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mobile phone sizes

Smartphone Screen Sizes Decoded: Choosing the Right Size for Your Needs

When it is time to settle for an upgrade or a replacement of your existing phone, other than the price factor, there are many other attributes that go a long way in influencing your decision to buy a new smartphone. mobile phone sizes

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One of the important considerations that will more often than not play a decisive role in your selection of a smartphone is the choice of an appropriate screen size that is conducive to your distinct usage patterns.

With modern smartphones bringing the world to your fingertips, it is not surprising that the importance of the phone’s screen size has increased manifold since the multipurpose smartphone of today is not only limited to its basic functionality of making and receiving calls and messaging but also acts as an entertainment device-cum-gaming console for its owners.

Choosing an ideal display size can be a tricky affair, as the market is flooded with smartphones that boast screen sizes of various dimensions. Other than the screen size, you should also know how to check the specifications and select the best smartphone for yourself

Here, you will find the advantages and disadvantages of a few of the trending smartphone screen sizes of 5”, 5.5″, and 6” or even more in order to help you make an informed decision that takes into account your specific needs and your individual preferences too.

smartphone shipments

The statistic shows forecast global smartphone unit shipments by screen size from 2018 to 2022. 
In 2019, 305 million smartphones with a screen size of 5" to 5.5" are forecast to be shipped worldwide.
Statista reports.

So why is bigger almost always better?

The most obvious advantage is that a larger display allows more text to be displayed, which is especially convenient if you’re browsing online. A small screen is fine if you’re texting or making a call, but once you try to read text on a website, that tiny screen is suddenly a big inconvenience. Small screens work for quick tasks, but if you’re using your phone for media, you’re going to want a bigger screen.

  • Camera and photos – A larger display won’t improve the pixel quality of your photos, but it will definitely improve the composition.
  • Video-chatting and Face Time are better, since the whole point is to make you feel like you’re actually there.
  • Games – You can follow the action more easily and the larger screen also means your accuracy will improve, since it’s easier to see where you should be tapping. Also, icons are more spread out, so you’re less likely to hit the wrong button.
  • Speaking of spreading out, that larger screen means more accuracy with your touchscreen on and offline. Whether it’s the keyboard or closely packed URL options – think Facebook’s Tag Photo, View Full Size, Make Profile Picture – all crammed together, bigger definitely translates to more accuracy.
  • Movies – If you’ve ever tried to watch a video on your phone, this one is self-explanatory. We don’t go to the movies for the grossly overpriced popcorn; we go for that giant screen.
  • Android users have a distinct advantage over iPhone users in one area – split screen display. Users can download an app enabling split-screen functionality, allowing them to view two apps at once.

As a side note, in addition to the advantages of a larger display, a bigger screen also means a bigger battery. As screen size has increased, so has battery life. Compact phones meant compact batteries, which was fine when we used our phones for talk or text.

 

5 Inches Screen Size mobile phone sizes

Pros

Well-suited for day-to-day basics use, a 5-inch display size is the new normal that befits you when you are desirous of a functional phone that flaunts a large display but is compact enough to fit into your hand easily.

Apart from enabling you with the flexibility and comfort to use your phone single-handedly, such a moderated screen size ensures that activities such as browsing the net, playing games, watching movies, reading e-books and responding to emails do not seem cumbersome anymore when performed on the spacious display.

Features, ergonomics and aesthetics are not compromised either with an optimally sized screen size that leaves adequate space to pack in more features into your smartphone.

Additionally, opting for a 5-inch screen will allow you to experiment with smartphones of diverse makes and models from industry players such as Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi, etc.

Cons

While a 5-inch screen size is a safe bet for you when elements like your phone’s portability, usability and productivity score high on your wish list, yet, a 5 inches display would imply that you have to make do with a viewing experience that can be enhanced manifold with the larger display variants.

Unlike the 5.5 inches and 6 inches models, a 5-inch screen size may also be indicative of a lower pixel count – a vital aspect that warrants deliberation, especially when you need superior display resolution to enjoy animated wallpapers and backgrounds and high definition games and movies.

Moreover, the restricted screen space can hinder your creativity to some extent as creating presentations and compressing HD videos is much more seamless on a bigger screen as opposed to a 5-inch display.

5.5 Inches Screen Size mobile phone sizes

Pros

Also deemed as a phablet for its innovative take on a smartphone and a tablet, a 5.5 inch screen size should be your ‘go-to’ option when both productivity and entertainment are non-negotiable for you.

Much sought after by the gaming enthusiasts who crave for an expansive display to manoeuvre through the treacherous turns like a pro, it is also a preferred choice for the movie buffs who swear by a big screen for a cinematic experience right in the comfort of their homes.

Apart from delighting you with a better read, seamless typing functionalities and the flexibility to multitask across multiple windows, a 5.5 inches display makes handling of a gamut of apps and editing of spreadsheets and documents surprisingly effortless and comfortable.

Thus, workaholics who are heavily reliant upon their smartphones for Office and other applications will find a 5.5 inches screen size more relevant to their needs as opposed to the smaller displays. Apple, Samsung, LG and Xiaomi Redmi are few of the well-known brands that manufacture smartphones with a 5.5” display.

 

Cons

A 5.5 inches screen size can impede your comfort quotient as it is may not be compact enough to fit into your hand or pocket easily. Since a larger display size means a bigger battery for your phone, hence, owning a 5.5-inch smartphone could imply that your phone will take more time to charge unlike those with smaller batteries.

Also, these large screen phones are quite vulnerable to accidental falls and scratches, thereby necessitating periodic mobile phone repairs and maintenance needs.

 

6 Inches or Bigger Screen Size mobile phone sizes

Pros

A popular fad in the ever-evolving world of smartphones, a 6 inches display is perfect for users who seek a canvas-like display to relish the latest blockbusters and graphic intensive games without having to squint for an up close and personal view of the distant images and swift and complex video actions.

Owing to its high resolution and amplified pixel density, a 6+-inch display is a better deal when you desire matchless clarity and sharpness of pictures to magnify your multimedia experience. Surfing the net is also a sheer delight when you engage in your browsing activities on your smartphone’s broad 6 inches screen.

Bibliophiles will strike a chord with this screen size as they can satiate their love for books to the fullest in the form of e-book apps. Since a bigger screen has the capacity to display more content in one go, hence, it endows the users with a continuous and comfortable read and eliminates the need to scroll down the screen frequently.

Smartphones with a commodious 6-inch screen size are also apt for creative souls who aspire for a bigger canvas to let loose their imagination. Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Sony, and Xiaomi are a few of the renowned manufacturers of smartphones with 6-inch screen sizes.

Cons

Portability is the main concern with phones that flaunt super-sized 6-inch screens. Large screen phones are also not very convenient during travelling. Moreover, if your 6+” display is damaged or broken, replacing it can burn a hole in your pockets faster than a small screen that will usually cost you less.

 

Also, those with petite hands or ones who have an eye for compact phones may find it awkward to use such large phones for making and receiving calls. Lastly, it goes without saying that one has to be prepared to shell out more if they want to splurge upon a smartphone that provides them with a generous 6” display that literally leaves nothing to the imagination anymore!

But now as the displays have become longer and narrower, even 6+ inch screens are more convenient than phones of earlier generations. (Earlier smartphone screens had ratios of 16:9, while now screens of 18:9, 18.5:9, and even 20:9 have made headway, making them more convenient to use)

 

 

With technology rapidly changing and making way for cutting-edge innovations in the realm of mobile computing, there is nothing called a best fit anymore as mobile companies are constantly on the lookout to design and develop smartphone models that score over their predecessors in terms of their usability and with respect to their features, performance, and functionality. It is up to you as a consumer to decipher your distinct usage pattern and zero in on a screen size that effortlessly complements your lifestyle. mobile phone sizes

So what screen size do you prefer?

 

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Driven by wanderlust and a passion for tech, Sandra is the creative force behind Alertify. Love for exploration and discovery is what sparked the idea for Alertify, a product that likely combines Sandra’s technological expertise with the desire to simplify or enhance travel experiences in some way.