Becoming tired of big Android phones

[mohit9206]

I find it quite funny that phones such as HTC desire hd and hd2 were considered massive even though their size is actually small than Sony's compact phones like z3c and z5c.
Gsmarena even put 'its too big' in the cons section of its review. So did people's hands get massive in the last 5 years? Funny.

 

[mimran]

TLDR: Thought Android phones were to big. Switched to One S in emergency when iPhone died. Stayed with it for 6 months instead of going back to iOS. Bought One instead of HTC First which would have been ideal Android Phone before got the One S. Realized having a big phone is way better than small one.

 

[A895]

I find it quite funny that phones such as HTC desire hd and hd2 were considered massive even though their size is actually small than Sony's compact phones like z3c and z5c.
Gsmarena even put 'its too big' in the cons section of its review. So did people's hands get massive in the last 5 years? Funny.

People's perception of what is big has changed

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[mohit9206]

People's perception of what is big has changed

Posted via the Android Central App

And yet big phones with massive 4.3 inch screens were considered hard to use with a single hand while today's 5 inch phones phones have suddenly become easy to use single handed.
Either people's hand evolved as they continued to struggle with big phones or people were lying either then or today.

 

[Inders99]

People's perception of what is big has changed

Posted via the Android Central App

Mine hasn't, if it's clunky to use with one hand it's too big and the G4 is. Yes it can be done but that's not the point, it's cumbersome to do unless you have spider hands, period.

I think there's an acceptance within Android since there's little choice of flagship small phones so people just go with what's available. The prevalence of iPhone 4 & 5's tell me there's still a huge market for one handed devices.

 

[A895]

Mine hasn't, if it's clunky to use with one hand it's too big and the G4 is. Yes it can be done but that's not the point, it's cumbersome to do unless you have spider hands, period.

I think there's an acceptance within Android since there's little choice of flagship small phones so people just go with what's available. The prevalence of iPhone 4 & 5's tell me there's still a huge market for one handed devices.

I agree, people accept it and their perception changed. I still think 5 inches pushes it personally. My phone uses a 4.5 screen and this seems like my limit. But nothing in this range is high end and Verizon. The closest is the 5S but that is getting old now.

 

[elementxstyle]

I was at first apprehensive about upgrading to bigger phones. But I realized something. I spent a lot of time surfing content, texting and consuming media (YouTube etc.) than I do casually checking the phone. If I text one handed I swipe. If not, I use my hands. I rarely had to use both hands with simple tasks. It's thanks to the numerous updates to Android that allow me to do a lot more with one hand.

But the fact was...I used both hands more than I ever used one hand. In the off chance I used one hand, sure its awkward trying to get more complex tasks done but then after that one task its over. I had to find out which was more important. I found the the little time I spent doing one handed tasks was fickle. And that having a big screen allowed for more enjoyable experience when watching videos and reading articles, taking pictures and viewing them.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed a bigger screen more. The little time I did use one hand, there was always a way for me to get it done (adjusting the phone in hand, etc). I spent more time with two hands, then I did with one.

I remember my brother and sister would always show me stuff on their iPhone 5s and it would just be a horrible viewing experience.

Ultimately its why Android has buttons on the bottom. Instead of just one, and having to reach to the top left to do stuff.

 

[A895]

I was at first apprehensive about upgrading to bigger phones. But I realized something. I spent a lot of time surfing content, texting and consuming media (YouTube etc.) than I do casually checking the phone. If I text one handed I swipe. If not, I use my hands. I rarely had to use both hands with simple tasks. It's thanks to the numerous updates to Android that allow me to do a lot more with one hand.

But the fact was...I used both hands more than I ever used one hand. In the off chance I used one hand, sure its awkward trying to get more complex tasks done but then after that one task its over. I had to find out which was more important. I found the the little time I spent doing one handed tasks was fickle. And that having a big screen allowed for more enjoyable experience when watching videos and reading articles, taking pictures and viewing them.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed a bigger screen more. The little time I did use one hand, there was always a way for me to get it done (adjusting the phone in hand, etc). I spent more time with two hands, then I did with one.

I remember my brother and sister would always show me stuff on their iPhone 5s and it would just be a horrible viewing experience.

Ultimately its why Android has buttons on the bottom. Instead of just one, and having to reach to the top left to do stuff.

That all sounds well and good but many people enjoy using their phones one handed such as myself. I don't know why smartphone consumers have resigned themselves to using two hands on a darn phone. But hey, whatever choices and all that. I still using a smaller device and it is just fine so I'm okay.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[LeoRex]

Yes... they have gotten big. Too big? Well, let's look at how mobile has changed. Network speeds improved to the point where people could stream video, high definition video, to their phones. Between that and the ever-more complex games hitting the market, your eyes became the most important interface with yout phone.... and larger is better. If you are going to binge watch The Walking Dead on your phone, would you want to do it on a 4" iPhone 5S or a 6" Nexus 6? I'm using an extreme case there, but that's why we are where we are.

It's all about content... and the content that is the most consumed these days, well, people will gladly sacrifice a little usability in order to improve the expirience.

 

[Almeuit]

That all sounds well and good but many people enjoy using their phones one handed such as myself. I don't know why smartphone consumers have resigned themselves to using two hands on a darn phone. But hey, whatever choices and all that. I still using a smaller device and it is just fine so I'm okay.

Posted via the Android Central App

Well see on the other side of the coin -- Who is to say those people even used the other devices one handed? I can use mine one handed to navigate around but when typing I always went two handed since I can type with two thumbs faster than one. Just depends how you use your phone -- so for me the one hand thing doesn't matter too much.

 

[OceanView]

Life is short, get the phone you want and sell your big phone.
Problem solved.

 

[Inders99]

Life is short, get the phone you want and sell your big phone.
Problem solved.

And our Android choices are....

 

[Inders99]

I think some of the big phone aficionados are a bit defensive regarding this topic. Nobody is asserting that big phones need to go away...just give us the option of a smaller device...there's still a market.

 

[OceanView]

there are plenty of flagship level phones in the 5" range.
HTC M9, Samsung S6, Nexus 5X, Moto X, do some research and you will find them.

 

[Almeuit]

I think some of the big phone aficionados are a bit defensive regarding this topic.

I would have to disagree. We are simply having a discussion which is what we do in forums . I was simply replying to the A895 saying some Android users may not have cared about 1 handed use as much as him -- just giving him that other view point since I didn't even one hand a bunch with smaller phones.

 

[A895]

Well see on the other side of the coin -- Who is to say those people even used the other devices one handed? I can use mine one handed to navigate around but when typing I always went two handed since I can type with two thumbs faster than one. Just depends how you use your phone -- so for me the one hand thing doesn't matter too much.

One handed isn't only about typing. It is overall day to day life. Try drinking something from Starbucks and walking to a class with a Note 5 in one hand trying to read emails or read a few headlines from your feed. Pretty hard to do. Overall in day to day scenarios one handed phones win out.

But when you want to relax or sit down, I can see using a bigger phone but I have a tablet now so that's moot. If I'm going to relax and watch entertainment full blown might as well use a small tablet. And if I'm home I would end up using my laptop, iMac, or Xbox one instead. So that makes the case for a bigger phone for me not viable even more.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

I think some of the big phone aficionados are a bit defensive regarding this topic. Nobody is asserting that big phones need to go away...just give us the option of a smaller device...there's still a market.

People always get defensive regarding tech. I have been a member here for years, you know how many conversations I have had regarding phone sizes by now? A lot. Each time big phone fans and users beat you down to make having a small phone seem a bad idea.

Personally I almost got a note 5 or an iPhone 6s plus. But I can't deal with that size.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

there are plenty of flagship level phones in the 5" range.
HTC M9, Samsung S6, Nexus 5X, Moto X, do some research and you will find them.

HTC one m9 is bigger because of its height and thickness. The s6 is not too big battery life isn't that good, and no removable storage, 5X same with the s6, Moto X this year went big. So none of those for me.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

I would have to disagree. We are simply having a discussion which is what we do in forums . I was simply replying to the A895 saying some Android users may not have cared about 1 handed use as much as him -- just giving him that other view point since I didn't even one hand a bunch with smaller phones.

I never said that, I said specifically people like smaller phones, but since phones by and large come bigger people just end up tossing usability aside and use the big devices.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[ahaxton]

I think some of the big phone aficionados are a bit defensive regarding this topic. Nobody is asserting that big phones need to go away...just give us the option of a smaller device...there's still a market.

Here's the problem with that... the marketing research, sales trend analysis, and other data tell Samsung, LG, HTC, LG, Motorola, Huawei, as well as others I'm sure I'm forgetting that there is not a market that is big enough to still make a phone that will turn a profit.