the new normal size now.
Going back to small phones now feels like trying to type through a postage stamp
Yeah, I was thinking who’s to say what “normal” size even is? In hindsight, it was awkward as hell taking calls on my tiny nokia brick. Personally, I think we’ve hit a sweet spot between functionality and size practicality. I’m happy with my 6" screen as long as women’s clothes continue on the trend of indulging us with functional pockets.
I’m waiting for a free upgrade to switch to a flip phone. I didn’t want one immediately because I was worried about quality, but from what I hear they’re doing well. Decent compromise for me
Ive been using the galaxy fold 3 for 2 years now and i could never go back to one that doesnt fold. The tablet style screen has become my main screen. Its just functionally superior to any normal phone screen and if im only performing simple tasks the smaller outer screen is fine.
I saw a review for a new Motorola Razr, and thought that maybe I’d switch to one of those, but I love a good camera and it’s camera wasn’t good.
But the siren song of manageably sized phones still calls to me.
Motorola of today is unfortunately not the Motorola of yesterday. I loved my Razr and Really really loved my Droid with the side charging port, it docked into the nightstand cradle and the driving cradle perfectly.
I loved my original Razr too, it felt so damn advanced for the time.
Everytime someone says this and manufacturers end up making a smaller phone… no one buys them.
Because it’s mostly small crap phones or small expensive phones. A 4,5 to 5 inch pixel, a 5 to 5,5 inch pixel pro to current prices. I’d buy it instantly.
In the beginning days of the Pixel, both sizes were the same specs - just one bigger than the other. The XL outsold the smaller one consistently.
I did. I bought the original Jelly. Now I use the biggest phone of them all, a Fold 4…
In saying that, I might buy the new Jelly too, it’s IR blaster feature would come in handy as a universal remote, plus, in case I ever decide to take up running, would be easier to carry the Jelly around instead of a Fold.
Most people prefer big phones.
As a man they still would need to fit in my jeans pocket though… So we are kinda at a limit now.
This is the reason I’m so hype for the Pixel Fold. Apparently it’s only a 5in screen when closed . We’ll have to see how the other specs shake out and whether the price is worth it, but it sounds promising.
People asked Apple for this, and when they obliged, it sold so terribly that retailers literally could not give them away. Unfortunately, it seems those who actually want smaller phones are a vocal minority
Capitalism: Providing infinite consumer choice, so long as your choice is to consume what everyone else is consuming.
I’ve got about a billion issues with capitalism, but I’m not sure how you think something like this should work otherwise? Product design/development/manufacturing takes a bunch of resources, so it doesn’t make sense in any model to make things people generally don’t want.
Apple user here. If they don’t come out with a new generation of iphone mini, I am simply going to never buy another phone again.
I am simply going to never buy another phone again.
This will not happen.
I moved from Android phones to Apple specifically for the iPhone mini. Seems when it eventually dies I’ll be out of luck.
I didn’t buy that because of Apple was so opaque about the mini’s battery size. I understand that modern chips require more energy, but damn it if I don’t miss my old dumb phone that could last three days on a single charge.
I settled on Pixel 5 because it’s the sweet spot between small-ish and enough battery.
I’m a big guy, with big hands.
Got the s22 ultra, and it feels like it’s finally a me sized phone. I’ve been fighting tiny phones for decades!
In the end, we need a range from small to large.
It’s these glass backs that I can’t stand. I bought a phone not a wet bar of soap.
The comments section of a post like this feels like early reddit. Love it!
I adored my Pixel 3a. The size was perfect in my opinion. Small enough to handle with one hand and to put it in my pockets, big enough to enjoy watching videos on it. The Samsung S10e was lovely too.
I don’t have sources but I remember them stating that small form factor phones were not selling too well. So I guess we won’t see many flagship or even midrange phones in the near future.
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And that doesn’t require water resistance, my A52s has an IPX 67 rating and has both.
A52s is one of the most goated midrange phones ever made IMO
20 years ago these were great. Now? Ye gods I’m too old for that tiny stuff.
A friend of mine was all in on the palm pre. And extolled the small form factor and how much better it was than the incoming 4G Android phones…
Now he buys the largest iphone possible every year
I used an overlooked palm pre for internet access before I got my first smart phone and while it was neat at the time it really wasn’t going to be good for say, browsing on jerboa with that screen size. The keyboard wasn’t good either.
On the one hand I love my fold 3. On the other I miss my pre. That thing was great except the terrible slider.
I don’t know if I can go back to a normal phone after the fold3. The tall narrow screen is amazing for scrolling through stuff one handed, and the inside screen is amazing for everything else
Unironically if there was enough demand they would be made. Even the iPhone mini failed in market penetration, not to mention things like the Sony compacts and the Zenfones.
Not possible at the moment. Without the large size, you can’t fit an adequate battery to last a day or longer.
Not to mention that many people want good cameras on their phone, an they need space as well.
Display needs a lot of battery, less of it and you dont need such a big one. Than make it two millimeters thicker and the problem is solved.
I’m typing this comment on a Zenfone 9, which is a pretty reasonably sized phone with a decent battery and camera. Charging to 80% usually lasts me over a day of usage. The camera is good enough as well. Phones don’t have to be so massive to have those features
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Big phones sell though, that’s the issue. Apple sold the mini version of the iphone right alongside the bigger models and it sold like shit. The people who want smaller phones are in a minority.
I’m disappointed that they cancelled the mini, but yeah, the fact that they did shows there wasn’t much demand for it.
I think the battery life had a bit to do with that though, which of course is another mark against small phones.
No way, Note/Ultra always! Because I’m old and can’t see properly now.
Unihertz, interesting, thanks!
I had the atom XL for a while, it was ok. Battery life was awesome, but it was hobcobbled together software wise and not actually rugged (both mine and it’s warranty replacement broke their screens from a 3’ fall out of my pocket stooped over). Their support sucked as well. 3 months after shipping my phone back for warranty they approved the replacement and then shipped out the replacement.
Thanks for relating your experiences. I did kinda get that cheap vibe when I was perusing the site. For now I’ll continue driving my pixel 4a until the wheels fall off.
Why do people prefer smaller phones? Like I use a realme 7. So not small but I don’t feel like it’s massive. And ths screen is nice if I want to watch a video or play a game. I feel like with more people using their phone as a primary computing device they will be bigger to accommodate that. Genuinely interested in why people prefer smaller phones
Small hands. My Pixel 4a is as big as I’ll go at 5.8", as I can reach the other side of the phone with my thumb to type one-handed.
I miss my pixel 4a everyday. one-handed, back fingerprint scanner
@eighty the main feature I miss from my Note 9 is the back fingerprint scanner. It just worked so much quicker than the under the screen type.
100%. It feels much more natural scanning at the back while it’s in my pocket. I was able to bring the notification shade by swiping down the scanner. It felt more like the device was an extension of myself rather than a cumbersome large screen. Aiming towards a smaller one-handed phone for my next everyday carry.
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Also smaller phone fit pocket better. I miss the day when i can put my phone inside my pocket and not having it waving it’s upper side out side of the pocket
My desktop is my primary computing device, and I still want a large phone. Using small phones is no fun, and I’m actually looking for larger. I prefer the screen width to be at least 7cm, most phones don’t clear that.
It’s easier to carry around, lighter, doesn’t take much space in my desk, etc
Because I want to use it with one hand without my wrist hurting. I don’t play games on my phone, it’s just for texting, Snapchat, quick Google searches, navigation, music, and
RedditLemmy.A big screen enhances none of those things for me and makes it uncomfortable to use.
I feel like with more people using their phone as a primary computing device they will be bigger to accommodate that. Genuinely interested in why people prefer smaller phones
I understand where you’re coming from here, however I think there’s still enough folks for whom their phone isn’t their primary computing device that explains the desire for smaller phones. That and smaller hands as Throwsbooks mentions.
Frankly mobile OSes still don’t really cut it for more involved computing work even when bigger, so with that in mind, personally I’ll take improved portability via smaller size over larger size and a still subpar computer experience.
Also when I do want a larger portable computing experience, I’m simply going to opt for a laptop instead, for a number of reasons ranging from a physical keyboard, OSes built for general computing work, and a screen size that’s not some awkward in-between of a phone and a tablet yet still isn’t as good as a larger laptop screen.
Edit: Adding here that I’ve also given tablets a fair shake, as I had a Nexus 7 back when Google was trying to do tablets, and have briefly dabbled with iPads here & there. They’re not bad devices, but they’re supplementary computing devices imo, not primary ones (i.e. for more involved document creation/programming/creative activity, etc.).
You make a real good point.
My laptop’s my primary driver, and the device I go to when I need to do any real work. I sometimes get frustrated trying to do something on my phone and switch to my laptop because it’s far more efficient. My phone’s for doomscrolling and music primarily, so I don’t need all the bells and whistles.
For my mum, on the other hand, her phone is her primary driver and the big screen is especially useful with aging eyes so she can make the font bigger and still have real estate. The pocket thing isn’t an issue either because she just throws it into her purse.
Though, she does drop her phone and crack the screen way more often than I do, bit unwieldy when they hit the phablet size. 🤔 I wonder if manufacturers like that, more money in warranties/repairs.
