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Samsung Ups Ante In Smartphone Size Wars: 6.3 Inches

Posted by timothy on from the don't-mean-to-brag-but dept.

New submitter jarold writes to note that Samsung has launched two extra-large cellphones: a 6.3 inch LTE ready version, and a 5.8 inch version. "Branded as Galaxy Mega, one would struggle to fit [either in a] pocket or use it with just one hand. The good thing, it is only 8mm thin and weighs under 200 grams. More portable than a tablet, it comes with a durable polycarbonate body. Unlike most of Samsung's latest smartphones, it does not have a super AMOLED panel. Instead, it has an HD super clear LCD display, which is bright enough to please most users. It features split screen and multitasking between video and other apps." For a phone that big, users might need to brush up on their side-talking skills.

10 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Ridiculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Stop calling these phones. They are wide-screen monitors.

    1. Re:Ridiculous by BlackPignouf · · Score: 5, Funny

      THE BRAND NEW iPad Mini Mega
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abtmeXXT7VA :D

    2. Re:Ridiculous by neokushan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I wouldn't go that far. It's more like the difference between a 24" and a 21" monitor. Both are still "big" compared to what the majority of people use (Which is probably about 19" these days, perhaps 17") but there's a shift towards them. Your point is still valid, however, once you go bigger it's hard to go back.

      That being said, you don't cart that 23" screen around with you. I have a 24" monitor on my desktop, but I still go back to a 15" laptop because 17" is too big to carry around.

      --
      +1 IDisagreeSoHeMustBeATrollOrAnAstroturferOrAShill
    3. Re:Ridiculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      however, once you go bigger it's hard to go back.

      That's what she said

    4. Re: Ridiculous by Pumpkin+Tuna · · Score: 5, Funny

      You can Sudo macho bullshit?

  2. Ah, Samsung by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I heard you're idea's and their definately good.

  3. Dead Zone? by erikwestlund · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know that for a while people thought 4" screens were overkill, too big for people's hands, etc. I'm using a 5" Galaxy now and, while it took some getting used to, it's manageable with one hand (and I don't have large hands).

    However, 6.3" just seems like a deadzone. Too big to hold in a hand and use effectively, unless you're Shaq, but smaller than a 7 or 8" tablet like the Nexus 7 or iPad mini, which perform tablet duties pretty well.

    Conventional wisdom on device size has been proved wrong time and again over the last few years, so who knows? Maybe what we're seeing is devices for every size. With rumored smart watches on the way, we may have 1-2" smart watches, followed up with 3.5-6" phones, and 7-11" tablets, after which the ultrabook/laptop market takes over. Maybe every device will excel at somethings while providing enough functionality for other basics (email, media) to keep people happy.

    Interesting times.

  4. Re:You know what they say.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, usually said by people to cant afford a big phone.

  5. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note by maroberts · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...and I have no problem using it as a phone. I tend to use my little finger to support it underneath when talking on it, but apart from that don't really notice any difference.

    I'm still not sure why people want their phones paper thin.
    Personally I'd be happy with something twice as thick as a Note if it trebled the battery life, and possibly improved wireless/GPS reception.

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

  6. Re:Bad analogies by poetmatt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    wha? His analogy was exactly correct, even the ratios are almost exact. 15/23 vs 4/6.3. By math alone, he basically made your analogy comment incorrect.

    I'm not suggesting a 6.1" screen - I think it's too big to hold, but I will say that the 4.7" HTC one (larger than my previous HTC rezound/SGS/droid/razr) is visually a lot better than the 4" and smaller preceding phones, as referenced. However, even 4.7 is hard enough to use with one hand, which is a staple of most mobile devices - 6.1" would make that a guarantee in that it would be impossible to do so.

    Once you have a larger size phone, it's really, really hard to go back. The difference in UI real estate and functionality is substantial.

    Your nonsequitur, however, is not accurate. Nobody is implying you're putting a 23" monitor in your pocket, dumbass.