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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)

#221

Post by oc1 »

al_borland wrote: post #151
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…

This is the part that frustrates me. Apple keeps introducing software “solutions” for hardware problems. Reachability, Screen Time, Focus Modes, etc. A smaller phone naturally solves most of these problems. Small phones act as more of a utility device for when you’re away from a proper computer. This is all I want my phone to be. I really think they got it right the first time in 2007. I ended up switching from a 13…

The 13 mini didn't solve any of these issues for me plus the worse battery life. I upgraded to 16 pro max. My laptop usage also went down from there. Total screen time probably stayed, but now i carry most of the time just a phone instead of phone and laptop. If you want something less addictive there is probably the apple watch but you still need the phone to configure and now you're strapped to a device 24/7 just for the sake to be used less.

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

#222

Post by ergocoder »

I want a reliable e-ink phone. Minimal phone is good but flaky to the point that it is annoying.

Odd UX that can't be configured (and no idea why). For example, if you touch the power button, it'll unlock and wake up the phone. There's no way to turn that off and require a click. Other android phones can but not minimal. like what the hell was going through their decision making process?

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

#223

Post by Nursie »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #165
protocolture wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phones had smaller screens when you needed the keypad to interact with the largest number of features. Phone screen sizes grew as the applications that could use screen space grew in demand. People are watching 1080p films on the train now. The people who want smaller screens are usually willing to deal with a larger one. People who want larger screens usually cant operate their use cases on a smaller screen. Larger…

None of this explains why it's just impossible to get small phones. You have people who want them unusably large and people who want them to fit in your hand. The solution in every other market is that products are manufactured to fit both sets of needs. You don't see pants coming in one size with the advice "wear a belt". What's going on?

> What's going on?

You're in a minority, it's not profitable to cater to you, and most people don't care.

That's the cold hard truth of it.

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

#225

Post by thaumasiotes »

Nursie wrote: post #223
thaumasiotes wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of this explains why it's just impossible to get small phones. You have people who want them unusably large and people who want them to fit in your hand. The solution in every other market is that products are manufactured to fit both sets of needs. You don't see pants coming in one size with the advice "wear a belt". What's going on?

> What's going on? You're in a minority, it's not profitable to cater to you, and most people don't care. That's the cold hard truth of it.

You seem to have ignored the part of my comment pointing out that the dynamic you describe doesn't occur in any other market.

Perhaps... just perhaps... the explanation lies elsewhere?

I should have included some kind of question as to what it might be.

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

#226

Post by margalabargala »

user_7832 wrote: post #214

Just as an FYI to everyone who thinks such products are financially "infeasible" - look at companies like Unihertz (or heck, even Framework). Niche categories can and do attract a small but devoted following. Btw: 1. Unihertz recently launched a BlackBerry esque phone (titan 2), if anyone reading this is interested. (Not sponsored by them) 2. There are many forums (and I think r/smallphones on reddit) where you can f…

Unihertz's phones are unfortunately simply technologically infeasible (to use). Their software is apparently write-once update-never, and any phone you buy of theirs will be riddled with permanent bugs.

If Unihertz kept their phones up to date for a few years after launch, rather than only for the few years prior to launch, they would be an incredibly strong competitor in this space but as they are they are next to useless.

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

#227

Post by happymellon »

makeitdouble wrote: post #176
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just tonight, I saw a friend of mine, pull a new foldable Razr from her purse. They are cool phones, but I do iOS. I still use a 13 Mini, and will continue to do so, for quite some time. As to the point of this article, I seem to recall a couple of very small Android phones, some years ago (about credit-card sized). I guess they didn’t sell well.

> very small Android phones IMHO this is just not viable in the current world. I agree with line the article sets (5"4 for 1080p, almost the size of the Pixel 4a), as mainstream apps will properly work at that size. I still have a working 4a, and some banking apps are getting pretty cramped for instance. And many websites already need furious panning and zooming. A credit card size phone would only work for people wh…

> banking apps are getting pretty cramped

Completely agree. Although not even on "small phones", my S23 isn't small but the design of these apps has regressed so much that I barely see any useful information.

On my old WAP phone I could see bank balance and maybe the last transaction or two. Now half the screens taken up with upselling account levels, invest in shares, buy crypto, you've been pre-approved!

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

#228

Post by Nursie »

kbrackbill wrote: post #104

The best phone I ever had was a Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact. I would still be using it if it wasn't too slow to run modern versions of android. This is one of those things that just makes me feel so out of touch with the rest of the world. Does everyone else have giant pockets and giant hands? Does everyone use their phone with two hands and carry a bag everywhere? Is it just a trend like small phones were a trend before…

> Does everyone use their phone with two hands

A lot of us do, yes.

> and carry a bag everywhere?

As a guy in 36" waist jeans (yeah I need to lose a few kg)... I can fit an iphone 16 pro max in my pocket pretty comfortably.

> Why do people want these giant phones?

Well, one reason is that I'm getting older and don't find it as easy to read tiny text on tiny screens any more. Another reason is that I sometimes watch streaming services on there.

Also it's shiny and the battery lasts forever.

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

#229

Post by pclowes »

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 think there are a lot of offerings out there now. Maybe not to the minute with respect to battery life but Apples chip advantage is steadily evaporating. I typically don't need more than 8 hours of battery personally.

Have heard good things about framework computers. As a more efficient chip or battery comes out you just upgrade that component if your use case requires it.

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

#230

Post by pclowes »

agosta wrote: post #219
knubie wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other problem is that more and more content now is designed for (or only tolerable on) larger phone screens. Go to any website these days on a smaller phone like an iPhone mini and more than 50% (being charitable here) of the screen will be taken up by garbage like ads, cookie banners, popups, etc. It's a vicious cycle. Phone manufactures make the screen bigger, app and website developers realize they can cram mo…

Ya'll see adds? I use Brave Browser on all my devices and haven't seen traditional ads in years. Even Youtube ads are blocked on Brave by default

Apple is putting ads as pop ups inside the wallet app now… every social media app is crammed with them too. Browser is the easy fix.
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