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I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

smallandroidphone.com

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Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#31

Post by pclowes »

uniq7 wrote: post #16
pclowes wrote: post #8

My cynical take is that small phones don't exist because they are not the product. Similar to vape pens the product is the addictive substance the device loads. In this case its apps and ads. A smaller screen probably negatively impacts KPIs on many levels, at Google/Apple/Meta/X and on down through the ecosystem. I understand that Apple did not make enough money to make it worth their while to continue the iphone mi…

How can KPIs from Google/Apple/Meta/X have any impact on the products third-party Android phone manufacturers decide to sell?

I think most major players have the same incentives and minor players don't have the economies of scale to make it work economically.

Also the longer I used my iphone mini and the rest of the world moved to comically large phones the more it became apparent that nobody is thinking about small screen form factors in design and when they do its only around ad placement.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#32

Post by SchemaLoad »

theendisney wrote: post #15

I want a thick clunky device without a screen that can run for 4-7 days without charging. Then i want 1) a normal size device, 2) a tiny one and 3) a tablet. These should be terminals, little more than a screen, a battery and some radio to communicate with the herefore mentioned brick that does all of the heavy lifting. It needs only 20-30 meter range. The brick may also feature a webserver captive portal with public…

I initially thought this was a satire of the absurd devices HN users would ask for.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#33

Post by SchemaLoad »

derefr wrote: post #30
kps wrote: post #24

I want a pocket computer with phone connectivity (because too much still demands a phone number).

Why not a pocket computer with wifi + a softphone app + a virtual PBX service (e.g. voip.ms) for that softphone app to connect to? As a bonus, your phone number wouldn't be bound to that device, but instead would exist everywhere you can install the same softphone app.

Most things which require a phone number block any kind of virtual number service since the only reason they are asking for a phone number is anti spam and KYC.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#34

Post by carlosjobim »

theendisney wrote: post #15

I want a thick clunky device without a screen that can run for 4-7 days without charging. Then i want 1) a normal size device, 2) a tiny one and 3) a tablet. These should be terminals, little more than a screen, a battery and some radio to communicate with the herefore mentioned brick that does all of the heavy lifting. It needs only 20-30 meter range. The brick may also feature a webserver captive portal with public…

> I want a thick clunky device without a screen that can run for 4-7 days without charging.

That's a landline phone, you can buy it for cheap.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#35

Post by SchemaLoad »

mobilio wrote: post #14
robertoandred wrote: post #9

I want an iPhone mini-sized iPhone again...

SE user here... AMAZING device for it's size. Now i'm on SE 2020, but every day i miss original SE form-factor.

I considered the SE2 but went with the regular iphone after seeing the battery life was much worse on the SE2. Think that's probably what killed the iPhone mini too.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#36

Post by pclowes »

Teever wrote: post #25
pclowes wrote: post #8

My cynical take is that small phones don't exist because they are not the product. Similar to vape pens the product is the addictive substance the device loads. In this case its apps and ads. A smaller screen probably negatively impacts KPIs on many levels, at Google/Apple/Meta/X and on down through the ecosystem. I understand that Apple did not make enough money to make it worth their while to continue the iphone mi…

Funny you should mention this because disposable smartphone vapes are now being sold: https://www.vapezilla.com/collections/smart-vape-phone

Amazing. If someone had pitched this concept to the producers of "Idiocracy" they would have rejected it as too far fetched and ludicrous.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#37

Post by bondarchuk »

pclowes wrote: post #31
uniq7 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can KPIs from Google/Apple/Meta/X have any impact on the products third-party Android phone manufacturers decide to sell?

I think most major players have the same incentives and minor players don't have the economies of scale to make it work economically. Also the longer I used my iphone mini and the rest of the world moved to comically large phones the more it became apparent that nobody is thinking about small screen form factors in design and when they do its only around ad placement.

But, for example, what is the money flow from google/advertising in general to Motorola, that makes them not want to release a small screen model in their lineup of cheap phones?

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#38

Post by walterbell »

abujazar wrote: post #10
pclowes wrote: post #8

My cynical take is that small phones don't exist because they are not the product. Similar to vape pens the product is the addictive substance the device loads. In this case its apps and ads. A smaller screen probably negatively impacts KPIs on many levels, at Google/Apple/Meta/X and on down through the ecosystem. I understand that Apple did not make enough money to make it worth their while to continue the iphone mi…

Agreed. I'd prefer a modern iPhone the size of an iPhone 4, it was perfegt. I made the same "upgrade" from 12 mini to 16 Pro, and the 16 Pro is so large and heavy. Feels like we're moving backwards in time.

2026 iPhone Fold is rumored iPhone Mini size unfolding to iPad Mini size.

https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/28/iphone-18-fold-details-launch...

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#39

Post by khurs »

pclowes wrote: post #8

My cynical take is that small phones don't exist because they are not the product. Similar to vape pens the product is the addictive substance the device loads. In this case its apps and ads. A smaller screen probably negatively impacts KPIs on many levels, at Google/Apple/Meta/X and on down through the ecosystem. I understand that Apple did not make enough money to make it worth their while to continue the iphone mi…

>No major player wants a smaller screen because it has downstream impacts on the pipeline of addictive material and ad pixels they can stuff into ocular nerves.

There are lots of phone manufacturers who have no ads business. They just make phones so why would they care?

Size is dictated by trouser pocket size/handbag size and usage. Editing photos and movies to upload onto social media is probably better on a big screen.

Also screen size is dictated by common panel sizes, as low volume will mean a higher price.

Folding screens and iPad Mini's existence suggests people want larger screen real estate.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#40

Post by paxys »

We've seen this story play out before. Every phone manufacturer has had the bright idea of introducing a small flagship. They spend a ton of money developing and marketing it. Internet people get excited. And when launched - no one buys it. They learn their lesson and move on.
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