this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023
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just make normal sized cellphones again, please!

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[–] FeebaskMeAnything@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

People asked Apple for this, and when they obliged, it sold so terribly that retailers literally could not give them away. Unfortunately, it seems those who actually want smaller phones are a vocal minority

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[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Large phones are the new normal size now.

Going back to small phones now feels like trying to type through a postage stamp

[–] half_fiction@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 years ago

Yeah, I was thinking who's to say what "normal" size even is? In hindsight, it was awkward as hell taking calls on my tiny nokia brick. Personally, I think we've hit a sweet spot between functionality and size practicality. I'm happy with my 6" screen as long as women's clothes continue on the trend of indulging us with functional pockets.

[–] kofe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I'm waiting for a free upgrade to switch to a flip phone. I didn't want one immediately because I was worried about quality, but from what I hear they're doing well. Decent compromise for me

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[–] slinky317@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Everytime someone says this and manufacturers end up making a smaller phone... no one buys them.

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[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

It's these glass backs that I can't stand. I bought a phone not a wet bar of soap.

[–] smik@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 years ago

The comments section of a post like this feels like early reddit. Love it!

I adored my Pixel 3a. The size was perfect in my opinion. Small enough to handle with one hand and to put it in my pockets, big enough to enjoy watching videos on it. The Samsung S10e was lovely too.

I don't have sources but I remember them stating that small form factor phones were not selling too well. So I guess we won't see many flagship or even midrange phones in the near future.

[–] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I'm a big guy, with big hands.

Got the s22 ultra, and it feels like it's finally a me sized phone. I've been fighting tiny phones for decades!

In the end, we need a range from small to large.

[–] gila@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I switched to a Pixel 7 today from a Xiaomi Android phone. I always felt my existing phone was too big, and when looking for a new one the first thing I did was go to gsmarena and search for a phone released relatively recently with a smaller screen. Literally the only result was the Iphone SE.

The Pixel phone is practically the same size, just a tad smaller and just a tad heavier. But there is a significant difference in the gesture support, which is usually something I don't bother with. The result is that the basic system navigation and app switching can be done with my right hand only, in its normal holding position. The swipe from the left to go back a screen can be done from the bottom of the screen, so I don't need to stretch my thumb up and across to do it from the middle of the screen.

Stretching unnaturally is still required to swipe down from the top of the screen, or I guess if third party app design puts buttons in the top left. But as a software solution to this hardware problem which also preserves the larger screen size for cases where that's useful or desired, I think it's pretty good.

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[–] keeb420@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

On the one hand I love my fold 3. On the other I miss my pre. That thing was great except the terrible slider.

[–] GrouchyLady@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I want a smaller phone, without sacrificing on the camera. I have an S22 ultra and the camera is great, but I can't use it one-handed.

[–] aksdb@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Not possible at the moment. Without the large size, you can't fit an adequate battery to last a day or longer.

Not to mention that many people want good cameras on their phone, an they need space as well.

[–] kniescherz@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Display needs a lot of battery, less of it and you dont need such a big one. Than make it two millimeters thicker and the problem is solved.

[–] aksdb@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

That is a factor, but not a big one anymore. Not as big as the communication chips (bluetooth, wifi, 4g/5g). Also rendering apps and websites is excessively expensive, specially if you want to have HiDPI and 60Hz or more.

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[–] Marduk@hammerdown.0fucks.nl 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Unihertz, interesting, thanks!

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[–] ggnoredo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I love my s23

[–] mikestevens@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm generalising here and obviously it won't apply to everyone, but I tend to think most people with small phones look at huge phones and say "whoa, too big" and thus never bother to give it a go. People with large phones either love them already, or they love the idea of a small phone — so they go get one, and in most cases, immediately miss their large phone.

Of course, some people have experienced both formats enough to know that they definitely prefer small phones — but, unfortunately, they appear to be a minority. Small phones don't sell well, or else there'd be more of them. And so, these people fall into that all-too-common market category 'You're Not Significant Enough'.

All that said, it absolutely depends on what you want from your phone. I use my S23 Ultra to edit photos and videos, play a few games, get some work done — and all of those things benefit from a big display. Hell, even typing is easier for me on a big screen, thanks to my sausage thumbs. 😂

[–] ElectroVagrant@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Of course, some people have experienced both formats enough to know that they definitely prefer small phones — but, unfortunately, they appear to be a minority. Small phones don’t sell well, or else there’d be more of them.

The conundrum with sales though is, if almost no major brands are selling them, how would a regular person ever find them? In the Android market, there are few companies making & selling them & they arguably aren't widely popular for phones (sorry Asus, no surprises Unihertz) , so almost inevitably they won't sell well.

In the iOS market, they still have the iPhone SE which I think is the smallest of that lineup, and I don't think Apple would continue to make those if there wasn't still a market for them. Also to swing back to the first part of what I've quoted here, I guess I'm in that minority.

I recently got a new phone as I was concerned about the battery of my old one, but it turned out I may have gotten ahead of myself, so I have a very clear point of comparison between the two when it comes to their form factors and uh...Yeah, when you do it's no contest. The smaller device is way more comfortable to use, as I can reach most of the screen with one hand without feeling like I'm about to fumble it & drop it.

[–] Tinawebmom@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

20 years ago these were great. Now? Ye gods I'm too old for that tiny stuff.

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[–] i5-2520M@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Unironically if there was enough demand they would be made. Even the iPhone mini failed in market penetration, not to mention things like the Sony compacts and the Zenfones.

[–] V4uban@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Sony are quite overpriced, and ZenFones have very limited software support. I hope they improve it for zenfone 10

[–] waterbogan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

There's definitely a market for these - my partner prefers a more compact phone, it has been harder and harder to get a decently spec'd small phone of late. There are certain niche markets for small devices and alwasy will be

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[–] bandario@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 years ago

Just grow bigger hands 😉

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Life is your creation. :)

[–] jacktherippah@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Loving my 6.7" Pixel 6 Pro. As long as they keep the big phones around, I say hell yeah! More choice never hurts the consumer.

[–] ZytaZiouZ@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

At least here, I am apparently in the minority. I have an S22 Ultra, and I would legitimately take a much larger phone. I estimate I could use up to a 8.5" screen version of the S22U, but that would be the absolute max size I would use.

I do think if someone made a proper small high end phone they could sell them like hotcakes. Maybe make it just thick enough to accommodate a large enough battery.

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[–] lka1988@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Big phones sell though, that's the issue. Apple sold the mini version of the iphone right alongside the bigger models and it sold like shit. The people who want smaller phones are in a minority.

[–] mikestevens@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I think the battery life had a bit to do with that though, which of course is another mark against small phones.

[–] kometes@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Old people, who have bad eyes and money, buy the bigger phones. Profit margins are bigger with the bigger, more expensive phones. If you want a small phone, get one. Just don't expect the large phone makers to sell them.

[–] overzeetop@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Small phones have shittier cameras.

I like the idea of a small phone but, if I’m being honest, I’d probably use an iPad Mini as my phone if it had the ProMax (or better) imaging group on it.

[–] maniajack@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Agreed. I went from pixel 3a to 6a and thought okay this is definitely as big as I'm willing to use but prefer the smaller 3a size.

[–] Ryan213@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

No way, Note/Ultra always! Because I'm old and can't see properly now.

[–] ayyndrew@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I had a Pixel 3 which I loved, and reluctantly moved to the massive 6 Pro. With a popsocket, the size is manageable, but I'm interested to see how the Pixel Fold (2?) pans out, foldables might be the last hope for compact phones.

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