With qHD out, I believe it will go up from 4.3 to 4.7 even to 5.
I'll never use it if it grows over 4.3. 4.3 is the best size for me
3.7" still perfect for me. When a Smartphone gets too big it's just a Tablet.
for me, bigger screen is always better. I agree with op, why have a tablet, and a cell phone, when you can just carry one.
My ideal phone right now would be 5 or 6 inches. And carry around a bluetooth keyboard/gaming pad in my bag, and I have everything I need.
I dont think so, screen size doesnt have anything to do with future tech/dev its just the size, it prolly wont be that big..
but I hope in the future therell be more 'BETTER' screens (and not way too bigger), like amoled ones.
I think 4-4.3" is the sweet spot when it comes to pocket-ability. I can't see any phone displays really getting any larger unless we get smaller bezels or edge-to-edge display panels.
I don't think it'll go over 4.5in.
After that, it's just losing the name "smartPHONE"
Smart phones have kind of always gone back and fourth. Iphone came out with and still has the 3.5" screen, the Pre has I believe either a 3" or 3.1" screen, the Galaxy Spica and Moment both have 3.2" screens also like the Dream and the Magic, the droid is 3.5", 3.7" I think? The Evo is 4.3", and the Galaxy S is 4". My touch 4g is 3.8" also. I don't think the screen size will really go up, but I think we'll have an average on all the phone sizes soon, such as 3.5" or lower for the low end market, between 3.5" and 4" for the mid and some high market, and anything higher than that would be high end.
I can't see any phone displays really getting any larger unless we get smaller bezels or edge-to-edge display panels.
if the screen size really goes up, I wonder which guy is gonna buy it... cuz most guys put their phone inside their pocket... unlike girls they put inside their handbags... unless we have bigger pants and bigger pockets... thats what I think.... 3.7 is just perfect for me....
ALL IN ONE FOR ME
I prefer to the 4" screen .
I think its the best size, 4.3"~5" is too big
its hard to handle
5" and above would be a tablet, even if a small one.
Smartphone screen would be up to 4.5" forever I guess, that's the size range we can handle with one hand.
4"
4" is OK for me.
samsung has already release fusion 4g with 4.5".
a qhd phone of 4.7" should be of the same width as 4.5"
If you look at phone from htc, effectively just the top/bottom margin gets smaller.
4.7" will be the game for sure.
I just use my tablet for all my calls, 10.1 inch phone !
4 Inch is perfect for me. 4.3 is max, more then it and your probably shaq.
I think in the future we will see bigger and bigger screens on phones.
I'm a student, and I use my phone study. A bigger screen means one less tablet to buy, and carry around.
4.3" is max for me.. Bigger than that is in my opinion too big.[/B]
Yeah same, the best size is 4.3" for me. Although... I read somewhere that humans will keep growing till the reach the cap of 10 feet. Maybe 6 inch phones are the norm in 100 years?
Related
What is your prefered screen size?
In my opinion 3.8 is perfect. I like 3.7 but the problem is that it is not as wide as the 3.5 screens on the garminphone, iphone, huwai ascend, and that's the only thing I don't like about 3.7 screens and the new motorolla cliq too its ridiculously long and thin, I did a side to side comparisom and it is less wider than the 3.7 inch screen on my G2 but a little bit longer. It was a dissappointment the cliq 2 of course why would they make the screen less wide that makes no sense to me anybody else feels like this about 3.7 screens?
The 3.8 on the mytouch 4G is wider than the 3.5 screens we know on the phones I mention and I like that. Btw I think they could've squeezed a 3.8 on the G2 at the size it is, that's one of the things I love about the G2, the size overall is nice.
3.7". I don't really feel like the 3.5" on my iPhone is any wider than the 3.7", but I never measured. I know 3.7" phones themselves are usually the same width as the iPhone.
something between 3.7 minimum to 4.3 max
3.7" is the best size for me (at least from what I tried, it depends on the size of your hand, I don't realy own a touchscreen device currently, tried friends').
The width of the screen is affected by the ratio, there are wide screens, 4:3 screens etc.
Depends on resolution.
4.5" , but 4.3" is minimum , anything else is unmanly and is a toy phone
3.7" is good -- i find much bigger than that ends up being too big for a phone..
4 inches is definitely the minimum; I have tried an iphone but it just isn't the same.
Captivate 2.2.1 Paragon
4-7inch anything under 4inch is unmanly and just a joke
GnatGoSplat said:
3.7". I don't really feel like the 3.5" on my iPhone is any wider than the 3.7", but I never measured. I know 3.7" phones themselves are usually the same width as the iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I measured them, the iphone and huwai ascend, screen is 1.94 inch wide, the 3.7 on the G2 is 1.90 wide, also I notice the cliq 2 screen is longer and less wide than the G2 screen being the same size. I prefer wider screen than longer, don't get me wrong I'm good with the 3.7 inch its not that big of a deal
i think the sgs has the right dimensions of a display
I love the 4. 3 maybe bigger.
The EVO you wish you had
4''
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
I think I would like a 5 inch screen. A little big but, I think it would be good for me.
The EVO you wish you had
I've tried a few, and I think 4 is the best for me. Anything too much bigger starts to get clunky.
Minimum 4. Max 4.5. Depends on the overall design. Extremely thin bezel? Fine, give me 4.5
Sent from the future.
__________________________
The quality of my life would be greatly reduced if I did not have nostrils.
4.3" in minimum, would love to see some new HTC phones with bigger screen, perhaps in the 5" area.
4" is perfect for me, but i have smallish hands. I'm happy with the 3.7" i currently have though.
What worries me is that all the top end phones are coming out with 4.3" screens now, meaning i'll have no choice but to go bigger in future
Do you guys with bigger screens have any trouble with them fitting in your trouser pockets? Is it comfortable?
I like the 4" screens on the Captivate and stuff, but even a GOOD 3.5" like on the iPhone 4 is a great screen, and likewise, the 4.3" and 4.5" screen are tempting. I do think once you go above 4" it's harder to keep a phone from being a big ugly brick (think Droid X) but I'm looking forward to seeing what Samsung does with the 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus. That promises to be a nice screen - none of the PenTile checker boarding, really thin, Samsung's great at design. Too bad they're so bad at the updates thing...
ErOR22 said:
4.3" in minimum, would love to see some new HTC phones with bigger screen, perhaps in the 5" area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn! homie just get a tablet lmao jk
DirkGently1 said:
4" is perfect for me, but i have smallish hands. I'm happy with the 3.7" i currently have though.
What worries me is that all the top end phones are coming out with 4.3" screens now, meaning i'll have no choice but to go bigger in future
Do you guys with bigger screens have any trouble with them fitting in your trouser pockets? Is it comfortable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
trust me I doubt most phones would come out 4.3, it seems 3.7-4" its getting to be the rule now most phones launching are withing that range I doubt the new sidekick will be anything bigger than 3.7 lol some sidekick feens are actually I would say dreaming about the sidekick having a 4.3" screen imagine a screen that big flipping how big the phone gonna be lol. And the samsung 4G as we already know is 4". I also think 4 is nice but they have to do it like they did it with the motorolla defy waterproof the phone is incredibly small much smaller than the G2 with a nice 3.7 screen. I think they could've squeezed in a 3.8 in the G2 and could've made it smaller. I mean just look at the garminphone it is ridiculously and unnecesarily huge for a 3.5 screen. Just the front is about 55% screen and 45% buttons.
This phone is so huge, is it a phone or a tablet? Who needs tablets anymore with this monster?? Here, you can see it in its original size. Click in the top right corner to calibrate your screen ...
Compared to the iPhone it's a gigant …
http://versusio.com/en/samsung-galaxy-nexus-32gb-vs-apple-iphone-4s-64gb
and even compared to the Galaxy SII it's still (!) larger. wicked
http://versusio.com/en/samsung-galaxy-nexus-32gb-vs-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-i9100
And the resolution is higher than the iPad's resolution
Think, the size makes one-hand-usage impossible but still this will be the future of phones and tablets
It's a phone. I honestly think 5.3 and up are tab sizes.
size is still ok but i am not sure if it's too large if go out ...
Too big for my liking really. I'm still happy with my 3.7" N1 and i'd probably find a 4" Nexus S too big right now!
The only time i've held anything bigger was a Leo at 4.3 and i really didn't like it at all!
CES brought with it a few good contenders in the 5-inch phone battle. Only a month ago, the Butterfly/Droid DNA from HTC was the only game in town. In the next couple months, the Sony Xperia Z, Oppo Find 5, ZTE Grand S, and Huawei Ascend D2 will be popping their heads up for your consideration. MWC might even bring more 5 inch goodness, but any phones announced then will still be a ways off. The rumored 5 inch Galaxy S4 is still a good half a year away also.
The 5 inch size seems to fit the bill very well between a manageable and pocketable phone and one that is too big to use and impairs walking. It fits my requirements perfectly. I've owned a Galaxy Note that's 5.3" before and the 80+mm width and 140+mm height was cumbersome and bulky for me. However, the Galaxy S III at 4.8" was almost imperceptible in my pocket and very easy to hold. Most of the 5 inch phones currently releasing are about the same size, especially those with onscreen buttons. Some like the Xperia ZL are even smaller.
Here's a rundown on my thoughts of the current crop:
Xperia Z: The sides and power button are stylish. It's thin at under 8mm. The back is too plain and that plainless allows fingerprints to shine very easily and nastily. Front is pretty generic. The screen seems to be a bigger version of the Xperia S/T screen. That is, the viewing angles and color aren't the greatest. The 13MP camera seems to take great low light shots with very little noise, and the HDR video is also stellar. Sound capture could use some tweaking. IT's also water/dust resistant, but that doesn't factor much into my decision.
Xperia ZL: The internals and screen are identical to the Z, however Sony tried to squeeze the dimensions a bit and the height and width is actually smaller than a Galaxy S III. The thickness, however, is less impressive. There is a godawful butt flap on the back, especially noticeable on the white one. The textured black one is too Samsung-ish and cheap looking to me. The lower right front facing camera, similar to the one on the Nokia N9, also drives me nuts because I always notice it. Not on my shortlist.
Oppo Find 5: This is the one I'm enamored with. I've always liked the way the Xperia Arc looked, minus the cheap looking plastics. This one is matte and soft touch instead. It is sleeker and more streamlined than the curvaceous and fluffier, less hardy looking One X and Droid DNA polycarbonate shells. The screen is supposedly the same one as the Droid DNA, which is the best 5" 1080p on the market. The camera is also 13MP and possibly has HDR video and a 120fps mode. This phone already has a release date of 1/29 in China, with many more countries following after. Most important of all, it's been stated that they will sell it unlocked in the US for $500 online. Hassle-free. Close to release and fully unlocked are big pros in my book. The name Oppo is also very endearing.
Huawei Ascend D2: Probably the ugliest and most generic of the lot. The front seems identical to the Galaxy S II from 2011, and the back is just cheap shiny plastic with generic budget phone design. There's also an iffy homemade SoC inside. The screen might be the same as the Droid DNA/Find 5 however. There is also a sizeable 3000mah battery.
ZTE Grand S: The design looks a lot like the HTC One series. At 6.9mm, it is also the thinnest. The screen seems to have varying opinions. Some say it is good. Others say it is washed out with poor colors. The only thing I can gather from the videos is that the default brightness isn't very high and it always looks rather dim. The large raised dais that the camera sits within doesn't look very elegant. It is a fingerprint magnet and contrast sharply with the matte of the rest of the phone.
Droid DNA: This one is actually out and available. I don't know about the Butterfly or international variants, but it is on Verizon in the US and can be easily unlocked for GSM networks. It has the best 5" 1080p screen in the market, and the colors are not overly warm like the One X. It also has the same fluffy pillow look of the One X, but with some fun red stripes on the sides. It is quite light for its size, but on the thicker side for modern smartphones. There is a woefully small battery. The camera is a transplant from the older One X, and is only 8MP compared to the other 13MP shooters. The quality is decent, but it tends to be overly dark and oversharpened. The video capture is also not very good.
at some point phones can get too big. I have fairly big hands, but still I do not want to be stretching out my thumbs every time I need to click the back button.
well........
in my opinion, 5" is the ideal size, any bigger than that, the phone would be hard to handle as a phone atleast for people like me.
i have my fingers crossed for my next BIG phone , already expecting a Nexus-4 soon, and hopefully get a HTC Butterfyl or Xperia-Z soon.
:fingers-crossed:
Next "BIG" thing ... hehehe
the irony!
But serious I'm also an owner of rather big hands and I think I could handle a 5" phone, especially if it had a 1080p display.
it is good if phone has 5 inch screen display but phone should be comfortable in hands, now a days most of the mobile companies trying to launch big screen phone because big screen phone are very famous in youngsters.
I would choose the Sony ZL from that list for these reasons:
-Smallest surface for a 5 inch phone (for now)
-On screen buttons, very modable like Nexus devices once rooted
-Sony UI are lighter and more tolerable to me than sense and even touchwiz
-The camera, sound quality and durability should be good to excellent which is a trend with Sony devices from what I see, quite important factors
-It has removable storage which the DNA does not, this is a big deal for a 1080p device. They go hand in hand.
-It have bigger battery capacity than the Z and DNA.
-Base on so spec charts, it is 3G pentaband, a huge plus, you can bring it to any GSM carrier in the world. With LTE too.
If you read the spec charts, the DNA and ZL thickness is .1mm apart, if that is enough of a concern than you deserve the 11gb storage space and overpriced CDMA contract. Though the Z is 2mm thinner, it is 8.4mm longer with big empty space below the screen.
But probably I won't buy it due to the price and my preference of Nexus devices.
Still depends on the size of your palm.
bigger screen is better to use, but the issue is the pocketable size, I m a guy and i dont carry a purse with me.... if u put a 5" in ur front pocket, its hard to bend or kneel down, and u risk sitting on the phone if u put it on ur rear pocket, especially for those who wear tight jeans
i guess its fine if u use a purse or a belt hanger or clothing with big pockets
5.0 Screens
I was concerned my 4.3 inch screen would be too large, not so. Now with the bevels disappearing a 5.0 inch screen is workable for an average sized hand. The long term issue for all this larger screens with all the added functionality is going to be battery life. Sony's White Magic integrated white pixels into the screen to help reduce battery consumption, not sure if it did. They are also introducing a new deep sleep mode that is suppose to reduce battery drain, further. I think the Sony Z and ZL are extremely nice. I have an Xperia Arc S, but we will have to see what Google's X phone is...
It could be a leap in development and one would assume it is a 5.0 screen.
As you see everyone have own opinion. I think 4.5-4.7" is max size. So it's good when we have many option to choose.
I like 4inch phones :/
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
Phew! I have a phone so small that the resolution is cut off sometimes when I play a game. 5 inches would be massive thing to handle casually, and I like to be able to handle my phone from hand to hand easily. Not giving it a death grip afraid it'll be too big for my hands!
Nice.........I don't think 5 inches will be that bad.........looking at the note 2 and then going back to my phone is night and day lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
I will bei getting a Xperia Z or Ascend D2 depending on availability in Germany/Switzerland....5 inch is perfect for my long fingers and Huawei impresses me already with my second phone (G615).
Mmx canvas 2 superphone A110
----------------Read If You Have Time----------------
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100,
HIT thanks if I did Helped you.
LIFE! It's what you make out of it!
Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:
Dsteppa said:
Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most? Perhaps. Certainly not everyone. I use my phone with one hand most of the time.
I really only use it with both hands when playing games or writing a really long SMS. And that's not even certain.
Playing Puzzle or rotation games(Like Mega Jump) is easier with just one hand.
I could not for the life of me want to drop your bag or tossing your smoke just cause you have to answer a call. 2 Hand phones really should be a hassle.
I will wait abit till theres a durable, fast speed 4.5" (maximum) phone.
For years everything has gotten smaller I think making them bigger is really a step backwards.
Dsteppa said:
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm only 19. When I'm 80 with eye problems (which probably by then has a magic cure), Phones probably wont even have screens or some crazy stuff.
I like the 5-inch phones, but I am just worried where I am supposed to keep them since they will barely fit in my pocket. I currently own a Galaxy S3 and I have trouble keeping that in my pocket. I'll have to purchase custom pants if I want to get a 5-inch phone
I think 5" is really the acceptable limit. Anything over that would be too uncomfortable to use as a phone.
It'd make more sense to get a tablet if you need anything bigger.
After using the Note 2 for a while, the biggest thing I don't like is the fact that I don't want a smaller screen for my next phone. I have average sized hands and don't find it cumbersome hardly at all. 5 inches would be the smallest id consider. The DNA is certainly a lot easier to manage though. 5 inches would be the minimum for me and 5.5 the max. I will say that I've lost count of how many times I've dropped the Note 2 on my face when laying down
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
All the size speculates that the Note 4 will only have a 5.7" but with 4k resolution. I don't get the point of this, why have a such high resolution but still on 5.7" screen?
kuromusha38 said:
All the size speculates that the Note 4 will only have a 5.7" but with 4k resolution. I don't get the point of this, why have a such high resolution but still on 5.7" screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be more than happy if it would retain 5.7". Anything above 6 inch seems to go overboard with the so called phablet. Pocketability option would be close to non existent if it is.
4k resolution on 5.7 inch for me is fine too. I've tried LG G3 and I am honestly impressed.
But that's just my opinion.
We'll still see what Note 4 has to offer. If it is just a screen size/resolution bump and additional sensor gimmicks. I'd probably pass and wait for Note 5.
Since Note 3 still serves me well. I'm hoping that at 2015. New battery technology would be powering the upcoming handsets, as we all know we are just a year or months away from 64 bit processors. The supposed new ion batteries that theoritically doubles battery life of the current lithium ion batteries.
Yeah seriously, 5.7 is like perfect size. Instead of bigger and bigger screen, they can spend that time making better screen and other specs. Seriously the whole thirst for bigger screen and octo processors is just asinine. At the end of the day, its a damn phone. And then after all those specs dumped into the phone, another one will be released the next year. 5.7 with better screen and more PPI. Yes please
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Free mobile app
I want smaller bezel and slightly shorter.
I reckon its about 5mm too long at the moment.
IF the note 4 has the same 5.7 inch screen size as the note 3 I am going to skip it and wait for the note 5 next year. I want a 6 inch screen note and won't support a phone or a company with my hard earned $$ for a new device with the same screen size as last year's model! I currently own a note 3 with a 10,000 mah zerolemon battery and rugged case so I can wait for the note 5 if need be.
QHD =\= 4K.
I'd like a jump to 5.9" myself.
Introducing the Galaxy note 8, with the best AMOLED screen yet, sitting at 9 inches!
Come on guys, when and why did a bigger screen become part of an update requirement?
I won't mind a bigger screen as long as the size of the phone stays the same (ie smaller bezels). But, there's not much room left.
Hhhhh , you wont see a 4K display in a phone untill next year or the year after and the screen size will be smaller not bigger
Samsung need to compete with the 5.5inch iphone 6 so they will make the note 4 screen smaller to 5.5inch or they will keep the same 5.7inch and it will have a snapdragon 805 chip with a QHD=2K super amoled display like the galaxy s5 lte-a
Personally i have the galaxy note3 and i skipped galaxy s5 because the note 3 was better and i am waiting for samsung to impress us/me with the note4
The screen size doesn't bother me if it goes up, but any of the epic fail features (waterproofing causing system overheating or port covers that fall off/are a pain to use) will preclude me from buying the Note 4.
I want buy it but I won't if it's going to be a turkey like the Galaxy 5, Xperia Z2 etc.
I must admit I get quite a kick out of people who say they'll wait for the Note 5, even though the Note 4 hasn't even been released yet.
For the guys who think the Note 4 sucks, I'd just like to save you a little time...
The Note 5 sucks too.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW
If this the logic is new device = bigger screen then note 6 will be a tablet. For me 5.7" is perfect. If they make the device any bigger than this I won't buy it. It would be perfect if they could keep he 5.7" screen but make the device smaller which means more practical and easy to handle with one hand.
What logic?
I just think 5.7" is too damn small for a phone with a stylus.
Minimum should be 6".
*smaller bezel, like the G3
*stereo speakers, cupping speakers is ridiculous, imo
*better battery life at full brightness, no tweaks
*improved TW speed, the devs have it pretty smooth, but there are still some lag relative to iphones
*an incremental processor upgrade is not going to be enough imo
the iphone will have the better design, better battery life, better processor, and smoother OS and it will be released withing DAYS of announcement, which really means nothing to me since the phone is so locked down, so I am done with Apple products
why can't HTC just release the REAL phone I want which is a 5.7 M8
Personally 5.7" is my perfect size too.. i wouldnt buy if the size would increase..
but screen bigger than 5.7" but smaller or same footprint, well thats another story..
Personally I'm gonna wait awhile before getting a new phone as I am still really happy with my Note 3. Of course I'll be curious and probably tempted but the Note 3 can easily last another 2 years (if not more) and it will be interesting to see what is out and available by then
ciprianruse88 said:
It would be perfect if they could keep he 5.7" screen but make the device smaller which means more practical and easy to handle with one hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much this. at 5.7" the screen only just fits in the pockets of my slacks without sticking out, and barely better in my jeans. If the device retained the current form factor and reduced bezel size that would be okay though.
One area where samsung could really reduce the size of the device, or increase the screen size is by moving the damn buttons. It is 2014 and Samsung are now the only android OEM with physical home/back/menu buttons, just give us some damn softbuttons already.
Juan123 said:
Personally I'm gonna wait awhile before getting a new phone as I am still really happy with my Note 3. Of course I'll be curious and probably tempted but the Note 3 can easily last another 2 years (if not more) and it will be interesting to see what is out and available by then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much this. The only thing that could make me move off the Note 3 before that would be a Nexus for Verizon Wireless in the states haha.
Hmm.
1. I think physical button will stay. (have not seen a galaxy phone without it)
2. I think we won't get stereo front speakers. (aforementioned physical button)
3. So much hate for the phone that's not even out yet.
4. I think TW is going to stay. (they now have "Galaxy Apps"!, instead of Samsung apps..., not to mention Samsung wearables only for Samsung phones)
5. New features from S5 will definitely be a possibility. (i.e. heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner, water resistant rating)
6. I agree that they will have to come up with something we have not seen before(not just software, or features from the S5) or many people will not upgrade or jump ship to a different manufacturer. (sigh...no more updates to Wanam Xposed)
Relax and enjoy the ride.
lilstevie said:
Pretty much this. at 5.7" the screen only just fits in the pockets of my slacks without sticking out, and barely better in my jeans. If the device retained the current form factor and reduced bezel size that would be okay though.
One area where samsung could really reduce the size of the device, or increase the screen size is by moving the damn buttons. It is 2014 and Samsung are now the only android OEM with physical home/back/menu buttons, just give us some damn softbuttons already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if they move that ugly logo to the back, it would be amazing *_*
But where would they put the finger print scanner though?
kuromusha38 said:
What logic?
I just think 5.7" is too damn small for a phone with a stylus.
Minimum should be 6".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, when you remember that the note has no on screen buttons getting in the way. A phone still has to be portable you know and unless they're gonna be fitting that screen in the same footprint it may be a little too large IMO.
Ok, so I prefer my phone to be top end but I kind of feel that I'm being forced to purchase phones with increasingly larger displays because the smaller display phones tend to needlessly gimp out the rest of the spec (CPU, RAM, storage, camera etc).
People say that manufacturers are only reacting to consumer choice but is this really true.
Take for example the original Samsung Galaxy S. This was a 4" display. The phone was very popular. When they upgraded the phone (S2) the phone went from 4" to 4.3" screen. Anyone who preferred the 4" size had two options:
1. Force to get the 4.3" and still benefit from the latest top end specs in other areas or
2. Look at other 4" phones that may not be a top end phone.
I reckon most people who preferred the 4" display reluctantly took option 1.
A year later the same situation occurs with Galaxy S3 and the 4.8" display. People who preferred the smaller screen size had to choose from the same previous two options. The same thing pretty much happens going forward so we have a history like this:
S1: 4"
S2: 4.3"
S3: 4.8"
S4: 5"
S5 and S6: 5.1"
Same thing for the Galaxy Note:
Note 1: 5.3"
Note 2: 5.5"
Note 3 and 4: 5.7"
Same for Motorola and Moto X:
1st gen: 4.7"
2nd gen: 5.2"
3rd gen: Style 5.7" and Play 5.5"
Same is true for pretty much every other manufacturer.
How can manufacturers say consumers want larger display phones when they offer no comparable alternative to their previous generation?
For me personally, I preferred the size of the Galaxy S2 phone. Although that came with a 4.3" display, I wouldn't mind if they managed to squeeze in a larger display into the same dimension of the phone by reducing the bezels so I'm guessing a 4.7" phone is around the sweet spot for me. But wanting a smaller display phone doesn't necessarily mean I don't want top end specs everywhere else.
I think pretty much all manufacturers are missing a trick. Top end phones with large phablet size displays are in a massively competing market. They all find it difficult to differentiate their phone to create a unique selling point.
One easy way to create a phone that stands out from the crowd with instant unique selling point:
A 1080p, 4.7" display phone with smallish bezels. All other specs should be relatively top end. Boom, that'll be a winner right there.
The only manufacturer that seems to get this is Sony as they do this with their Xperia Compact phones. General review feedback and sales of the Compact version of the phone are comparable to their full size Xperia phone so I do believe there are consumers who want this. The thing with Sony is that their phones are not massively popular (even the larger Xperia phone) so while the Compact brings in decent sales figures for Sony's overall sales, it is dwarfed by bigger names like Samsung.
Plus, if you want a top end phablet size phone then you have dozens to choose from. If you want a top end compact size phone then you only have one to choose from which is priced pretty high (typical Sony pricing) and therefore even those who are inclined with top end phones that are compact, may not go for the only option they have available for many reasons.
There are many who prefer phablet phones so I'm no trying to take away anything from those consumers. I still think manufacturers should create phablet phones as there is a market for those but I'm just saying that I reckon there are a good portion of users who prefer top end compact phones but there is only one option for them and that will never indicate the huge consumer market potential for this preference. Manufacturers should create both variety of phones so they can see how sales compare. But if all they do is produce the larger phone and say "see, everyone is still buying the larger phone" then this doesn't show those who reluctantly forced into buying those type of phones.
Anyway, I just thought I'd air my opinion and see what others think.