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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)

#441

Post by cubefox »

neogodless wrote: post #429
rickdeckard wrote: post #422

The hard reality is that there is no PAYING market for such a device, because when it comes to the point-of-sale, most people still choose the normal-size device with better screen/battery/camera. This is equivalent to something I called the "QWERTY paradox" more than a decade ago: Back when the Smartphone market exploded, people disliked typing on a touchscreen and repeatedly stated that they want a device with a ph…

It was ginormous, but I loved my Dell Venue Pro! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Venue_Pro

> 4.1-inch (diagonal) widescreen

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

#442

Post by deffrin »

VoxPelli wrote: post #314
deffrin wrote: post #273

If I have money and the knowledge to build a phone, surely i will make it possible one day. But I don't know why new innovative people are not getting into smartphone making. Everyone is trying to make the next big software. But why that grit is missing to bring the variety into small hardware devices that target majority? Or, is it not reaching people like me? Is it the lack of awareness?

Check eg. the Mudita Kompakt: https://store.mudita.com/store/mudita-kompakt-global And the Light Phone 3: https://www.thelightphone.com/lightiii

both seems to be good options. will try one of these one day.

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

#443

Post by neogodless »

cubefox wrote: post #441
neogodless wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was ginormous, but I loved my Dell Venue Pro! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Venue_Pro

> 4.1-inch (diagonal) widescreen

Ha yeah it isn't a big screen by today's standards. But it was basically a full candy-bar slab (with a curved screen) plus a sliding keyboard body, making it particularly thick / chunk.

https://www.theverge.com/2012/3/28/2909815/dell-retires-venu...

> 192.78 g

Kind of funny, I would've thought it was heavier, but that is less than an S25 Ultra in weight... I think that also speaks to how large screens have gotten!

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

#444

Post by coxley »

GarnetFloride wrote: post #178
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…

What was so odd was how Apple fumbled the iPhone mini launch by launching the iPhone SE first. At that point there hadn't been a small phone for a few years, There was pent up demand. The SE came out and it was a big success, lots of people wanted ti because it was a small phone. Then few months later they launched the mini expecting it to sell even more or something. Somehow they missed that everyone that wanted a s…

That makes sense.

I love my iPhone 13 Mini. Its only issues are battery life (now), and non-competitive camera. I'm personally happy with the photos it takes, but then I look at my girlfriend's shots and get FOMO.

While I doubt it's economical, I'd love a small, simple phone with juiced up camera. I'd be fine with worse battery life as external batteries can remedy that in a pinch.

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

#445

Post by deffrin »

ge96 wrote: post #274
deffrin wrote: post #273

If I have money and the knowledge to build a phone, surely i will make it possible one day. But I don't know why new innovative people are not getting into smartphone making. Everyone is trying to make the next big software. But why that grit is missing to bring the variety into small hardware devices that target majority? Or, is it not reaching people like me? Is it the lack of awareness?

One reason is the modem, proprietary blob I think another reason is sourcing good parts that aren't old and bulky, speaking from the Linux phones I tried Also drivers somebody has to write em I used to be annoyed that you had to choose between Android or iOS I wish android phones had lidar

yes. that makes sense.

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

#446

Post by DrewADesign »

rickdeckard wrote: post #422

The hard reality is that there is no PAYING market for such a device, because when it comes to the point-of-sale, most people still choose the normal-size device with better screen/battery/camera. This is equivalent to something I called the "QWERTY paradox" more than a decade ago: Back when the Smartphone market exploded, people disliked typing on a touchscreen and repeatedly stated that they want a device with a ph…

> Smartphone with QWERTY keyboard, the product failed commercially

Well, there was BlackBerry. Multiple phone vendors assuming they could refresh a previously world-dominating form factor with contemporary smartphone guts only seems unreasonable in hindsight.

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

#447

Post by brucehoult »

whilenot-dev wrote: post #263
GarnetFloride wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What was so odd was how Apple fumbled the iPhone mini launch by launching the iPhone SE first. At that point there hadn't been a small phone for a few years, There was pent up demand. The SE came out and it was a big success, lots of people wanted ti because it was a small phone. Then few months later they launched the mini expecting it to sell even more or something. Somehow they missed that everyone that wanted a s…

This is my take as well. I bought the SE 2nd gen because of its size, a longer support cycle, and granular app permissions on iOS. It was my first iPhone and has probably been my last when its time is due. My phone isn't some entertainment device, it's a utility tool. I don't need it to be "smart", it should be useful on the go. The persona sketched by GP just isn't me: Messaging, maps, weather, 2FA, and calculator c…

I've been an iPhone user since late 2007. I current use an SE 2022 and love it.

I've gone iPhone -> 3GS -> 4 -> 5s -> 6s -> 7 -> SE 2020 -> SE 2022.

The Mini never interested me. I love the SE. I love the home button and TouchID. I love the traditional size. If I want more I have an iPad Pro (12.9" original 2015 model bought in 2015 -- the battery still lasts 2 weeks with my usage pattern) or M1 Mac Mini with a 32" 4k screen.

If they don't make a new SE model I don't know what I'll do. I guess, firstly, get a new battery for it before it's out of the support window. Maybe sometime next year. And then see how long app updates support whatever the last OS version it will run is.

The ONLY thing I'd change in my SE, if it was possible, is more than 4 GB of RAM. The latest models have 8 GB and the others at the time the SE was sold already had 6 GB.

With recent system updates I'm getting a lot more of applications restarting when I switch back to them. This is mostly not a huge problem, except that the X app loses your place in the "Following" stream if you're more than a few hours behind and the app reloads.

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

#448

Post by silon42 »

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'd sacrifice some battery life to have a Thinkpad (example: T14 gen 5), with the superior keyboard, Touch point and smaller touchpad (the Mac one is annoyingly too large).

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

#449

Post by dalmo3 »

RachelF wrote: post #173

The Samsung S10e was probably peak Android. Small, high-end, SD card and 3.5mm jack. There are some decent small Android phones, if you're willing to buy non-mainstream brands. Take a look at: https://www.reddit.com/r/smallphones/

I've just bought a used s10e in pristine condition for $200. It's glorious.

Re: TFA, I'm all for filling the small phone niche, but there's no way I'm paying a cent over $500 for a phone with no resale value.

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

#450

Post by eertami »

ragazzina wrote: post #391
maxglute wrote: post #266

Market wants big phones. The solution... look to the east. Phone accessories to manage big phones. Many women with small hands using finger loops (that double as kickstands), wrist straps, full body lanyards. Convincing main brands to dump 100s of millions to cater to small phone crowd should be proven DOA by now. The minimalist EDC crowd is niche aberration, most people throughout civilization EDC was more cumbersom…

>Most people are simply happy carrying more shit around. Look at Stanley cups. This is only true for the American lifestyle of home-car-office-car-home. If you need to walk for more than 30 seconds Stanley cups become extremely inconvenient.

I thought Stanley cups is a weird choice to make "more shit" sound wasteful or a bad thing. Typically I think the American lifestyle is people carrying fewer things usually. I walk or cycle most places but always take a backpack, but I've frequently seen American-centric communities dismiss this as weird (because the car becomes their backpack).

As plans develop during a day it's easy to end up being out of the house 12+ hours, so it's comfortable to have a refillable water bottle, warmer layers, sunglasses, hat, umbrella, any other comfort things etc.

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