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Size matters: why the iPhone has a 3.5-inch screen

by Steven Sande Oct 10th 2011 at 1:30PM

One of the things Android phone owners love to brag about -- particularly those who have the new Samsung Galaxy S II with its 4.27-inch diagonal screen -- is that the larger screens are much easier to read and watch videos on. Dustin Curtis has owned both the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S II, and in an enlightening post on his blog, he pointed out why bigger isn't always better.

Curtis noted that the iPhone 4's design allows you to hold the device in one hand and touch almost any part of the screen with your thumb. You can't do that with the larger Galaxy S II, as seen in the diagram (size is incorrectly marked by Curtis) at the top of this post. The green area designates the reach of the thumb when holding the device in one hand, and there's a lot of Galaxy S II real estate that's not under that field of green.

According to Curtis, "Touching the upper right corner of the screen on the Galaxy S II using one hand, with its 4.27-inch screen, while you're walking down the street looking at Google Maps, is extremely difficult and frustrating." He concluded the post with a point that all Apple owners instinctively know, but can rarely explain: "This is an example of one of those design decisions that you don't usually notice until you see someone doing it wrong. It's one of the things that makes Apple products Apple products."



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Dustin Curtis has owned both the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S II, and in an enlightening post on his blog he pointed out why bigger isn't always better
 

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Jonsdad

I just got an Iphone and I noticed that the applications on IOS needs you to reach the upper left corner to go back, whereas the Android OS has the back button at the bottom.

I wonder if IOS will change with bigger Iphone 5.

November 29 2011 at 8:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Suresh

does this means iphone 5 will be never bigger in size. i am sure, it will be. this is just an excuse

October 16 2011 at 4:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AliasKei

Because there is a standard chair size that fits everyone too. Everyone also has exactly 1" clearance on all sides when walking through doors.

October 16 2011 at 3:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jonny D

well right beautyfully designed , but since i have two hands i'll buy a galaxy

October 15 2011 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jenniX

You know what they say about guys with little hands, right?

Little phones.

October 12 2011 at 8:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Skywarp

i read this last night but didnt have access to GS2 but just then I also get from corner to corner then some. Im sure theres a joke about iphone user and compensating but i just woke up

October 12 2011 at 8:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jody Smith

If yo bitchin' 'bout Samsung I feel sad for you son,
I got 99 problems, but my hand size ain't one

October 12 2011 at 6:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steb0ne

LMAO! I just grabbed my Sprint GS2 and my thumb goes from corner to corner diagonally. Yeah, he must have small hands, lol!

October 11 2011 at 10:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phil Lau

[x] Curtis has really short thumbs
[x] Curtis thinks everyone else has equally short thumbs
[ ] Curtis has 2 hands

October 11 2011 at 12:30 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
eversteegt

Ah so true! The reason I am reluctant to buy Android devices with screen sizes greater than 4.0 (or ideally 3.7) inch, too.

But I myself have yet an extra thing to care about when making a decision on which phone to buy: Screen resolution! I am visually impaired and the relation between screen size and native resolution (and, hence, DPI) is a very delicate one for me. This has always been the case with computer LCD screens for me and now also becomes an increasing problem with smartphones.

If I look at the screenshots, the iPhone is also already knee deep in the "high resolution on small screens" hype. Just like the Sony Ericsson xperia Neo I bought last week. The 800x480 resolution of most 3.7 of 4.0 inch HTC phones is ideal for me. The 850x480 resolution of the Xperia Neo is a complete disaster for me.

Especially when none of the software and UI designers cares about making DPI or font size configurable....

October 11 2011 at 10:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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