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The word in Rumortown yesterday was that Apple, in an attempt to slow the onslaught of Android devices, is making a smaller, cheaper phone called the iPhone Nano. While I may not believe the rumors in their entirety, some of it makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't Apple make a new model of their current iPhone?

After all of the hubbub yesterday, we asked on Facebook, “Would you buy a miniature Apple iPhone?” Not only did we get a lot of negative feedback from users, but many of them brought up an idea similar to one of my own. If Apple is making an iPhone Nano to ward off Android, shouldn't they be making a larger iPhone, too?

Not all Android phones are small and cheap. In fact, most of them are larger than the iPhone (physically and in display size) and about the same price. A larger display makes for more comfortable text input, web browsing, and overall use. However, it does add bulk to the device and suck up more juice. It doesn't come without consequences. But with some Android devices sporting nearly an extra inch of display real estate, it makes you wonder why Apple would only be considering downsizing instead of following the trend.

If they're considering appealing to different demograpics – which they should be – a larger phone should be on the drawing boards as well. The iPhone has remained primarily the same size since D-Day. In comparison to other phones from that time, a 3.5-inch display was daring, bold, and unheard-of. In terms of smartphones today, not so much. If an Android phone is released with a display smaller than 3.7-inches, I don't bat an eye at it. I have somewhat big hands – large thumbs more than anything – and they don't play nicely with the smaller 3.5-inch display. I can barely get by with the 3.8-inch screen on the myTouch 4G.

If Apple truly wants to challenge Android at its own game (I never thought I'd be saying something like this), they will have to consider all options: small, big, physical keyboards, etc. Otherwise, they will just be wasting their time. The market is adapting and evolving and the iPhone hasn't fundamentally changed in nearly four years. Android's Law has allowed for technology in the iPhone's counterparts to finally surpass it, and Apple has some catching up to do.

Will they make a bigger and/or smaller iPhone? I don't know. They need to do something, and it sounds like several people would like to get their paws on a larger version of the legend phone as well. I know I wouldn't mind seeing it in some other form factor. Would you consider purchasing a larger iPhone? Or do you think the current size and form factor are perfect?


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97 Reactions to this post

"Should Apple make a bigger iPhone, too?"


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Christian Crow
Christian Crow alittle yes alittle no , maybe a cheaper one , but a bigger one to replace 3.5 inches, 4 inches is good
Michael Charlton
Michael Charlton I hope the rumors are true
Brian Tran
Brian Tran You mean the iPad? :P
Dave McLellan
Dave McLellan I wouldn't but, I'd like to see apple do a 5 inch iPhone though!
Jeffrey Reynolds
Jeffrey Reynolds You mean like an Ipad? ;}
Christina Villagomez
Christina Villagomez Ehhh...dont care much for the iphone! They had there chance to impress me but always fail, plus I'm so inlove with my white evo......
Benjamin Padilla
Benjamin Padilla Apple would make even more money if they offered two different models. A smaller 3.2 inch phone and a bigger 4.1 inch phone. People that want a 3.5 inch phone could buy the iPhone 4. They would have all their bases covered size wise.
Eugene Borodin
Eugene Borodin My 2 cents: iPhone is a fine device but many people are moving to Android simply because that's where the choice is. Making 4" screen iPhone will not cause fragmentation, different resolutions will, and those who are saying that 3.5" screen is a perfect compromise need to stop kidding themselves because that's exactly what it is, a compromise. 4" is the way to go. 4.3 may be a little too big for some people but 4" is just perfect. By the way, Android fragmentation is highly overrated, all APIs are forward-compatible and there are only 2 graphic layouts. It's as simple as it gets.
Duldulao Ryel
Duldulao Ryel just want to ask if anyone knows sumbody who can unlock iphone 4 with a 4.2 version?
Mohit Gadre
Mohit Gadre @mounz Ipad does not = ipod touch
Ryan Nusbaum
Ryan Nusbaum No, why would you want stoop to androids level? lol
Patrick Souza
Patrick Souza Lol lame o same old Yphones
Arman Nazaryan
Arman Nazaryan no, iphone is good with the small size
Marti Ruiz
Marti Ruiz For ifail
Devlin Robear
Devlin Robear They should just release the damn ipad 2 now.
Marti Ruiz
Marti Ruiz 4 is ok
Tony Ward
Tony Ward If they make a big screen phone what they will do is tweek the idea and say they invented it, buy android as they don't steal other people's ideas and call then there own. A bit like bill gates LOL.
Jesus Lopez R
Jesus Lopez R at least 3.8 inches because i have fat fingers so i cant type well on it
Darrel Blandin
Darrel Blandin I have the mytouch 3g slide and am lovin it so far it just takes getting used to the keyboard layout other then that apple should put keyboard on the iphone
Jordan Mosley
Jordan Mosley What they need to do is make a bigger iphone to replace their main one then make the current one the nano. Its already small enough.
Sean Wells McCollum
Sean Wells McCollum Yes, so I can mount it to my wall.
Joshuah Landazuri
Joshuah Landazuri ipad = ipod touch. iPhone nano = fits in skinny jeans = perfect for men with small dicks LOLS skinny jeans = small "twinky"
Steve Shotts
Steve Shotts I've heard this rumor befor about two years ago. Wouldn't suprise if they do it.. Personal I love my droid. Not a big fan of the iphone. But moe power to them
Marcus NinersEmpire
Marcus NinersEmpire Just a waste of time. Just update da ipad and bam its a fone now. IPhone is still weak
KD McClellan
KD McClellan Not an iPhone fan but for Apple and the iPhone to stay relevant they are going to need to evolve. The size of the screen is the first place to start. No one in their right mind after using even a 3.7" would go back to a 3.5" but a 4" iPhone would sell.
Nick Papageorgio
Nick Papageorgio how bout touch sensitive home button!
Marcos Delaoz
Marcos Delaoz hell no
Ricardo Contreras Jr.
Ricardo Contreras Jr. Colorless green ideas sleep furiously
Jan Michael Cruz
Jan Michael Cruz "ipad nano"
Jan Michael Cruz
Jan Michael Cruz Iphone is boring, own a itouch and ipad and its all the same. Android all the way
Matt Davis
Matt Davis No they shouldnt. 3.5 inches is just enough. The 4+ inch devices are to big and unnecessary. 3.5 is the perfect size.
Israel Leiva
Israel Leiva The EVO is already being considered the iPhone killer and the upcoming Thunderbolt is going to out do the EVO. Apple is the one that needs to play catch up with Google and HTC.
Jarrett Hahn
Jarrett Hahn i highly doubt this will happen. they might push 3.7 but thats as big as i see jobs going.
Israel Leiva
Israel Leiva True, if it wasn't for the iPhone there would be no Android. If it wasn't for Android then iPhone users wouldn't be desiring more options. Apple created the bar and Google raised the bar higher. Now it's Apple's turn again.
Christine ChrissyChris Galvin
Christine ChrissyChris Galvin yes the screen but not too big
Jose Pablo Islas
Jose Pablo Islas Only if they instal android on it!
Randy Rhodes
Randy Rhodes If they make it bigger than why not just call it the iPad?
Matt Peters
Matt Peters Yes.
Peterjon Smith
Peterjon Smith They already do its call the iPad
Rob Smith
Rob Smith Just remember that if Steve Jobs took a dump today and named it iPoop, sheeple would be standing in block long lines to own it! Yes, a cheaper iPhone will sell, especially if Jobs can strongarm a carrier into lower data costs in exchange for exclusive rights!
Michael Skrabacz
Michael Skrabacz @Jordan Toussant: you must have small "hands"
Anh-Tuan Le
Anh-Tuan Le Sure why not. People will buy anything they make.
Matthew Fleisher
Matthew Fleisher They do, it's called iPad. Going back to the days of the supercomputer where a phone sat on the table.
Jan Rozbicki
Jan Rozbicki 4 inches isn't really impressive at all, mine is... oh, we're talking about phone screens?
Adonis Reyes
Adonis Reyes Yes at least 4.0
Nathan Sherlock
Nathan Sherlock 4 inch screen
Rishab Jain
Rishab Jain An iPhone 4'' size which should be slim and elegant which supports java background and probably should have a qwerty keypad and also not heavy!!
Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson Apple diffenetly should make a 3.8 or 4 inch screen available on the next phone, and no that would not make it harder for developers to make apps, like 0.2 or 0.5 inches is gonna kill them.
Alexis Murillo
Alexis Murillo And Make It Custimize To Simple With Web Os
Brian Watkins
Brian Watkins You know it. I would kill 4 a 4.3 inch screened iPhone.
Adrian Fernandez
Adrian Fernandez That's way out of Apple's territory. That would be 6 different SKUs. 3 each for Verizon and AT&T. The 3.5 inch screen is perfect. Plus, it would be hard for developers to keep up wig the different size screens and cause fragmentation just like Android has now.
Gainaako Munyal
Gainaako Munyal Sticking with Samsung Galaxy S type phones unilateral then.
Gainaako Munyal
Gainaako Munyal A 4 inch iPhone that supports Adobe flash would be nice.
Alex Palumbo
Alex Palumbo yes
Joseph DeadLeg Richardson
Joseph DeadLeg Richardson HEY! Lets make an iPad that can call people!... How about no? Why not? Because you will look fucking ridicules walking around with a Pad next to you ear.
Novak Lazarov
Novak Lazarov Of course not,3.5 is the perfect compromise between usability and comfort. And a smaller iphone with different screen size will fragment iOS. Just like that big mess Android.
Ethan Jantzen
Ethan Jantzen Evo 4G > iPhone
Maitreya Solanki
Maitreya Solanki No apple only android
Ethan Jantzen
Ethan Jantzen If they make a smaller one they might get more sales but they need to make a bigger one because thats what everyone is waiting for.
Markell Simms
Markell Simms 3.8 inch pleez
David Hilgendorf
David Hilgendorf U mean a bigger ipod? Isn't that what the ipad is? Really No they shouldn't, but they should make one that disappears.
Shawn Meadows
Shawn Meadows Hell's yea it has a puny baby screen (:
Markell Simms
Markell Simms if it wasn't for iPhone there would be no Android...nuff said
Cory David Baxter
Cory David Baxter Nokia and Microsoft will not be taking lightly
Markell Simms
Markell Simms So why would u comment if u have a stupid Android??? anyway if the iPad is a big iPhone than wat is a galaxy tab?yeah got nothing to say now huh iPad doesn't even have calling capabilities built so its just iOS on a pad which started the whole tablet war
Tham Ye Yang
Tham Ye Yang No physical keyboard please. I want the iPhone to be as slim as possible. The iPhone needs to have a 3.7-4.0 inch screen!
Emmanuel Hernandez-Maya
Emmanuel Hernandez-Maya Idgaf. I have an Evo 4g, had tha epic too
Nick Koval
Nick Koval 4.0
Alex Miller
Alex Miller if they do, it's just gonna piss off a whole lot of developers.
Ahmed Jamal Ibraihimi
Ahmed Jamal Ibraihimi Yes 4" will be just greater, any thng bigger than that looks like mini tablets, and is big enough for pockets......and they shud definitely consider sliding physical keyboard, bcoz hw much accuracy u develop in typing on touch screen keyboard but u can never type on it without looking at it.... So keyboard is also must with 4" screen in nxt Iphone.......but I doubt Apple wll do it.....mayb sum yrs down the lane when their sales gets hit like nokia then they might thnk about listening to their customers.....
Umer Syed
Umer Syed YES! I love my iPhone but wish a lot that the screen was bigger
Tony Garris
Tony Garris I say 4 inches but I doubt we get a bigger phone because the Verizon iPhone is selling very well and that phone is a year old until people stop buying they will do nothing
Ryan Gontko
Ryan Gontko Apple should stick with one form factor and not put pressure on their overall ecosystem and supply chain. Not sure why they would want to break away from their process of simplified design. I think Ipod, Iphone, and Ipad is enough....
Alejandro Bill Hall
Alejandro Bill Hall Yes
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson Yea. That is the only way I'm giving up my Droid X...
Ioannis Stavrianidis
Ioannis Stavrianidis yes 4 inch
Tony Abiama
Tony Abiama Yes Apple, make a change to the size (4" to 4.3") or you'll be left in the dust... no one wants the same ol iPhone anymore. Not that I care because I have an EVO 4G
Brain Roopull
Brain Roopull Sorry... 2 button mouse...
Cody Sulouff
Cody Sulouff I think they should just make the next gen a 4" handset
Brain Roopull
Brain Roopull The problem is that Apple is notorious for ignoring what their customers want until way to much damage has been done. Remember the years long pleas for mice with 3 buttons? They have always been scared of appearing as if they were following anyone else's lead... I predict they'll make a similar size natalee with the iPad - refusing to produce variations out of pure arrogance. In turn, they'll be surrendering huge segments of the market to the competition. Lucky for Apple, there are plenty of people willing to surrender functionality for form. The huge number off people toting ATT iPhones is prof off that.
Joey DeCrescenzo
Joey DeCrescenzo Droid X > iPhone
Vivie Aravidis
Vivie Aravidis No keep it the same size my iPhone and already be seen a mile away when I have it in my pocket!!
Robert Metzel
Robert Metzel People keeping saying no, cause of the ipad. Um phones and ipad.... 2 different things!? Lol. Yes, they need to bump it up to a 4 or 4.3. My droid is a 3.5 and that's as small as I would ever go. We want usable screen space not tiny toy phones.
Carlton Davis
Carlton Davis Apple should definately make the iPhone with a bigger screen.
Jerome Patricio
Jerome Patricio Idk about you guys and gals but fuck apple I eat oranges all day =)
Chad Laucomer
Chad Laucomer I personally think that if they did a 4" phone, they would be doing alot better and I think that if they only went to 4" then they wouldnt have to worry about it interfering with the ipad sales.
Kevin Koshy
Kevin Koshy I say bigger but not more than 4 inches. There has to be a limit. And maybe an AMOLED screen like the galaxy s phones ;). I can live without the physical keyboard
Trever Pitts
Trever Pitts Android phones u can by on att sprint verizon u name it they have android for it withb full 4.0 inch touch screen to 3.2inch keyboard n touch. Phone apple needs to put there phone on sprint. N add a killer keyboard like the G2 or blackberry that's why I think android n blackberry are top selling because u can by them on every cellular company
Kent Adriel
Kent Adriel yeah, at least 4 inch
Anthony Mitchell
Anthony Mitchell
Israel Leiva
Israel Leiva 4.3 screen. One with and without a keyboard.
Trever Pitts
Trever Pitts I think apple if they made a phone with a keybord that be really good because a lot of people want n iphone but don't get it because its full touch a lot of people have said this if it was keyboard n touch. But make the iphone bigger why. Who really wants 5inch phone in there pocket I mean no girl in skinny jeans can put that in her pocket.
Robbie Stephenson
Robbie Stephenson Yes I think the screen should be from 3.7 inches to 4.0 inches
Lee Maxwell
Lee Maxwell All of you fools that think staying with exactly the same offer apple has out now is a good idea, are fools. If your precious iPhone doesn't evolve as new technology becomes available, none of you will even have an iPhone around to complain about. While I understand you HATE the idea of apple following Android, you have to see there are SOME good points to Android's method and adding them to an iPhone would only increase its value and ensure it's longevity.
Teaike Tee Tee Butts
Teaike Tee Tee Butts What's the point in making a cheaper iphone? They still sell the 3gs that's cheaper. They need to make one with a larger screen
Ryan Edwards
Ryan Edwards They need to leave the big screens for android
Kiyoshi Fujioka
Kiyoshi Fujioka If Apple wants to slow the onslaught of Android devices, it should provide more carriers with iPhone. Also, it should make an iPhone with a keyboard.




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