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just make normal sized cellphones again, please!

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[-] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

Large phones are the new normal size now.

Going back to small phones now feels like trying to type through a postage stamp

[-] half_fiction@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I was thinking who's to say what "normal" size even is? In hindsight, it was awkward as hell taking calls on my tiny nokia brick. Personally, I think we've hit a sweet spot between functionality and size practicality. I'm happy with my 6" screen as long as women's clothes continue on the trend of indulging us with functional pockets.

[-] kofe@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I'm waiting for a free upgrade to switch to a flip phone. I didn't want one immediately because I was worried about quality, but from what I hear they're doing well. Decent compromise for me

[-] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Ive been using the galaxy fold 3 for 2 years now and i could never go back to one that doesnt fold. The tablet style screen has become my main screen. Its just functionally superior to any normal phone screen and if im only performing simple tasks the smaller outer screen is fine.

[-] kofe@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I've been torn on whether to go with that or the flip. Most of my clothes have smaller pockets so the flip would be great, but then the larger screen with the fold would be handy too!

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[-] FeebaskMeAnything@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

People asked Apple for this, and when they obliged, it sold so terribly that retailers literally could not give them away. Unfortunately, it seems those who actually want smaller phones are a vocal minority

[-] Kichae@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Capitalism: Providing infinite consumer choice, so long as your choice is to consume what everyone else is consuming.

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[-] slinky317@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

Everytime someone says this and manufacturers end up making a smaller phone... no one buys them.

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[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I'm a big guy, with big hands.

Got the s22 ultra, and it feels like it's finally a me sized phone. I've been fighting tiny phones for decades!

In the end, we need a range from small to large.

[-] smik@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 1 year ago

The comments section of a post like this feels like early reddit. Love it!

I adored my Pixel 3a. The size was perfect in my opinion. Small enough to handle with one hand and to put it in my pockets, big enough to enjoy watching videos on it. The Samsung S10e was lovely too.

I don't have sources but I remember them stating that small form factor phones were not selling too well. So I guess we won't see many flagship or even midrange phones in the near future.

[-] gila@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I switched to a Pixel 7 today from a Xiaomi Android phone. I always felt my existing phone was too big, and when looking for a new one the first thing I did was go to gsmarena and search for a phone released relatively recently with a smaller screen. Literally the only result was the Iphone SE.

The Pixel phone is practically the same size as my existing phone, just a tad smaller and just a tad heavier. But there is a significant difference in the gesture support, which is usually something I don't bother with. The result is that the basic system navigation and app switching can be done with my right hand only, in its normal holding position. The swipe from the left to go back a screen can be done from the bottom of the screen, so I don't need to stretch my thumb up and across to do it from the middle of the screen.

Stretching unnaturally is still required to swipe down from the top of the screen, or I guess if third party app design puts buttons in the top left. But as a software solution to this hardware problem which also preserves the larger screen size for cases where that's useful or desired, I think it's pretty good.

[-] V4uban@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Interesting feedback

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[-] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

It's these glass backs that I can't stand. I bought a phone not a wet bar of soap.

[-] Tinawebmom@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

20 years ago these were great. Now? Ye gods I'm too old for that tiny stuff.

[-] wolfpack86@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

A friend of mine was all in on the palm pre. And extolled the small form factor and how much better it was than the incoming 4G Android phones...

Now he buys the largest iphone possible every year

[-] Ataraxia@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I used an overlooked palm pre for internet access before I got my first smart phone and while it was neat at the time it really wasn't going to be good for say, browsing on jerboa with that screen size. The keyboard wasn't good either.

[-] Marduk@hammerdown.0fucks.nl 3 points 1 year ago

Unihertz, interesting, thanks!

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[-] i5-2520M@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Unironically if there was enough demand they would be made. Even the iPhone mini failed in market penetration, not to mention things like the Sony compacts and the Zenfones.

[-] V4uban@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Sony are quite overpriced, and ZenFones have very limited software support. I hope they improve it for zenfone 10

[-] waterbogan@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

There's definitely a market for these - my partner prefers a more compact phone, it has been harder and harder to get a decently spec'd small phone of late. There are certain niche markets for small devices and alwasy will be

[-] LordShrek@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

but the big phone manufacturers don't realize there's a market for this and they completely neglect that. or rather, they know that there's a market for it but they know it won't make them enough profit so they stick with the mainstream, which is a huge shame. i'm sure that there are engineers working at google, samsung, etc. who would love to work on smaller phones, phones with other unique hardware such as trackballs, but aren't able to because of "turn everything into money" mindset.

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[-] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Life is your creation. :)

[-] lka1988@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Big phones sell though, that's the issue. Apple sold the mini version of the iphone right alongside the bigger models and it sold like shit. The people who want smaller phones are in a minority.

[-] aksdb@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Not possible at the moment. Without the large size, you can't fit an adequate battery to last a day or longer.

Not to mention that many people want good cameras on their phone, an they need space as well.

[-] kniescherz@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago

Display needs a lot of battery, less of it and you dont need such a big one. Than make it two millimeters thicker and the problem is solved.

[-] adidson@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I'm typing this comment on a Zenfone 9, which is a pretty reasonably sized phone with a decent battery and camera. Charging to 80% usually lasts me over a day of usage. The camera is good enough as well. Phones don't have to be so massive to have those features

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[-] maniajack@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Agreed. I went from pixel 3a to 6a and thought okay this is definitely as big as I'm willing to use but prefer the smaller 3a size.

[-] kometes@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Old people, who have bad eyes and money, buy the bigger phones. Profit margins are bigger with the bigger, more expensive phones. If you want a small phone, get one. Just don't expect the large phone makers to sell them.

[-] overzeetop@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Small phones have shittier cameras.

I like the idea of a small phone but, if I’m being honest, I’d probably use an iPad Mini as my phone if it had the ProMax (or better) imaging group on it.

[-] burgersc12@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I would love a phone around the size of the s8 with a flat screen. I love my s20FE but it can feel a bit big sometimes

[-] Ryan213@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

No way, Note/Ultra always! Because I'm old and can't see properly now.

[-] bandario@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

Just grow bigger hands 😉

[-] ayyndrew@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I had a Pixel 3 which I loved, and reluctantly moved to the massive 6 Pro. With a popsocket, the size is manageable, but I'm interested to see how the Pixel Fold (2?) pans out, foldables might be the last hope for compact phones.

[-] bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

It'll take a bit, but big minds are working on it

https://smallandroidphone.com/

[-] fulano 1 points 1 year ago

There's a chinese brand called cubot that already makes small phones. It's already available for buying.

[-] bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Their website does not instill me with confidence, plus China.

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this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023
43 points (85.2% liked)

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