What size screen do you want in your phone?

[Cuda1447]

I owned the mytouch and the screen was ok. 3.5inches was nice. Then I upgraded to Mytouch4G and the 3.7 was definitely nicer. Later I got a Galaxy S and was in awe of the 4 inch screen. I eyeballed a couple 4.3 and definitely wanted one but couldn't find an Android one I liked.


Today I received my Dell Streak 5. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a 5 inch screen, but let me tell you its motherfuckingfantastic. I love it. I wish this phone had T-Mobiles 3G bands, if it did I would definitely be keeping this phone. Sadly its only AT&T (Edge on TMo).


That leads to the question, what size screen would you go up to in a phone? I never thought I'd like 5 inches, but honestly its not to big at all. I may even consider slightly larger if the bezel isn't to big.

Thoughts?

 

[shabby]

Depends on the size of the exterior, currently i have a captivate and its the perfect size for me, but i think a 4.3" screen could be squeezed into the same sized frame.

 

[shortylickens]

I played with a Streak 5 and it was quite nice.
Shame its old, slow hardware and they took forever to update the OS.
The new Streak 5 is a long ways off according to the news sites I been reading.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I would actually put up with a phone with a 7" screen, I'd use a BT headset and carry a man bag. if the Streak was on TMo's network with their 4G or on Verizon with LTE, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

 

[zerocool84]

Minimum is 4" even though I don't have huge hands the extra realestate is great.

 

[ponyo]

3.7-4.0 with 4 being ideal.

 

[Bateluer]

Then I upgraded to Mytouch4G and the 3.7 was definitely nicer.

AFAIK, the myTouch4G has a 4in screen, not 3.7in.

It took a little while to get used to the slightly different keyboard layout/size on my 4.3in TB vs the 3.7in Droid1, but I like it a lot more. I'd strongly prefer a 4 to 4.3in phone for all future purchases.

 

[tonygeor]

4 in screen at a minimum

 

[Brian Stirling]

I still have more than a year on my two year contract and at the moment nothing strikes me as much better than my Evo but I think a 5 inch screen with minimum bezel and high resolution would be sweet.

If someone could come up with a 5 inch screen phone with minimum bezel AND a better, mouse like pointing/selecting/moving device I'd be a happy camper. It will be a few more years I think for the CPU, RAM and displays to provide HD+ resolution (1920x1280) and I know many think it ridiculous to have that kind of resolution in a phone but when the tech evolves to permit it I will want it...


Brian

 

[Pliablemoose]

I still have more than a year on my two year contract and at the moment nothing strikes me as much better than my Evo but I think a 5 inch screen with minimum bezel and high resolution would be sweet.

If someone could come up with a 5 inch screen phone with minimum bezel AND a better, mouse like pointing/selecting/moving device I'd be a happy camper. It will be a few more years I think for the CPU, RAM and displays to provide HD+ resolution (1920x1280) and I know many think it ridiculous to have that kind of resolution in a phone but when the tech evolves to permit it I will want it...


Brian

The EVO has a killer group of developers making roms for it...

 

[boomhower]

I am happy with my 4.3" but could live with a 4".

 

[lothar]

I would actually put up with a phone with a 7" screen, I'd use a BT headset and carry a man bag. if the Streak was on TMo's network with their 4G or on Verizon with LTE, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk_OL-5aVo

 

[RockinZ28]

Probably close to 5". Definitely no smaller than 4".

Using the Droid Incredible at 3.7" now, and would definitely prefer a larger screen. Hardly use it as a phone, 99% use is internet, gps navigation and apps/games. Most of the time it resides in my truck, and I use a belt clip for it anyway so I have no concern about being able to pocket it. Badass phone and couldn't live without it, but I'm really looking forward to my upgrade eligibility in January.

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk_OL-5aVo

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I could go for a half inch wider than the thunderbolt whatever that is in total screen size. Anything bigger and it'd be too unwieldy for my somewhat small hands.

 

[Deeko]

3.6"-4". I had a HD2 at 4.3". It was too big. Its a cell phone.

 

[Fire&Blood]

I don't know about a 5" screen, maybe it could work with minimal bezel and better power efficient displays since they toll the battery the most.

For my next phone I would hope for a 4.5", 16:9 screen. Nothing beats watching 720p content on a native 720p screen and Tegra 2 proves these resolutions are ready for prime time on smartphones. Looking at my HD2, there is definitely room for a 4.5" screen with less bezel, without changing the actual size of the phone.

 

[Anubis]

4-4.3 depending on the phone design

 

[chin311]

I just got a droid X and it's first phone I've had with a screen this large. needless to say I wont be going to anything smaller.

 

[Kabob]

Depends on the size of the exterior, currently i have a captivate and its the perfect size for me, but i think a 4.3" screen could be squeezed into the same sized frame.

I've got a Fascinate and my cousin has an Epic 4G, he's got .3" more real estate but the phones, other than thickness-wise, are almost the same size.

Personally I think 4.5" would be the sweet spot, once you're up into the 5"+ I think it's too big to be a "cell phone" and you might as well just carry a tablet around. Which is a good point, why don't they put cell radios in tablets? Tons of people would use them that way and just talk through a bluetooth headset.

 

[Fire&Blood]

point, why don't they put cell radios in tablets? Tons of people would use them that way and just talk through a bluetooth headset.

Because selling you 2 devices instead of just 1 means more $ for OEM's on hardware and accesories and more $ for carriers with the data plans.

Even if tablets offered every function of a smartphone, they aren't that portable due to size which is major factor preventing mass adoption. Sure there are few people willing to substitute a smartphone with a 10" tablet and carry it everywhere but these individuals are usually referred to as "that guy".

 

[zsdersw]

4-4.5". I couldn't be happier with my Evo.

 

[akugami]

3.5" minimum. I know some will say it's eye squinting small and unusable but that's an exaggeration. I am not saying it's the perfect size, just that it is usable.

4-4.5" ideally. I've never known anyone who complains about screen real estate.

5" is too big. As others noted, it's a phone. If you want a portable computer then get one but for general daily use and portability, once you hit 4.5" you're on the point of crossing the line on the portability front IMHO. When you hit 5" it's at a point I feel might be too big. You're probably better off looking for a 7" tablet at that point.

 

[Fingolfin269]

3.7-4.0 with 4 being ideal.

This. I'm currently using an evo and think it is just a little too large.

 

[amdhunter]

The iPhone 4's screen is perfect. I'd just like less bezel on the top and bottom.