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Smartphone Screen Real Estate: How Big Is Big Enough?

Posted by Soulskill on from the if-it-doesn't-fit-on-your-coffee-table-you-might-have-a-problem dept.

MojoKid writes "Aside from the terrible nickname (it sounds like a term for the spoiled offspring of fabulous people), phablets are somewhat controversial because they seem to be the epitome of inflated phone sizes. A lot of people wanted bigger, and this is 'bigger' to the extreme. A larger screen on a smartphone is attractive for obvious reasons, but surely there's a limit. So how big is too big? If you're not into parsing out the particulars of form factors and use cases, here's a really easy way to figure out if your phone or phablet is too big: Can you hold the device in one hand and 1) unlock the phone, 2) type out a text message with your thumb, and 3) adjust the volume with the rocker without using your other hand? If not, you might need a smaller phone."

12 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. I have a Galaxy Note by maroberts · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ..and it fits perfectly in my breast shirt pocket. I don't put phones in trouser/pants pockets ever since I broke a screen of one by doing so.

    I love the Note as its large display makes a great GPS device when in its car holder.
    The main thing I want in a smartphone now is enormous battery life as well as the features. I do miss the days when you could charge your phone once a week, but not so much I'm willing to go back to having a basic phone.

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

    1. Re:I have a Galaxy Note by dintech · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't worry, it's going to be at least 3 years before phones get big enough to rub your genitals while you're on the phone. For now you have to do that yourself.

      In the meantime, enjoy this vision of the future.

      (Safe for Work)

    2. Re:I have a Galaxy Note by arkhan_jg · · Score: 5, Informative

      Me too. I keep it mostly in my suit jacket inside pocket most of the time, or my coat pocket when casual - I wear slacks instead of jeans, so it goes there (in a case) in summer.

      The bigger screen is glorious for email and web browsing - especially in landscape - going back to my old 4" galaxy s feels like using a toy phone now, it's just so small.

      I can unlock and text with my thumb if I want to (helllllo, swype and now swiftkey flow) and running on cyanogenmod 10.1 the thing is lovely and fast. I do tend to hold it in one hand and type with the other though. I use it more than my nexus 7, simply because I always have it with me, though the mini tablet is ideal for sofa browsing and meetings as it can still be held one handed but gives that bit more screen estate.

      I don't see myself going back to any smartphone that's significantly smaller than 5"; even the galaxy s3 (which is pretty large for a smartphone in its own right) is a bit small for my preference now.

      I guess it's what you use it for; mine is a full blown mini computer, complete with ssh client, that fits in my pocket. Mobile data is where it's at, and actual phone calls are a bit of a rarity. I can get two days out of my note no problem, because the battery is that much wider. Not sure I'd want it much thicker though, would make it harder to span your hand round it, even when you do have big-man hands like me. Just have to hope some of the promised battery tech improvements that keep showing up in research actually start ending up in real devices.

      --
      Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
    3. Re:I have a Galaxy Note by DiSKiLLeR · · Score: 5, Informative

      Hear hear. I have a Galaxy Note N7000 and think its the best thing since sliced bread.

      I got it when it first came out, and from 2.3 to 4.0 to 4.1 each update has been amazing.

      I started out with a Sony Ericsson P900, P990i, iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, HTC Sensation (which I loved) and then Galaxy Note.

      So my last 2 phones I kept getting bigger, and I never looked back.

      I keep my phone in my front jeans pocket and never had a problem with it being 'too large'. Though I must admit, any time I've seen someone holding my phone to their head on a call looked comical and so I guess I must look the same when I am talking on my phone. Oh well. :D

      --
      You can tell how powerful someone is by the magnitude of the crime they can commit and be able to get away with.
  2. Presupposition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The criteria presuppose that you *want* to be able to use your phone with only one hand. I am mal-coordinated enough that I can only use my phone with two hands, no matter how big or small it is, so surely the criteria for me are: 1) does it fit in my pocket? 2) can I hold it up to my ear and make a telephone call comfortably? 3) can I hold it in one hand and use it with the other comfortably? 4) is the screen large enough that it can display what I want to see at a reasonable resolution?

  3. What?? by Cenan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Can you hold the device in one hand and 1) unlock the phone, 2) type out a text message with your thumb, and 3) adjust the volume with the rocker without using your other hand? If not, you might need a smaller phone.

    None of the above points are arguments for/against screens of any size. All of those "problems" can be solved without even thinking about the size of the screen on a device.

    1) unlocking schemes for phones can take on any number of different forms, not all requiring you to swipe from edge to edge to unlock.

    2) usability of the virtual keyboard has nothing to do with screen size, but a matter of placing it in the correct location on the screen

    3) adjusting the volume on a phone has nothing to do with screen size, and everything to do with placement of the rocker button.

    --
    ... whatever ...
    1. Re:What?? by thegarbz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Or you can show some mental flexibility, deal with the fact that not everything in the world has to be tailored to your particular quirks to be functional and adapt.

      Erm ... why? No really ... Why! The vast majority of accommodations we are talking about are software features. These are adjustments and settings which can be customised. Remember when it was announced that Vista would have a non-customisable startup sound? People went mental. To what extent are you willing to flex? Should all phones look and sound 100% identically? Should we all be forced to fit in one mould of a turleneck wearing sociopath?

      Maybe the vendors can show some flexibility. Some people like swipe to unlock, some like pin to unlock, some pattern unlock, some face detection, and some don't lock at all and pressing any button simply wakes the phone at the home screen. My phone gives me that choice, and why shouldn't it for a measly few lines of code.

  4. Stupid questions deserve stupid answers by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Too big" is when not enough people will want to buy it to make it worthwhile to produce.
    Anything else is just subjective.

    To me, a 9.7" tablet is too big, but iPad's continued sales prove that this is merely my subjective (minority) opinion.

    --
    Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
  5. Phone is for talking by billyswong · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The number ONE question should have been:

    Can you comfortably phone someone or receive phone call without resorting to earplug?

    1. Re:Phone is for talking by rikkards · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I think the question they are answering is:
      Would you have a phone if your tablet was capable of making and receiving phone calls

  6. Re:without looking by k2r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > Can you dial a useful number without looking at your phone?

    "Siri, call Sam's business number!"

  7. Who cares ? by obarthelemy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are phones of every size from 2" to 8" (and even 10" with a bit of hacking).

    Some people call a lot, some don't
    Some people text a lot, some don't
    Some people read a lot on their phones, some don't. And some have good eyesight, others not.
    Some people spend a lot of time in transit, some don't
    Some people have big hands, some don't

    There's a right size for every customer and use case.

    --
    The Cloud - because you don't care if your apps and data are up in the air.