I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone • Hacker News Board

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#781

Post by perlpimp » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:27 AM UTC

kristianc wrote: post #634

jdironman wrote: post #511

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” - Henry Ford. However, in this day and time when it comes to established tech such as a smart phone, sometimes the best way to 'innovate' might be to give people what they actually want. Sure not all companies can cater all niches. But hopefully someone will! Im also a small phone advocate.

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” - Henry Ford. Just a note that this quote, and a similar one by Steve Jobs (‘Market research could never have given us the Macintosh’) are amongst the most misinterpreted in history. Most people see them as saying ‘market research is useless’ - what both were actually saying is that you need to take a new innovation to the customer and _the…

What people think say and do are 3 mostly unrelated things. so yes it really fits into whole life really.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#782

Post by ctas12345 » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:28 AM UTC

aidenn0 wrote: post #473

ohyoutravel wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is where I am. Love the idea of a small phone like the android Palm Phone, and almost bought one. But my iPhone 13 Pro Max is basically so big I use it in place of my laptop for many, many things. So it basically replaces my dslr because of the camera quality and my laptop unless I’m writing software. Though I would love a small phone, I didn’t buy the Palm which would have been perfect for when I’m running or s…

Palm phone was expensive with garbage specs. But I suppose I was never in the market for it; I wanted a phone that was good enough to be my only phone.

The specs are indeed garbage, but I've been using it as my daily driver for over a year and I really don't want to change to anything else since the form factor and weight are just so nice for when I'm out of the house. For reading the news at home or similar stuff, I do use an old Pixel 3a though.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#783

Post by Vladimof » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:32 AM UTC

radec wrote: post #723

Vladimof wrote: post #507

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My Pixel 3 is just a bit bigger then the iPhone 13 Mini... works great with Lineage OS... might have to change the battery in a year though (not looking forward to it).

I just replaced the battery on my pixel 3. I also replaced the USB C port, because it was cheap and the phone was open. It's pretty simple to do, just tedious. I would recommend buying a replacement back as well so you don't have to worry about keeping the glass intact. I would love a smaller phone then the pixel 3 but I'll stick with this for now, it's my absolute max size.

thanks for the tips, will definitely try to replace the USB port and back when I do the battery. Is your phone still waterproof?

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#784

Post by asimops » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:35 AM UTC

I am currently using a Pixel 4a, which in my opinion is the latest useable Pixel.

Since we are basically doing market research, here is my take ;)

It is kind of sorted by relevance as it is in the order in which it came to my mind.

Here is what I need from a new phone:

  - height between 145mm and 150mm
  - width between 70mm and 75mm
  - thickness up to 15mm, I honestly don't care
  - storage atleast 128GB, expandable if possible
  - 3.5mm heaphone jack
  - USB-C 3 (at least 5Gbps)
  - fingerprint (in-display, or front bezel, back is also acceptable)
  - stock Android
  - hardware security features of the Pixel Line (Secure Element, Hardware attestation, everything that would make the GrapheneOS people want that phone)
  - "enough" RAM, maybe 6-8GB
  - recent SOC but *not* a power hungry flagship, I want the efficiency king
  - battery for two days of messengers and phone calls (no games, no social media crap)
  - no glas where it doesn't need to be
  - current wifi and bluetooth

This is what is nice to have:

  - small top bezel for camera, ear piece, sensors
  - small bottom bezel to better reach the on display controls
  - fingerprint resistent, non slippery and light casing (maybe aluminium frame with tpu around)
  - easy to replace battery (doesn't need to be hot swappable, but no glue, not burried under the mainboard or next to *flimsy* ribbon cables)
  - IPXX rating
  - camera on Pixel 5 level

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#785

Post by wingworks » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:43 AM UTC

alfiedotwtf wrote: post #551

eertami wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar user, and I have no idea if there will be anything left to buy after the Pixel 4a. I expect the 4a will be good enough for another 3 years at-least, if there are no accidents. Hopefully by then there is something available which continues the form factor. 4a has been the perfect successor to the Nexus 4, it's a little taller but other than that has practically the same footprint. With the 6a moving in a diffe…

Another Pixel 4a user here. I haven't found a single compelling reason to move to another phone, and will drive this one into the ground... Hopefully there's a suitable replacement once it's dead, otherwise I'll just buy another 4a

Yeah, I've been using the 4a for about a year now, it is pretty sweet. It's the phone I wanted after the Nexus 5. (but with wireless charging). The size is great and it's light. I hate heavy phones.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#786

Post by wingworks » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:48 AM UTC

taude wrote: post #497

erohead wrote: 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....

Yeah, I'm 100% switching to Apple on my next upgrade, probably the mini, but it's screen may be a tad too small. Either way, I've been with Android since the start, but I'm over it. They depreciate so fast.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#787

Post by Miraste » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:49 AM UTC

robocat wrote: post #748

toqy wrote: 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…

I suspect there are two constraints working against mini mobiles: 1. The industry push for thin due to the consumer dislike of thick. 2. The invisible consumer expectation that smaller mobiles should be cheaper. A mini screen with a fat body (large battery, good camera) is what many functionally oriented people should want, but cost and form will limit consumer desire and make it an extremely niche product?!? Edit: I…

It's been tried. Although it could've been a better design, it didn't go over well.

https://thenextweb.com/news/bad-news-for-anyone-who-wanted-t...

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#788

Post by Gigachad » Wed, May 18, 2022, 1:57 AM UTC

code_duck wrote: post #350

recursivedoubts wrote: post #87

I have given up: the iphone mini (which I own) is gargantuan. There are a few glimmers of hope around the edges. Palm was interesting but too small (the primary problem was the battery, not the screen size). Unihertz is doing some interesting stuff in the small phone arena, but their stuff is either too small and thick (the jelly) or too big (titan). Their styling is also a bit funky in a 90's tech vibe sort of way t…

I miss the iPhone 5. That was a great size and shape. Same width as the 4, just a bit longer of course.

I pulled a 5 out of my draw and was pleasantly surprised at the size and feel, but then I actually went to use it and it was quite bad. I wasn’t able to comfortably two hand the phone to type which meant my typing speed was massively reduced.

Personally I mostly use my phone two handed so even the pro max is usable even though I can’t reach all areas with one hand.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#789

Post by vonwoodson » Wed, May 18, 2022, 2:01 AM UTC

I got an iPhone mini, and I can tell you that it is truly a wonderful experience. A small premium android would be a great idea.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#790

Post by Gigachad » Wed, May 18, 2022, 2:02 AM UTC

rootusrootus wrote: post #683

jl6 wrote: post #658

If this thread proves anything it’s that there is huge demand for customizable phone designs. Currently, there is total reliance on economies of scale to make standardized SKUs affordable. Imagine if you could figure out a way of manufacturing a phone with design on demand… imagine a configurator website where you adjusted sliders and tickboxes. Headphone jack here, screen size slider all the way to the left, battery…

> If this thread proves anything it’s that there is huge demand for customizable phone designs. I think it just proves what we already know -- there is a vocal minority (but strong emphasis on minority ) who would like a customizable phone. The market largely doesn't seem to care. And it may even actively discriminate against customizable phones by ensuring they had no resale value. The more custom you want it, the f…

You really only get to have one obscure requirement. If you want a small phone, the mini exists. If you want a phone with a headphone Jack, those exist. Once you start stacking up two, three or four odd requirements, you’ll never get what you want.

The problem with targeting small markets is almost everyone in the group wants absolutely everything the way they expect. There isn’t a “small phone market” there is a “small android phone with removable sd card and 3 cameras” market and a “small android phone with one camera but a replaceable battery at $400” market.

And then it just becomes literally impossible to make work so we have mass market products only.