Flashback: a decade of mini phones

17 July 2022
We track how Mini has become less and less accurate over the years.  

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 3SI
  • 17 Jul 2022

Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Not much difference between iphone Se and Xz1 compact http... moreI was rather talking about the 2022 SE

    • b
    • blue
    • 0CN
    • 17 Jul 2022

    Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Best seliing smartphone ever Nokia 5230 were at same period... moreFor many people the 5230 and similar phones were the last experience with Nokia for ever. I have never seen a worst phone to use. It looked quite good, had a free offline navigation, but the rest was just... poor. Nokia totally missed the beginning of touch era and it cost them everything.

      • b
      • blue
      • 0CN
      • 17 Jul 2022

      Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Depend with your definition of Compact phone, 10 IV is as n... moreNarrow but long, even longer than normal phones. Not a compact definitely. Any controls in the upper part are truly difficult to reach.
      And looking inside... the phone is a disaster. Eternal oblivion for that thing.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • rJX
        • 17 Jul 2022

        Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Nokia would be fine even if they didnt join Android. Symbia... moreThey robbed us all of a great OS

          • M
          • Mircea
          • 39y
          • 17 Jul 2022

          I like the Motorola RAZR 5G and I consider it a small smartphone.

            • b
            • blue
            • 0CN
            • 17 Jul 2022

            mizar, 17 Jul 2022I have the xiaomi 12X and the size is awesome. Especially i... moreAwesome? In terms of compact phones it is still too large, mainly too long.

              If Apple cuts the price of iPhone 13mini by $100, I'll happily buy it knowing its compromise like 60Hz display.

                Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Nokia would be fine even if they didnt join Android. Symbia... moreMeego would have been big. But then again. They tried Ubuntu phone.

                  I never owned any Xperia Compact phone but I believe the first generation iPhone SE is still the greatest compact smartphone ever made. And I'm not the biggest iOS fan. The SE1 only ranks 5th among my all-time favorites but my #1 for all iPhones I've owned.

                  The 12 & 13 minis have better SoCs, battery life, displays, and cameras. But I don't care about any of that. I prefer the SE1's design, size, and Touch ID way more. I prefer headphone jack as well. It's just way easier to handle it. The 13 mini is 30g heavier than the SE1 and the stretched display makes it a little awkward to handle one-handed because it's a longer reach to each corner.

                  When the SE was first released in 2016, it actually had decent battery life. Better than the regular 6S since it only had to power a 4-inch display with lower resolution. But after iOS10, battery life got worse. Shame too. I really wouldn't mind using it as a daily driver during the summers. It's a good workout phone. I'm staring at mines right now and it's a gorgeous design in space gray.

                  I've actually considered getting an Xperia XZ1 Compact on eBay. They go for about $150. It's the Docomo models but they're unlocked. But why bother spending another $150 on a Snapdragon 835 when I still have my Essential PH-1 and I could get a Pixel 2 for $75 on OfferUp? An iPhone SE1 can be bought for $50 or less and it's up to iOS15 while XZ1C only got one official update up to only Android 9.

                  My All-Time Favorites
                  1. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (2021)
                  2. Motorola Razr 5G (2020)
                  3. Google Pixel 3 (2018)
                  4. Essential Phone (2017)
                  5. Apple iPhone SE (2016)
                  6. LG G5 (2016)
                  7. Xiaomi Mi 3 (2013)
                  8. Google Nexus 5 (2013)
                  9. BlackBerry Bold 9900 (2011)

                  Owned the iPhone 2G, 3G, 4, 4S, 5, 5S, Nexus One & 4, Note 3, HTC One M7 & M8, S7 edge, Pixel 1, and LG V20. Owned three different Windows Phone models. I own two of the best foldable flip phones currently in the market, the best Razr, Bold, Pixel, and iPhone ever made.

                  I got every phone I ever wanted. All the great smaller ones at least. Hence, why my interest in phones has waned and my only interest with them is making comments about them on this website or YouTube. Phones became boring. I'm back to gaming. Go, Steam Deck, go!

                    • D
                    • Dustoevski
                    • Cx8
                    • 17 Jul 2022

                    I don't understand how "smaller" phones are detrimental to apps. I have a Nintendo Switch Lite and at 5.5" this would be considered a small screen size by today's standards yet it's super comfortable to play on.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 8N3
                      • 17 Jul 2022

                      blue, 17 Jul 2022But in the end it was not a viable concept. Somehow people ... moreXZ1c (4,6") = 12,9 cm
                      Iphone 8 (4,7") = 13,8cm
                      Htc One mini (4,3") = 13,2cm
                      S5 Mini (4,5") = 13,1 cm

                      So much larger than other similar screen sizes.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • r3H
                        • 17 Jul 2022

                        I really miss a cheap and compact phone like Samsung galaxy A20e

                          Olympus Oms, 17 Jul 2022No Google, no android. And again, there's no room for ... moreNokia would be fine even if they didnt join Android. Symbian would be pushed to lowend, then Meego would have space in mid and Highend.

                          It was until kitkat when google had decent lowend and untill today we have kai os with Hundreds of million devices.

                          Mistake of Elop was to Force Nokia fans to buy only Wp devices.

                            EskeRahn, 17 Jul 2022The problem with the one hand mode currently offered on pha... moreSomething like sailfish ui, just hold anywhere and swipe down to get app menu or notification area, no need for finger to reach upper Area.

                              EskeRahn, 17 Jul 2022Erhm, I never said Google were to blame... As I see the his... moreNo Google, no android. And again, there's no room for a third os. And Google would have been bigger, if Nokia joined from day 1. Everybody knew that the no to Android, was the death of Nokia. Because Apple and Google were and are still the only real os on the market. Google would have been bigger with Nokia. Never smaller, because there were no room for Nokia/windows os. Blackberry os could have been a threat though, because of their stability and security. But they gave up ages ago. They were the very first with real multitasking though.

                                EskeRahn, 17 Jul 2022Erhm, I never said Google were to blame... As I see the his... moreBest seliing smartphone ever Nokia 5230 were at same period, sold 150m units.

                                  Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Depend with your definition of Compact phone, 10 IV is as n... moreThe problem with the one hand mode currently offered on phablets is that is basically just shrinks the display, defeating the whole purpose of a larger display.

                                  But indeed it is better than nothing - but the whole UI needs an overhaul, to find a better way...

                                    blue, 17 Jul 2022Xperia 10's however certainly are not compact phones, ... moreDepend with your definition of Compact phone, 10 IV is as narrow as New iphone Se, in one hand mode they will feel same, you just need to tweak ui and you get same experience.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • rKX
                                      • 17 Jul 2022

                                      Hemedans, 17 Jul 2022Xz1 compact really good battery life even for today standar... moreXZ1-C was one of the best phones Sony ever made 💯

                                        Olympus Oms, 17 Jul 2022Google was only focused on Apple and the competition there.... moreErhm, I never said Google were to blame... As I see the history the gap was left open for Google's Android by Nokia, as they (in the clear view of hindsight) was to slow in going for touch.

                                        Have a look at what Nokia launched in 2008-2010:
                                        https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2008&nYearMax=2010&sMakers=1
                                        ...keys all over, until the N8, launched in October 2010, that is well after the fruit company launched their #4

                                        (yes they had a few lower end that was touch only)

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