Friday Night Fights: What’s Better? The 3.5-Inch iPhone or Android’s 4+ Inch Superphones?

John Brownlee (3:00 pm PDT, Jan 13th 2012)

Laaaaaaaaaaadies and Gentlemen, welcome to Friday Night Fights, a new series of weekly deathmatches between two no-mercy brawlers who will fight to the death — or at least agree to disagree — about which is better: Apple or Google, iOS or Android?

After this week’s topic, someone’s going to be spitting teeth. Our question: What’s Better? The iPhone’s 3.5-Inch Display, or Android’s 4+ Inch Superphones?

In one corner, we have the 900 pound gorilla, Cult of Mac; in the opposite corner, wearing the green trunks, we have the plucky upstart, Cult of Android!

Place your bets, gentlemen! This is going be a bloody one.

Vincent Messina, Cult of Android

One of the major advantages to Android and their open-source environment is the fact that you can find it on just about any hardware (which is also an argument against Android). Big screens, small screens, and everything in-between — which brings us to our next topic: Screen Size. Screen size, in my opinion, really comes down to personal choice. Whether or not a larger or smaller screen size is best, is really based on an individual’s needs and personal preference. This argument transcends smartphone boundaries and can be found in almost every area that involves a screen, e.g. computer screens, TV screens. etc. With that being said, I think having multiple options is much better than a one-size-fits-all approach. Can you accomplish most necessary tasks on Apple’s 3.5’ iPhone screen — sure. Is it a more enjoyable experience playing a FPS game on a 4.65’ screen with more room for on-screen controls — in my opinion, yes.

I’ll start by saying when I first switched over to 3.5’ – 3.7’ screens, I thought that was going to be too big. Fast forward a couple of years, and I’m now finding those same devices to be too small. Seems strange but it’s the truth (at least for me). I now have a Galaxy Nexus with a 4.65’ screen and I find it to be the most beautiful and perfect size I’ve yet to use. Is 4.65’ too big for some people — yes. Is it perfect for me — oh, yea!

Having a plethora of choices when it comes to screen size is a great advantage of Android. We are all built differently and what may fit you, may not fit me. You may not have any interest in gaming or watching HD movies and therefore have absolutely no desire for a larger screen, but at least with Android, you have a choice. Phones have evolved into personal computers, they are now mobile TVs, miniature gaming consoles, and full on photo and video cameras. Having options when it comes to the size of the screen on which you will experience these tasks, is as personal and unique of a choice as the individual using them. Why limit yourself to once choice? With that mentality, you mine as well live in a world with one phone, one screen size, one look — you mine as well own an Apple.

I guess what I’m saying is: I’m pro choice. And thanks to Android, I have one.

John Brownlee, Cult of Mac

Generally speaking, when iPhone lovers debate this issue, they do so by just by hotlinking this image which was put together last year by designer Dustin Curtis to show why Apple chose a 3.5-inch display over a 4-inch one:

It’s a great image that just says loads about Apple’s attention to detail. As you can see, three-and-a-half inches is the sweet spot for allowing most people to text with a single hand on their touchscreen phone, represented by the green zone on each smartphone. Go above four inches, and you can no longer do that: you have to text on your phone with two hands, Blackberry-style.

It’s a compelling graphic, no doubt. Note that an iPhone user still has the option of texting with two hands, where as the owner of, say, a Galaxy Nexus doesn’t have the option at all.

And, of course, this sweet spot doesn’t just apply to texting. An iPhone user can access any onscreen element with one hand. He can dial a number with one hand, he can play a game with one hand, and so on. On a greater than 4-inch touchscreen, you need two hands if you want to access more than around 70% of the phone’s UI.

Apple doesn’t just arbitrarily pick things like display sizes. This 3.5-inch sweet spot is one that was settled upon by Apple’s engineers after what was probably months of extensive testing. It’s a choice that not only makes the iPhone’s UI more accessible and easier to use for the vast majority of people, but it also makes the iPhone much more friendly to the disabled, the elderly, people who have limited mobility, and so on.

How does someone in a cast, or who can’t move their arm because of a stroke use a Galaxy Nexus? With extraordinary difficulty and great frustration, that’s how.

But let’s not end the debate here. Let’s consider a couple other points.

First of all, the number of different display sizes available on the Android platform is just another element that exacerbates the operating system’s notorious fragmentation problems. Because display sizes can be all over the place, app developers need to constantly be adjusting their apps to play nice with the latest bizarro display. It’s a lot of work, and part of what makes Android a much less friendly development platform for programmers.

But here’s the other thing. Let’s not forget the real reason so many device makers are embracing larger screen devices: by expanding the dimensions of the device, they can cram in more battery, which allows them to mitigate the suckiness of Android’s truly awful power management issues.

For example, the Galaxy Nexus (GSM, HSPA+ version, not LTE) comes with a 1,750 mAh battery to the iPhone 4S’s (again, GSM, HSPA+) 1432mAh battery. Despite the fact that the Galaxy Nexus’s battery is almost 20% larger than the iPhone 4S’s, battery test results show that overall, the iPhone 4S has better battery life:

• Talk Time: The Galaxy Nexus gets 8 hours and 23 minutes of 3G talk time to the iPhone 4S’s 7hours and 41 minutes. That’s roughly 8.5% more talk time for the Galaxy Nexus, for a 20% increase in battery size.

• Web Browsing: The Galaxy Nexus gets just 3 hours and 1 minute of web browsing over 3G, to the iPhone 4S’s 6 hours and 46 minutes. This is despite a larger battery.

• Video Playback: Again, the iPhone 4S is on top, managing 9 hours and 24 minutes of video playback to the Galaxy Nexus’s 6 hours and 32 minutes.

Those are terrible results, and keep in mind that right now, the Galaxy Nexus is being positioned as the best smartphone on the Android platform, the one all other Android phones should be measured up to. According to our calculations, though, if the Galaxy Nexus had a display the same size as an iPhone 4S’s, it would manage a mere 6.8 hours of of talk time, 2.5 hours of web browsing or 2.9 hours of video playback on a single charge. And keep in mind that this is just out-of-the-box: install any number of apps on your Android phone that suck down data in the background and these results would get even lower. Madness.

Vincent claims that the larger displays on Android are a choice. I say they’re a crutch. They allow carriers to cram larger batteries into their devices to hide the fact that the Android platform’s power management is deeply crippled compared to iOS’s. And even when these larger devices do match or even exceed the iPhone 4S in battery life, they do so at the expense of usability and convenience for the vast majority of users… all the while helping fragment Android even more than it is, guaranteeing that the best app developers focus on iOS as a matter of course.

Hey, who wants a 5-inch Galaxy Note now?

What do you think? Is Apple right in offering just one screen size choice for iPhone’s, or are Android makers just deluding themselves? Who do you think made the better argument? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Comment »

http://twitter.com/JayKayZe Jan Zajaczkowski
Selective comparisons to single models are done by the CoM rep, creating a bias where the iPhone can compare to the weakest feature in several Android models. Galaxy S II isn’t even a ICS phone, yet it’s featured in this article. Probably better off doing a software shootout, limit this article to comparing the iphone 4s to particular ICS phones.
ddevito
Well, as a former iPhone 3G owner and a current Galaxy Nexus owner. I can say that
-The iPhone fit better in my pocket
BUT
-The GNex’s screen is so big and bright I find it easier than reaching for my iPad.
(Did you see what I did there?) :)
- http://twitter.com/BollywoodBlonde BollywoodBlonde
  yes! I need a big android with an iphone camera and working FLASH (could they work that out already) and a snazzy case. why are fashion houses and monogram shops only making iphone cases. groan.
Anonymous
You know, this is becoming tiresome. Either this an Apple blog or it isn’t. What’s it to be? I’m tired of this adversarial writing in a hope to get people to read your CoA blog. I don’t care about the difference between Apple and Android. If I want a comparison I’ll go ask a user. ( my friend tells me all about his HTC experiences, so I know first hand). All this does is fan the flames, literally. I’m sick of kicking the fandroid trolls that come to an Apple blog to get their willies out for cheap thrills. I’m done. Enjoy your WWF. I’m off to OSX Daily. No fandroid trolls there.
- James Wages
  I find it fascinating that someone who considers the article “childish chatter” would make time to comment, instead of just “getting out of here” without further delay.
  I actually found the article one of the more interesting and attention-grabbing reads from Mr. Brownlee.
  - Anonymous
    “I actually found the article one of the more interesting and attention-grabbing reads from Mr. Brownlee.”That’s not saying much. =)
Colin Rich
Apple’s attention to small details like that rather than simply going with what the rest of the market is is what i admire strongly about Apple as a company. When I research Android phones, I see nothing under 4″ with tells me that the majority of Android phone makers just go with the argument that bigger is better when in reality in certain situations it really isn’t. I honestly hope Apple doesn’t conform to the rest of the market with the next iPhone. Their unique focus on the user experience over user desires is what makes Apple, Apple and that’s why I’m a happy 4S user.
- http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
  “Their unique focus on the user experience over user desires”
  Never heard it called that before!
- DasithWijesiriwardena
  There are 3.5 inch Android phones there. So a person in a cast can get it. A Person who prefers to watch HD material on their phone can get a bigger phone. Choice.
Anonymous
LTE ladies and gentlemen, LTE. I own the Galaxy Nexus and tethering on Vrz LTE network is a dream!! Plus the added NFC functions are awesome!! I truly hope the next iPhone adds both of these features because after using them I can not see myself using a phone without them.
Hopefully in a few months all you iPhone lovers will see what i mean
- Top Gear
  LTE on Android has ridiculous battery life. You may not be able to live without the few hours you get out of it, but I can’t live without battery life that lasts me a day easily.
  - ddevito
    Nobody gets more than one day of use anyway I don’t care what phone you use. Battery life sucks everywhere. My old Sony cell phone back in the day would go 5 days before it needed a charge. So let’s all stop the Android battery life woes. For crying out loud iOS 5 isn’t all that much better because of iCloud.
- ddevito
  Agreed – LTE and NFC are game changers.
  - http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
    agreed – “siri changes the game” yeah right!
http://twitter.com/MisterHedge Mister Hedge
The winner is… whichever one you like best. That’s the great thing about variety! Some people have large hands and some have small ones. Mine are slim and sorta small, so anything over 3.5″ kinda annoys me. The 3GS was pushing it, and the 4S is just right (for me). I really hope that Apple sticks with the “bigger is NOT better” scheme. Otherwise, I’ll be SOL!
If I need a big screen, my MacBook Pro is always in a bag over my shoulder.
Anonymous
The reason why Apple makes ONLY one size phone is that it’s far cheaper. One size fits all. They can increase their profit margins greatly by making ONLY one size phone.
I would say that to about 95% of people I know, 3.5″ screen size comes in as way too small to on the small size. The other 5% the size is perfect. I would say that a huge chunk, like 60% (of the 95%) a display between 4 to 4.3 inches is the optimal size. And the other 35% a display size no smaller than 4.3 inches and all the way up to 5, 5.3 inches.
If apple made a 4 inch iPhone, I would say that (easily) 95% of iPhone users would want that phone. Actually, I would say a good 75% to 80% of iPhone users would want to have a display between 4 inches and 4.3 inches.
When observing the Android users around me, a good 90% have a smartphone with a 4 inch or larger display. and a good 75% have a display of 4.3 inches if not larger.
Honestly? the ONLY people I hear complaining that the Android screen sizes are too big is from the die-hard apple fanbois/girls that are jealous that their iPhone doesn’t have a larger display.
I’m serious, but if Apple made smartphones between 3.5 inches and 5.5 inches (spec wise all the same, only diffrence is screen size) about 80% will choose a screen size between 4 to 4.3 inches, 15% will choose something larger and 5% would chose something smaller.
And smaller the phone can be made (thinner bezels, etc..) the larger the display.
Battery life suffrage? Well, naturally larger display WILL take more battery life. Add 4G/LTE (which the iPhone LACKS) that’s going to take even more battery life. And faster clock CPU, and runs more things (software wise), your battery life will tick down even further.
iPhone 4S? 3.5 inch display, No “4G”, 800 MHz dual core CPU, 512MB ram, software wise doesn’t run as much stuff in the background, it should get better battery life because it isn’t loaded as much!
The question is, do you want to sacrifice a larger display, faster connection, faster hardware, has the ability to run more stuff, for better battery life? Do you want to have a Smart car, that is small, but gets good gas mileage, or get something larger (like a Toyota Camry) that may not get as good fuel economy, but far more comfortable to drive?
Oh, and fuel economy? Really depends on how you drive it. Really depends on how you drive it. Drive with a lead foot, fuel economy is going to suck, no matter what you are driving. But drive with a light foot? fuel economy will be rewarding.
That is EXACTLY the same for battery life. You have a lead finger, have everything on max, battery life will suck, but if you “tone” it down, battery life will be rewarding.
I have a tablet, if I put it on max settings, I’m lucky to get through a day on a single charge (heavy use). But if I turn down the settings (still heavy use) I can extend battery life to multiple days on a single charge. It all depends on how you set your settings.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
  what a load of bologna. Firstly I believe you are pulling those percentage out your ass, nobody wants a 5.3 inch screen on a phone, and really 95% of the people you know think 3.5 inches on a phone is to small? Yea right. Onto important issues, no any droid does not do more than any iPhone out the box can software wise. Secondly,network speeds certainly depend on your carrier and location. In my area on my AT&T iPhone 4S I pull average speed test in the 5-8mbps down range and 1-2 mbps up range on 3G (HSPA+), now the average I’ve seen on my Verizon MiFi LTE card is around 9-12 mbps. I don’t need more than 5mbps down to watch HD Netflix, use Virtual Desktop apps, browse the web, play games and so on, my point is in my area LTE isn’t all that much faster to warrant getting a phone with worse battery life, lower build quality, less software updates and all the other frustrations associated with Android. You also failed to mention that every bench mark ever done has shown the iPhone 4S processor to absolutely trounce ever Android phone with dual core processors. It has better graphics, and the A5 is the fastest mobile dual core processor, I think only Samsung latest Exynos was faster but thats only in 1-2 phones. Point is even with the lower clock speed, less ram, and lack of LTE the iPhone 4S still outperforms every Droid phone. You never hear iPhone users having system freezes, constant crashing, doing hard resets or none of that other nonsense. Actually you don’t hear that from no one but people these supposedly superior Android handsets, WP7 doesn’t have those issues either
  - Oskar Wennersten
    Please don’t tell me what I want. I have a 5,3” phone (GNote) and I love it. It’s faster than any other phone right now and it’s got better batterylife. It also fits perfectly in all types of pants that I have. And the screen is so great and the size allows me to do so much more than my old 3,5” phone did, now I can actually use google Docs on the phone, I can show something on the screen for more than one person, all the games available looks so much better on the great screen and touch controls works a lot better on a big screen. The resolution is actually the same as my last laptop so a lot can fit on there, I mean, there really was no use in having remote desktop on my last phone because of the screensize but now it’s something that I use almost daily. The stylus is just a bonus, I don’t use it that much but my GF likes how it makes it possible to draw with precision on the device.
    And the problem? It isn’t as easy to use with one hand. But to me that’s a really small problem, most of the time it’s fine to use with one hand anyway, partly because the keyboard allows you to enter it into a one-handed mode where the keyboard is moved slightly to the side of the device and partly because I don’t have tiny girl-hands.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
      I didn’t tell anyone what they want. I said I believed his percentages were bogus, which they most likely are. Did I say nobody wants a 5.3 inch phone or did I say that I bet 95% of the people he knows probably doesn’t want one as he claims. To be fair I’d actually enjoy an iPhone with a 3.7- 4 inch display but I don’t find 3.5 to be way to small as the guy I was responding to asserts that 95% of the people he knows say it is. I don’t know what it is with people and reading but it really is a fundamental skill.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Oskar-Wennersten/716248363 Oskar Wennersten
        But you did say “nobody wants a 5.3 inch screen on a phone” and I do want that and so does many others. I think most people would prefer a larger screen on their phone if it would fit in their pocket and the batterylife was acceptable. For me the GNote fits perfectly in my pockets and it’s got the best batterylife of any smartphone out there so why would I settle for a smaller screen?
  - ddevito
    I regularly get 20mbps down and 10-15 up. Your iPhone can’t do that.
    3.5″ is way too small. The people have spoken, even Apple is listening. The iPhone 5 will be bigger.
    The graphics benchmarks were from the GPU, which yes, is very very nice. However, every game I throw at my Galaxy Nexus runs just as smooth, so it’s a moot point. Suddenly the Apple iSheep care about benchmarks. I get updated directly from Google so no update mess here.
    I don’t ever have system freezes, crashes (not one), hard resets – any of that. Stop talking out of your ass iSheep. The Galaxy Nexus has none of those mythical issues that you speak (out of your ass) of.
    And what’s with the MSFT love? They were the bane of your existence for 30 years and now it’s all good – why? Common enemy in Android I guess.
    Either do some research or STFU. iSheep, go back to the meadow with the other sheep.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
      I actually like Microsoft products. Windows 7 is a great OS and Office is a great productivity tool, I also love my Xbox and Kinect so no Microsoft hasn’t been the bane of my existence. Also maybe you need to spend more time reading and comprehending instead of being online calling people “iSheep” because they present factual arguments against your product of choice, I guess I can effectively call you a “Fandroid”. Since you don’t comprehend well, I’ll explain. It’s not that I’m so into benchmarks, the point was brought up in response to a statement in the post I was responding to, he stated that the iPhone has a weaker processor which is inaccurate. Just because you clock a CPU higher doesn’t make it more powerful. Besides the iPhone can over clock its CPU to 1GHz for intensive task, care to explain to me why I need a 1Ghz processor to text, browse the web, or navigate iOS? Computers do the same thing with intel turbo boost processors. You’re also talking about 1 phone out of thousands of android devices and by the way I’ve owned a couple Android devices and they all froze, gave me force quits, and forced me to do battery pulls. Maybe you need to do your research, there are millions of complaints about this issue with Android devices, and even most reviewers complain about it. Yea sure the Nexus devices get updated by Google directly, but what about the other 1000 devices? What evidence do you have iPhone 6 (iPhone 4S is the 5th. iPhone) will have a larger screen? None except the same rumor sites that claimed that this version of the iPhone was going to have a radical redesign with a larger screen. Also what exactly are you doing that requires 20mbps down on a phone? I also stated those speeds were for my area, of course it differs from place to place (which I also stated).
      - DasithWijesiriwardena
        I’ve had countless connectivity issues with the iPhone 4 and switched to a Galaxy Nexus. Haven’t had any of those crashes you mention yet. If you spend the same amount you spend on an iPhone to get a quality Android phone the experience would be the same if not better. I’ve used both so I can gurantee that Android won me over.
  - DasithWijesiriwardena
    What are those benchmarks btw? Every dual core Android I’ve seen beat the iPhone 4s on browser benchmarks..
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RQLOIADQIKNSW5U5HFAJ4QQ4VA Paul
    Tron, really? Android sells more than iPhone does it not? How many Androids have 3.5″ screens VS how many have 4+ screens? Like 1 to 50? Do you hear Android fanboys complaining? I don’t.
    I have a 4.3 Phone 7, and I am an average size guy, and have ZERO issues using it in one hand. If 3.5″ feels like a cheap toy to an average size guy, does that not tell you anything about the market?
    I don’t like Androids, so my defense of it should count for something. Personally, I love my WP7 – you know, the phone the cofounder of Apple called “beautiful”.
    Apple will make a larger iPhone, all you whores will buy it, and we’ll come back here and laugh at how much you defended the “perfect” a 3.5 inch screen.
Anonymous
Yea, apple actually thinks thru and tests everything … All other CE manufacturers don’t bother – their whole premiseis tat it’s about hradware specs so they think anything. Larger or spec faster is better but it’s not as evident by every android user and review. As if a bigger screen makes up for a
Lower res, leggy OS, poorly designed apps or weak hardware … Not to ention poor build quality … That’s all itis – we have a bigger screen! But as apple holds the top best selling 3 phones, it’s clear that pointless specs aren’t that … But if ur only using decision istoave a larger screen even if it seves no purpose other thana checklist on a pp presentation …
- ddevito
  Lower resolution? Ummm….the Galaxy Nexus has a 720 x 1280 High Definition screen. Not all apps for bad – the most popular apps have already been updated for 4.0 and the GNex. Build quality is fine. I’ll take my GNex’s plastic (with a metal chassis I might add) exterior any day over that glass covered iPhone. Looks nice but is as durable my grandmother’s hips.
  iPhone = 1 device.
  Android = many devices
  So stop with the “top selling phones” – yes jackass one company with one model will always have higher sales numbers. Go back to the meadow with the rest of the iSheep
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
    You also forgot to mention a PenTile screen, you enjoy your Galaxy Nexus though.
    - ddevito
      I have a Retina Display iPOd Touch and my GNex at home. The increased resolution and the size of the GNex’s screen simply make it a vastly superior viewing experience.
      Put it this way – would you rather have a 32″ LED HDTV or a 50″ LED HDTV, with the smaller one having a sightly higher ppi?
      I thought so.
      - ddevito
        Trust me, when the iPhone 5 has a 4″ screen all you sheep will swear that 4″ was the way to go.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
        Pentile has absolutely nothing to do with what resolution your screen is. Put it this way, its sort of like the display on the iPod Touch 4 compared to the iPhone 4. Same resolution but the iPod display is inferior, Pentile is an inferior and cheap display technology. You really don’t know what you’re talking about, and that’s funny my Google Voice app has landscape. We get it you like Android though, I like Android too, just doesn’t change the facts that iOS is more efficient and the Galaxy Nexus uses cheap and inferior display technology.
      - ddevito
        Keep telling yourself the iPhone display is better, on that watch sized screen.
ddevito
Apple fanboys can say what they want, but until you actually USE a large screen phone you honestly won’t want to go back (not everyone but most).
Viewing videos – we all love to do it, iOS or Android. More screen real estate is always a good thing.
Docs – more screen means increased productivity on a mobile device
Apple will undoubtedly make the next iPhone’s screen larger – it’s obvious. The 4s looks stale and boring, they need to change it up.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Blake-Beavers/1415465868 Blake Beavers
Im an apple fan and I still think the use of the picture comparing where peoples thumbs can reach is ridiculous. I messed with the Samsung Galaxy Player which has a 5″ screen like the Galaxy Note and I could do everything on it one handed.
ddevito
Last I checked the 4s’s battery life was sub-par - for a 3G phone with weak cloud services to boot.
- http://twitter.com/Julzz Χαράλαμπος Pap 
  Google Fanboy : “Weak cloud services”
  Really? seriously? iCloud does what i want it to do, back up me iOS Devices, all my bookmarks,emails ical data on mutiple devices. have you even tried the 4 s on 5.1? battery life in my device works as described…..
  - ddevito
    yeah? You like only having 30 days of photos backed up (seriously WTF?) and on top of that you can’t back up iPhoto albums to PhotoStream (another WTF?!)
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
      You really don’t have any clue what you’re talking about and that statement tells me you haven’t used iOS 5 and you’re just talking out your hat.
- Anonymous
  Last I checked it was only a small number (percentage wise) of people having this problem. Nobody I know has battery issues, though there obviously are people who do.
Angel Aedo
“… web browsing over 3G, to the iPhone 4S’s 6 hours and 46 minutes….” Really? my 4s 3 hours (or less).
http://www.robpruitt.com Robert Pruitt
I have a co-worker that has the Galaxy S2. She was letting her kid play games at the end of the day plugged into the wall charger. She had it in the wall charger earlier in the day too just for general use. I like the bigger screen but not at that cost. My iPhone 4 can survive a full day and several hours of Pocket God from my 7 year old and then some.
ddevito
Android:
*Winning*
Anonymous
Seriously CoM…WTF? Nothing against the Android community, but I’m so sick of seeing the “Cult of Android” posts all over CoM home page. I understand that y’all are obviously wanting to branch out, and you need somewhere to start, which makes since that you start from your already successful and established website, but I sure do hope this ends soon. Again, nothing against Cult of Android, but since when does Android have a cult following anyway. That was always a mac thing. Cult of Mac made since. Ive never seen a 12 hour line outside of an Android store before. I just think CoM could have been a little more original than slapping Cult of Android up there…That would be like me creating a new social networking site and calling it FacePage and making it look like FaceBook. It just seems a little sketchy to me. Just my opinion guys, and again, nothing against the Android crowd-you like what you like. But don’t some of you Android guys wish CoM would have come up with a more original webpage…it’s almost like you guys are getting sloppy seconds from the website creators.
- ddevito
  You won’t find a line of people in line waiting for an Android phone because:
  1. There are many choices of phones, not just one
  and
  2. We order online and don’t feel the need to waste our time otherwise.
  There is a cult-”like” following to Android. The dev community is growing, and is much much stronger than iOS. Sure iOS has more apps but that isn’t what I’m talking about. The dev/modder community is VERY strong for Android, based on all the customization that the platform allows.
  As for the new COA, I kinda like it because I use both iOS and Android. (But I do find it weird that one of the biggest Apple fansnewsetc sites started an Android site) – I like it, but do find it weird too.
  - Anonymous
    Most iPhone buyers get theirs online. Only a very small percentage of them actually line up.
    The difference between an iPhone and an Android phone is that on launch day millions of people will want an iPhone. If even 5% of the total buyers line up that’s still enough people to create a “round the block” line up for every single Apple store in the world. It also means 95% don’t line up.
    Don’t try to twist things around and make it seem like all Apple buyers are crazed fanatics. All brands have people who are willing to sleep overnight in a line for their favorite product. If Android actually made anything popular enough to sell a few million the first weekend, then they’d have huge line-ups too.
    - ddevito
      I will say, that, despite it only being one phone from one company, Apple handles product launches like a pro. I can’t dispute that.
      In Androidland we’re stuck with endless rumors, speculation and delays – all caused from the carriers without a doubt it my mind. Google needs to slap them around a bit. The Galaxy Nexus fiasco was so bad at one point I almost said screw it! and bought a 4s.
    - http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
      “All brands have people who are willing to sleep overnight in a line for their favorite product”
      name two!
  - http://twitter.com/OutlawAndy Andrew Cohen
    the 4s is the best phone Ive ever owned. it did have a bug that hindered battery life when it launched but that was resolved with iOS 5.0.1 a couple weeks later. iOS 5 is years ahead of where andriod is today. oh, and iCloud is great, nothing weak about it, I have ALL of my docs, pictures, apps, music, videos, contacts, calendars, mail, notes, reminders and books on ALL of my devices and always in sync, down to whatever page I was reading in a book. Did I mention that Siri is Awesome too?
    As for the size of the screen, this seems like a silly argument to me; Which is better, playing games and watching crap on a screen that is 3.5″ or 4.6″…. The answer is NEITHER. thats what the iPad is for, my phone is for calling and texting and it should be small so it fits in my pocket along with my cigarettes and keys
    and yes, I do find it weird and annoying that my rss feed is full of cult-of-android crap
    - ddevito
      “iOS 5 is years ahead of where andriod is today”
      In terms of what exactly? I’ll give you UI “butteriness” – but as it was discovered, iOS gets UI rendering at real time priority, etc – bla bla bla – Android does not – to save resources for memory hog apps (this can all root from the great multitasking debate).
      I’ll give you smoothness (and UI consistency), but otherwise I have to dispute your claim. Android is very flexible, and data can be shared within apps – something iOS still doesn’t do all that much (i.e., sharing a photo with something other than Twitter, etc). Also, iOS doesn’t live update icons – which can serve like a widget. Why is that? For example, why doesn’t the weather icon change in temperature – yes, I know there’s that app does, etc – but you get the idea. They integrate Twitter, great, but a widget with incoming noticifications would be great, wouldn’t it?
      Contacts in iOS are old and stale. Take Android and WInPhone7, their respective contacts apps act as media hubs for your contacts. It’s awesome, intuitive, and the future of mobile OSs. Find My Friends is a start, but why isn’t it integrated with the contacts list? No integration whatsoever. Again, not seeing where iOS is more advanced.
      iCloud isn’t revolutionary, it was an emergency landing. It’s nice that they “backup” your data, but frankly, their approach to the cloud seems very weak. Google’s all in the cloud, by the time you turn on an Android phone you’re already in their cloud, so there’s no need to “back up” everything, rather, merely update new data from each device. It’s more centralized on the web. Again, advanced architecture for Android, iOS not so much. Not seeing where iOS is more “advanced” in this area either.
    - ddevito
      so you like only backing up 30 days of photos without albums? interesting…
    - ddevito
      yes, iOS is so powerful but:
      -still can’t fully multitask without using Apple’s complete and utter BS APIs
      -no 3d in maps
      -no turn-by-turn navigation (seriously, wtf)
      -no widgets
      yeah, iOS sure is the stronger one.
      /s
  - Anonymous
    You sir, couldn’t be more wrong. A couple months back, there was an article describing how many developers prefer to develop for iOS, and that Android’s developer base had decreased 5% over the last year.
    - ddevito
      that’s not what I’m even talking about.
      Talking to iFanboys is like talking to drones. None of you listen and you all say the same thing. Amazing.
      - ListenToMyWisdom
        No such thing as a fanboy. There are people who like their product a lot and dont care what anyone else says, but they are not fanboys. I never partake in this ridiculous name-calling stuff.
http://twitter.com/weltraumpirat Claus not Han Solo
iPhone: Weeping…
Android: Winning!!!
- Anonymous
  yyyy…………………………………………………..nope.
http://twitter.com/OutlawAndy Andrew Cohen
your battery problem is most likely the result of background apps constantly and unnecessarily using location services. you can verify this by turning on the location services status bar icon in the settings, which will let you know (with a little purple arrow) when the services are being used and draining your battery
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001849858163 Phouthon Ourn
Not true.. my Galaxy Nexus 4.6″ I still can access to all UI
http://epolack.tumblr.com/ Edward Polack
Shouldn’t this technically be called Cult of iOS vs Cult of Android? You are comparing a mobile OS vs a generic all inclusive Mac category. I agree with CodyHotard, enough with the Cult of Android posts on Cult of Mac. I’ll come here to CoA if I want Android information. Just link it on CoM and you are set!
http://twitter.com/GJNilsen Geert-Jan K. Nilsen
Apple should not go for a larger display, the current size is “pocket perfect”. I have tried the Galaxy, and its too big for the pockets in my jeans, I have to wear a jacket or *shiver* a “man purse”. Also one hand operating is very important for me, how else could I text while driving? (Siri is not enabled in my language).
- Kingv84
  You should not be texting while driving. Concentrate on the road or you would not have a hand to text with because you will be dead. Enjoy!
- ddevito
  Simple solution. Stop wearing skinny jeans.
  - Anonymous
    +1 Dammit!
http://twitter.com/robotUNIXorn Stefan Keil
4 inch is the upper maximum for a smartphone with one hand-use and your thump… not everyone had a hand like a nba player…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=694699306 Omar Khaled El-Deeb
i think it would be better if apple offered more varieties :D
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Fred-Maxwell/1307740682 Fred Maxwell
  Apple makes superior products, and has a superior customer experience, because they don’t try to offer too many products that confuse the marketplace and developers. That’s why you don’t see an OS X Starter Edition, OS X Home Basic Edition, OS X Home Premium Edition, OS X Business Edition, OS X Enterprise Edition, and OS X Ultimate Edition.
- Anonymous
  Apple? CHOICE? blasphemy.
http://twitter.com/MitchellGoudie Mitchell Goudie
Well i live in a country where big screens aren’t all that common and i have a nexus s and an iPod touch 4g. People ask me which i prefer i would most definitely say the iPod. Android is awesome but i really hate my nexus s battery life. My iPod touch can last much longer if i’m not playing infinity blade. This brings me to another topic. The app store has much more variety than the android market so android, you are the weakest link, goodbye.
- ddevito
  your iPod doesn’t have any radios in it so of course it’s going to have battery life. Poor comparison.
  And the app store stuff is poppycock, tired of hearing it. Android also had WAY more free apps.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
    But the iPhone 4S does and it has superior battery life to most Android devices including the Nexus S, or maybe the iPhone 4 would be a better comparison to the Nexus S. Either way they both have better battery life than the Nexus S and they have radios. Also Android has more free apps at the expense of a big ugly Ad showing through your app, no thank you I’ll pay to not see Ads and have an overall better quality app. Angry birds is free on Android, tried it on a Thunderbolt 4G…Not only did it run poorly, but at the top there was this big banner Ad showing, and every few seconds a new one would show…No thanks I’ll pay for my apps
    - ddevito
      TBolt’s a piece of junk. Poor comparison.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
        All the same, the facts remain. Free apps = Ads on Android, iOS has far better battery life then any Android.
      - ddevito
        Common Android misconception.
        Lots of free apps are made by ROM devs, and usually extend the phone’s functionality.
Jason Allen
Its completely down to personal preference.. . For me anything bigger than 3.5/3.7″ screen size is too big, I come very close to buying a Samsung Galaxy S2 over the iPhone 4S but it was just too big and uncomfortable for me to hold, but then everyones different and its great we have all this choice
http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams
No mention of apps at all. The iOS platform wins for me. The apps suck on Android, and WP7 too. Couldn’t stand them.
- ddevito
  Android apps don’t suck. I’ll say they are of less quality for some compared to iOS but all the most popular apps are available for Android now.
  - http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams
    I’ll give you three of the top apps that I am talking about. There’s nothing with the quality and capability that Things, Omnifocus,and Firetask have on Android. I had one for a bit and if you like Google Tasks, which are worthless,then you’re okay. Same with WP7. Nothing. Some people speak of quality apps apart from games. I don’t count games as quality apps.
    - ddevito
      Astrid is the best TaskTo-Do app I’ve ever used (on any platform).
    - Victor Healey
      I can think of dozens of apps that exist only on iOS. GoodReader is one and they are quite clear why they would never develop an Android version. The Android OS simply isn’t powerful enough for them to make such a product that would function so smoothly using iOS features. GoodReader is the single non Apple app that I recommend all iPad users grab as soon as they get an iPad. If they have GoodReader from GoodWare they don’t have an Android tablet.
      Aside from that I have over 800 iPad apps in iTunes but only about 300 – 400 actually on the iPad. I use only the best of the best.Apple iBooks is also an app not found on Android and from the pain of those who try to duplicate its functionality it is hilarious. I can create a multimedia ebook in minutes on an Apple Mac Book Pro. An ePub3 will not work on most Androids but it is fantastic in iBooks.Look out for an announcement next week about iBooks that will leave Android still sucking dust. Android users are just not welcome to the party unless they buy and iPad. And if they buy an iPad they might as well buy an iPhone too since many apps work on both.And if they buy any iOS device they would do no better that picking up a Mac Book Air 128GB at MicroCenter for $800.
      - ddevito
        “The Android OS simply isn’t powerful enough for them to make such a product that would function so smoothly using iOS features”
        BASED ON WHAT? How is Android not powerful enough? Seriously were you dropped on your head as a child???
        Wanna know Goodreader isn’t on Android? BECAUSE IT ISN’T NEEDED YOU DOLT! Android has full built-in file storage capabilities, unlike your iToy.
        I’m not talking tablets – tablets are useless. The GNex has a large enough screen that suffices for both = save money, instead of wasting $$$ annually on Apple products
      - http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams
        iToy = lost credibility. Go back to school. You’re late for gym class.
      - Anonymous
        ibooks isnt on android??? :O But i can name entire CATEGORIES of apps that arnt on the appstore, so lets not go there.
http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams
Vincent, screen size isn’t an advantage of Android. That’s like saying screen size is an advantage of Windows. You are aware of the fact that Android does not make phones, right? Screen size is advantage of the hardware, not the software.
- Anonymous
  Did you read the title of this article? “whats better? the iphones 3.5 inch display or androids 4+ inch superphones?” We all obviously knew what he was talking about Mr. smartie pants. Yeah, i said it.
Anonymous
youre telling me the iphone 4s which has over an inch smaller screen, 33% less powerful proccessor, no LTE or hspa+, and an OS that doesnt challenge its hardware whatsoever, has slightly better batterylife over all, than a phone with an inch larger screen, dual core 1.2 ghz TIOMAP proccessor, LTE and hspa+, and an OS that is faaaaaar more cpu intensive, that only has a 20% larger battery?
Truely, enlightening.
- http://twitter.com/cspencer96 Christopher Spencer
  The iPhone 4S does have HSPA+, and it doesn’t need a more powerful processor because of how it utilizes it’s processor. I have seen laggy iPhones, but I have seen far more laggy Androids. And when I saw this lag, it was during simple tasks like texting and dialing a phone number. To put the biggest stake in the chest, it was a Galaxy Nexus and my friend was simultaneously bragging about it’s processor.
  - Anonymous
    And by utilize you mean….. There are far more proccesses running in the background on android. widgets, true multitasking, live wallpapers, a larger screen, he fact that ICS is the most cpu intensive android version to date. it all takes a tole on cpu usage which is why the proccessor is so important with android. ios doesnt have any of that. alas it runs much smoother with a less powerful proccessor. And as far as the gnex goes, maybe your friend rooted it and installed custom apps or roms. maybe he had waaay to much stress originaing from mutitasking. but the gnex doesnt act like that with tasks as simple as texting. And the gnex is not the most powerful android phone on the market anyway. Id go with the samsung galaxy s2 skyrocket if youre looking for raw power and seemless preformance.t
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
      ‘True Multitasking’ doesn’t make it intelligent to use on mobile devices where there is limited resources and battery life. Live wallpapers are a gimmick, and useless battery drain (also cpu waste),Widgets if programmed right shouldn’t be battery drains. In iOS there is a stock and weather widget ( I bet they will support widgets in the notification center soon) they give up to date information about weather and stocks but they check hourly and use less battery and cpu cycles ( you can change the interval if you want). I think that is the proper way for widgets to run, who needs their Facebook to be refreshing every 5 minutes wasting up battery and cpu cycles? Also I think the iOS widget implication will be better because its out your way when you don’t need them, if you need a quick glance at information, you just open the notification system which is accessible from any application. My point is Android is not as efficient as it should be, it should not take a 1.5Ghz dual core processor and 1GB of ram for it to run as properly as WP7 and iOS have ran on a 800mhz single core processor and 512mb ram (only the iPhone 4S is dual core).
      - Anonymous
        Opinion, opinion, opinion. Whether you like androids features, or agree with its implementation or not, they are still features ios does not have and plenty of people DO appreciate them. i for one love live wallpapers, find true multitasking very usefull, and have widgets on every single homescreen i have. granted, my battery life is attrocious. (Mainly because its an HTC) but atleast i have the option to not use a live wp, get grid of my widgets, and even flash a far more battery efficient custom rom or kernal.
      - Anonymous
        iOS is, and long has been capable of displaying live wallpapers, widgets, true multitasking and flash… it’s called jailbreaking. It may not be officially sanctioned by apple, but for those with the interest to get the most out of their phones, iOS is just as malleable as android, and jail breaking takes about the same amount of effort to pull off as most tweaks with android — which is little to none.
        I for one have many frustrations with both platforms and have no preference/allegiance to either side — but I think this point in your argument fell flat years ago when jailbreaking hit the scene. Really, when you get down to it, there just isn’t that much separating these two platforms. Just because Apple tries to prevent malware, piracy and fragmentation by limiting the users access privileges, does not make iOS or the iPhone limited. That is a viewpoint of someone who glanced at the cover and never really opened the book. They both can do, or can be programmed to do, just about anything that the other platform can do — in the end, it’s about what feels right to the user.
      - Anonymous
        Oh, you dont need to tell me. I had an iphone 4 for 9 months (first smartphone. i loved it) and jailbroke it the very 1st day w/ jailbreakme2.0. I installed any and everything from cydia (and Rock while it lasted) that even seemed somewhat interesting. Dreamboard, winterboard, infinidock, SB settings, installous, the “real” type of multitasking; Ive had plent of experience w/ the JB scene. But i later realized it still just wasnt as smooth and seemless as android, not to mention not nearly as malleable. i found a lot, if not most, of the mods for ios extremely shaky and in the case of the “video wallpapers” very laggy. Another thing to note; in my experience i found a jailbroken idevice fully modded far more unstable than a rooted android device modded up. *read on*
      - Anonymous
        Android can do anything a JB idevice can, out of the box. (and almost always a lot more stable) But we can delve even deep into our phones by “rooting” them. Similar to JB but can get way deeper into your devices. By rooting you can install mods that ios device owners could only dream of. Over/ under clocking the cpu, intstalling system mods and even custom firmware compiled by private devs, and otherwise completly rebuild the core software of the device to however you want it. Perhaps if you “actually opened the book” with android you’d know this. *read on*
      - Anonymous
        But i do completely agree with your “what feels right to the user” statement. Most owners will be perfectly satisfied with a stock ios device. But for those of us who want to truely get the most out of our devices, android is just a more flexible, fun platform to tinker with than ios. even if JB.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1493970062 Tron Caldwell
        What about my reply was an opinion? Where did I say I didn’t like Android features? I pointed out ways to make Android more efficient and retain the same features. iOS does everything Android does minus the Live Wallpapers, and we’re talking about stock features so no you can’t under clock, or flash a rom without rooting and if that’s the case then iOS has live wallpapers, widgets and ‘true multitasking’. Your battery life isn’t atrocious because it’s an HTC, its atrocious because android isn’t efficient and wastes resources
      - Anonymous
        No, youre suggesting ways of making android os more resource efficient ,based on ios, while rendering the features of android less capable. And i dont think you understand. Ive peviously owned a jailbroken iphone 4 for longer than i have owned a rooted android. Stock android out of the box can do everything a jailbroken ios device can do. When you root the phone is when you get into mods JB ios owners can only dream of. You can completly rebuild the core software of the device to however you prefer. Whether it be preformance enhanced, or resource consrevative. and no you dont have to be a programmer to do so. On Sat, Jan 14, 2012 at 10:07 PM, Kyle Gibson <
      - Anonymous
        And my phones battery life is atrocious because htc ships phones with small batteries while also combining it with the not-so-advanced less power efficient lcd screens. (the screen is what eats most of the battery life in case you didnt know.) Along with the fact i choose preformance over conservation.
      - Anonymous
        or atleast buy a bigger battery.
- Anonymous
  33% less powerful? Just specs over substance. Android still fails to leverage SIMD and GPU to any reasonable degree (remember OSX was optimised on RISC + SIMD prior to Intel transition). This goes a long way to explaining why OMAP’s computational power is so weak when compared to A5 (though I suspect the A5 is packing extra FPUs).
  Either way the 4S is faster and iOS actually passes this to the user.
clay cooper
Funny how the Apple side tries to convince us that we are simply incorrect if we prefer a different option than what they offer, lol. Also, the deviation from the argument about battery life doesn’t work out in Apples favor as you seem to think it should. Who honestly cares what mAh size your batter is as long as it lasts longer? Isn’t that at the crux of Apples user exerience vs. geek tech argument? Anyway, if you prefer a 3.5″ phone screen you would be hard pressed to find a better offering than an iPhone. If you would like a larger screen, there are plenty of fantastic Android phones out there pick from, as there high end offerings seem to prefer screens over 4″. Or you could be a rebel and get a Windows phone…yeah right. Enjoy.
Anonymous
Galaxy is too big. Huge lump in your pocket that makes you look like a dork.
- http://www.facebook.com/pws2k Paul Williams
  Just simple as you said! Thumbs up
- Anonymous
  We’re all dorks for following this site anyway.
  - Anonymous
    You may be right.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YVH7Y7S3APAMTALQAPK3GVC5NA Scott
Its kind of funny …. i have a droidx2 and since the last update …. my phones battery lasts twice as long (2 full days) if i dont stream video or play games constantly. Thats more than acceptable. Its been a great phone and I think its every bit as easy to text one handed as my sons iphone. Matter of fact, when its time to upgrade guess what my sons going to? Not anothe iphone, I assure you. I work in the tech field and the simple fact that I CONTROL what my phone does simple makes me ignore anything the iphone touts as better. I could go on and on etc But hey, as the author says, its all about preference, right?
Anonymous
Nexus is way too big to me, instead I’m using now SE Xperia Ray, which has 3,3″ display. Perfect to me, battery-life is also great (it lasts in my use almost three whole days, and don’t forget that fact that I live in Finland, where now in winter is -20 degrees celcius. My friends with iPhone4S have to charge their phones once in a day…). I am just happy with my Ray, an opportunity to choose is Android’s one of the best feature.
Anonymous
Okay, so if anyone would like to try to scroll down the comments list to find what I said from earlier, that is what I’m talking about. My comment was mostly about, why is CoM posting Android articles all over the CoM homepage. I scrolled through Cult of Android’s history, and there is almost no stories from the cult of mac website, yet recently we’re getting all kinds of android news at CoM. Somehow, that comment turned into an argument about who’s phone is better. WTF! Everyone know’s we’re not going to agree on this, so what’s the f-ing point? I’m just hoping the site creators will stop this non-sense. It’s like they just want to see how much pointless banter they can stir up? I want news about the Mac side of things just like the android crowd wants android news.
- Anonymous
  I get get plenty of android news on our fan sites but i eventually wanted to hear from both sides so i started following CoM. I for one appreciate that this site is atleast kinda trying to present both sides of the story. Even if they do tend to be clearly biased. but hey, thats obviously to be expected. I would expect the same, if not more bias from a “fandroid” site.
Anonymous
John, you really put your argument well. 100% agree. I had no idea Android had such poor battery performance… glad I got a 4S.
- shanos burgess
  the nice thing about android being open source is that the great devs at xda forum can constantly play with the os and increase stability/performance/battery life all with the blessing of google.
  when the 4s came out i seem to remember there being a very flawed battery issue giving you pathetic battery life (thankfully apple have worked on this and it is a little better now lol)
  If the OP had compared the stats for a custom rom that had been zip aligned deoxed and tuned the results would look very different.
  to me phones are like cars… you can buy a car that will run very well and have fair performance but never set the world alight (every one can own one) or you can buy a car that is high tuneable and doesn’t mind you lifting the hood and tinkering to get it perfect for you… you can over clock it/chip it for more performance, you can under clock it for more economy, heck you can do almost anything you want with it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=814330617 Derrick Kardos
that graphic is absurd and misleading because it assumes the phone can’t move within one hand.
as if the only moving part of a hand is the thumb and the thumb can only rotate in a semicircle.
apple people are so stupid,
- Anonymous
  God forbid we stretch our fingers out a little.
- http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
  I’d like to know does the graphic depict the ‘correct” way of holding the iphone so the antenna issue doesn’t occur?
Anonymous
The iPhone arguments are quite flawed:
- Developing for different screen sizes isn’t hard. It’s just _different_. If you want to design and develop pixel by pixel, you will probably fail creating compelling user interfaces. If you design and develop with Android layout containers in the back of your mind, Android is definitely easier to develop for in quite some cases in my experience.
- Saying that a Galaxy Nexus would still have worse battery life with a 3.5″ screen since the battery would also be smaller is a bogus argument, because battery life would probably increase quite dramatically as a smaller screen draws substantially less power. How much? You don’t know since you probably don’t know how much power it would draw.
Besides, wasn’t this supposed to be about screen sizes? Battery life is completely irrelevant when it comes to how screen size affects user experiences. And it probably doesn’t affect a large group of users at all.
- Anonymous
  A Samsung galaxy with a 3.5 inch screen, would have a smaller battery also.
Anonymous
ANDROID: A lot of people are perfectly fine with a 3.5 inch screen and love the mobility and the conveniences that a small screen brings. But others love the coveniences with larger screens regarding friendlier, less cramped interfaces, and larger picture for movies and videos. It all comes down to preference!
APPLE: You’re just wrong if you prefer a larger screen than what the iphone provides.
- A synopsis of this entire article in case some of you are wise enough not to waiste your time reading all of it.
Hun Vee Cheah
Hm… actually, I find that my thumb pivots at one corner of the screen, as opposed to the centre of one side, as the green circles in the graphic suggests. Which means that, without stretching my fingers or moving my hand, I wouldn’t reach the opposite corner of a 3.2″ screen, much less the 3.5″ on an iPhone. We could make the argument that, if texting really were a problem, someone would just have to make an on-screen keyboard that sits in a corner of the display, instead of taking up the entire length. It’s true that larger screens consume more power, though, although it is also true that the bigger screen allows for a bigger battery, which balances out, from a user-experience point of view (environmental impact is a different matter). In any case, watching movies on a small screen really gives me a headache…
http://twitter.com/STRIPBLUNTS ANDRE SALAZAR
Oversized screens are CRAP & serve NO purpose! If Apple made their screens 4-inches, the competitors would size their screens to 5-inches or more! There isn’t “1″ original idea circulating through ANY of these so-called competitive companies! PATHETIC!!
- http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
  completely unobjective comment – note fanboi exmple as stated by so many posts!
http://www.facebook.com/ortiz.m Marco Ortiz
I had the Iphone 3g, 3gs & 4. Liked it, but I got tired of the UI and the screen size. I use my phone to watch lots of videos, Like podcasts, youtube and netflix. I changed to the Epic Touch 4G and love it. The 4.5 super amoled screen is amazing, I will not go back to a 3.5″ screen.
shanos burgess
As always i must state that I have a mix of apple gear and android, I’m in no way a fanboy for either camp.
both arguments are a bit obvious and some a little flawed.
Apple designed a phone to fit most hands (a huge female demographic to take in to account) mine whilst not the largest are still a bit meaty and when using my IPOD touch i find myself often touching a few or the wrong keys, unless I turn the screen to landscape and use two thumbs (as do many of my male friends) .
with my galaxy s the larger screen and selection of replacement keyboards from the market make it a lot easier to type on.
for watching films etc the super amoled screen (yes I know it does not have the same DPI as the iPhone) produces more vivid colours and a much more comfortable/pleasurable viewing experience.
as for battery life related to screen usage its a bit lower than the iPhone but then again I have 2 spare batteries that I can take with me on long journeys or whilst traveling (they cost £10 for the pair from ebay including a case and 2 screen covers) and I can swap them out at my leisure (no going to an apple store when the battery gets a bit shocking to recharge, my sisters 3gs battery now last about 3 hours with very low usage and to have apple replace would cost her fairly big money)
I’m all for choice and at some point apple will increase the screen size (they will continue to increase resolution across product ranges and it will get to the point that 3.5″ become unreadable, be it a launch of a iPhone pro or whatever, it will happen and when it does all the arguments that have been made about the perfect screen size will be flawed lol, also the other thing to consider is that bezels are diminishing, due to this the nexus s screen/phone dimensions do not feel that big.
and with the continued movement towards OLED in the tv industry (lg showed a set at CES 2012 with a 1mm bezel) this will continue to get better.
long and short if you try it, use it and like it… buy it and enjoy it…
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NR3LFTW3LZRSI5JT54KXOOMG3Q Jerry
I’ll take choice any (every) day. And of course, that choice will never be the one that limits future choices.
While Apple has created an incredible OS/hardware combination, they have always limited their own potential by deciding on a one-size-fits-all approach to their hardware design. With PCs, you can get any size box you desire to fit the environment it will be used in, unless you choose Apple, then you are limited to their “better” design. Now the same is true of Apple’s phones. Not everyone uses their phone in the same way, and no two hands are alike. Yet Apple thinks we should all be crammed into the exact same fit.
What has really bugged me about Apple in the past few years, is how they have gone from the company that helped the world escape the Orwellian nightmare of PC clones to the company that wants to make everyone walk in their lockstep. One tyrant replacing another, that’s Apple replacing MS. Android is to OS as democracy is to government. I’ll take freedom (choice) any (every) day!
Anonymous
The Apple finger-reach argument is silly, and just more of the typical parroting that i-fans do, without actually doing any research or testing of larger phones. Fact is, I can easily get to the far corners of my 3.7″ OG Droid without any issues (ie, far past the “green circle” shown in the example above). Maybe I have longer fingers or something, so I realize this won’t apply for everyone, but the argument implies EVERYONE would have this problem. What’s more, I am not mutant either… I have friends with far larger hands than I have… so I can’t be one of the large-handed minority here.
I have handled the Nexus (even with the ridiculous Verizon store’s security dongle stuck to the back) without much issue… I am sure it will be far better without the security dongle. Bottom line is, instead of trying to justify the validity of the iPhone design, I wish people would honestly and open-mindedly try it out. That seems to be my biggest issue with iFans, they refuse to try the competition open-mindedly.
As for the battery life argument, I will certainly agree with that – the iPhone claims much better life, and my iFriends prove it time and time again. But I wonder if much of this has to do with better/easier/more-significant “sleeping” on the iPhone versus the multitasking power/capability of Android. In other words, as the iPhone does only one (or a few) things at a time, it’s easier to manage power consumption. Android simply doesn’t work that way, and would therefore drain more power. So while I agree that larger screens would theoretically draw more power, the newer tech should mitigate that too.
In the end, like others, I prefer choice, and the broader capabilities of Android over iPhone, which is why I chose it. Honestly, I was seriously considering the iPhone instead of my OG Droid, but so many reasons kept me on Android… and so many more keep me there now. Screen size is just another one to add to the pile.
Anonymous
The Apple finger-reach argument is silly, and just more of the typical parroting that i-fans do, without actually doing any research or testing of larger phones. Fact is, I can easily get to the far corners of my 3.7″ OG Droid without any issues (ie, far past the “green circle” shown in the example above). Maybe I have longer fingers or something, so I realize this won’t apply for everyone, but the argument implies EVERYONE would have this problem. What’s more, I am not mutant either… I have friends with far larger hands than I have… so I can’t be one of the large-handed minority here.
I have handled the Nexus (even with the ridiculous Verizon store’s security dongle stuck to the back) without much issue… I am sure it will be far better without the security dongle. Bottom line is, instead of trying to justify the validity of the iPhone design, I wish people would honestly and open-mindedly try it out. That seems to be my biggest issue with iFans, they refuse to try the competition open-mindedly.
As for the battery life argument, I will certainly agree with that – the iPhone claims much better life, and my iFriends prove it time and time again. But I wonder if much of this has to do with better/easier/more-significant “sleeping” on the iPhone versus the multitasking power/capability of Android. In other words, as the iPhone does only one (or a few) things at a time, it’s easier to manage power consumption. Android simply doesn’t work that way, and would therefore drain more power. So while I agree that larger screens would theoretically draw more power, the newer tech should mitigate that too.
In the end, like others, I prefer choice, and the broader capabilities of Android over iPhone, which is why I chose it. Honestly, I was seriously considering the iPhone instead of my OG Droid, but so many reasons kept me on Android… and so many more keep me there now. Screen size is just another one to add to the pile.
Anonymous
The Apple finger-reach argument is silly, and just more of the typical parroting that i-fans do, without actually doing any research or testing of larger phones. Fact is, I can easily get to the far corners of my 3.7″ OG Droid without any issues (ie, far past the “green circle” shown in the example above). Maybe I have longer fingers or something, so I realize this won’t apply for everyone, but the argument implies EVERYONE would have this problem. What’s more, I am not mutant either… I have friends with far larger hands than I have… so I can’t be one of the large-handed minority here.
I have handled the Nexus (even with the ridiculous Verizon store’s security dongle stuck to the back) without much issue… I am sure it will be far better without the security dongle. Bottom line is, instead of trying to justify the validity of the iPhone design, I wish people would honestly and open-mindedly try it out. That seems to be my biggest issue with iFans, they refuse to try the competition open-mindedly.
As for the battery life argument, I will certainly agree with that – the iPhone claims much better life, and my iFriends prove it time and time again. But I wonder if much of this has to do with better/easier/more-significant “sleeping” on the iPhone versus the multitasking power/capability of Android. In other words, as the iPhone does only one (or a few) things at a time, it’s easier to manage power consumption. Android simply doesn’t work that way, and would therefore drain more power. So while I agree that larger screens would theoretically draw more power, the newer tech should mitigate that too.
I’ll agree, some screens are getting larger for the sake of size. And the rest of the phone design isn’t accommodating this, but this can’t be said of all larger screen phones.
In the end, like others, I prefer choice, and the broader capabilities of Android over iPhone, which is why I chose it. Honestly, I was seriously considering the iPhone instead of my OG Droid, but so many reasons kept me on Android… and so many more keep me there now. Screen size is just another one to add to the pile.
- Anonymous
  He said it didn’t work with screens LARGER THEN 4″
  - Anonymous
    I knew someone wouldn’t read my entire post and still reply.
    My point is, I can reach the corners OF THE PHONE (which are further away than the edge shown in the green-arc) without issue. Let’s do a little simple math, if you say the corner is 45-degrees from the center of the green arc above, on a horizontal 2.4″-wide phone (specs of the 3GS – smaller than the Droid I was using as a reference), that means my thumb can reach about 3.35″ (by mulitplying with sqrt(2)) away from the center of that green arc… so if I have a reach of 3.35″ from the side, and the GNex (for example) is 2.7″ wide, then I can EASILY reach that without any issues.
    Again, TRY IT OUT with an open mind, and see it’s not that big of a deal. 0.3″ extra (by width alone) is trivial. Rememeber, screen dims are DIAGONAL… so a 3.5″ screen versus a 4.65″ GNex screen is only showing about 0.3″ more width, in this case. If you can’t reach another 0.3″, then you simply have tiny hands… which is fine, but as an overall argument to validate the 3.5″ screen, it’s ridiculous.
    - shanos burgess
      hmmm you could always use it as a way to pull birds… how about this line for instance… see that bloke over there with the iPhone? he must have small hands… check out my galaxy nexus… you know what bigger phones mean… bigger hands… and bigger hands means longer fingers… so yes you could go with the iPhone owner but he could not peasure you as deeply with his little sausage fingers as I can with my proper manly hands lol
http://www.jauhari.net/ Jauhari
Because I am iPhone 4 user… of course I am currently happy with 3.5″ screen…
http://twitter.com/MitchellGoudie Mitchell Goudie
Well what makes me side with Apple is the whenever I take out my Nexus s (High end in my country), people don’t say ” What kind of phone is that?”, they say ” is that an iPhone” with a look of excitement on their faces.
http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams
Anyone brought up the fact that Android users always refer to the infamous drop-test to explain the superiority of Android? I notice that the article refers to the thumb-test that iPhone users refer to.
http://twitter.com/JamiesonHomes Paul Jamieson
Please remove android advertizing camouflaged as articles.
- Anonymous
  What the fuck are you even talking about?
Anonymous
Wow that was a great read:) brownlee wins.
Anonymous
Now that is really a problem with battery lIfe.
Jayson el sayegh
john you have a point but honestly your entire theory was based on the galaxy nexus, there are so many other android phones like samsung s2 that beats the iphone 4s battery life. So your theory is wrong. And then again android makes it very easy to access your mobile network to turn off any networks that are on. And makes android battery life of the nexus much higher. I dont have the perfect words like you but still. I think you can understand what i mean.
Benedict Tan
The texting one handed argument is invalid as the keys nearest to the thumb require a disgusting amount of contortion for more keys on smaller phones. Furthermore as others have pointed out, there is enough width and breadth of choice on android to beat everything it does mediocre with excellence.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=2224445 Matt Baker
What does the battery life have to do with the preference to the screen size? Seems like he is stretching to come up with excuses why the iphone’s screen is so small. That being said, it just leaves the whole being able to reach excuse. I guess if you have the hands of a middle school girl, than you would have a problem reaching all the screen with one hand. Yes the 4.5-4.6″ screen would be a problem for some but i’ve never come across an average sized man/woman that has an issue using my phone with a 4″ screen. And the fact that phones are being used more for everything from playing games to watching movies and less for actual phone calls, the larger screen only makes sense.
http://profiles.google.com/xenocatz Rich Allen
Bigger is better, and 4G is just all that much sweeter. Android wins
Anonymous
You’ve dreamed about it, watched HGTV, and and pick out colors. Now make your bathroom remodel a reality, more info, bathroomremodeling.cöm
- Anonymous
  Flag herms1951 as SPAM.
Robert Norris Hills
I think this argument is won by the fact that for the whole lead up to the iPhone4s release all of you iFags were rooting for a larger screen on your iphone5′s.
You didn’t get it.
So you go back to saying larger than 3.5 screens suck.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=577604831 Frank T Wang
> Hey, who wants a 5-inch Galaxy Note now?
For things where the fundimental action is staring at the screen, having a larger screen is simply better.
Doesn’t matter if it applies to Computer monitors, televisions, tablets, or phones.
There have been several times recently where iphone users have said – ‘let’s do this on your phone’.
These include – playing games, getting on facebook, browsing the web. Note wins for stuff like this - hands down.
You have your points – larger phones have their disadvantages too. the Galaxy Note isn’t really a one handed phone. If that’s important to you, don’t get the Note – you’ll hate it. I don’t do it at all anymore, and I couldn’t care less.
But to mock the 5.3 inch screen of the note as a stupid idea – that’s just plain ridiculous.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001082304918 Matt Terreri
If im looking at that picture correctly, im assuming its based on how far your finger can go one handed while the phone is in landscape mode. What i want to know is who uses any phone with one hand while its in landscape mode. Thats what the green area covers right?
http://twitter.com/beond richard bown
as posted many times here the apple diagram of finger reach is pathetic, and the claim that someone with one arm couldn’t use a large phone is extremely naive at best. Since day one android has had excellent voice control and pretty much all the alternative keyboards have this option (note rather than incorporating it in a fouth generation product and touting it as ‘game changing’).
These arguments always come comes down to user choice, surely the best thing for the consumers? if you’re happy with an iphone go for it, if you want a bigger screen, slide out keyboard etc then you have no choice but look elsewhere.
Apple decides your choices for you and that is the heart of the apple way, our way or not at all, and I don’t like being dictated to like that, and if market share is anything to go by, neither to the majority of consumers.
rudolphe
The Apple guys post seemed more like an Android bashing extravaganza, a lot of his points has nothing to do with screen size.
I own iOS and Android devices so I don’t really care either way, but at least the Android guy kept on topic.

About the author

John Brownlee is news editor here at Cult of Android, as well as our sister site, Cult of Mac. He has written about a lot of things for a lot of different places, including Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, Gizmodo, Kotaku, Lifehacker, AMC, Geek and the Consumerist. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his charming inamorata and two tiny budgerigars punningly christened after Nabokov's most famous perverts. You can follow him here on Twitter.

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Posted in Android, Featured stories, Opinions, Top stories | Tagged: Apple, battery life, display size, displays, friday night fights, Galaxy Nexus, iPhone, iPhone 4S, Samsung |