When do you think the industry obsession with ever-larger phones will cool down?

[mikeymikec]

I'm wondering whether I'll ever get a high-end phone again that isn't bigger than my Nexus 5. A bit smaller would definitely be nice (without sacrificing on spec aside from battery size).

 

[Red Storm]

Large displays aren't a fad, they are part of the natural progression that started when cellphones began to do more than just make phone calls.

Have you seen the Z3 Compact from Sony? Or the Moto X? Or the Droid Turbo/Moto Maxx?

 

[sm625]

Eventually someone will invent a screen that can fold in half, seamlessly, using some sort of prismatic effect. Shortly after, we will have phones that fold four, maybe even eight times, from 4" in your pocket to 23" on your desk. Then we will move to ocular impants.

 

[tnt118]

When people stop buying them.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

This is like asking when will the markets obsession with larger and larger TVs cool down.

 

[Dulanic]

When people stop buying them.

^^ They provide what the consumers buy. Obviously consumers are buying the larger phones.

 

[corkyg]

When people stop buying them.

Plus one more! Prediction - tablets will start having phone capability.

 

[vi edit]

When people stop buying them.

Ding ding ding!

If Apple only sold 1 million iPhone6's at release and couldn't keep 5s's in stock...you'd see them double back on their plan.

Same thing with Samsung and the Note line. If they didn't keep selling 10-20 million of those a year they'd pull back on that market.

We're in a bit of shift right now as physical buttons are starting to get phased out slowly and that's making an impact in the screen to physical size ratio. Motorola an LG are moving that way. Google themselves are pushing huge to dump physical buttons. That will let 5" screens fit into phones that were previously the size of 4.5" or smaller. My 4.7" Moto X isn't that much bigger than a 4" iPhone 5s.

I think we'll see things eventually settle into a buttonless, small bezelled design in that 5-5.2" range for many of the phones.

Apple in particular is at a design limitation IMHO. The home button and top bezels are so large that it adds a huge amount of extra height to their devices. The 6+ is far too tall for it's screen size. They are going to really need to address their design language and figure where they want to go with things if they ever want to push that envelope any further.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

How are women handling this issue? I assume they are mostly iPhone users who are sticking with their old iPhone.

 

[cbrunny]

Plus one more! Prediction - tablets will start having phone capability.

Some already do. Apparently its big in Asia.

The Z3 Compact Tablet is supposedly having phone capabilities, but I think that might still be a rumour.

Need to find a man bag.

 

[cbrunny]

The Samsung Alpha is a pretty sleek phone. I played with one in store. High specs (save for the screen) and nice build quality. Really nice feel in hand. Z3C has a better screen from what I understand though. The Alpha line is one to watch though. Alpha 2 might be a major game changer for smallish screen fans if Samsung does it properly.

 

[Red Storm]

Any tablet that has LTE capabilities can be used as a phone. Works especially well with Google Voice numbers.

 

[tential]

How are women handling this issue? I assume they are mostly iPhone users who are sticking with their old iPhone.

My sister handles her "large" Android phone just fine.

This "too large for women" (Insert jokes here), was just something perpetuated as a reason to stick with iphone. Obviously is not the case as Apple moved to larger phones and we can see women with 5 inch phones handling them just fine.

 

[Red Storm]

My sister handles her "large" Android phone just fine.

This "too large for women" (Insert jokes here), was just something perpetuated as a reason to stick with iphone. Obviously is not the case as Apple moved to larger phones and we can see women with 5 inch phones handling them just fine.

Yeah, my wife's friend went from an iPhone 4 to a 6, she loves the bigger screen. Now my wife is asking about trading in her 5S for a 6...

 

[Phokus]

Hopefully we don't get to the point where people have ipad sized 'phones' planted to the side of their heads when they need to make a call

 

[avinyc]

"Is it a watch or a tablet, introducing the wablet!" People just want bigger screens, it will never end.

 

[KeithP]

Apple in particular is at a design limitation IMHO. The home button and top bezels are so large that it adds a huge amount of extra height to their devices. The 6+ is far too tall for it's screen size. They are going to really need to address their design language and figure where they want to go with things if they ever want to push that envelope any further.

Several years back there was a story about an Apple patent showing an iPod with touch controls on the back of the device. More recently, they filed another patent for sensors on the back of an iPad.

It would seem Apple may be working on moving some functions to the back of their devices. Of course, they could also just be getting patents on the idea so if a competitor tries it they can sue them.

Personally, I hope we get to the point where all the "brains" and storage of the phone can fit in a tiny removable module that would be able to be moved to different sized displays as the user sees fit.

-KeithP

 

[poofyhairguy]

How are women handling this issue? I assume they are mostly iPhone users who are sticking with their old iPhone.

Purses

 

[corkyg]

I think it is called "convergence.{

 

[Ravynmagi]

How are women handling this issue? I assume they are mostly iPhone users who are sticking with their old iPhone.

In my personal experience I've notice more women than men wanting the larger phones. There isn't a rule that a phone has be used with one hand. And they like the bigger screen and usually have a purse, so don't have to worry about it fitting in their pockets.

PS. I'm kinda hoping fanny packs come back in style so I can buy a Nexus 6.

 

[vi edit]

Personally, I hope we get to the point where all the "brains" and storage of the phone can fit in a tiny removable module that would be able to be moved to different sized displays as the user sees fit.

-KeithP

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/07/vsenn-project-ara-modular-phone/

 

[Radeon962]

How are women handling this issue? I assume they are mostly iPhone users who are sticking with their old iPhone.

A lot of my female friends went to the Note. They carry a purse everywhere and love the larger screen for FB, Instagram, Painters, etc. They even use the S-pen quite a bit for quick notes.

 

[Radeon962]

If you want a smaller phone and iPhone is not an option then the Sony Z3 Compact is an outstanding option.

I picked one up for a few days but sold it as it was too small for my taste so I ordered Nexus 6.

 

[mrochester]

Purses

I've never heard of a woman keeping a phone in a purse, but I'd definitely expect most women to carry their phones in their hand bags.

 

[Jinny]

perhaps a few years from now, smart watches will have 4" screens....