Hacker News Reader

Comment by eisa01 | Hacker News Reader

Too bad there is no longer a high end 4" model. The iPhone 5S won't support Apple Pay since it doesn't have NFC, and it is no longer available in 64 GB.

I would have thought that Apple understood they have customers that actually prefer the 4" size, or else they wouldn't have had any sales the last years. Let's hope for a iPhone 6S mini next year.

View on HN

> Let's hope for a iPhone 6S mini next year.

Or an iPhone 6S Minus. Am I the only one who thinks "iPhone Plus" sounds oddly un-Apple-ish?

Macintosh Plus.

Not the archetype: Apple ][+

No you are not. In fact Gruber's podcast yesterday talked about that very thing. They thought it might be called iPhone "pro" because anything else meaning bigger just doesn't sound like Apple.

Overall this whole event was odd. It was more Apple reacting to trends rather than setting them...

Having a "pro" means the other option is "un-pro".

Apple knows their iPhones are (to some extent) status symbols, and just like the 5c failed because it was perceived as the "cheap model", they had to come up with a value neutral modifier for "big". And given both 6 models are larger than all previous ones, they could hardly have the 6 and 6 mini.

The first thing I thought of when I saw the naming was the Macintosh Plus. Maybe next year we'll see the iPhone ][!

I'm holding out for the iPhone SE/30

If anything, it's very Apple-ish.

Apple II+, Apple III+, Macintosh Plus, Apple IIc Plus, Laserwriter Plus, ...

They don't have to worry about losing any customers to Android though, because nobody makes a 4" phone anymore. Unless you're looking for some Chinese generic with a 320x240 screen and no reviews.

I don't get this trend. I just want a phone that does calls/texts, maps, alarms, music, and occasionally browses the web. Why does it need to be enormous?

I would venture the trend is because there are consumers (maybe a significant percentage) who, when comparing different options, simply make a choice based on "bigger is better".

Which means that their marketing, as good as it is, is no longer enough to overpower the "larger numbers are better" instinct of undecided buyers.

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact has a 4.3" screen, seems to be the smallest high-end brand name phone out.

Guess I'm hanging on to my 3.5" 4S until it dies, and then probably trying to fix it for as long as I can :-\

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...

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).

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-...

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.

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.

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.

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.

It may support Apple Pay if you pair it with an Watch.

Interesting, I assumed it still required iPhone 6 because in the keynote they mentioned some addition to the secure enclave for this. But the website explicitly says Apple Pay is compatible with Apple Watch, and I quote:

> Paired with iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus. In-store purchases only.

It would require its own secure element within the watch. Interesting if that is the case.

Even if the iPhone 5 or 5S had NFC, payments wouldn't be possible because there wouldn't be a secure element.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com