It may be hard to believe, but at one time a 3.5-inch display like the one found on the iPhone 4S was considered to be large. Now displays ranging around 4.0-4.5 inches in size have become the norm (save for the iPhone, of course), and a new report from Strategy Analytics suggests that that's exactly what consumers want. After surveying many existing smartphone owners, Strategy Analytics reports that nearly 90 percent selected a device with a display larger than the one found on their current handset. The report says that the 4.0 to 4.5-inch range is the "sweet spot" for a handset display, although consumers also want their large-screened phone to feature a thin body.
The Strategy Analytics report also noted a couple of other interesting tidbits when it comes to smartphone screen size, like the fact that the females that took part in the survey opted for smaller devices than the males. Additionally, the firm says that Android users are more likely to purchase a larger handset than owners of the iPhone.
As mentioned before, we've seen a number of handsets released lately with screens that measure 4.3 and 4.5 inches in size, so it makes sense that consumers are opting for (and getting used to) these larger devices to help make their multimedia consumption a better experience. We've seen some phones introduced lately that push way past the 4.0 to 4.5-inch "sweet spot," most notably the 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note, so it'll be interesting to see if those products do well enough to convince manufacturers to keep producing phones with gigantic displays. What size is the screen on your current handset? Would you like your next phone to be larger?
Smartphone Owners Demand Larger Displays
4.0-inch to 4.5-inch Displays Hit the Sweet Spot
Boston, MA - March 13, 2012 – Existing smartphone owners in the US and UK seek larger mobile phone displays, compared to displays on their current phone. The Strategy Analytics Wireless Device Lab report, “Smartphone Owners Want Thin Devices with Larger Displays,” found that surveyed smartphone respondents prefer device screens in the 4.0-inch to 4.5-inch range, as long as the device is also thin.
Some differences in size preference exist dependent on the segment. Females are more likely to consider slightly smaller devices than males. Existing Android owners are more likely to seek larger devices than existing Apple iPhone owners.
“Almost 90 percent of existing smartphone owners surveyed chose a prototype smartphone with a display larger than their current device,” commented Paul Brown, a Director in the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice. “This trend is driven by increased mobile web browsing capability, as well as engaging video and gaming experiences.”
Kevin Nolan, Vice-President for the User Experience Practice at Strategy Analytics, added, “In order for smartphone owners to adopt larger devices, it is important for handset manufacturers to ensure that mobile devices are not too heavy and that the devices remain thin enough for purses and pockets.”
