A 3-inch display used to be considered massive, but now it’s small and obsolete. Smartphones have steadily grown in size throughout the years, but is having a bigger display really better? There are many things to consider, but the short answer is that it depends on your needs.
Media Consumption
Mobile phones aren’t just for calling. Most people use their smartphones to watch movies, read books and browse the Internet. If you primarily want to consume media while still being able to place the device in your pocket, then a larger smartphone is ideal. While the larger display doesn’t help when you want to call someone, it does make it much easier to have fun with the device. In fact, calling might be uncomfortable due to the device’s size.
Better is Better
Is a bigger screen really better, or is a better screen better? There are some smartphones that have 4-inch displays or larger with low resolutions. For example, a 4-inch display with 200 dots per inch won’t look nearly as good as a 3-inch display with 300 dots per inch. Resolution is a key factor when choosing a smartphone because a large display with a low resolution is going to look horrible. You will really notice all of the pixels and how choppy everything looks.
More Hardware
While it just seems natural that people would want larger displays to consume more media, many people think that larger screens are a necessity due to stronger hardware. The hardware needed for 4G LTE connectivity and quad-core processing is much larger than for dual-core processing and 3G connectivity. This means that the device needs to expand to accommodate the additional parts.
Having a large device with a relatively small display seems like a waste. This is one reason why larger screens have become a requirement. For example, did you notice that the iPhone 5, Apple’s first 4G phone, is the only model in the iPhone lineup to have a 4-inch display? This is the consequence of manufacturers using more hardware.
One-Handed Phones
You could easily use smartphones with a single hand until recently. Many of these larger devices force people to use both hands to complete simple tasks like browsing the Internet or making a call. This greatly reduces the smartphone’s usefulness and convenience. It also poses a safety hazard because it’s more likely that you will drop the device.
Battery Life
Modern smartphone manufacturers are having a hard time building suitable batteries for their devices. The battery needs to be lightweight, but it also needs to be strong enough to power the device for at least five hours. Larger displays require much more power, which is why most of these devices don’t last as long as smaller smartphones. If you need a smartphone that lasts all day, then it’s better to get a 3-inch display or smaller.
Conclusion
While devices with larger displays are better for media consumption and they have become a necessity due to enhanced hardware, they are also harder to use and the battery life suffers tremendously. There are many good and bad things about this growing trend, but what’s most important is understanding your needs. If you love watching movies and playing apps, then larger screens are great. If you need the phone for extended conversations and convenience, then this trend is harmful.
[Recommended read: Tablets and Computer Screens Could Disrupt Sleep Patterns]
[Image credit: Miguel Perez, Flickr]
About the Author: David Chen writes about smartphone reviews and deals. He is a frequent contributor for a number of mobile phone blogs. To see the top Verizon phones for sale click here and select the best individual or family plan.
I personally believe that a 4 inch display is the most suitable one for a smartphone. It easily balances the performance, and battery life. Anything larger that it (as in Note 2) makes it difficult to handle the gadget, while if you choose a smaller version, you have to suffer in terms of performance.
Size does matter is not always true 🙂
hello peter nice article
i believe that big screens are good, but not too big like samsung and other companies are coming up with 5 and 6 inch screens,i personally don’t like a 5 or 6 inch screen . yes 4 inch is cool but roaming around with a laptop sized phone in your pockets is not cool
I agree with you, Prabhat! I don’t like smartphones with over sized screens they look ugly to me!
Hey Peter,
nice post and Thanks for sharing this post with us. I think big screen smartphone are not better because as it creates problem whenever we move from one place to another and Yes, its power consumption is also large.
Personally, I think a 5 inch display like the samsung galaxy s4 is suffice for a smartphone!
The screen size matters a lot when it comes to smartphones. If the screen has to be too big to even fit in my pocket, I would much rather buy a tablet
But it’s not so cool using a tablet as a phone though.
nice topic..,
I think if anybody buys smartphone taking bigger screen size into consideration then in my opinion he should buy a tablet.., because bigger screen size is annoying. when I see people carrying a smartphone of 5 to 6 inch screen size, I feel pity on them, they cant even hold their phone into their hands due to its giant screen size 😀 😀
That’s why I’m still reluctant in buying the S4. I’ve been using the S2 for so long and I’m not sure if I would be comfortable holding the S4.
Smartphones with bigger screen kills the concept of comfortability that smartphones are supposed to imply. I think smartphones are most comfortable with just 3-4 inches of screen.
Yeah I agree. Bigger is NOT always better.
Well done, Peter. You nailed it, as far as I’m concerned. I especially have a problem with the two-handed operation of a “mobile” device. I use my phone for quick tasks – if it requires two hands, I’ll just wait until I’m at a PC and can use a real keyboard too.
Battery life is a close second on the list of reasons I want my phone smaller.
Funny, as much as I love the features of the S3 and now the S4, the “mini” version of those is at the upper limit of the size I want in a phone.
Yeah I agree, Matt! If it needs me to use both of my hands, I might as well go home and use my laptop. LOL 🙂
Yes bigger screen is always a better option. It provides better option for using the apps. As bigger screen always provide better experience.
But it’s hardly fit into your jeans pocket. You don’t mind that, Prakash?
hello Peter bigger screen gives us a great experience but for comfortablity point of view this is not suitable, the first problem in the pocket, these phone not fit in the pockets so for better experience we have to face these small problems.
thanks 🙂
That’s why I’m still keeping my Samsung Galaxy S2. Still very reluctant to change to the S4…
Hi Peter. Yes Bigger is better always. Very nice & authentic post. Keep sharing like this.