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Comment by sid05 | Hacker News Reader

The 4.7 in version bump is negligible for most ppl's palms. Even the majority of people with small hands still engulf the 4 in. size. I think it would be a moot point in a majority of cases unless you are really jones'ing for the pocket space and portability...

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I will definitely try it just to be sure, but even the move from 3.5" to 4" started to stretch it when reaching for the top left corner of the screen for me.

And then there's this ad from the original iPhone 5 release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY4c2mh15Yk

No iPhone 6 option at 4" is in direct contradiction to what they said before. It's a reason the Apple Watch is released in two different faces, people are different!

It's funny that they clearly demonstrate that you can't reach the top right corner of the phone with your thumb.

Agreed that it’s rather awkward to tap the top left corner—unless you have large hands. Fortunately, more apps are now supporting the ‘swipe from left edge’ gesture to go back (e.g. Safari).

4.7 is slightly smaller than my Nexus 5 which is HUGE. I think iPhone users are going to be in for quite a shock. A big phone usually means two handed use, compromises on battery life, etc. Interesting, that not too long ago, I kept hearing how my phone was too big, the 4" is the natural size by some Jobsian logic, wont fit the pockets of teens/women, etc, etc. Glad to see Apple contemporizing though.

I'm starting to think this was a move for Apple to not lose Asia as small phones are really out of style there. Apple lives in fear of only becoming an "American" company.

Here's a size comparison (iPhone 4, iPhone 5S, and a generic 4.7 inch phone (LG Volt)):

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Apple-iPh...

I wouldn't describe the change as "negligible." It actually looks quite a bit larger than the 5S and MUCH larger than the 4.

PS - I actually like large phones. But I also have big hands. I just disagree with your characterisation of it.

Keep in mind that the iPhone 6 is a very large phone for a 4.7" device. Because of its huge bezels, it's actually taller than the 5" Nexus 5.

Exactly, and my Nexus 5 is the largest I will go for a phone. It's my line in the sand. If I upgrade (and it may be a long while before I do), it'll be to a Sony Compact. The new Moto X was on my radar until they made it bigger.

Yes. Compare it to last year's Moto X (also with 4.7" screen) and the bezels jump out at you: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Motorola-...

That's definitely not true. I work with plenty of Android phones with 4.7 to 5 inch screen sizes, and they feel comically large in my hand compared to my personal iPhone 5s. Even the jump from the iPhone 4s to the 5 made reaching everything with one hand noticeably more tedious, but of course one gets used to it.

The thing is, I cannot see how the increase in screen size will improve the functionality of the phone, at least in my case.

As a phone, messenger, and audio player, the main functions for me, I cannot see any benefit.

As a game console, gps/maps client, e-mail client I can see some marginal benefits from the larger screen, but not to justify the increased bulkiness.

I usually do not use my phone for web browsing, as a video player and e-book reader, due to the small screen, and I cannot see the .7 increase being big enough to change that.

I don't know about that - my nexus 4 is only 1.6mm wider. I have larger than average hands and can't quite reach all four corners without repositioning my grip. My wife also has an n4, and she has to use it with both hands.

I'd be quite happy with an iPhone 5 form factor Android device.

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