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Comment by chrischen | Hacker News Reader

Considering Apple's main phone is under 5 inches, I think that statement is at least somewhat true. Sure some people will want phablets, but I'm sure Apple at least did their research for making more iPhone 6s than 6 Pluses.

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We shouldn't use screen size as our only measure though. The iPhone 6 is a 4.7", but is quite a bit bigger than the 4.7" Moto X 2013, and about equal in size to the 5" Nexus 5 [1].

Apple uses a bit more bezel on their phones, so in physical dimensions they are closer to some of their Android competition than you might think based on screen size.

[1]: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Motorola-Moto-X,Apple-...

I've held both and the iPhone 6 is noticeably smaller than the Nexus 5.

I can echo what he says. The iPhone has absolutely enormous bezels, so much so that the iPhone 6 Plus is definitely larger than my Galaxy Note 3 despite its having a 5.7" screen. That was the first thing I noticed when I held them side by side at a store a few weeks ago.

iPhone 6: 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 in)

Nexus 5: 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6 mm (5.43 x 2.72 x 0.34 in)

So 63 cm^3 vs 82 cm^3 in volume, and 92.5 cm^2 vs 95.4 cm^2 in front area.

It's the width that's what you feel when you hold it.

... and width is the only dimension where the iPhone 6 is actually bigger than the Nexus 5.

People tend to hold their phones in "portrait" mode, rather than "landscape". So, width would typically refer to the second largest dimension when talking about (most) phones. Additionally, given that phones are 3d objects, interacted with in physical space, the "feeling" of width would also include the phone's thickness, to some extent.

In this context, the iPhone 6 is actually smaller than the Nexus 5, by about 20%.

Not according to morsch two comments up.

I think you're imagining things because they're almost identical and the nexus 5 is actually slightly narrower.

I've held both and they feel identical. Same vertical and horizontal dimensions and same weight. The thickness isn't even noticeable in your hand.

Indeed. Here's a physical comparison: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Apple-iPh...

Using screen-size as a measure of physical size let Apple pull off a pretty epic PR coup. The iPhone 6 is essentially the same size as modern 5" Android phones, but has a significantly smaller screen.

You're talking about a company that bitterly clung to the 3.5 inch screen for years before capitulating to the demand for larger screens.

I'm sure Apple does market research, but they've proven to be very susceptible to their own dogma.

Bitterly clung - quite amusing.

I have a 4S still around as my "iPod touch" and it does fine compared to my 5 in terms of usability for apps and music. Remembering back, I didn't somehow feel when I got the iPhone5 and later my Nexus5 that my 4S was "inadequate". I did feel that it weighed a lot compared the iPhone5 however, and was very glad for that.

When thinking about a smartphone, I care more about it's usability as a phone, then as a music/podcast player, and only finally as a media device. Am I out in left field here?

> Am I out in left field here?

A bit, yes. My phone (n5) is used more as a web browsing device and video consuming device than it is as a music player. It is definitely the screen size. My previous phone (HTC Desire, about the same screen size as an iPhone <6) was pretty much a phone plus ipod.

I think the demand for screen size is also due to the fact that we probably have some ways to go before getting good at designing things for small screened devices.

I am still in 2 minds about my iPhone 6. It is much nicer in most ways than the 5. The extra screen real-estate really helps but at the cost of single-handed operation and comfort when bending at the hips.

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