Ideal smartphone screen size is 4 - 4.5 inches, study shows

15 March, 2012
A recent study confirms that the most popular screen diagonal comes in at just above the 4-inch mark.

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  • J
  • Jeff
  • wgm
  • 16 Mar 2012

I think the Galaxy Note smartfone is the optimal size of just over 5 inches for pocket mobility and convenience yet with big screen real estate and a pen for fine work. A excellent business and academic tool.

    • M
    • Memo
    • dMB
    • 16 Mar 2012

    I Prefer 4.3 To 4.7 Only

      • D
      • AnonD-34870
      • PB5
      • 16 Mar 2012

      Here we go again..goin' back to the brick-sized-bulky-phone-that-won't-fit-to-your-pocket. Phones are made for calling, or sending messages-perfect for 5 fingers. If more than 5 fingers, it's a tablet or computer--perfect for watching videos and browsing the internet.

        • P
        • PLKL88
        • PU%
        • 16 Mar 2012

        The one most important is The ease to hold with one hand ...N not slipping out of our hand while holding or textine or viewing it.

          • s
          • syafik
          • tu2
          • 16 Mar 2012

          4 inch is ideal for me bcoz its easy for my thumb to reach any part of the screen when I'm holding it with one hand..

            • c
            • chhaynum
            • PUs
            • 16 Mar 2012

            I have 3 phones . iPhone 4s (3.5") Samsung galaxy tab 7.7 " and Nokia N95 8G (2.8") .
            I think iPhone 4s(3.5") to touch screen but small . galaxy 7.7" is small screen for pad but it big phone . Nokia n95 (2.8") is good for type or nun touch phone . I think 4.3 - 4.7 is good screen for touch screen phone . I plan buy Samsung new smart phone like GS2 HD LTE Galaxy nexus 4.7 or htc one x , xl, or Sony Xperia S . .......

              • D
              • AnonD-6860
              • t@J
              • 16 Mar 2012

              my personal experience is ....

              I have used my frnds samsung galaxy SL i9003 which has 4'' screen .... I felt its kinda big for my hands ... I have bigger hands then also i felt that my fingers r not getting da top edges of the screen .... I felt uncomfortable while using the phone .... For me i think 3.7 inch would be perfect.

                • T
                • TruthSeekr
                • tRn
                • 16 Mar 2012

                AnonD-13148, 16 Mar 2012Yea I agree. 4" should be the minimum smartphone scree... moreA couple of years ago, you would have said 3" is good enough for anyone.

                In fact, even GSMarena did - just check out some of their reviews from 2009 and you'll see they talk about *generous 3" screens*

                The madness has to stop somewhere...

                  • D
                  • AnonD-19534
                  • s8h
                  • 16 Mar 2012

                  I own a Samsung Galaxy S2 just whats perfect.The 4.3" screen I think is the limit for Phones...Although anything from 3.5" - 4.5" would do fine, and anything above this is not a good idea.It would cross the limit of user friendliness.Using the phone with one hand would than be a task...

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • tA$
                    • 16 Mar 2012

                    4" WVGA or 4.3" FWVGA/qHD is the best.

                      • s
                      • steveee
                      • qF4
                      • 16 Mar 2012

                      3.5 to 3.8 is sufficient for me. I have the iphone and its awesome

                        • D
                        • AnonD-13148
                        • PBC
                        • 16 Mar 2012

                        Yea I agree. 4" should be the minimum smartphone screen size. Smaller than that is not practical for being a smartphone. Smartphone should be literally smart, smart in the sense that you'll be comfortable and has a lot of space for the tools like on board keyboard.

                        Let me say you one more thing; once you use 4" or bigger, there's no turning back.

                          • h
                          • hugo chong
                          • TSM
                          • 16 Mar 2012

                          yes i agreed & using 4 inch smartphone, feel nice to me.
                          Some people talk about a 3.5 inch iphone can do anything within 1 hands. But obviously not, try 1 hand holding d iphone & doing pinch to zoom at the same time. What i mean is using 1 hand only. It not stable right.
                          1 hand or 2 hand using smartphone is depend on what u trying to do. Screen size doesn't effect 1 hand or 2 hand using.
                          Btw i really don't like iphone only have 1 type of screen size. It give user no choice. We the user, should have the choice to select which we like.

                            • K
                            • Krish
                            • LhT
                            • 16 Mar 2012

                            In terms of handling I guess a mobile with 3.7 inch display in the hands of someone whose height 5 feet is as good as a mobile with 4.7 inch display with a 6 footer.

                              • l
                              • lv
                              • U@%
                              • 16 Mar 2012

                              I have galaxy s plus.and wish to have bigger screen next time.may be 4.3

                                • A
                                • AdamBoy64
                                • Fv4
                                • 16 Mar 2012

                                My previous smartphone had a 4" screen. To me, that was OK, but for using it for web browsing it quickly became a strain on the eyes.
                                So a 4" screen would be the minimum for me... devices like 4.3 or 4.7" is where it's at.

                                I think the Galaxy Note has a fantastic sized screen with a great pixel density.

                                However, screen size is a lot more important to me than DPI.

                                  • H
                                  • HarshRalf
                                  • IVJ
                                  • 16 Mar 2012

                                  i have small hands and i couldn't grip more than 4.1 inch display phone nicely i think..
                                  but still after using it i still find the screen kinda small and i felt sorry for iphone users..
                                  if they had larger screen i would've go for it but it's just too pricy with such a small display

                                    • D
                                    • David Peru
                                    • L8B
                                    • 16 Mar 2012

                                    I like my iPhone screen size althoug it can be small some times, but it is pocketable and large enough to do anything, If I would have to shoose for a larger screen it would be 4" and no larger because larger screens make the phone look like a tablet, and that is not the idea. On the other hand, huge screens like 4.5" are not sexy at all.

                                      • V
                                      • Verbal_Criminal
                                      • 9La
                                      • 16 Mar 2012

                                      Nicolas, 16 Mar 2012I dont care much for the screen size itself, as long as the... more
                                      Screen size matters on WEB Browsing and watching videos.

                                      For example... you have two phones w/ different specs but same processing speed. one phone has a larger screen than the other.

                                      now...the question. where would you prefer to watch that movie your dying to see..or that funny video in youtube or read that news?

                                      On the phone w/ a smaller screen or a larger screen?

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • wY8
                                        • 16 Mar 2012

                                        are you reading this apple?!! LOL