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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

#831

Post by oogabooga13 »

I use the iPhone SE (Gen 2) and appreciate the size not the battery life. From a connectivity standpoint even the Apple Watch is sufficient (for me!) in a world where I have my iPad / Laptop / Desktop to choose from depending on the content and with the the M1 laptop even App Store games; where I want to play them is a matter of ultimate convince and choice these days.

It seems like the mini didn't sell well and that is unfortunate, hopefully we can still have enough range of size choice within the iPhone eco system moving forward.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#832

Post by kazinator »

Nition wrote: post #755
kazinator wrote: post #701

It's funny to read some young person reiterating the desirable properties of small phones, completely oblivious to how smaller was universally better in cellphones phones before the smartphone era. http://www.mobilephonehistory.co.uk/nokia/nokia.php

The peak of that was the amazing Panasonic GD55: https://www.gsmarena.com/panasonic_gd55-372.php

You still get a sad pang when you pull some old coat or backpack out of the closet and rest your eyes on the tiny cell phone pocket, that is of no use today.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#833

Post by pellaeon »

needle0 wrote: post #798

The Rakuten Hand 5G ( https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/product/smartphone/raku... ) sounds like it fits the bill at 138 × 63 × 9.5mm vs iPhone 13 mini's 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.65mm, though it's only available in Japan from Rakuten Mobile.

Rakuten also previously released a tiny Rakuten Mini with 3.6 inch screen https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/product/smartphone/raku...

Sharp also makes a lot of interesting phones: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/05/japans-sharp-aquos-r...

Plus, Xperia Compact series is from Sony.

That made me wonder: - Why does it seem like Japanese manufacturers are the only ones making "different" phones? - Many other threads are talking about the lack of components and lack of component manufacturer interest, but if so, how did the Japanese manufacturers did it? - What is special about the Japanese market that allows these phones to survive? - What difficulty would there be for let's say Rakuten to sell their phones internationally just like Sony did?

A few points of relevant observation: - Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers have a habit of keeping their best products only to Japan - such as DSLRs. - There is a strong customer base for mini devices in Japan. GPD pocket laptops are in regular stores.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#834

Post by octoberfranklin »

jray wrote: post #163
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…

One of the reasons I want a small phone is because I already have other devices with a larger screen: computer, laptop and tablet. That's why I want it to be cheap, I have already spent a lot on different devices and for the little use I give it I want it to be cheap and small.

Of course. But phone manufacturers don't want this. They don't want you using those other devices. And they have the power, so you will submit to their decisions.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#835

Post by aceazzameen »

This thread is making me miss the original Motorola Droid. It was the perfect pocket size phone with a slide out physical keyboard. I hated the day I upgraded away because the storage was too small to keep up with app sizes. Give me that same phone with modernized internal specs and a decent camera. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#837

Post by Abishek_Muthian »

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 have baby hands, I am a dwarf.

With each generational increase of display size, The number of times I drop the phone over its lifetime increases proportionally. I've used android phones from 2.8" to 5.7" display as daily drivers over the past decade.

I assume, Many with small hands(palms) do face the issue of dropping phones, So I finding it quite surprising that 'Easily Repairable' wasn't included in neither 'Must have' nor 'Nice to have'.

Repairability is so important to me that, I have stopped buying new smartphones since 2017. My last/current phone has full-metal construction, is easily repairable, has security updates(sans proprietary blobs) via LineageOS and I'm planning to switch to a postmarketOS device from near-same generation for better security(Only bootloader is proprietary).

IMO in the age of Fairphone, there's no excuse for a non easily-repairable phone; Especially one which has community interests in mind. I wish you the best on this endeavor.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#838

Post by srazzaque »

tabiv wrote: post #538
eertami wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I was about to buy exactly this after reading reviews, wanting a compact phone, and my Note8 dying.

But for a few different reasons I ended up just getting my wife an S22 (non plus) and then inherited her S20 (non plus), which has a very similar form factor.

Definitely felt the OPs frustration in looking for compact Android phones. They just plain don't exist.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#839

Post by crossroadsguy »

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 faced a similar problem when I didn’t find a sanely sized flagship non-bloated (though that’s essentially an oxymoron in Android world including the Pixels) Android phone sometimes back and I decided to vote with my wallet and I bought the first iPhone SE, then 7, and now 12 Mini. I am an Android developer and the way the OS is designed (UX and privacy wise; even the stock one) I don’t really see myself moving back to Android anytime soon but I wish there was a a flagship normal sized phone.

I dislike Apple for a lot of things but in this duopoly the size of a phone is such a fundamental characteristic that you’re out of options anyway.

I think most of the people are “swiper users” — the “content consumers” — so they want big phones and OEMs are simply making what the near 100% majority (yup!) wants.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#840

Post by iagocds »

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…

What are your thoughs at the Zenphone 8? 5.92 is too big?
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