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

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

#121

Post by chupchap »

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, the bigger devices just sold more. Larger screen size is a major factor in deciding which phone to buy globally.

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

#123

Post by jittery41 »

nine_k wrote: post #68
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…

I see it differently. Modern web → the browser → powerful CPU/GPU → big battery → big device → why not cover it with a big screen.

This is it, for a while battery life got worse for a while with more powerful chips. But then Samsung goes full in on the big size 6"+ phone and it got better again.

Now even at 80% original capacity, a Samsung can still last me throughout the day given that I am not watching videos constantly. The Iphone 6 back in the day would go to 40% in 3 hours, then suddenly to 5% in minutes.

Plus most people replace their laptop with a phone now. So the big screen size is a must.

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

#124

Post by grahar64 »

I wrote this post https://maori.geek.nz/small-light-robust-phones-for-a-type-1... that has a bunch of examples of small phones. The requirements are not exactly the same, but in the same boat as for want of good solid small phones.

I recommend the pixel 4a 5g with LineageOS installed, or the Q9 mini.

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

#125

Post by phyrex »

dangus wrote: post #113
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…

I thought that was the case but I tried going small. I owned an iPhone 13 mini. Basically the perfect small phone if there ever was one. The downsides are extensive and the upsides are few. - Battery life sucked. Since a phone is a 3D object making it bigger substantially increases battery capacity. It also makes packaging difficult especially if the goal is a flagship-quality phone. Good luck fitting in good hardwar…

I disagree. I'm reading and typing this from an iPhone 13 mini. I use a big one for work so it's not like I don't know what I'm missing. I very strongly prefer the small form factor

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

#127

Post by theshackleford »

system2 wrote: post #18

There is Unihertz, but their 5G model is crap. They also don't update their OS. I believe the big manufacturers don't want to make a small phone (as other users have indicated) because of the big screen's addictiveness. Also, they can't fit a large battery in them so battery life would be a few hours with 1000mp 16k cameras. I'd rather carry a 1" thick, 4" tall phone than a 0.3" thick 8" tall phone. No pants pockets…

> I believe

You can believe whatever you want, but it doesn’t make it true. We know exactly why they make larger devices and it’s not a secret, it’s what consumers by and large want. It’s not a conspiracy.

Every time a vendor falls for the “we want small phones” thing, they sell poorly thus proving the point again and again that it’s a minority at best that are interested.

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

#128

Post by pastage »

scarface_74 wrote: post #65
pclowes wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just don't see the value add anymore and the company appears to have lost its product vision and the design sensibilities are slipping. Apple is controlled by a geriatric board and a logistics expert and it shows. I feel I am more frequently encountering software bugs, vaporware,(dESiGnEd fOr ApPle InTelLiGeNce), and ridiculous "innovation" (genmoji). I feel the hardware advances are not very relevant to me, I don'…

What Linux computer can you buy with the battery life, quietness, lack of heat and speed of a modern ARM based Mac? As far as phones - your alternative is to buy an Android phone with an operating system by an ad company that is also pushing AI just as hard. And you still end up getting most apps from the Google Play Store. By the way, iMessage supports SMS/MMS/RCS for interoperability. What else do you want?

I have stopped caring so I caved in to work policy and got an iPhone, and I really do not see the point. It is just a thing no better or worse than an Android...

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

#129

Post by zanecodes »

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #91
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…

You’re way too cynical and have let your cynicism cloud history. The first phablets were probably the Galaxy Note line starting in 2011 which was met with some skepticism due to the size of them. These were well before the edge to edge screen days. So you had 5.7 inch screens with a bezel. They were huge but I would routinely see small women pull these things out of their hand bags and press a device that obscured al…

The Dell Streak (shoutout to the other 3 people who bought one) had a 5 inch screen in 2010, a notable jump from contemporary phones like the iPhone 4 which was still 3.5", and other Android devices like the HTC Droid series which were around 3.7" and slowly starting to creep upwards to differentiate themselves from the iPhone. I think the largest Android devices you could get at the time were still smaller than 4".

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

#130

Post by userbinator »

12 years ago a small Chinese company made this Android clone of an iPhone 4, but with additional features:

https://www.gizchina.com/2013/11/07/jiayu-g5-unboxing-hands-...

https://www.gizchina.com/2013/09/18/exclusive-hands-video-st...

https://www.gizmochina.com/2013/09/22/teardown-picture-jiayu...

That was the "peak smartphone" era for me; lots of companies making slightly different variations on Androids, at relatively low prices, but almost all of them with the same basic set of practical features which are nearly extinct today. Now it seems all we get are faster CPUs and RAM, more (non-removable) storage and battery capacity, no headphone jacks, a very limited choice of screen sizes, and far too many cameras along with the obligatory unremovable spyware and locked-down OS.

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