Here's how screen size preferences have changed through the years (infographic)

posted by Ray S. / Jul 24, 2015, 5:18 PM

Here's how screen size preferences have changed through the years (infographic)

It's interesting how our perception changes with time. For a moment, it may seem like smartphones are getting simply too big to be handled comfortably, but fast-forward a couple of years, and we find ourselves willingly dealing with even bigger handsets... It's an astonishing trend that has been amazing us here at PhoneArena for a few years now. Besides enjoying this screen size evolution thing as viewers, though, we thought it might also be fun to visualize it in the form of a cheery infographic. And guess where the data came from - you! We reminisced about what you've been telling us when it comes to your display size preferences (thankfully, it so happens that we've asked you more than once), had a good laugh at what we've considered "huge" a few years back, and, ultimately, gave the data some colorful flavor.

Enjoy our infographic, and let us know if nostalgia is already hitting you like a train!

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61 Comments

1. Wolf_Blitza

Posts: 64; Member since: May 30, 2014

I remember when people called the 4.3" Galaxy S2 way too big and that the iPhone was perfect at 3.5"... the same people have the 6 Plus now.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 5:27 PM 42

12. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Well, people were smaller in the past. It's scientific fact!

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:45 PM 19

22. TBomb

Posts: 940; Member since: Dec 28, 2012

lol that was a good one

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 8:31 PM 2

39. Cyan3boN

Posts: 446; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Their brains are..

posted on Jul 25, 2015, 1:04 AM 6

13. UglyFrank

Posts: 2188; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

That is what annoyed me, people with iPhones made fun of large phone and they even made videos comparing Samsung's to tablets but now the same people have the 6 Plus even girls with small hands have the 6Plus and they struggle to hold it.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:48 PM 13

29. sgodsell

Posts: 6597; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

The thing is even though Apple increased the screen size. The iPhone 6 still has a mid to low range resolution for its physical screen size.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 10:05 PM 6

41. willzzz

Posts: 36; Member since: May 27, 2015

And the 6 Plus is huge even compared to other phones with the same screen size.

posted on Jul 25, 2015, 5:07 AM 9

15. My1cent

Posts: 370; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

One big reason for the larger screen size is the differrece between Latin alphabet(Roman alphabet) and Asian alphabets( Chinese, Japanese, Korean).

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:53 PM 0

18. fyahking

Posts: 1146; Member since: Jan 28, 2015

Yeah, and the sheep said the iphone was perfect at 3.5in. Look at them now with 4.7 and 5.5 in iphones. It's funny how these sheep are so brainless. They even said full HD screen was too much.lol

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 7:22 PM 13

20. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

And the other sheep said plastic was best and SD card slots/removable batteries were deal breakers. Fast forward to 2015.........

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 7:43 PM 2

23. devonblue4u

Posts: 68; Member since: Apr 12, 2011

And you've only been around for less then 2 years.....Flashback to 2013.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 9:16 PM 2

21. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

Honestly, those 3.5 inch phones were a beast when it came to one handed use. I still have my old 3.5 incher. The 4 inch is nice as well, but you can't one hand it as easy. Basically, Steve Jobs nailed it when he said 3.5 was the optimum size. It just that now, people are more willing to give up comfort for real estate.and viewing pleasure.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 7:48 PM 2

26. Mobilephile

Posts: 164; Member since: Nov 25, 2012

No its just that no, we use our devices much differently than 8 years ago. Times have changed and so has form factors and the evolution of technology.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 9:27 PM 0

31. talon95

Posts: 971; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

I just tried typing and reading web pages on that 4" screen last week and it was hideous. Yes, 3.5" is perfect, for a flip phone.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 10:46 PM 1

34. PBXtech

Posts: 1032; Member since: Oct 21, 2013

One hand operation was a gimmick used by Steve Jobs to justify Apple staying in their comfort zone of 3.5" while the rest of the world moved on. Lost track of how many times I saw people texting with two hands on iPhones with 3.5" screens.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 11:05 PM 7

37. Swordylove

Posts: 209; Member since: Jun 27, 2015

It's not a gimmick, it's an ideal.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 11:53 PM 0

44. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1457; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

Really...I really likes iPhone when it was introduced, but the damn screen was too small. I could barely see contacts, or anything else. HTC 4.3" evo made me leave Windows phone Mogul after many years of waiting for MS to get things right. Here I sit on Android with a Nexus 6. My only complaint with Nexus phones is the inconsistent builds. The Nexus 6 dual speakers and screen size make it a perfect phone for "ME". Google should keep dual speakers and make sure the next iteration has a screen at least as good as my Nexus 5. I like the Note series but the software upgrades is lacking.

posted on Jul 25, 2015, 5:28 AM 2

48. yajia1

Posts: 151; Member since: Aug 22, 2012

Yes. And the stupid one handed use argument when nearly, if not all people who use iPhones with 3.5" screens use both hands when texting and/or typing. Lol.

posted on Jul 25, 2015, 7:21 AM 2

2. walid

Posts: 9; Member since: Oct 11, 2014

I remember when i thought the galaxy S3 was too big, now i got a lumia 1520

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 5:41 PM 0

3. bradley8795

Posts: 64; Member since: Nov 19, 2013

Why the hell is the ad on the mobile page larger than the infographic??? I can see at least 15 ads, but I can't even view the infographic. What the hell is up with that?

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 5:58 PM 4

8. Ray.S

Posts: 433; Member since: Jul 19, 2011

Sorry about that. We fixed it so it can be viewed on the mobile site.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:12 PM 2

16. bradley8795

Posts: 64; Member since: Nov 19, 2013

Thank you. I know you guys gotta make money, but the ads have been doing this a lot lately and I finally decided to say something. Thanks for fixing it! ;)

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 7:02 PM 1

4. theguy2345

Posts: 1216; Member since: Jun 24, 2014

I still think 4.3 inches is the perfect size. I went back to an old phone recently, and it was so much easier to use with one hand. It also wasn't too small that it was hard to read on it.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:00 PM 5

14. UglyFrank

Posts: 2188; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Whereas I used a 5S the other day and struggled to type a text

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 6:52 PM 2

19. fyahking

Posts: 1146; Member since: Jan 28, 2015

Shut up! You bought cause Apple told you it was the perfect size and 640p screen was the best.:)

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 7:25 PM 0

25. BaffledTruffle

Posts: 523; Member since: Dec 07, 2013

He just said 4.3" is the perfect size for him and went back to an old phone. No iPhones were mentioned, what are you talking about? People don't need Apple to tell them that sub 5" is the way to go. It's all about how they use their phones. Now, go shut up and troll somewhere else.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 9:26 PM 2

36. Swordylove

Posts: 209; Member since: Jun 27, 2015

*High five!* Me too! 4.3" if with on-screen buttons. But 4.0" if using capacitive/physical buttons.

posted on Jul 24, 2015, 11:47 PM 0

61. civicsr2cool

Posts: 242; Member since: Oct 19, 2016

Stll rocking the S4 mini, I really wish another Android phone this size would come out, its been 4 years and nothing but phablets. At lest the SE is a beast.