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Comment by prlambert | Hacker News Reader

This screen size is so, so disappointing. I'm an iphone 5s user and was eagerly awaiting the new Nexus to make the switch to Android. But 6" is a tablet that can make calls, not a phone. I WANT to switch to Android/Nexus for hundreds of reasons but this screen size is a deal break.

I need a phone I can use like... a phone.

I've tried the iphone 6 plus in person and it's a monstrosity to use, definitely not a one hand device. And the Nexus 6 is even larger?...

And I'm a man – I have pretty large hands. I can't imagine how it must feel in my wife (or many other women)'s hands.

This needs to stop.

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My recommendation to you would be to get the Moto X 2nd generation. You'll get the second purest android experience after the Nexus 5 and now the 6. Phone size is almost identical to Nexus 5 or iPhone 6 (just about right in my opinion). OS updates are typically available within a month, and the phone build is very solid.

I had Nexus 5 for a little less than a year, then the iPhone 6 came out with its larger screen so I decided to give it a second chance, and kinda wish I didn't. Once you get used to Android, it becomes very difficult to use (or go back to iOS). I put the iPhone on eBay, and currently waiting for my Moto X to arrive on Friday.

Sony is making a smaller Android device, the "Z3 Compact," exactly for the reasons you list.

Looks like the Xperia Z3 Compact is available for purchase (in the US at least) directly from the Sony website[1] via the "Buy Now" button.

Although, with the recent announcement of Android Lollipop, the inevitable next question will be "when is the update going to be rolled out to phone [X]".

[1] http://www.sonymobile.com/us/products/phones/xperia-z3-compa...

Your comment got me excited -- but I looked up the size of the Z3 "compact" and it is larger in every dimension than my iPhone 5s.

It's ridiculous. I thought I remember someone saying the iPhone 1/3/4 size was designed to be perfect for the human hand and I agree. It's easier to make things larger, it's hard to make them small, how are we regressing?

"The human hand" describes a wide range of shapes and sizes. I have very large hands and find the smaller phones cumbersome and hard to use.

What we should strive for is choice.

Good point and I agree, nothing left for small hands currently!

Unfortunately, you're not going to find any modern smartphone, even a "mini", as small as your 5s.

I personally find the 4.3-4.7" range compact enough, especially if the bezel is minimal.

I can second this recommendation. I recently got one and it's a perfect format for me who thinks pretty much all current phones are too large. I want my phone to fit in a pocket and this one absolutely does. It's supposed to be water protected as well but I haven't dared to try that.

The Nexus 5 is still a really nice phone.

battery.

People use their phones for everything but phoning now. Ballooning screen sizes are just a reaction to this.

Weird, I'd actually be fine with having a big phone if I were making calls. It's really easy to hold a large phone against your head with one hand. What's not so easy is to try to text someone with one hand or browse the web with one hand. I suppose browsing the web isn't actually very difficult but it's just much easier to drop the phone when it's hard to hold.

> What's not so easy is to try to text someone with one hand or browse the web with one hand.

I've used phones of all sizes, and I've never found one where it is easy to browse the web or text with one hand. Sure, on a phablet, its too big to hold comfortably and do that, but on a tiny old iPhone, its too small to type accurately one handed, have enough of a viewport to see enough of a webpage to be worth browsing on, or accurately hit links one handed. So, even with a tiny phone, it ends up only really being convenient to do those tasks two-handed, and then what's the benefit of the miniscule screen?

Exactly. The "telephone" app is just another app on my phone, and far from the most important one.

Take a look at Nexus 5. It's an extremely nice phone and will remain so for a while.

Take a look at the Moto X (1st gen) as it has a 4.7" screen and receives very fast Android updates, unlike most other manufacturer's phones.

Xperia Z, HTC One, Huawei Ascend P6/P7 and more - all have everything you need in a smartphone (looks, quality, performance, Android :-)

You know, they still sell the Nexus 5. I have it and it's a perfectly fine phone and I feel no need to upgrade.

My wife is very satisfied with the Galaxy S4 Mini. Suggest you check that one out, or import an S5 Mini.

Galaxy S5 Mini, 131.1 x 64.8 x 9.1 ?

> I'm an iphone 5s user and was eagerly awaiting the new Nexus to make the switch to Android

I highly recommend that you borrow an Android phone from a friend before making the switch and spending some time with it.

Also, check the permissions on most of the apps on Google Play[1] (scroll down and click view permissions) and ask yourself if they're justified[2].

Once an app is installed there's no controlling of the individual permissions. You do not get prompts asking you to authorize an app to access your contacts, location etc. It's an all or nothing approach.

Some people will tell you to root/flash the phone and install an app to allow you to do what should have been a default OS behavior.

I switched from Android to iOS about 2 years ago, and will never go back until Google fixes up the permissions system.

[1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.k...

[2] http://inc42.com/buzz/facebook-wants-read-confidential-user-...

This has already been added to Lollipop:

http://www.xda-developers.com/android/exclusive-android-l-lo...

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