Apple resists tide of wider screens

Speculation about the next generation of iPhones coming in a wider spectrum of colors or in larger sizes is rife online, but it appears that the iPhone 6 will not abandon the legacy of late Steve Jobs to create phones that fit in the palm of the hand.

Jobs once said that the 3.5-inch touchscreen was the perfect size for consumers. This may be why the Cupertino-based firm has added just half an inch to its iPhones since Jobs passed away in 2011.

Sources close to Apple said whether it be the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6, Apple would likely stick to creating palm-sized phones, meaning all parts including the screen would remain small.

“Apple probably won’t be abandoning this policy any time soon,” said one mobile market analyst, wishing to remain anonymous.

This policy is in contrast to the growing trend for bigger and wider screens. 

Apple has reportedly been playing with the idea as well, if news that it’s been prototyping a phone with a bigger screen of up to 4.7 inches is true.

But even 4.7 inches may not be enough, according to some industry watchers, as consumers have now gotten used to large smartphones that offer a better display.

Multiple surveys also back up the lack of enthusiasm relatively small smartphones.

A survey being conducted by AndroidPIT, an online smartphone community, showed that as of Thursday 38 percent out of 757 consumers prefered a 5-inch display, 27 percent, 4.5 inches, and 19 percent, 5.5 inches.

Only 2 percent of the respondents favored a 3.5-inch smartphone display, the size claimed by Jobs to be the best for consumers a few years ago.

According to a report in May by research firm Strategy Analytics, the most popular screen size among smartphone users is now 4.5 inches, up from 4.3 inches in 2012.

“As consumer acceptance of smartphone sizes increases, many smartphone manufacturers are making larger and larger products,” commented Paul Brown, a director at the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice. 

Galaxy S4, the flagship model of the world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung Electronics, has a 5-inch display, and the firm is rolling out the 6.3-inch screen Galaxy Mega this month.

Samsung is scheduled to unveil the Galaxy Note 3 at IFA 2013, a trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, on Sept. 4 in Berlin. The phablet is expected to be equipped with a 5.68-inch screen. LG Electronics’ flagship G2, unveiled earlier this month, for touts a 5.2-inch screen.

Many are now wondering how the iconic American firm will be able to win over consumers without joining the competition for bigger screens and bigger handsets.

Apple, meanwhile, continues to argue that it’s rolling out the best products it can for the consumers.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)