There needs to be small Android phone...

[jlarkins08]

There needs to be small android phone

How are you liking the iPhone 12 Mini? It looks cute and super functional! Reminds me of how I liked the iPhone SE.

I’m a fan of the 12 mini, went with the Blue color (128GB) Very content with it. iOS has its quirks but it’s functional. I miss certain customizations ANDROID brings to the table but overall Apple has made a wonderful powerful little device. The mini serves my needs well!

 

[Chuck Finley69]

My son and two daughters represent the dilemma that Apple (plus Android OEMs) face across their user base. It’s the value meal conundrum. For almost the same price it costs to make all the devices, people will only pay less for the smaller devices.

My son wouldn’t pay the extra for the 6+, 7+ when I was covering the price of the 6, 7 and when his own money, held off until SE2/9 and won’t pay for XR, 11 or 12 at time although I’m sure he’ll buy the cheapest new coming up. Daughters have 8 and XR for same reason but none are ever going to pay almost or same price for smaller device. It’s the mentality of larger size for little bit more is better value.

 

[Morty2264]

I’m a fan of the 12 mini, went with the Blue color (128GB) Very content with it. iOS has its quirks but it’s functional. I miss certain customizations ANDROID brings to the table but overall Apple has made a wonderful powerful little device. The mini serves my needs well!

So glad you are liking the iPhone 12 Mini! Apple is a very smooth OS - functional, as you say.

 

[swebb]

My son and two daughters represent the dilemma that Apple (plus Android OEMs) face across their user base. It’s the value meal conundrum. For almost the same price it costs to make all the devices, people will only pay less for the smaller devices.

My son wouldn’t pay the extra for the 6+, 7+ when I was covering the price of the 6, 7 and when his own money, held off until SE2/9 and won’t pay for XR, 11 or 12 at time although I’m sure he’ll buy the cheapest new coming up. Daughters have 8 and XR for same reason but none are ever going to pay almost or same price for smaller device. It’s the mentality of larger size for little bit more is better value.

Exactly why I think any small Android phone will have to be a "value" phone to be competitive. Apple can get away (to an extent) with a flagship spec'd and priced phone because there is no other competition in the IOS world.

 

[B. Diddy]

You all might find this interesting: https://www.theverge.com/22431051/asus-zenfone-8-review

 

[Morty2264]

You all might find this interesting: https://www.theverge.com/22431051/asus-zenfone-8-review

Wow! That's super "mini" cool beans!

 

[Grabber5.0]

You all might find this interesting: https://www.theverge.com/22431051/asus-zenfone-8-review

I've looked at Zenfones before, but being on Sprint, I couldn't use one. They had interesting specs.

 

[B. Diddy]

I've looked at Zenfones before, but being on Sprint, I couldn't use one. They had interesting specs.

Android Central gave me a Zenfone 2 a number of years ago, and I really liked it. Camera was quite good, although as they mentioned in the review I linked, ASUS's camera software tends toward the color saturation side (following Samsung's lead). Now that Sprint is part of T-Mobile, the Zenfone 8 shouldn't pose any network compatibility problems these days for you.

 

[Grabber5.0]

Android Central gave me a Zenfone 2 a number of years ago, and I really liked it. Camera was quite good, although as they mentioned in the review I linked, ASUS's camera software tends toward the color saturation side (following Samsung's lead). Now that Sprint is part of T-Mobile, the Zenfone 8 shouldn't pose any network compatibility problems these days for you.

Eventually.. I've been looking forward to that, but my lines are still on a Sprint account for now, which means Sprint has to support a device to activate it. Besides, I just bought an S21, so won't be buying anything else for a bit.

 

[Morty2264]

Android Central gave me a Zenfone 2 a number of years ago, and I really liked it. Camera was quite good, although as they mentioned in the review I linked, ASUS's camera software tends toward the color saturation side (following Samsung's lead). Now that Sprint is part of T-Mobile, the Zenfone 8 shouldn't pose any network compatibility problems these days for you.

I have always liked the Asus Zenfones. They look super awesome. I believe I was really interested in the 3.

 

[andreasr66]

I think you are correct, although Apple found sales of the iPhone mini didn't meet their expectations sales wise

And as long as success is measured with the amount of cash you can squeeze out of the market we wont have nice things

I was rooting for a small oneplus but probably will have to go zenfone or iphone mini while they last. Current devices are way too large for my aesthetics (when did huge become sexy?)

IMO this is the same (sad) trend as with SUVs. You just need a bigger one than your neighbor to win

I keep hoping but elegance is not affordable, sadly

 

[Morty2264]

And as long as success is measured with the amount of cash you can squeeze out of the market we wont have nice things

I was rooting for a small oneplus but probably will have to go zenfone or iphone mini while they last. Current devices are way too large for my aesthetics (when did huge become sexy?)

IMO this is the same (sad) trend as with SUVs. You just need a bigger one than your neighbor to win

I keep hoping but elegance is not affordable, sadly

I totally agree with you. The smartphone motto nowadays seems to be "bigger is better". I would have *loved* a smaller OnePlus phone, too!

 

[swebb]

If Apple can't sell a small iphone then the market isn't there.

 

[Morty2264]

If Apple can't sell a small iphone then the market isn't there.

Wouldn't it depend on the smartphone manufacturer, itself? Apple seems to cater towards the masses - people who want newest features, cameras, etc. That is a generalization, but I still think Apple sweeps a grand user base that want what's *in* - and we all know that smaller smartphones are a niche market, sadly. I'm not sure if a small iPhone would get a lot of traffic. Those are just my two cents, though!

 

[swebb]

I'm going with this based on the iphone mini numbers and how I interpreted this thread; that there is a desire for a small state of the art phone. Sure that there are small phones in the android ecosystem, but they sorely lack in the spec department. Just seems to me that there is not enough demand to warrant making one.

 

[the_boon]

If Apple can't sell a small iphone then the market isn't there.

They sure can, but maybe not the quantities that they had hoped for. But I'm sure that many Android manufacturers would have been happy with Apple's sales numbers of the 12 Mini.

 

[the_boon]

we all know that smaller smartphones are a niche market, sadly.

The compact phone market is small, like the keyboard phone market. Those in said markets should buy these phones if they truly want to support the form factor, or don't complain down the line if huge slabs are all there is to buy, or if said niche phones are only being made by tiny Kickstarter companies.

That said, if there were a half decent keyboard case for the i12 Mini, I would seriously consider switching to iOS!

 

[anon(50597)]

Still have my Pixel 4a which is the perfect size for me.

 

[Deleted member 2609113]

Still have my Pixel 4a which is the perfect size for me.

I might like a Pixel sized between the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 6.

 

[anon(50597)]

I might like a Pixel sized between the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 6.

Am I correct that the 6 will be 6.4?

I want my phone to fit in my pocket and be able to forget about it until I need it. I’m not sure if 6.4 would do that for me. It’s really a combination of size and weight.

For now I think I’ll stick with the 4a. It performs well and fits my size specifications. I’m glad Google has a nice variety for everyone though.