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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

#731

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of the leaked specs (if real) for iPhone 14 include a "Mini" variant, so it looks like Apple killed theirs. I'm going to buy a 13 Mini because of Apple's long term support, so it should last me a good few years.

I do not care if they do not make a new mini every year. I just want a mini available for purchase, and the 13 mini should be very capable for at least a few more years.

That might actually be what Apple is doing, skipping mini for 14, but not stopping mini forever. Sony did the same, there where Compacts of Z1, Z3 and Z5.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#732
post #497
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 a Pixel 4a, and I'm in agreement with you. I'm thinking about jumping to an iPhone Mini, however, even Apple doesn't seem to be making a new version of that....

i dunno what makes you think that. the iphone 13 mini was released alongside the other iphone 13's and is the latest gen. all signs point to apple releasing a mini version of the next iphone, too.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#733
post #54
post #6

“matching size and design of iPhone 13 Mini” So, by all accounts, the iPhone mini has been an extremely slow seller. https://www.macrumors.com/2022/04/21/iphone-13-mini-unpopula... Why would that form factor succeed in the Android space? --- I see these meme on tech sites all the time: “oh phones are too big I just want something simple”. That is a valid sentiment that I think is shared by basically no average consum…

These "slow iPhone 13 mini" sales are more than all Google Pixel phones sold in a year. Think about that. I don't understand when did the ability to choose a product fitting your preferences become a bad thing on HackerNews and modern American perception. Why is being able to buy niche products somehow not a worthy thing to be desired?

While I agree with the sentiment of your post, I'm not sure if Pixel are the best example, as they have demand that they don't satisfy.

For example in Spain, the Pixel 6 Pro was only sold for a few days in February, then sold out, then returned a few days ago - so it only seems to start being consistently available now, and it's a 2021 phone. Oh, and only the 128 GB model is sold here. I had to ask an Australian friend to mail a 512 GB one to me!

And at least, they do sell it here. In most countries, you can't even buy it.

Compare to iPhone where you can get every model with every storage capacity consistently, in Spain, and in the overwhelming majority of countries in the world.

I've even seriously considered switching to iPhone for this very reason, by the way.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#734
Currently there are ZERO premium Android phones with

I truly do not understand why people refuse to buy flagship phones from a couple of years ago because they're "outdated" but then endorse some new phone with a garbage SoC that gets less performance. Buy an Xperia XZ2 Compact.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#735
post #270

Hi Eric, I'm a hardware startup guy myself (our paths have crossed) with the distinction that my own "very specific set of skills" has been honed at smartphone megacompanies and smartphone startups. OSOM, Essential, HTC, Samsung, Apple. I've designed and built a lot of phones. I'm building one now. I think this is a noble effort, I personally prefer pocketable phones too, but I think there are nigh-insurmountable hur…

> You will be very, very hard pressed to source a pre-existing, high quality, non-exclusive 5.4" display with a hole punch.

I think GP probably needs to be more flexible about their "must-have"'s. If you could get a nice phone with a small screen, would a small bezel on top for a camera be such a disaster?

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#736
The phone companies haven't even bothered to ask people what they actually want. They just take a wild guess, they make a bad phone and it sells bad, then they claim "see, people don't want small phones". That is just ignorant behavior on their side.

No, we don't want ugly or clumsy phones. We don't want overpriced phones. We don't want brittle phones that can't stand a fall. We don't want phones with weak batteries that won't last a day. We don't want lousy cameras. We don't want laggy and buggy phones. We don't want good phones that are only available in other parts of the world where we can't buy them (Sony is making small phones...but only in Japan).

The companies should ASK the consumers what they NEED. But they don't.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#737
post #210

I maintain this chart of small Android phones: https://www.productchart.com/smartphones/small_android_phone... You can filter by specs to see how close you can get to your dream phone. There are quite a few available on the market that match the 5.5" screen size of the iPhone 13 Mini. Even by the big manufacturers like Samsung and Google. Like the Pixel 3. Which was introduced 4 years ago though. In general, phones h…

Sony Xperia XZ1 is on there, but not the Xperia XZ1 Compact?

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#738
post #668
post #646

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> > people who need phones will still buy something even if reluctantly > I'll be blunt: no I won't. Agreed. I used my 2005 Motorola Razr until 2020 because I have zero interest in an inconveniently large phone. When the Palm Phone came out I got it as a perfectly-sized replacement. I won't ever go to a larger phone because if it doesn't fit my pocket, what's the point? Might as well not have one.

People who will happily continue using 15-year-old hardware are not a great market segment to target.

There's that, but happily isn't the word. Every year I'd go on a research spree to find a replacement but it had to be as small or smaller. Every year I came up empty so eked out another year on the old phone.

I'd happily replace more often if only palm-sized or smaller phones were available. I'm not particularly price sensitive either, I'll pay top premium price to get a conveniently-sized phone if someone is willing to sell it to me.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#739
post #445

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Smaller screened smartphones aren't a new market that needs to be defined though. Most people know what they are by virtue of having lived through the era that they were the only choice. And as OP pointed out, Apple makes a smaller screened smartphone, so they exist. In some comment on this post someone said that it accounts for 3% of Apple's phone sales. How big is the group of people that want a smaller smart phone…

Apple's limited success is not only a factor of the screen size but also market positioning. The mini is inferior in some specs to other iPhones but at the same time really high end as far as mobiles in general go. That makes it a niche product even if screen size was not a factor at all. It targets people that have plenty of cash for a flagship but are willing to forego the top tier specs for a smaller size. Apple p…

Indeed, I desperately want a smaller phone, but I heavily use the camera on my phone and in the end I decided I wasn't willing to give up camera quality for the iPhone Mini. So Apple's data may suggest that I don't want a small phone, but the reality is that I want a small phone that's actually as good as the big ones. No one has offered that.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#740
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'm curious why you say "After the Pixel 5". Isn't that still pretty current specs wise? I love mine. I too would like to know where I'm moving next, but I'm also quite content with its specs for likely awhile yet.
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