Width Is Good and the Galaxy S8 Was a Mistake
All the rumors about Apple changing the aspect ratio of the next iPhone to a taller and narrower screen are troubling. I’m hoping that they’re wrong but the release of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 in a taller and narrower configuration have me starting to think it might happen.
There are two things I don’t like about phones in general.
One of the main reasons I opted for my iPhone 7 Plus was because it makes watching landscaped video in portrait mode a little bit easier. The 7 Plus is significantly wider than the regular iPhone 7 and when you’re watching videos that makes a huge difference. A little bit more room on the sides allows those landscaped videos to get taller as well. Mobile screens are starved for width.
Then there’s the comfort issue. There's no other way to say it other than the iPhone 7 Plus is too long. The tallness of the phone digs into my hip when I sit down. The width doesn’t bother me at all. If Apple keeps the same dimensions but elongates the screen I will be so let down. I’d love the same size screen in a half inch shorter body. I’ve had many complaints about the size of my Plus-sized iPhone ever since I got one, but that it was too wide has never been one of them.
Then there’s the thumb reach issue. I can get anywhere on the bottom half of my screen one-handed. The top half? Not so much. Giving us a bigger screen by elongating the height only exacerbates the problem.
I don’t want a taller and narrower screen. That would negate one of the main advantages of the current 5.5” screen which is the width. If I was using a Samsung Galaxy phone I’d consider switching to iPhone just for the better aspect ratio. Who wants a screen that makes you feel like you're reading a grocery store receipt?
Related: The Web Is Better on Wider iPhones
- Landscape video in portrait mode sucks
- It’s the length of the phone that is uncomfortable in my front pocket, not the width.
One of the main reasons I opted for my iPhone 7 Plus was because it makes watching landscaped video in portrait mode a little bit easier. The 7 Plus is significantly wider than the regular iPhone 7 and when you’re watching videos that makes a huge difference. A little bit more room on the sides allows those landscaped videos to get taller as well. Mobile screens are starved for width.
Then there’s the comfort issue. There's no other way to say it other than the iPhone 7 Plus is too long. The tallness of the phone digs into my hip when I sit down. The width doesn’t bother me at all. If Apple keeps the same dimensions but elongates the screen I will be so let down. I’d love the same size screen in a half inch shorter body. I’ve had many complaints about the size of my Plus-sized iPhone ever since I got one, but that it was too wide has never been one of them.
Then there’s the thumb reach issue. I can get anywhere on the bottom half of my screen one-handed. The top half? Not so much. Giving us a bigger screen by elongating the height only exacerbates the problem.
I don’t want a taller and narrower screen. That would negate one of the main advantages of the current 5.5” screen which is the width. If I was using a Samsung Galaxy phone I’d consider switching to iPhone just for the better aspect ratio. Who wants a screen that makes you feel like you're reading a grocery store receipt?
Related: The Web Is Better on Wider iPhones
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