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

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#861

Post by taneliv » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:47 AM UTC

lrem wrote: post #849

makeitdouble wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am also planning to move from a 4a, and at this point it would be either a Sharp R7 (probably not available internationally though) or a Sony Xperia 10 IV. The Sony seems to be the best alternative though I have no idea of the software quality.

I've been burnt by Sony. Back in the first generation of the compact flagship. A great phone in all aspects... Until it was dropped. A tiny crack in the corner of the screen, you wouldn't notice without looking for it. Unfortunately engineering choices by Sony folk meant that any crack anywhere disabled the digitizer (i.e. the touchscreen loses the touch part). Such a bummer.

Countering your anecdote with mine.

I have an Xperia 10 II (or something like that, the slimmest Android device I could find back in early 2021). The back cover is cracked all over, to the point I sometimes get cuts on my fingers. Two of the corners have dents.

The back camera that takes the actual photo is several degrees off (like 10 or 15°) from whatever is used for the preview. Works perfectly in all the other ways. Probably isn't waterproof any more, but I never needed that before, either.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#862

Post by avar » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:53 AM UTC

fomine3 wrote: post #767

serial_dev wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's as much a culture difference as you think, more like the environment where we use the cars. I'm from Europe, living in bigger European city, and I have a small car (3-door RAV4). I bought it so I can drive and park easily in the city and go up hills and mountains when I leave the city once a month. And if I'm honest, that is the best car I could afford. I see lots of rich people with bigger and big…

> small car > RAV4 Viewpoint from Japan: is it small?. I feel same thing for BMW Mini because it's bigger width than average on the road.

Yes, or mid-size. Japan is to Europe what Europe is to America in terms of car sizes.

E.g. vans within the Kei (keijidōsha) classification pretty much don't exist in Europe, but are common in Japan.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#863

Post by underlines » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:57 AM UTC

I bought one of the first mainstream Phablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note 1 and everyone laughed at me. Now people all own larger devices.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#864

Post by magic_hamster » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:11 AM UTC

Got an Asus Zenfone 8 and it's the best decision I could make. It has great specs and it's so convenient. The only downside is the camera which isn8as good as the camera you get in iphone or Galaxy devices, it's fairly good but not outstanding.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#865

Post by KernelPryanic » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:19 AM UTC

Yes, yes, yes!

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#866

Post by zmix » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:23 AM UTC

rodgerd wrote: post #721

sudosteph wrote: post #526

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for taking initiative on this! As a 5'5" woman with small hands, I haven't had an android phone that I could use with one-hand since my Nexus 5 (which I used for 5 years straight). The current android flagships are unwieldy even with two-hands for me, and it's been just a quality of living downgrade ever since my Nexus 5 broke. I'm not into apple products myself, but I know many other women swear by the iph…

I'm a fairly large person (185 cm and decent sized hands), but I prefer the mini, and in my Android days used the Xperia mini. I don't particularly want a large phone on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately it seems that it's a niche that doesn't generate enough revenue to get broader support.

I got the feeling, that niche markets could be lucrative if the middle man (retail) is left out. The internet is a very powerful tool in this regard. It brings together customers from all over the world.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#867

Post by zmix » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:27 AM UTC

grishka wrote: post #457

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…

Yes, I'm as frustrated as you are. I want a no-compromise 4" Android phone, comfortably usable with one hand. For me, the phone is a communication device for the outside, that's it. I hardly use it at home except for calls. My primary device is my laptop. I have exactly zero use cases that would benefit from a large screen, yet all of my use cases would benefit from being able to fully use it one-handed. I don't watc…

Why is the headphone jack so important? These days there are very good wireless earbuds. Except as FM antenna or to plug into legacy devices...

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#868

Post by grishka » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:28 AM UTC

phinnaeus wrote: post #814

dont__panic wrote: post #585

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very much the same situation for me. I'm especially interested in why Eric doesn't mention the headphone jack -- does he simply think it isn't a noteworthy feature, and assume the phone WILL have the jack? Or does he assume that bluetooth is the future and only silly luddites like us care about the jack? I hope Eric eases up on the weirdly specific requirements, like dual rear cameras, symmetrical bezels, and a punch…

I agree that the requirements should be pared down to the absolute least common denominator, but disagree that the headphone jack belongs in that category. You (and GP) surely have to recognize that at this point requiring a headphone jack is also a niche request.

The fact that the lack of a headphone jack was normalized by Apple with the release of an iPhone 7 doesn't mean it's any less of a nonsensical idea. Unlike storage media, wireless can't supersede wired simply because each of these options has its own strengths and weaknesses and whether one is better than the other is highly subjective.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#869

Post by zmix » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:28 AM UTC

dont__panic wrote: post #585

grishka wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I'm as frustrated as you are. I want a no-compromise 4" Android phone, comfortably usable with one hand. For me, the phone is a communication device for the outside, that's it. I hardly use it at home except for calls. My primary device is my laptop. I have exactly zero use cases that would benefit from a large screen, yet all of my use cases would benefit from being able to fully use it one-handed. I don't watc…

Very much the same situation for me. I'm especially interested in why Eric doesn't mention the headphone jack -- does he simply think it isn't a noteworthy feature, and assume the phone WILL have the jack? Or does he assume that bluetooth is the future and only silly luddites like us care about the jack? I hope Eric eases up on the weirdly specific requirements, like dual rear cameras, symmetrical bezels, and a punch…

I am more concerned about the lack of a microSD card slot.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#870

Post by zmix » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:30 AM UTC

hoseja wrote: post #853

phinnaeus wrote: post #814

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the requirements should be pared down to the absolute least common denominator, but disagree that the headphone jack belongs in that category. You (and GP) surely have to recognize that at this point requiring a headphone jack is also a niche request.

That's just fiction phone manufacturers want to make true by repetition.

Bluetooth is the new line-in/out.