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I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

smallandroidphone.com

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Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#531

Post by dont__panic »

dbrgn wrote: post #73
grwthckrmstr wrote: post #44

Using the Pixel 4a. Basically the perfect form factor and size. I'd upgrade every 2-3 years to a new version of the same phone with minor updates like the chipset etc. Dreading the day I'll have to start searching for a replacement :(

The Pixel 3a (my current phone) has a 5.6" screen, the 4a has a 5.8" screen and the Pixel 5 has a 6" screen. However, they're all approximately the same physical size, it's just the bezels that got smaller.

The 4a is actually a smidge smaller than the 3a. Much easier to handle, IMO, though not quite ideal.

Your point about bezels getting smaller is very true for the phones you mentioned. But you also left out the Pixel 4a 5G, the Pixel 5a, the Pixel 6, the Pixel 6 Pro, and the Pixel 6a. Which all ballooned massively in physical size relative to their predecessors.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#532

Post by balaji1 »

cowtools wrote: post #505
balaji1 wrote: post #476

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not intending to start a storm here. Why does the author want an Android? The iPhone mini would do the job right? I have a iPhone mini for the same reasons of size, premium feel and price. It would be cool to hear what the founder of Pebble has to say about "why Android". Has he said it anywhere else?

From the website: >[...] personally, after 6 months of iOS I am itching to get back to Android. Why? The notification system SUCKS on iOS compared to Android. It’s impossible to move files between apps. Hard to get any work done on it. Beautiful hardware though!

oh yes I remember reading this now.

Co-incidentally I was just glad today morning that iPhone doesn't show the row of small notification icons on the top-bar all the time. And then noticed that notifications don't show on the home screen also. I pulled down the notification list and saw a ton of notifications - I said no thanks and left them all unopened.

I did switch from Android to iPhone recently. I think notifications on iPhone are way better, I get distracted way lesser. Tho I don't get many important or time-sensitive notifications. Just a bunch of transactional notifications.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#534

Post by scarface74 »

dspillett wrote: post #172
erohead wrote: post #2

I’m a long-time small phone Android user. But after the Pixel 5, I have not been able to find a suitable small Android replacement. The Pixel 6 is gigantic, and the Pixel 7 looks like it is also destined to be huge. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve resorted to using an iPhone Mini, biding my time and hoping desperately that some Android OEM would step up. But it’s increasingly clear that a small premium phone is not on t…

I'd love a small primary phone with good battery life for general use (SMS/IM, and (shock!) making/taking calls). Relatively low resolution screen would not be a problem at all. But I, like most people I expect, also use my phone for many other uses some of which make good use of a larger screen at higher resolution: in-car GPS and while running/walking out on the trails, web browsing and social media stuff that woul…

> I'm not sure there is a solution for that, other than perhaps carrying two devices around. Most people would not be happy with that solution and tethering the bigger device to the smaller ones (so they share internet connectivity instead of both needing SIMs & paid accounts)

People do that all of the time and gladly pay the extra $10 for a smaller “phone” - the cellular Apple Watch.

I will leave my phone in a heartbeat when I’m going to the gym, the pool, or anywhere else where a large phone isn’t convenient and I still want to be able to keep in touch with people

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#535

Post by orangepurple »

MassPikeMike wrote: post #288
orangepurple wrote: post #11

Has anybody tried the $32 SOYES XS11 or $70 or UNIWA XS11 It's a 2.5 inch 3G Android phone. http://www.cwell-hk.com/products/SOYES_XS11.aspx Lots of small Android phones are in the recommended section on cwell-hk in the $40 range.

The newer, 3.0 inch XS12 from the same manufacturer has 4G LTE and Android 9.0. It's in the $80 range. http://www.cwell-hk.com/products/SOYES_XS12.aspx

Seems like we just need a modernized XS12 with the correct frequencies

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#536

Post by kingcharles »

toqy wrote: post #445
oceanplexian wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Big companies are drowning in market data. They know some people really, really want small phones. But it's a long-tail opportunity they're willfully ignoring I would argue that they don’t know what people want at all, since market data just reinforces previously held assumptions. For example if you surveyed people in 2006 what kind of phone they wanted, most consumers would probably ask for a better flip phone. It…

Smaller screened smartphones aren't a new market that needs to be defined though. Most people know what they are by virtue of having lived through the era that they were the only choice. And as OP pointed out, Apple makes a smaller screened smartphone, so they exist. In some comment on this post someone said that it accounts for 3% of Apple's phone sales. How big is the group of people that want a smaller smart phone…

None of the leaked specs (if real) for iPhone 14 include a "Mini" variant, so it looks like Apple killed theirs.

I'm going to buy a 13 Mini because of Apple's long term support, so it should last me a good few years.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#537

Post by boznz »

oceanplexian wrote: post #357
davee5 wrote: post #270

Hi Eric, I'm a hardware startup guy myself (our paths have crossed) with the distinction that my own "very specific set of skills" has been honed at smartphone megacompanies and smartphone startups. OSOM, Essential, HTC, Samsung, Apple. I've designed and built a lot of phones. I'm building one now. I think this is a noble effort, I personally prefer pocketable phones too, but I think there are nigh-insurmountable hur…

> Big companies are drowning in market data. They know some people really, really want small phones. But it's a long-tail opportunity they're willfully ignoring I would argue that they don’t know what people want at all, since market data just reinforces previously held assumptions. For example if you surveyed people in 2006 what kind of phone they wanted, most consumers would probably ask for a better flip phone. It…

>For example if you surveyed people in 2006 what kind of phone they wanted, most consumers would probably ask for a better flip phone.

Better flip phone would be good too.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#538

Post by tabiv »

eertami wrote: post #111
erohead wrote: post #2

I’m a long-time small phone Android user. But after the Pixel 5, I have not been able to find a suitable small Android replacement. The Pixel 6 is gigantic, and the Pixel 7 looks like it is also destined to be huge. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve resorted to using an iPhone Mini, biding my time and hoping desperately that some Android OEM would step up. But it’s increasingly clear that a small premium phone is not on t…

Similar user, and I have no idea if there will be anything left to buy after the Pixel 4a. I expect the 4a will be good enough for another 3 years at-least, if there are no accidents. Hopefully by then there is something available which continues the form factor. 4a has been the perfect successor to the Nexus 4, it's a little taller but other than that has practically the same footprint. With the 6a moving in a diffe…

I've been looking into the Asus Zenfone 8 to replace my 4a eventually. It's expensive but it's compact.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#539

Post by krzyk »

scarface74 wrote: post #503
oceanplexian wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Big companies are drowning in market data. They know some people really, really want small phones. But it's a long-tail opportunity they're willfully ignoring I would argue that they don’t know what people want at all, since market data just reinforces previously held assumptions. For example if you surveyed people in 2006 what kind of phone they wanted, most consumers would probably ask for a better flip phone. It…

Apple has market data - they sold a premium small phone for two years. Rumors are that they will be discontinuing them this year.

It was almost premium. Still didn't had Pros camera.

Real example was Pixel until version 4. The only difference between smaller and bigger versions was the obvious screen and battery.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#540

Post by jpindar »

roelschroeven wrote: post #79

A problem is that even within the niche of small phones, not everybody has the same wishes. Compared to your ideal specifications, my wishes are: support for microSD card storage; battery that easily and reliably lasts a full day with moderate phone usage; fingerprint sensor, not necessarily on the power button; camera decent, not necessarily great (I don't care that much about low light performance, for example). I'…

I use Total Commander to transfer files. It has plugins for many different kinds of transfer, but I mainly use SMB for computers on my lan and sometimes sftp for others.
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