1. Buzz_Dengue's Avatar
    Bigger not always better with smartphone screens
    Larger screens work well for media consumption, but durability may be compromised
    By Mikael Rickn�s | Published: 14:42, September, 6, 2011

    Product launches at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin are giving consumers an unprecedented choice of screen sizes. But analysts are questioning whether consumers can learn to love them all.

    Vendors are trying to figure out what works when it comes to screen sizes, according to Geoff Blaber, analyst at CCS Insight.

    One of the big product trends at IFA was screen sizes between 4.5-5.5in, which include the LTE version of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S II, HTC's Windows Phone-based Titan, Samsung's Galaxy Note and the Tablet P from Sony, which has two 5in screens.

    So far, consumers have shunned products with screens around this size, such as the Dell Streak. But vendors including Samsung and HTC are hoping larger screen sizes will help them differentiate their products in a very competitive market.

    "Today's smartphones are pretty difficult to distinguish when it comes to the customer actually looking at them in stores. Increasing the screen is a clear example of manufacturers trying to differentiate rather than following the established product classes," said Blaber.

    Samsung push new size category between phone and tablet
    Even though it is not alone, Samsung is to a large extent the company pushing this size category. At the Galaxy Note product launch, the company said it wants to create a new product category between current smartphones and tablets, according to DJ Lee, head of global sales and marketing at Samsung Mobile.

    The Note has a 5.3in display and an optional stylus that allows users to write on the screen in addition to operating it with their finger. Not everyone is as convinced as Samsung there is a demand for this.

    "People are mostly happy with a phone of a reasonable size, 3.5in or 4in," said Bob O'Donnell, programme vice president for Clients and Displays at IDC.

    The introduction of smartphones with larger screens has many implications for users, according to Daniel Freeman, business design lead at Fjord, a company that has specialised in service design.

    Consumers wary of large screens
    "If you look at it from the consumer side, there is battery life, the cost of these new big panels and the fact larger screens are more susceptible to breaking," said Freeman.

    Furthermore, not being able to put the phone in a pocket is a pain and users want to be able to hold the device to their ear without looking like an idi0t, according to Freeman.

    But he said that increasing the screen size isn't all bad. It is better for media consumption, including video, browsing and reading e-books. It also becomes easier to type on the virtual keyboard, which today is an issue for many people contemplating a smartphone purchase, he explained.

    When designing these new smartphones, vendors are helped by hardware developments that allow them to manufacture devices where the screen comes right to the edge of the device. For example, HTC's Titan, which has a 4.7in screen, maintains its integrity as a phone, albeit one suited to tablet-like functions such as browsing and watching videos, Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight, explained.

    HTC Titan encroaches on tablet market
    Expectations that HTC's smartphone will be an uncompetitively large product similar to Dell's Streak are wrong, according to CCS Insight. The Titan weighs 160g, about 60g less than the 5in Streak.

    In CCS Insight's view, the Titan will further erode the opportunity for tablets with 7in screens as the distinction between large smartphones and small tablets blurs, Wood said.

    Pushing the screen right to the edge of a smartphone may allow vendors to keep the size of the device down, but from a usability standpoint it isn't ideal. "The closer the screen gets to the edge of the device, the more you find that your fingers, that are holding the device, are interrupting the screen experience," said Freeman.

    The consensus, at least among these analysts, is that smartphone screen sizes have reached their useful maximum at about 4.5-4.7in.

    Bigger not always better with smartphone screens - Feature - Techworld.com
    Rello likes this.
    09-06-11 09:19 AM
  2. Buzz_Dengue's Avatar
    OK, so a 5" screen in 16:9 format is no wider than my Storm 2... what about battery life? Is battery life increasing with new technology? It seems that the market is moving to 5"+ screens for touchscreen products, but given my current battery life, I wouldn't want any less charge to charge life than I currently have.
    09-06-11 09:24 AM
  3. TgeekB's Avatar
    Yeah, it seems screens are getting bigger and brighter but batteries are not keeping up. Also agree that it makes them more fragile and kind of dorky looking holding them up to the ear for a phone call. I think manufacturers are pushing them to close to the tablet market. Keep smartphones smartphones and tablets tablets. There is enough marketing room for both.
    09-06-11 09:31 AM
  4. ichat's Avatar
    Hello do I have permission to use this article? All credit will be given

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    09-06-11 09:55 AM
  5. Buzz_Dengue's Avatar
    OK, so a 5" screen in 16:9 format is no wider than my Storm 2... what about battery life? Is battery life increasing with new technology? It seems that the market is moving to 5"+ screens for touchscreen products, but given my current battery life, I wouldn't want any less charge to charge life than I currently have.

    ... well at least Samsung gets it... assuming specs on BB10 will at least be comparable?... still waiting in the wings with my Storm2 (blech)...

    Galaxy S3 specs leaked: quad-core, 1080p screen, ICS

    The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the most keenly awaited smart phone since a certain iPhone 5 failed to make an appearance last year. Well it's one step closer to becoming reality, as we have a spec list right here. And the big news is it has a 1080p screen, quad-core processor, and Android Ice Cream Sandwich, according to BGR's sources.

    The screen is 4.8-inches across, pegging it just shy of Panasonic's massive Eluga Power. The Full HD resolution means 1,920x1,080 pixels, so movies should look amazing on this thing. It also has a 16:9 aspect ratio, making it perfect for films.

    Inside is a 1.5GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor -- it's a bit of a surprise Samsung didn't go for a third-party model. Ice Cream Sandwich brings features like face unlock and the ability to group apps in folders. It's 4G too -- that doesn't mean a lot for us Brits just yet, but it could do before the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

    It's no slouch image-wise either. An 8-megapixel camera sits on the back, with a 2-megapixel front-facer. That's pretty high resolution for video calls, so you'd better check yourself in a mirror before making one.

    The Galaxy S3 also has a ceramic case, according to the spec list.

    This thing has been the subject of more rumours and speculation than a Hollywood A-lister. It's rumoured to be just 7mm slim. It was originally thought to be given an outing in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, though its reveal has since been pushed back. It may well go on sale in July. It's so keenly awaited we've collected everything you need to know about it in an enormous guide.

    What do you make of that spec list? It's not exhaustive, but is anything missing? What else would you like to see? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page. And for all the MWC news, stay tuned to mwc.cnet.co.uk.

    Samsung Galaxy S3 specs leaked: quad-core, 1080p screen, ICS | CNET UK
    03-13-12 09:12 AM
  6. qbnkelt's Avatar
    I definitely feel more comfortable handling my iP4S than my Skyrocket.
    I can't imagine putting a Note to my ear.
    03-13-12 09:58 AM
  7. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    OK, so a 5" screen in 16:9 format is no wider than my Storm 2... what about battery life? Is battery life increasing with new technology? It seems that the market is moving to 5"+ screens for touchscreen products, but given my current battery life, I wouldn't want any less charge to charge life than I currently have.
    Bigger screens=bigger chassis=better battery life.

    Of all the smartphones I use right now, the smallest is my 9810 and it has the worst battery life if I actually try to use any features on the phone. It is absolutely abysmal. The only saving grace is the screen size is so small and browser is so slow, I wont surf the internet on it and there are no apps, so when I am using it, it is in standby mode and the battery life becomes acceptable.
    03-13-12 10:40 AM
  8. howarmat's Avatar
    The battery life acually does get better because most companies are sticking bigger batteries in the phones. Look at the razr maxx even my nexus has a large battery yet is the thinnest phone I have owned. It is narrower than my thunderbolt was even.

    I would love to see batter tech catch up though. I am sure everyone would
    03-13-12 10:51 AM
  9. Buzz_Dengue's Avatar
    07-06-12 10:17 AM
  10. JasW's Avatar
    I can't imagine making calls on something that size. Then again, even that size would probably be a relief to this guy:

    07-06-12 11:14 AM
  11. otacon's Avatar
    I've always said that there must be a balance between screen size on mobile devices. Bigger screen means lower battery life, and it makes it bulky to carry around as well. Why wouldi need a mobile device that has a gigantic screen and lug that around? If I ever need a bigger screen, I always have my MacBook Air and my iPad (soon to be replaced with the 4G Playbook). A mobile device is for simple tasks like calls, texts and emails. Anything more than that is just extra strain on the limited battery life available.
    07-06-12 11:26 AM
  12. reeneebob's Avatar
    The Note is like putting a paperback to your face lol. My limit is the SGS3. The curvy shape helps it feel smaller than its actual size which is nice.

    My test is one handed typing. I can't on the Note, I can on the SGS. I can't even one hand dial on the Note.
    Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
    07-06-12 11:27 AM
  13. kilted thrower's Avatar
    The next Galaxy Note is supposed to have a 5.5" screen but since it'll have a smaller bezel due to running ICS and not needing the capacitive buttons or whatever they're called. I think it'll be awesome.

    My hands are larger than the Note and they fit comfortably in my jeans/pants pocket.

    My wife had been making fun of the Note because of how large it was. She was having issues with FB on her phone so I let her use mine. It was hard to get it back from her. She absolutely loved the screen size for viewing FB and watching some Youtube clips (we didn't have our laptops with us). While she still doesn't want a phone this big, she did finally admit that she could see how someone would want one.

    I think as we move up in screen sizes, we get used to them and they stop being so "wow! Look how big it is!" (open for a joke y'all). I think consumers are fickle quite often. We went from having huge cell phones (think days when the show Dallas was popular) to getting them as small as possible back to going the large route. Despite what the findings are finding, the 5+" screens are selling well enough that LG has one coming out, the Note 2 is coming out, and heck...4.7" and 4.8" screens are getting pretty common.

    What I think would be sweet is if you take something like the thickness of a Galaxy Nexus or one of your thinner BB phones. You could attach a folding keyboard to the back of it which would also be very thin and a folding external screen. The folding external screen would be folded into four sections of 4 inches. Bam! You have a portable desktop with you with a full keyboard and a 16" screen.
    07-06-12 11:41 AM
  14. kilted thrower's Avatar
    I can't imagine making calls on something that size.
    Why? It calls just as well as tiny, little phones.
    07-06-12 11:43 AM
  15. kilted thrower's Avatar
    I've always said that there must be a balance between screen size on mobile devices. Bigger screen means lower battery life, and it makes it bulky to carry around as well. Why wouldi need a mobile device that has a gigantic screen and lug that around? If I ever need a bigger screen, I always have my MacBook Air and my iPad (soon to be replaced with the 4G Playbook). A mobile device is for simple tasks like calls, texts and emails. Anything more than that is just extra strain on the limited battery life available.
    My battery lasts 12-18 hours. My hand is much thicker and larger than my Note. My hands fit comfortably in my jeans or pants. The Note isn't heavy at all. The nice thing is the phone makes it to where I'm not carrying around a laptop or a tablet.
    07-06-12 11:45 AM
  16. kilted thrower's Avatar
    The Note is like putting a paperback to your face lol. My limit is the SGS3. The curvy shape helps it feel smaller than its actual size which is nice.

    My test is one handed typing. I can't on the Note, I can on the SGS. I can't even one hand dial on the Note.
    Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
    That would be the one negative if you had smaller hands. My hands aren't really that large...I'm 5'8". I tend to use swype most of the time and it makes 1 handed texting easy. Not sure about one handed dialing. My wife is 5'2" and she can one handed dial easily on it.
    07-06-12 11:47 AM
  17. Laura Knotek's Avatar
    I always liked the ad with the elephant for the Note.

    [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stWIuiy6mxQ[/YT]
    07-06-12 11:52 AM
  18. athooya's Avatar
    So far, consumers have shunned products with screens around this size, such as the Dell Streak. But vendors including Samsung and HTC are hoping larger screen sizes will help them differentiate their products in a very competitive market.
    I am one of those consumers who shun bigger screen size. I have always been consistent in saying that BIGGER is not better, bigger screen is not a desirable feature for me. Bigger means heavier, clumsier to handle, bad ergonomics. Bigger means lower battery life, and if the battery size is increased to increase its life, the heavier it is ... cannot win. At some point, as the size increases, you reach a point of diminishing return in perceived value. There ought to be a limit on the "size" of a smartphone for it to be called a "phone".

    If I want a bigger screen for heavy web surfing, watching video or playing games, I get a tablet. If I want more computing power, I get a laptop.

    I want my smartphone to fit in my shirt pocket and normal size pant. I want to be able to wear my smartphone on my belt without it stabbing my tummy, ribs or thigh.

    One of the reasons why I like a Blackberry is that it strikes the best balance between size, form and functions.
    07-06-12 12:09 PM
  19. Tre Lawrence's Avatar
    A mobile device is for simple tasks like calls, texts and emails.
    ... for you...

    I need my mobile device to do way more. Why get two devices when one can do multiple jobs well?


    Mobile post via Tapatalk
    pantlesspenguin and howarmat like this.
    07-06-12 01:03 PM
  20. dtango's Avatar
    I read alot of this topic and there seems to be a misconception that batteries aren't improving. Let me show you the best smartphone batteries, which are the bigger, newer phones.
    07-06-12 01:33 PM
  21. Moonbase0ne's Avatar
    Im just curious, how many here have actually used the Galaxy Note?

    Also, isn't the Note a success by many accounts? I am sure it is too big for some consumers, but it looks like a lot of people actually like it's size as well. But that could be said about anything phone. Some find the screen on the Bold or the iPhone too small. some find them perfect.

    The battery life on the note is actually pretty good. But, I guess that also depends on what your looking for in a device.

    The note also comes with a 2,500 mAh, with the option to buy a spare or get a larger battery if you need/choose too.

    One of the things I like about Android, is the variety of phones with different screen sizes and features to choose from.
    07-06-12 02:53 PM
  22. reeneebob's Avatar
    Im just curious, how many here have actually used the Galaxy Note?

    Also, isn't the Note a success by many accounts? I am sure it is too big for some consumers, but it looks like a lot of people actually like it's size as well. But that could be said about anything phone. Some find the screen on the Bold or the iPhone too small. some find them perfect.

    The battery life on the note is actually pretty good. But, I guess that also depends on what your looking for in a device.

    The note also comes with a 2,500 mAh, with the option to buy a spare or get a larger battery if you need/choose too.

    One of the things I like about Android, is the variety of phones with different screen sizes and features to choose from.
    I have - I threw my sim into the store demo for about a week while I was at work. It's WAY too big for my girl hands.

    If I can't dial with one hand, it's too big FOR ME. I can absolutely see the appeal for others though, particularly for CAD or photo editing.
    07-06-12 03:09 PM
  23. ElGusta's Avatar
    This article is outdated, published September 2011.

    Consumers aren't 'shunning' large displays. The shunned the Streak because, well...its made by Dell (need I say more?).

    The market has spoken and there is a definite market for large screens. The relative success of the extreme sized Samsung Note demonstrates this.

    Why people continue to make overarching statements that attempt to group every consumer as having the same wants and needs in a product is beyond me.
    07-06-12 03:15 PM
  24. Laura Knotek's Avatar
    One of the reasons I shunned the iPhone and the BlackBerry 9860 was due to the screen being too small.

    Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
    07-06-12 03:21 PM
  25. pantlesspenguin's Avatar
    One of the reasons I shunned the iPhone and the BlackBerry 9860 was due to the screen being too small.

    Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
    I should've gone to the 9850 instead of 9930 for my dabbling in OS7. I had forgotten that the main reason I gave up my 9700 two years ago was because of the teeny tiny screen. I think I could manage with the 9850's screen. My MT4G screen wasn't that much bigger. I'm kind of excited to see the SGS3 screen, as well. That will be my biggest phone screen so far.
    07-06-12 03:41 PM
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