Where have all the small phone fans gone?

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jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
5,493
3
81
the fact that someone has to ask why people want to use a phone one handed baffles my mind. i mean do they really think that there isn't the slight chance that someone may want to use their other hand and arm for something else while using their phone?

Keep those details to yourself

(its a joke)
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,653
7,882
126
Why is using a phone one handed needed? Maybe it is because i started off with Blackberry with was easier to use with two hands that i have always used my phones with 2 hands (big and small screens) but if I am using my phone i use both hands. What other functions does everyone do with their second hand which on their phone?

Size isn't all about one hand usage. I have big hands, and could use a 7" tablet single handed. My problem with large phones is carrying them. I work in rugged environments, and even with a case, a 5" phone is kind of inconvenient to protect. I can do it, and it's not terrible, but I wouldn't want to go any bigger, and a bit smaller would be even better.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
52,929
5,802
126
just returned my ip6+ and will be on the ip4 till i get a normal 6. probably going to go through verizon so i can get that $200 credit for my ip4, which means i have to wait until like mid october to get it, even though local apple stores have them in stock.
 

JimKiler

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2002
3,559
205
106
the fact that someone has to ask why people want to use a phone one handed baffles my mind. i mean do they really think that there isn't the slight chance that someone may want to use their other hand and arm for something else while using their phone?

I guess it is a lifestyle difference. I use my phone for periodic use and engage it with both hands to accomplish my goals, replying to emails then i go back to holding my wife's hand while watching a movie. You on the other hand want to continually use your phone and ignore your significant other and not get laid (don't take me seriously!)
 

Harry_Wild

Senior member
Dec 14, 2012
841
152
106
If I did not post this earlier here; I went back to my iPhone 5S! That is I purchased a new 64GB space grey iphone 5S. So, I am again a fan of small phones. But I have an iPad Mini Retina too. So it is easy for me to choice a small phone!
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,504
12
0
I agree, would be nice to see some smaller phones again. Especially since "compact" has now been defined as 4.6''.

Being a long time iPhone user, I think the 5 series got it right with the 4'' display. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are WAY too big (Plus especially). I have my iPad if I need something mobile with a big display. My 4S on the other hand is just a tad too small.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
52,929
5,802
126
I agree, would be nice to see some smaller phones again. Especially since "compact" has now been defined as 4.6''.

Being a long time iPhone user, I think the 5 series got it right with the 4'' display. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are WAY too big (Plus especially). I have my iPad if I need something mobile with a big display. My 4S on the other hand is just a tad too small.

yeah i think the 5/5s might be the ideal size.

but after using the 6 last night (after downsizing from the big ass g+) i think the 6 is a great size. i can 1 hand it no problem, and the top opposite corner i can reach if need by by doing the "one hand mode". but very rarely do i need to hit that area of my phone when using 1 hand. usually if i'm one handing i'm sending a text.

also, my wife has a 5 with the otterbox case on it, and the footprint of the 6 is pretty much exactly the same size as the footprint of her otterbox case. so that is also probably part of the reason the 6 doesn't seem that much bigger than the 5 to me, because my only exposure to the 5 has been inside of an otterbox for the most part.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
So basically, Darwin Award activities.

Texting while driving is not a Darwin Award Activity.

It would only qualify as Darwin Award Activity only if their 2-ton projectile didn't have the potential take out others more fit for survival.

Examples:

Texting while:

Mountain Biking = Darwin Award
Downhill Skiing = Darwin Award
Going over Niagra Falls in a barrel = Darwin Award


Driving a car, truck, or RV = NOT Darwin Award
Operating a construction crane = NOT Darwin Award
Landing a 747 = NOT Darwin Award

HTH
 

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
106
Here's the Z3 compact next to a 5:



4.6" screen vs 4" and a significantly larger battery

I think the 5 could probably have had a 4.5" screen if Apple wasn't in love with bezels.
 
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Harry_Wild

Senior member
Dec 14, 2012
841
152
106
I had my iPhone 5S for a few days now; it is a cool phone with a lot of "Wow" factor in it! People are taken by it! Even iPhone 6 owners are taken by the 5S; even previous owners of it; say it a very nice phone. LOL!
 

shimpster

Senior member
Jul 5, 2007
458
1
0
I like the compact phones, however, as my cataract filled eyes become worse, I need a larger phone
 

Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,554
212
106
What are you talking about? 1080p is the minimum resolution we should be seeing at any screen size these days, and my phone has a 5" screen.
Why? there's no good reason to have 1080p in a small screen, furthermore, it uses more juice with no benefit whatsoever.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,501
136
Why? there's no good reason to have 1080p in a small screen, furthermore, it uses more juice with no benefit whatsoever.

Agree with you almost completely.
There might be some small benefit in ultra-high-resolution displays with above "retina" pixel density, but it's almost certainly a case of diminishing returns even if there is any discernible difference.

I think a lot of the proponents of higher-than-retina pixel density are looking at displays that are better quality overall than the lower res displays they are used to seeing, and they assume that it's higher resolution that's responsible, and not better color accuracy, contrast, etc.

In any case, you make an excellent point about battery life being affected. Higher resolution doesn't come free: it will consume GPU/CPU power, even if it doesn't heavily tax the system as a whole. That means higher heat and/or battery drain, and negates the possible increase in battery life you could get from bigger batteries or better SoCs. Considering that you can drain most smartphones in a matter of hours from display brightness settings, bluetooth, LTE usage, gaming, etc, I'd rather have 720p or 1080p max and put that power to better use.

You still can't run most smartphones at maximum clock speeds for very long, so that advertised 4 to "8-core" processor running at 2.X GHz really isn't doing you any favors when you've got throttling because of heat or power issues. "1440p" sounds nice on paper, though.
 
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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
21,911
20,202
136
was a wedding today and caught up with old acquaintances. a few had the iPhone 6 plus. they all admitted they made fun of anyone with a Note sized phone since the original. now they love their massive phones to death.

typical Apple users.
 

mrochester

Senior member
Aug 16, 2014
471
16
91
was a wedding today and caught up with old acquaintances. a few had the iPhone 6 plus. they all admitted they made fun of anyone with a Note sized phone since the original. now they love their massive phones to death.

typical Apple users.

They probably just wanted a big phone running iOS.
 

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
5,837
2,101
136
was a wedding today and caught up with old acquaintances. a few had the iPhone 6 plus. they all admitted they made fun of anyone with a Note sized phone since the original. now they love their massive phones to death.

typical Apple users.

Cliff Notes: I know a couple of douchebags who uses Apple products and that proves my assumption that all Apple users are douchebags.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
82,854
17,365
136
Cliff Notes: I know a couple of douchebags who uses Apple products and that proves my assumption that all Apple users are douchebags.

If you think two sentences need cliff notes, you are probably dumber than someone who makes an assumption after actually talking to a couple of iphone owners.
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,128
6
81
the fact that someone has to ask why people want to use a phone one handed baffles my mind. i mean do they really think that there isn't the slight chance that someone may want to use their other hand and arm for something else while using their phone?
No kidding, I often eat or drink simultaneously while using my phone. Or hold my landline (office) phone to my head while using my cell to find info quickly. Really the possibilities for what to do with the other hand are virtually limitless.
 
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zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
No kidding, I often eat or drink simultaneously while using my phone. Or hold my landline (office) phone to my head while using my cell to find info quickly. Really the possibilities for what to do with the other hand are virtually limitless.

And I have no problem using my Nexus 5 one handed and I don't even have big hands.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
21,911
20,202
136
Cliff Notes: I know a couple of douchebags who uses Apple products and that proves my assumption that all Apple users are douchebags.

i fail to see where i called anybody a douchebag. those people at the wedding are people whose company i enjoy and who do things i respect actually. however i was pointing out a typical occurrence these days in the world of mobile phones now that apple came out with a larger phone years after others had already done that and to which a lot of apple users had dismissed or derided them as unusable etc... to me that is your standard traditional apple fan of which there are tons.

i think a douchebag in general is more someone who reads a statement on an online forum that in no way says someone is a douchebag but interprets it as such.
 

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
5,837
2,101
136
If you think two sentences need cliff notes, you are probably dumber than someone who makes an assumption after actually talking to a couple of iphone owners.

It was meant to point out something ridiculous. But why are your panties in a bunch? Were you one PixelSquish's aforementioned friends?

i fail to see where i called anybody a douchebag. those people at the wedding are people whose company i enjoy and who do things i respect actually. however i was pointing out a typical occurrence these days in the world of mobile phones now that apple came out with a larger phone years after others had already done that and to which a lot of apple users had dismissed or derided them as unusable etc... to me that is your standard traditional apple fan of which there are tons.

i think a douchebag in general is more someone who reads a statement on an online forum that in no way says someone is a douchebag but interprets it as such.

If you need to be hypocritical and think of "your choice" as the "right choice" then you are a douchebag. I like my Apple products but I have never ever thought of my choice as being the only possible right choice. As long as their choice doesn't hurt me, what do I care?

And your comment about "typical Apple user" shows a lot of bias on your end. I know a lot of "typical Apple users" who doesn't give a crap who uses what because they're happy with what their choice and that's all that matters. Because the "typical Apple user" that I know of just doesn't care about this whole Android vs Apple debate. With that said, I also know a lot of biased Apple users who do make fun of all things Apple. They're not bad people but that's douchebaggery. Then there are a bunch of biased Android users who are constantly texting or emailing me any negative Apple news. To the point I've told each and every one of them I don't really care about Apple vs Android other than from an academic level and that I will constantly email them negative Android/Google/Samsung news (and don't pretend there aren't any) if they keep it up.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,752
1,285
126
yeah i think the 5/5s might be the ideal size.

but after using the 6 last night (after downsizing from the big ass g+) i think the 6 is a great size. i can 1 hand it no problem, and the top opposite corner i can reach if need by by doing the "one hand mode". but very rarely do i need to hit that area of my phone when using 1 hand. usually if i'm one handing i'm sending a text.

also, my wife has a 5 with the otterbox case on it, and the footprint of the 6 is pretty much exactly the same size as the footprint of her otterbox case. so that is also probably part of the reason the 6 doesn't seem that much bigger than the 5 to me, because my only exposure to the 5 has been inside of an otterbox for the most part.

I happen to think a 5 with an Otterbox is way too big.

I use a very slim TPU case. I would use it nekkid, but I'm too paranoid about scratching the anodized aluminum or denting it.

I used my 4.7" RAZR HD caseless though, because I felt it was already too big, and adding a slim case just made it worse. And then I dropped it, and put a big dent in the side.
 
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Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
just returned my ip6+ and will be on the ip4 till i get a normal 6. probably going to go through verizon so i can get that $200 credit for my ip4, which means i have to wait until like mid october to get it, even though local apple stores have them in stock.

Out of curiosity, do you feel the data speed pinch, going from LTE to Verizon 3G? I think I've been drinking from the LTE fire hose too long to go back to sub 1Mbps speeds.
 
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