With the iPhone, we’ve gone from 3.5 inches to 4 inches, then 4.7 inches to 5.8 inches, and now the standard 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches of the iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus/ iPhone 14 Pro Max, respectively. I personally use an iPhone 14 Pro as my primary device, and although I’ve gotten used to the 6.1-inch size over the past few years, I still find it too big. In fact, the last perfectly sized iPhone XS was the iPhone XS with a 5.8-inch display…and I really wish Apple would bring it back.
5.8 inches was a perfect middle ground
In 2017, to celebrate 10 years of the iPhone, Apple released the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 8 devices would be the last iPhones with Touch ID, and the iPhone X set the precedent going forward without a Home button – instead going with Face ID for biometrics. While the iPhone 8 had a 4.7-inch screen and the Plus version had a 5.5-inch screen, the iPhone X went with 5.8 inches, and since it no longer had a Home button, that meant one more screen .
I’m one of those people who upgrade their phone every year, but in 2017 I had chosen the iPhone 8 because I didn’t like big phones and I didn’t want Touch ID. So, surprisingly, I didn’t get the iPhone X that year, but I did get the iPhone XS the following year — mostly because, well, I couldn’t get an iPhone with Touch ID anymore. But I learned to fall in love with the size of the iPhone XS.
I’ve already said it a few times, but I have very small hands. When I compare my hands to someone else’s, it’s always quite shocking how much smaller mine are compared to someone else’s. This means I can barely use most phones today with one hand. (It’s pretty much impossible for me to reach the top corners of the screen comfortably, and even with phone accessories like a PopSocket, I can barely manage to do it without some great finger gymnastics.)
It also doesn’t help that Apple makes the iPhone 14 Pro heavy with the materials used, namely the stainless steel frame. So even though the Samsung Galaxy S23 also has a 6.1-inch screen, I actually prefer it over my iPhone 14 Pro because of the lightweight aluminum frame, which makes it a little more comfortable for me to use on my own.
Still, I can’t help but remember the 5.8-inch size of my iPhone XS back then. For me, it was a perfect size for a modern phone that provided plenty of screen real estate while being comfortable to hold and even use with one hand. I don’t remember struggling to reach the top corners of the screen with my iPhone XS, but ever since the iPhone 11 Pro and later, it just became easier to use my device with both hands. Of course it’s not one huge problem, but when you’re trying to juggle multiple things or a toddler in your arms, one-handed use is a lost convenience and, in a sense, a luxury.
I really just want a mini Pro iPhone, Apple
You might be wondering – why didn’t I just get the mini iPhones when they were available. As much as I loved the idea of a super small and compact iPhone, the problem was the lack of Pro features. I always jump for the Pro models because I want the triple camera system, more storage and – in the case of the iPhone 14 Pro series – the faster A16 Bionic chip.
I personally wish Apple would make a smaller Pro model iPhone. It’s literally my dream phone to have the iPhone mini size of 5.4 inches but also a powerful triple lens camera system. I know the battery life would take a hit, but I dream of having the powerful capabilities of the iPhone Pro, but in a smaller, compact body.
But Apple stopped producing the iPhone mini, probably because the market for it wasn’t high enough (although I don’t think the iPhone 14 Plus is doing much better). Yes, I get it – most people don’t want a small phone these days, do they? It just seems like it’s a very vocal minority. And maybe it’s because 5.4 inches was just too small. But what about 5.8 inches? On paper, the difference between 5.8 inches and 6.1 inches is very insignificant, but in actual use, one is much more comfortable to use than the other.
Apple already has several size options with four different models right now. Just bring back the 5.8 inch offering – it was perfect! Will it actually happen for the iPhone 15? All signs point to “no”, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping and dreaming.
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