Finding that perfect device can be tricky. Choosing the right one, for the right time, is part of the equation. You look for a phone that fits a particular need when you're shopping for it. Maybe you've reached a point in your life where the camera makes the most sense, versus any other feature. Or, maybe you can't stand a phone that doesn't have a 1080p display. Want a phone with the best battery possible, even if it means it's a little heavier? These are all the questions that have to be answered while we're gearing up to buy our next phone.
In a lot of conversations I have with people about their next phone, one of the most common features I hear brought up is screen size. Despite everything else a phone might feature, the size of the display always seems to play a big role in the purchase decision. That works both positively and negatively.
Just last night I was talking with a friend of mine, and he told me that he liked what he saw with iOS 7. That, after so many years of seeing the same thing, this was a nice change. So, after he told me that, obviously I had to ask if he planned on getting an iPhone 5S when it launched later this year. You know, since he loved the new iOS so much.
He told me no, and blamed it on the screen size. He carries a Galaxy Note II as his daily driver right now, and tells me that it would be hard to go to any phone that had a smaller display, but that 4-inches is just way too small. (He liked the size of the HTC One, for what it's worth.)
So, despite the fact that he likes the look of iOS 7, and is excited that Apple has finally changed their mobile operating system at face value, he's going to skip it simply because the iPhone 5S's display will probably be too small.
Of course, he isn't the first person I've heard say that, and he certainly won't be the last.
I saw a graph earlier today showing the varying sizes of displays that Samsung offers. They range from anywhere around 3-inches all the way up to 10. Over the years, we've seen Samsung fill just about every screen size niche there is, and I'm sure if Samsung could figure out a way to get into even more spaces, they'd do it. For now, though, if you're looking for a device with a particular screen size, Samsung has you covered.
HTC is reportedly working for the same goal with their new One series. We already have the HTC One and it's 4.7-inch display. Rumors suggest they've got the T6 with a 5.3-inch display, and the One Mini with a 4.3-inch display. That's a nice, small family of devices.
Now, throw in tablets for good measure, and some companies have you covered in just about every way imaginable when it comes to mobile devices. Which got me thinking.
Are we at a point where we've just come to expect to have more than one device with us at any particular moment, to achieve a specific goal? Are you a person that carries around your phone and a tablet, for the specific purpose of not needing to browse the Internet on your phone? Or, for any other number of reasons why you might use a bigger display rather than a smaller, or even vice versa.
Whether you're at home or somewhere else, having a device that fits a particular need at any given moment has never been easier. And while there are some people out there who would say Samsung's saturation of the market is a bad thing, I can't help but wonder if Samsung is just trying its best to make it easier for those who want those specific devices to get them. And, of course, at the same time get as many chances at making money in the process.
So I want to hear from you. I want to know how many different screen sizes you use every day, and for what purpose. Do you switch from a phone to a tablet every day? Do you have devices that fill particular roles, in the house or while you're out? Or did you buy a particular handset because you didn't want to buy multiple devices? Let me know!