- Will smartphones be too big to use?
- The average length of a female’s hand is 6.8-inches and men have an average hand length of 7.6-inches, according to a study by NASA.
- Current iPhone 12 Pro Max is almost double the size at 6.7-inches when compared to first 3.5-inch iPhone in 2007.
- With foldable displays, bigger screen sizes could become a reality, industry experts say.
Dubai: The size of smartphone screens has been increasing over the last decade while the average hand size has remained the same.
With the current growth in smartphone displays, up to what size the displays can go. Any guess…
Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, one of the most important figures in the technology industry, was not fond of large smartphones and didn’t believe in their success.
When Samsung launched its 4-inch Galaxy S and HTC launched Evo 4G in the first half of 2010 and started luring customers, Jobs said that smartphones should be able to be operated with one hand and for that, 3.5-inch is the standard size and that is why iPhone 4 was still sporting a 3.5-inch screen, just like the original iPhone from 2007.
Samsung introduced the phablet concept with its 5.3-inch Note 1 in 2011 and others followed.
Now, Apple without Steve Jobs and led by Tim Cook, Apple launched its first 4-inch iPhone 4 in 2012 and the screen size have been going bigger every year.
The current iPhone 12 Pro Max is almost double the size at 6.7-inches when compared to the first 3.5-inch iPhone in 2007.
In total, that equates to a 91 per cent increase and an average growth of five per cent year-on-year while Samsung and Google phones have grown seven per cent year-on-year.
Samsung’s Note 20 ultra’s had 6.9-inch and Google Pixel 4A 5G’s had 6.2-inch.
If Apple continues to grow at its current rate, the iPhone will be bigger than an Apple Mac keyboard by 2040, with a display size of 17.5-inches it will also be taller than a bottle of water.
While the predicted size of the iPhone may seem extreme, there are many features Apple could introduce to make it practical for users while taking advantage of the opportunities such a big screen would create.
Liam Williams, Director of phone accessory company Wrappz, said that tech giants are constantly innovating and evolving their devices so it has been fascinating to compare the development of the iPhone to its competitors.
Keeping up with the technology
“While a large display size offers a great user experience, it is clear to see a compromise will need to be had in the coming years to ensure smartphones remain practical. As research continues into the development of cutting-edge technology, Apple will be keen to stay one step ahead of its competitors by implementing the latest technological advancements in the next two decades,” he said.
Nathan Moore, co-founder of mobile entertainment company Live Tech Games, believes that the continued evolution of smartphones will be particularly welcome in the gaming industry.
“Working in the gaming industry, we know how much of an impact it can make on user experience if the graphics and audiovisual content are of the highest quality. A holographic display feature would create a gaming experience as close to real-life as possible, without stepping into the world of virtual reality,” he said.
Moreover, he said that these predicted features are not only viable but the growth they offer for user experience would drive the direction of the industry.
According to Wrappz, the iPhone will have outgrown men who have an average hand length of 7.6-inches and Apple smartphones could be larger in size than a MacBook by 2040.
According to a study by NASA, the average length of a female’s hand is 6.8-inches and men have an average hand length of 7.6-inches.
With foldable screens, it could become a reality
Foldable smartphones are just growing in popularity and haven’t hit the mainstream yet despite Samsung, Huawei and Motorola launching it.
Apple could be the next as it follows the trend and developing a foldable phone would enable the iPhone to continue growing in size while remaining practical for people to carry around in a pocket or bag.
An industry expert said that with foldable phones, displays can get bigger but it is difficult to say up to what screen size.
“Cameras are improving and vendors are adding five cameras at the back which you could not have imagined a decade ago. With the technology advancing, there are chances that the smartphone screen sizes could go bigger and with foldable displays, it is a possibility,” he said.