I'm tired with all this Big-Phone-Elitism

I’m someone with relatively small hands, plus I want my phone to be on the smaller side since I prefer to use my tablet/computer/tv to watch content. But this trend where many manufacturers tend to keep futures away from smaller phones to drive people to bigger phones is driving me crazy and really makes it hard for me to buy a new phone. I can understand not having everything like maybe a periscope lens or something else that is cost etc. but not to this level. Like take Samsung for example: S24 lacks uwb, 45w, a 1440p display, has a lower amount of ram and storage. Why? Why can’t the s24 have faster charging or uwb? Why is there no 512 version and why does it have to start with 128gb storage? Is it not a flagship? It costs 949€ in my place! Why do I have to give 200€ more to get the s24+ just to get these simple features? I don’t want a bigger phone! Google does the same! No uwb, no thermometer sensor, no telephoto lens. And don’t get me started with all the software features google is keeping for the 8 pro like they don’t have the same processor. Why? Are they cheap? No they are not. I’m just really annoyed by this cause I really don’t want such a big phone.

OpenStars,
@OpenStars@startrek.website avatar

Well for one thing, it costs more to make a smaller phone than a larger phone. There are other engineering concerns as well such as heat dissipation. But mostly, any company makes things for profit reasons, not what would work best for you:-(. Hence, if they can extort a higher amount of money out of you, then that is what they will aim to do.

ALostInquirer,

While I don’t disagree with most of what you mention, I do have to ask on a couple points…Isn’t it probably significantly more expensive for them to make foldable screens than to make a smaller phone? Also wouldn’t a larger device mean more materials involved which may mean similar or just as high costs as to engineer something more compact?

Also these are open questions, I’m not expecting you personally to know one way or another, your comment simply inspired them. If someone else has some insight on them, would be interested to read it!

OpenStars,
@OpenStars@startrek.website avatar

One of the questions asked (“Why do I have to give 200€ more to get the s24+ just to get these simple features?”) was comparing S24 to S24+. While I have not looked it up, traditionally those versions range from SXY (small) to SXY+ (medium) and SXY Ultra (large), but are otherwise the same phone, so I would be surprised to hear if e.g. the S24 was foldable but the S24+ was not?

As for whether it gets more expensive to make something foldable vs. to make something more compact, I suspect the devil is in the details, so ymmv and you just kinda take each option as it comes. Other factors may help mitigate those costs e.g. a younger company trying to break into the big leagues might try to give phones away for virtually no profits in exchange for their increased market penetration (e.g. OnePlus used to be somewhat this way, now they are in the big leagues, more or less).

But your other point, about more materials: no, I believe that it’s more complex than that b/c it’s the effort of fitting things into tighter spaces that is more constraining. Imagine packing for a long vacation and/or a job interview at a far-away place and you get the idea - if you can fit everything into one suitcase that’s good, but a tiny backpack is much harder to accomplish, and to take nothing and just live with what you can carry on your body alone is REALLY tough! (especially if you want all the normal features like not smelling bad) i.e. the materials costs, while not negligible, have not been the driving/limiting force for many years. At least according to everything that I have read, but I am no phone manufacturer!:-)

BearOfaTime,

As Openstars mentions, fitting stuff into a smaller space is much more work and expense than extra material for the body. I’ve watched engineers layout circuit boards for much, much, much less complex stuff and it’s quite a challenge.

Then there’s heat dissipation. Having owned numerous phones, including things like the S4 and S4 Mini, the mini would get hot doing certain tasks. Far less surface area means it will heat up and reduce performance. (Granted this was years ago, that hardware and Android version weren’t exactly efficient).

I’m sure there’s other issues like component selection (and sourcing), how many they expect to sell, etc, etc.

In the end, my money is on projections by marketing/sales/whoever.

ByteMe,

They shouldn’t cost that much then. That’s what I’m saying. If they can’t put everything the bigger model has, at least make it cheaper

sbv,

I picked up a Pixel 8 in the store. It isn’t small, but it is a nice size for my hands. I bought the Pro because it’s getting exclusive features and has a bigger battery. I want to hold onto this phone for a while, so I wanted more features

It’s shitty. If the two sizes received equivalent features, I would have gone for the smaller device.

ByteMe,

Exactly

SpeedLimit55, (edited )

It’s not just android devices, Apple discontinued the mini (5.4”) after the 13 series and they are on 15 series now. If you want a small iPhone now you have to get the SE which is an 8 with a chip from the 13 inside. The standard size is now 6.1 on both platforms.

HeartyBeast,
@HeartyBeast@kbin.social avatar

I’m hoping the Mini isn’t discontinued, just that they are skipping a few gens. I have a 13 Mini. Given my normal pace of buying, I’ll be in the market for a 20 Mini.

SpeedLimit55,

Yeah the mini is a great phone just didn’t sell well. I thought maybe they would roll the X back out as a mini or a SE since it’s screen size was about halfway between the mini and regular 12&13. I never thought phones would just keep getting bigger. I remember switching from a HTC One to an LG G3 with its massive 5.5” screen and it was just perfect lol.

Squeak,

6.1 is still slightly smaller than the S24 OP is talking about.

Although Apple also remove features from the Plus phones when it comes to the camera.

I know this is an android /c, but I have the iPhone 15 Pro, so miss out on the upgraded camera.

I agree with OP. The big phones are just too big. I like the size of the standard size phones.

ByteMe,

The thing is that even if there is not an actually small phone, iphone 15 (pro) has an okay size. Think about pro max or plus. These guys are big

MajorHavoc,

I’m sad that phones don’t fit my hands anymore, but I know it’s my own fault for not growing my hands at the expected rate.

ByteMe,

Yeah, grow some hands already! Xd

Mac,

I miss my Droid Mini so much.

shadowSprite,

I was cleaning out awhile ago and found my first ever smartphone, a Galaxy s3. Boy, the memories… that phone sure wasn’t perfect, but I think it’s still my favorite phone, and it was literally the perfect size for my tiny ass hands. I hate hauling a small tablet around.

ALostInquirer,

I hate hauling a small tablet around.

Don’t you mean a “phablet”? 😜 If that awful name had stuck, I wonder if it might have dissuaded the device enlargement.

someguy3,

You now have reviewers that say on foldable phones they do most of their stuff on the small screen.

RampageDon,

Might be different for the newer generations, but I have a fold 2 and it’s awkwardly skinny closed. I almost always use my phone open if possible.

cm0002,

I waited for the Pixel Fold specifically for this reason, Galaxy Folds are way too narrow and makes you want to use it unfolded which I think goes against the spirit of a foldable, to be a phone when you need a phone and a tablet when you need a tablet

infeeeee,

I like my big phone and most people seem to like them as well. Manufacturers want to sell more phones and the intersection of people who care about things you mention (what the heck is even uwb) and really want a small phone is very small.

MooseLad,

Uwb is ultra wide band. It’s what makes things like Air Tags work, tracking them down to a few centimeters in accuracy.

FartsWithAnAccent,
@FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world avatar

Xperia Z compacts were awesome because of this.

Ilandar, (edited )

Yeah they were probably the last great small Android phones. The “small” phones of today like the Zenfone and base Galaxy S series are noticeably larger.

EDIT: Just want to add that both the XZ1 Compact and the XZ2 Compact are still being maintained. The XZ1 Compact supports both iodéOS and LineageOS for microG, while the XZ2 Compact is an official LineageOS device. Obviously not a perfect solution for everyone but they are still viable if size is a key issue for you.

Know_not_Scotty_does,

That’s a hill I will die on. Bring back rugged android phones under 6".

dingus,

I 100% agree with you. I bought a folding phone just so that I could have a modern phone that fits in my damn pants. Comparing the size of any modern phone to the size of smartphone I had 10ish years ago (Xperia U…with a whopping 3.5 inch display) is absolutely wild. Being able to text with one hand again would be amazing.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • random
  • android@lemdro.id
  • Hentai
  • doujinshi
  • announcements
  • general
  • All magazines
    •