Here's the rub; I'm glad you have your fill of phones to choose from. But consider that I (and many others) have nothing.

If the situation was reversed I would not argue against larger phones, in fact, I was part of that generation when the iPhone 4, 4s, 5 et al. were being released and over in Android Land the OnePlus One was coming out (legitimately called a Phablet)- I welcomed the choice. It wasn't for me of course but more variety is great.

Unfortunately choice has been removed and I regret celebrating the new form factor thoroughly.

What I'm trying to convey is that: I'm glad you have choice, please give me back mine. And I would graciously ask that if you're ever in a conversation about large phones vs small phones you don't take the stance of arguing against the existence of smaller phones simply because you have a preference for the current standard of sizing.

It's amazing how personal conversations about consumer tech can get. Your comment struck me as being a tad too emotional for what is, ultimately, a relatively mundane aspect of life.

But maybe I'm wrong, and you have your reasons.

I guess part of it is our impotence in the face of a multibillion-dollar ecosystem of mass-produced products, and the realization that we're (apparently) irrelevant (I share your distaste for large phones).

Anyway, I too hope smaller phones become commonplace again.

Consider that for many of us, our phones are now quite literally painful to use one-handed, and we have no alternatives - for devices that most of us use for at least an hour or two a day and is often our primary tech device when not actually at a desk.

My Pixel 3 at the time I bought it was one of the smallest decent quality phones that wasn't iOS, and even after a year and a half I still notice how much my hand has to contort for basic usage.

It's a computing device I use for at least a couple hours every day, and which I never leave the house without. Once my current phone breaks I'd just like to buy a new one I can keep in my pants pocket :)

It's a bit personal but it highlights the trend of going in only one direction without regard to a big subset of users. But in the end it's just mundane as you said it, we could probably just do without

> Did I really just read this?

Yes, You really did just read this. But I think you took the wrong message away.

The parent "Would argue against" small phones, because they prefer larger phones.

I am asking him in the most sincere way I know to not argue against smaller phones because their preferences are currently well served. However mine haven't been nearly met in years.

I find the rest of your comment very bad faith, this is a first world problem _of course_ but this is a topic about a new phone and I haven't been able to buy a new phone in 4 years at this point. At some point the EOL will strike my phone and I'll be essentially forced (by application support, website performance, lack of browser updates whatever) to carry something that feels more like a mini ipad or tablet than a "phone".

Look, Phones are a central point of our lives today; I do my banking on it, I pay my bills on it, I order food with it. I literally pay for everything with it. It's not unreasonable that there is at least a modicum of variety that _isn't_ camera based.

I don't understand the bargaining. Was that HNer the CEO of Samsung? What's the point of all this beyond catharsis?

Ok, I'll explain it then.

Person A is enjoying the status quo.

Person B is having a hard time with the status quo.

Person B complains, asking to be included.

Person A complains, "I don't have a problem"

Producer (C) sees the bickering as a muddled frenzy, unable to understand if there is a need or people are being fussy.

--

If you are in a position to discuss phone sizes and someone floats the notion of a smaller phone. And you would "actively" argue against that- Then I would like you to not do that. Not because you're the CEO of samsung, but because someone who could convey critical information to the CEO of samsung might be swayed into inaction (because inaction is easier after all) by those comments.

Iphone SE user here. Big screens is why I have an iPad in the house. Small form factor is why I have an iPhone SE in the pocket. My iPad gets _much_ more use than my iPhone. I'm not out and about much, even before the virus. I see phones sticking out of people's pockets and it makes no sense to me.

My perfect Apple ecosystem would be a standalone watch that makes phone calls, initiate text messages, and can pair to my car via CarPlay. Basically do all the things that my phone does right now w/o needing the iPhone.

My phone is simply the conduit that everything flows through - I have everything routed to Mac, iPad, etc. My phone is just on a table next to my keys so I don't forget to pick it up on the way out the door.

Which of the things you listed are missing from the current Apple watch?

The Apple Watch has to have an iPhone paired to support calls which means you need to own and activate an iPhone with a carrier.

I tried to get this setup with a cellular Apple Watch and a cellular iPad but it ultimately meant I didn't have a cellular phone number that could enable the Watch to take calls.

I use both android and apple. Recently got a ipod touch to replace my iphone. I don't understand the need for huge phones. We've got a bunch of ipad pro 12.9" for general tablet tasks.

Now I common carry an android and ipod touch tethered. Best of both worlds. The samsung is small too.

I never understood watching stuff on a phone given tablets, laptops, PCs, smartTVs and even VR headsets. But then again, I take my laptop everywhere and use it for everything when there's a choice between the two.

Not everyone has the necessity or ability to carry around a laptop with them everywhere. The convenience of a 6.5"+ screen is great if you are away from a laptop.

True, but for watching video? Is the need that common away from home/office/workspace? I get YT videos, which often don't need as big a screen, but movies and tv shows on a phone?

Have you actually compared the view of a phone that is inches away from you face to a Tv that is a few yards away from you?

Besides that, have you thought that everyone’s lifestyle may not be just like yours?

I don't watch tv a few yards away, but point taken people have different lifestyles and needs. I should have rephrased the context to be my surprise that the big phones came to totally dominate the market, when it makes them harder to handle and more cumbersome to keep on your person. I didn't think consuming content would completely trump that, not with the simultaneous rise of tablets. Choice is good.

Go to any public transport commuter city and the buses and trains are rammed with people watching tv in their phones

Your TV isn’t at least 9 feet away from you?

Only if I'm at someone else's place. I watch on a monitor two feet away.

You do realize how atypical that is, don’t you?

96% of households in the US own a TV

https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/nielsen-estimates-that-119-9...

Are we really going to do the whole Slashdot meme “Do people still watch TV? I haven’t owned a TV in 10 years”.

I often end up watching TV on a phone when I'm on a bus/train. Though I'm not too bothered about the size.

Before quarantine many people watched videos only during commute as they were too busy working at work and housekeeping at home.

Movies, no. Casual TV shows, yes.

When I'm in a plane, in coach, watching on my phone is way more comfortable than pulling out my 15 inch MBP.

Put your phone in a transparent sandwich bag, and tape the bag to the top of the sear in front

Back when I was going minimalist and traveling more, I learned to watch my shows on the phone. I would lay on the couch or in bed and watch it with headphones. I ditched my desktop. For me, it was about having a few, high quality tech than a profusion of tech. If a device can serve multiple purposes, even better.

Now I am more settled and have a family, I watch things on my phone a lot less.

I understand, but wouldn't a tablet have worked better for that, in addition to reading and browsing? It's not a like a tablet takes up that much room or weight.

Being minimalist is about what works specifically for that person. What seems to work for you doesn't mean it works for me. I have spent effort at intentionally designing my life and environment. Not having a tablet at that time was an intentional decision on my part.

Rather than using a tablet, I was using a Kindle Paperwhite so that I can take my library with me. I don't use it to browse the web.

I have quite a bit I use my SE, including Evernotes, my meditation timer, my Go client, etc. I don't actually need a tablet.

I have a tablet now. More because my wife and the T-mobile guy convinced me that I can use it as a backup 2FA device with Krypton. There are some use-cases that I am looking to incorporate things with... but again, I don't actually need it. I probably won't take it with me when I travel.

Public Transit, being in a place that doesn't have places to put things down on.

I guess, but seems weird to me to watch video on public transport instead of listening to music or a podcast, or reading something (which I do use my phone for). Then again, I don't have good public transport where I live, so I don't spend time on it to know.

But it's more about do enough people want to watch video in public or on the go such that large phones became the dominating choice?

And the same question, why does it seem “weird” that other people have different preferences than you?

Fair enough, but I edited my comment to add that it surprises me that this preference became the popular one. The reason being that in a public place, people can often see what you're watching and there are potentially a lot of distractions, plus on transport the ride might won't always be smooth.

> people can often see what you're watching

Given your handle I can understand your concern...

Yeah it doesn't really mean that ...

> I guess, but seems weird to me to watch video on public transport instead of listening to music or a podcast, or reading something

... Why?

I like to watch lots of videos and television sometimes but not all the time. Ive lately transitioned to watching YouTube / Netflix . Also, when I want to learn something I try to look for Youtube videos that are relevant.

Do you need to? I'll modify my biased opinion and ask, does everyone need to such that phablets became the industry norm?

But your needs/desires are well catered to by the many many large phones. My needs/desires are completely ignored in the marketplace (maybe too few people agree with me). I tried larger phones. For a year or so I had a iPhone XS, but I absolutely hated it. So a month ago I upgraded it to a used SE, which I love.

I think as people age and seeing things clearly requires you hold them at arm's length, smaller screens will lose their appeal.

But young people, especially teenagers, wow they can still focus at the ends of their noses.

for me, devices of different sizes do different things; I carry a lot of specialized devices, from a small laptop to a giant e reader to a regular sized ereader to a cellphone to a watch, and for me? the thing that is currently missing is a thing I can input text on with one hand (while doing something with the other hand) the SE original filled that gap; the iphone 7 is slightly too large to comfortably input text with using one hand, it's a little cramped to input text with two, at least for my hands.)

I should try one of those pop-out deals and see if it makes using the iphone 7 with one hand practical.