With rumors of the LG G3 coming with a 5.5-inch screen, I'm starting to wonder if everyday smartphones (not the phablet class, like the Note 3 / Xperia Z Ultra) are getting too big. Do you share that concern?
I know, I know. We've seen those arguments about phones getting too big that seem quaint now (I remember when LG's 4.8-inch Intel phone prototype seemed huge). However, this time it's a bit different. A mainstream flagship phone is supposed to appeal to as many customers as possible. Even if you have super-thin bezels, a 5.5-inch screen is a lot to handle for many people. I'm worried that manufacturers are so locked in the Bigger Numbers Are Always Better school of design that they'll unwittingly exclude those of us in the middle, who want something mid-sized.
To me, the sweet spot for a phone is around the 4.5- to 5-inch size. Occasionally, you can work with something a little bigger (like the G2). As long as it's designed well, that's large enough for most tasks to be done one-handed, and for the device to fit in most pockets. But 5.5-inch and larger? To me, that's appealing more to a specific kind of person, the one who's either a power user or for whom a phone will be their only real computer (this is why phone-capable tablets are relatively popular in China and India). I'd rather see phone makers focus on improving the experience for mid-size phones than trying to engage in "larger than yours" oneupmanship.
I know, I know. We've seen those arguments about phones getting too big that seem quaint now (I remember when LG's 4.8-inch Intel phone prototype seemed huge). However, this time it's a bit different. A mainstream flagship phone is supposed to appeal to as many customers as possible. Even if you have super-thin bezels, a 5.5-inch screen is a lot to handle for many people. I'm worried that manufacturers are so locked in the Bigger Numbers Are Always Better school of design that they'll unwittingly exclude those of us in the middle, who want something mid-sized.
To me, the sweet spot for a phone is around the 4.5- to 5-inch size. Occasionally, you can work with something a little bigger (like the G2). As long as it's designed well, that's large enough for most tasks to be done one-handed, and for the device to fit in most pockets. But 5.5-inch and larger? To me, that's appealing more to a specific kind of person, the one who's either a power user or for whom a phone will be their only real computer (this is why phone-capable tablets are relatively popular in China and India). I'd rather see phone makers focus on improving the experience for mid-size phones than trying to engage in "larger than yours" oneupmanship.