Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

smallandroidphone.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

981–990 of 1001 posts

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#981

Post by iSnow »

Markoff wrote: post #878
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.

List of smaller Android phones with decent specs: Pixel 5 - 144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm Samsung S22 - 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm Zenfone 8 - 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm (could be higher thanks to narrower body) Xiaomi 12X - 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm Samsung S21 - 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm Sony doesn't produce phones, but remote controls. Their software is nice clean, but their camera is pretty bad, might as well buy Zenfone 8 if you don't mind cam…

Meanwhile the iPhone 13 mini is 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm

There's really nothing small about any of the Androids.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#982

Post by zem »

Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #837
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 baby hands, I am a dwarf. With each generational increase of display size, The number of times I drop the phone over its lifetime increases proportionally. I've used android phones from 2.8" to 5.7" display as daily drivers over the past decade. I assume, Many with small hands(palms) do face the issue of dropping phones, So I finding it quite surprising that 'Easily Repairable' wasn't included in neither 'Must…

I have largish hands and I still find the pixel 6 painful to use due to its sheer weight. the pixel 3 really was the perfect size for me.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#983

Post by phh »

stratosmacker wrote: post #547
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 an iphone SE 2016 because I too felt that new Androids were too big, switched in 2019. If too many people are upset at the price maybe you could have an Android Mini-a like the Pixel line. I had the first Pebble and have fond memories. I have high hopes for this!!!! I also love hardware but I never made it stick for work. I was one of the first engineers at Mesur.io, but things didn't work out. My other though…

Thanks for mentioning my GSI ^^

With regards to Unihertz, I'll add on top of what you said, that they are hiding behind ""crowdfunding"" to give non-existent customer support, while devices have already passed Google certifications months ahead (so my guess is that the device is actually already produced when they start the crowdfunding). In my case, the smartphone I ordered never arrived, and I never got any compensation for it, even though

However, hardware-wise, they aren't too bad, so once you managed to receive it, and you flashed a GSI on it, it's a rather acceptable experience. I know someone daily-driving a GSI (I think it's ProtonAOSP?) on Unihertz Jelly 2, and they are happy with it.

In my opinion, Unihertz small phones are fun, but /too/ small. As the article says, target would be 5-5.5" borderless, 4.5" in Jelly2's format, and I couldn't find any model that match. Closest is Xiaomi Qin 2 Pro (I have it, the form factor is really awesome), but it is too thin and thus its battery is abysmal. (If anyone is interested in Xiaomi Qin 2 Pro, yes it can run GSI just fine, but it requires a bit of work - feel free to send me an email for help)

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#984

Post by theriddlr »

No OLED please. I suffer from PWM sensitivity. Couldn't use the iPhone 13 Mini because of this. https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartpho...

I was dragged kicking and screaming from my iPhone SE 2016 as apps don't work on it anymore and it would shut down when it reached peak performance capacity. I used the Pixel 4A and have switched to the iPhone SE 2022. I get wrist tendon cramp from stretching to type and pinky strain from the weight on both phones.

I also loved the Xperia Compact line as it had pro features such as noise-cancelling wired earphones and NFC. My phone history: iPhone 4, Xperia V, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z5 Compact, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Mini, Pixel 4A, iPhone SE 2022.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#987

Post by [deleted] »

iSnow wrote: post #980
toss1 wrote: post #897

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reliability (no dropping 'pairing', no interference) Security (no practical eavesdropping) Simplicity (just plug the damn thing in and get a hard connection; the connected device is much simpler) Options (nothing prevents having both Bluetooth AND headphone port) The only reason it's eliminated is it's convenient for the manufacturers and they try to sell it as if we all want it, clearly a marketing lie.

>Security (no practical eavesdropping) https://bestsecuritysearch.com/hackers-can-eavesdrop-victims...

[deleted]

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#988

Post by toss1 »

iSnow wrote: post #980
toss1 wrote: post #897

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reliability (no dropping 'pairing', no interference) Security (no practical eavesdropping) Simplicity (just plug the damn thing in and get a hard connection; the connected device is much simpler) Options (nothing prevents having both Bluetooth AND headphone port) The only reason it's eliminated is it's convenient for the manufacturers and they try to sell it as if we all want it, clearly a marketing lie.

>Security (no practical eavesdropping) https://bestsecuritysearch.com/hackers-can-eavesdrop-victims...

Yes, there are ways to extract signal from almost anything.

Eavesdropping on either the output of the headphones or the audio data before it leaves the computer/phone is the same for wired vs Bluetooth. The latter seems to be the mode used in the (pretty coo) hack you posted - it's software attacking the Realtek chip, which must be driven by the wire, so exploiting the quasi-equivalence/reversability of speakers/microphones and the back signal from the speaker diaphragms.

This still requires access to get malware onto the device itself, and I'm more considering 'drive-by' or remote attacks in my comment.

To do this against a ~1m wire with millivolt signals without putting a clamp around the wire seems pretty tough in contrast to cracking a signal that is explicitly broadcast with not great security. Not only that, while eavesdropping the signals on the headphone wires will yield only a conversation in the room, which can be much more easily gathered directly, cracking a Bluetooth 2-way comms channel will yield much greater access to the device.

For most of us, neither is a concern, but it certainly is for people who do have real security needs, e.g., I've read that the current VPOTUS specifically uses wired headphones for this reason. Many people who also work with Classified information, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or just with business security issues have the same need. Failing to produce a device with this capability is a failure to address a key and leading market.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#989

Post by hjkl0 »

izacus wrote: post #352
cortesoft wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the real world, billions of people earn a very nice living making niche products. But rarely something as expensive to create as a smart phone.

Really? Because things like cabriolet cars, speciality cars, high-end audio equipment, luxury furniture and many others exist. If anything, mobile phone market is exceedingly horrible because of consolidation into a single product with not much choice.

> Really? Because things like cabriolet cars, speciality cars, high-end audio equipment, luxury furniture and many others exist.

Indeed, all those things are much much easier and cheaper to produce than a smartphone. You could do them at your home.

Try building from scratch a small Android phone at home.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone

#990

Post by smsm42 »

Oh yes please. I am seeking out smallest phones available that I can get without compromising functionality, and they are still too big for my taste. I already have a tablet. I want a small device that I could comfortably stuff into any pocket and not fear it'd jump out. I want it not to occupy too much space. I don't need it to be enough to fit a full size newspaper - I've got a huge 3-display setup for that in my office where I can read anything as big as I want. I remember fondly the old Motorola Razr that was small, light and functional.
Post reply on HN