Who is To Blame for giant phones?

[codyoehl]

Phones with large displays don't sell better than phones with smaller displays. Look at the number of daily activations for Android. Subtract the S5 and Note 3 (because we kinda know those numbers from Samsung bragging). You're left with "all the rest".

Basically, there are FAR more smaller screen devices in the market than larger screen devices. The problem is that they don't have the specs of the larger screen devices. So the manufacturer already knows that small phones sell. It's just easier to market a larger phone as premium because people have a tendency to coincide large size with high-end/premium product.

That's true
http://www.zdnet.com/analysis-of-smartphone-shipments-shows-display-size-matters-7000029356/
66% of smartphones sold were below 5 inches

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[MikeLip]

Phones with large displays don't sell better than phones with smaller displays. Look at the number of daily activations for Android. Subtract the S5 and Note 3 (because we kinda know those numbers from Samsung bragging). You're left with "all the rest".

Basically, there are FAR more smaller screen devices in the market than larger screen devices. The problem is that they don't have the specs of the larger screen devices. So the manufacturer already knows that small phones sell. It's just easier to market a larger phone as premium because people have a tendency to coincide large size with high-end/premium product.

They sell because they are cheaper. But again, a nice fast smaller phone that screams is what we want. We want it not because it's necessary. It would be like buying a sports car. A small car with a supercharged V8 stuffed into it.

 

[JulesJam]

Basically, there are FAR more smaller screen devices in the market than larger screen devices. The problem is that they don't have the specs of the larger screen devices. So the manufacturer already knows that small phones sell. It's just easier to market a larger phone as premium because people have a tendency to coincide large size with high-end/premium product.

I think one of the main differences is that people who use their smartphone primarily as a phone and occasionally as a hand held computer like the smaller size. But those of us who use our smartphones primarily as hand held computers like the larger size. Or if you are more of texter than a talker.

 

[codyoehl]

1.8/1.3ghz octacore. Something like what Motorola put into the Droids, but running faster. So it has potential. But with the smaller battery tey will have to keep it clocked down as much as possible I bet. I may be wrong but here's the thing. Right now we are in a Ghz race, which is getting pointless - much like on PCs. I guess the best comparison again comes back to my old MaxxHD. By todays standards it's slow. But when it's running an app, it's fine. Painting the screen can be kind of jaggy and ugly, but once video is loaded it's good to go. In day to day in app use, it's perfectly fine. I'dlike it to be faster and the Alpha will be. And yeah, it's metal!

I don't get people and metal phones
I like how the GS5 is plastic, it feels nice, looks good, isn't as heavy as metal, and allows for the battery to be removed and for an SD card to be added
On top of all that, it's IP67

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[MikeLip]

back then they were just phones and a small phone is cool. Now they are hand held computers that are also phones and until someone invents a way to fix my broken eyes that doesn't cause headaches, I need a larger hand held computer screen to be able to see it.

Hey, I still have my Nokia bag phone. So yeah I remember those days. And yeah the big screen is convenient for many. But while that's a fine and necessary thing, all we ask is that we get a nice premium high performance phone in a smaller form factor. The Alpha does look good. But I bet it won't be as comfortable in the hand as a Moto X. All I want is perfection. That's not much to ask .

 

[codyoehl]

Hey, I still have my Nokia bag phone. So yeah I remember those days. And yeah the big screen is convenient for many. But while that's a fine and necessary thing, all we ask is that we get a nice premium high performance phone in a smaller form factor. The Alpha does look good. But I bet it won't be as comfortable in the hand as a Moto X. All I want is perfection. That's not much to ask .

Don't we all want that xD

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

1.8/1.3ghz octacore. Something like what Motorola put into the Droids, but running faster. So it has potential. But with the smaller battery tey will have to keep it clocked down as much as possible I bet. I may be wrong but here's the thing. Right now we are in a Ghz race, which is getting pointless - much like on PCs. I guess the best comparison again comes back to my old MaxxHD. By todays standards it's slow. But when it's running an app, it's fine. Painting the screen can be kind of jaggy and ugly, but once video is loaded it's good to go. In day to day in app use, it's perfectly fine. I'dlike it to be faster and the Alpha will be. And yeah, it's metal!

No. It's completely different than what Moto put in the Droids. It's actually completely different than anything else being put in phones right now. Built on 20nm process it has inherently better power efficiency.

The biggest battery drain on any phone is the display followed by the radios. Not the SoC.

 

[eve6er69]

Love my note3. Using an iPhone and note and the note is amazing for everything but 1 thing. One handed use.

 

[MikeLip]

I think one of the main differences is that people who use their smartphone primarily as a phone and occasionally as a hand held computer like the smaller size. But those of us who use our smartphones primarily as hand held computers like the larger size. Or if you are more of texter than a talker.

I bought the Note 3 for one purpose - to use it as a computer. Maybe I went overboard but I wanted to run iCircuit on it. It ran fine, but you couldn't see the simulation too well. Turned out that didn't work so it got relegated to Kindle, which it worked well for. But my eyes, while 57 years old, are still good close up and I find a sub-5" screen is my sweet spot. So I approached this differently. I have a Nexus 7 for somewhat more serious field work, but that's a clumsy e-reader. So the Motorola does everything else. Note that when I need a SCREEN for design work, I use a laptop and multiple big monitors. I rather suspect the new convertibles are going to take the pace of tabs pretty soon.

You are talking to an engineer who got started on a PDP-8i and every time I look at a cell "phone" some part of my brain looks at this tiny chunk of glass metal and plastic that can do damn near anything and talk to anyone anywhere and goes oh my god - that's just insane

 

[MikeLip]

No. It's completely different than what Moto put in the Droids. It's actually completely different than anything else being put in phones right now. Built on 20nm process it has inherently better power efficiency.

The biggest battery drain on any phone is the display followed by the radios. Not the SoC.

I am hoping that's how it works out. And people are complaining about the "low density" display and small battery on the Alpha. I am thinking that, between the multiple cores, the excellent power management of KitKat and less packed display, the battery will be just fine. But what I mean by the same, is it's the same design idea. Pass off less intensive work to more efficient and slower cores and save power. The Droids did that very well and this SoC ought to do it better yet. Screaming clocks are great when you have the milliamp-hours to keep them fed. Samsung went a different route and I can't wait to see how that works out.

For a long time, the makers were using the same design approach that PCs used. Too slow? Throw more clock at it. That works, but it's self limiting in terms of heat management and really inefficient. It worked for a while in PCs because you just plug those in. If you can get rid of heat, you're good. Not so much on phones and they are getting a lot smarter about it. Hey, even PCs are running a lot cooler these days! It's really nice not have to insulate your lap anymore.

Edit - Crap. I'm talking myself into wanting an Alpha. I told myself I wouldn't do that.

 

[A895]

Stop comparing Android to Apple though! There are a lot of reasons while apple sells so many iPhones
The smaller size is not the only reason people buy them
You are trying to say that android phone manufacturers should make smaller phones because a small minority of people want them, based off of the fact that apple, a big competitor who has a whole different look, OS, and brand/fan base sells a lot of phones? That logic is flawed

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

I am talking pure form factor not OS, you are messing up the argument.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

But... IPhone is even moving to the bigger phone. So aren't you comparing older iPhone to current Android?

No, iPhone 6 is going to be 4.7 inches right? It still fits into my original argument.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

Oh and another reason the companies might not make the smaller phones is because of the money involved
They are going to spend millions upon millions, designing it, producing it, selling it, and promoting it, and take all that time
Maybe they wouldn't make enough money off it to consider it plausible

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

That's a flawed argument. How many phablets on the market flopped? Anything that ain't Samsung Note line phablets don't sell that well. If they think it is an lost cause how many phones do manufactures like Samsung and LG make? They would lose more money by actually trying? That does not make sense.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

Galaxy Alpha - designed to compete with the next iPhone. Samsung has a direct iPhone competitor before the competitor is even announced.

I will be keeping my eye on that phone to see if it comes to Verizon.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[MikeLip]

I will be keeping my eye on that phone to see if it comes to Verizon.

Posted via the Android Central App

After all my arguing here, if it doesn't my head will explode.

 

[MikeLip]

That's a flawed argument. How many phablets on the market flopped? Anything that ain't Samsung Note line phablets don't sell that well. If they think it is an lost cause how many phones do manufactures like Samsung and LG make? They would lose more money by actually trying? That does not make sense.

Posted via the Android Central App

Remember the Samsung Mega? That puppy sold what, three units?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I am hoping that's how it works out. And people are complaining about the "low density" display and small battery on the Alpha. I am thinking that, between the multiple cores, the excellent power management of KitKat and less packed display, the battery will be just fine. But what I mean by the same, is it's the same design idea. Pass off less intensive work to more efficient and slower cores and save power. The Droids did that very well and this SoC ought to do it better yet. Screaming clocks are great when you have the milliamp-hours to keep them fed. Samsung went a different route and I can't wait to see how that works out.

For a long time, the makers were using the same design approach that PCs used. Too slow? Throw more clock at it. That works, but it's self limiting in terms of heat management and really inefficient. It worked for a while in PCs because you just plug those in. If you can get rid of heat, you're good. Not so much on phones and they are getting a lot smarter about it. Hey, even PCs are running a lot cooler these days! It's really nice not have to insulate your lap anymore.

Edit - Crap. I'm talking myself into wanting an Alpha. I told myself I wouldn't do that.

It's still slightly different than what's in the Droid and Moto X. Those co processors are designed to do a very few specific things. The slower "quad" core in the Exynos will do any and everything up until more performance is needed. And even then, they can plug in A15's as needed and don't need to fire them all up at the same time.

When I realized the Alpha had a brand new Exynos in it I became interested very quick.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

The worst part about the Galaxy Alpha is that if we see it in the US it'll probably be the Snapdragon version.

 

[MikeLip]

It's still slightly different than what's in the Droid and Moto X. Those co processors are designed to do a very few specific things. The slower "quad" core in the Exynos will do any and everything up until more performance is needed. And even then, they can plug in A15's as needed and don't need to fire them all up at the same time.

When I realized the Alpha had a brand new Exynos in it I became interested very quick.

It just better come to Verizon

 

[MikeLip]

The worst part about the Galaxy Alpha is that if we see it in the US it'll probably be the Snapdragon version.

You're ruining this for me