Discover why phones are not bigger than 7 inches, exploring the balance between portability, usability, and consumer preferences in smartphone design.
Problem: The Struggle Between Size and Usability
Smartphones have been in our lives for almost the last decade but have become necessity to us now as we use them as our communication devices, entertainment hubs, and even productivity machines. Soon, the obsession with bigger screens led to defying boundaries as manufacturers tested and tried bigger-screen phones. However, if larger displays are an improvement, why don’t most phones exceed 7-inches?
While this question may seem irrelevant at first, however it simply showcases the intricacies between design and usability, and that of consumer preferences. There are several challenges of having a bigger size and therefore, we will take a look at how big the screen can be and why manufacturers have stopped making screens that cross 7 inches.
Agitation: The Need for a Perfect Balance
The larger screen is best for watching videos, easier multitasking, and a good gaming experience. However, as screens get bigger, the convenience and practicality of smartphones become less. Carrying a device larger than 7 inches in your pocket becomes difficult. Using a larger phone with one hand is also difficult to hold, and the added weight makes it less portable.
Moreover, smartphones more than 7 inches can be considered as a tablet, creating confusion about whether the device is still a phone or has become something else entirely. Consumers and manufacturers face these dilemmas, prompting the industry to cap smartphone sizes at around 7 inches.
Solution: Exploring the Reasons Behind the Limit
Let’s explain some more points about why phones don’t exceed the 7 inches in size. We’ll explore the evolution of smartphone sizes, practical and technological limitations, consumer preferences, and future trends.
Evolution of Smartphone Sizes
When the first iPhone was launched in 2007, its screen measured just 3.5 inches. Back then, compact phones were larger and considered impractical. However, as technology became more advanced and people started using their phones for more than just calls and texts, demand for larger screens grew.
After 2014, 5 inches became the standard size of smartphones, with models like the Samsung Galaxy Note series pushing the limits of size. Today, most flagship smartphones range between 6 and 6.8 inches, with only a few touching the 7-inch threshold.
The 7-inch size is significant because it represents the border between smartphones and tablets. A device larger than 7 inches is typically classified as a tablet, which caters to different use cases and audiences.
Practical Limitations
1. Portability
Portability is one of the main characteristics of smartphones. Anything larger than 7 inches is either cumbersome to put in your pocket or too big for a small handbag. The unfolded Galaxy Z Fold 5, for example, sports a 7.6-inch display. Yet, to solve the portability problems in this technology, it folds into a very compact, smaller form factor.
2. Ergonomics
Smartphones and tablets are optimized for one-handed use, but the larger a device becomes the less possible this is. In a study by LG, they claim that 87% of smartphone users consider whether or not a phone is usable with one hand. With the larger devices, you’re either having to use both hands for it, which sucks when you have a task like typing or browsing on it.
3. Weight
With bigger screens come more weight and heavier devices. For comparison, a typical 6.5-inch phone weighs about 200 grams, and something as big as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (8.7 inches) tips the scales at over 360 grams. This extra weight creates issues for prolonged use, especially when gaming or watching videos.
Technological Factors
1. Battery Life
Bigger displays take more power, needing bigger batteries to still perform well. However, if a mobile phone is used with a larger battery, it gets thick and heavy. The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 has a huge 6.9-inch display and a huge 5,500mAh battery but comes at the cost of weight and thickness compared to regular smartphones.
2. Heat Dissipation
Smartphones have powerful processors embedded inside them, and when they are in use, heat is generated. The larger the device, however, the more complicated heat management becomes — particularly if the goal is a thin form factor. Too much heat can lead to throttled performance, and even damage the device in the long term.
3. Manufacturing Challenges
The extra cost and complexity of making big displays that are cheap and tough is nontrivial. As phones get bigger, the price of materials and manufacturing raises for each extra inch in size, so really large phones become pretty economically prohibitive. Also, larger screens are prone to damage which raises the repair cost for consumers.
Consumer Preferences
Although larger screens are enticing, it’s consumer preferences that are the real bottleneck on phone sizes. Polling has found again and again that users would rather have devices that balance between screen size and portability. As per a report by Statista, the preference for phones with screen sizes between 6 and 6.5 inches remains dominant among global smartphone users at 72 percent.
Fashion and Trends
Modern lifestyles favor compact, lightweight phones — which is why some will never go away. People crave a device that can seamlessly integrate with their daily lifestyle, in terms of slipping into a pocket or being used whilst on the go.
Regional Differences
There are regional variations in consumer preferences as well. Even in the big phone markets of the US and Europe, demand tops out at approximately 6.7 inches. In the Asian market, massive phones beyond 6.5 inches might be too large already depending on the pocket.
Market Segmentation
Another reason for the 7-inch cutoff is the line between smartphones and tablets. Manufacturers are carefully designing their products to remain within certain categories — so you never see a product that crosses the phone versus tablet dividing line.
Foldable Phones: A Unique Solution
Foldables, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Huawei Mate X, help cater to larger screen requirements while providing an element of portability. These foldables provide more screen real estate than a traditional smartphone while still remaining below the 7-inch threshold when folded, which has made them an attractive option for consumers to take advantage of both worlds.
Future Prospects
At the same time, the 7-inch threshold is hardly a fast rule as technology moves forward. New types of displays, such as foldable and rollable displays, are redefining the design possibilities of smartphones. For example, this rollable concept phone from LG can go from 6.8 inches up and over 7 inches while still being pocket-sized!
Improvements in lightweight materials and battery tech could render larger phones more viable. That being said, consumer habits and preferences will always play the biggest part in how smartphone hardware evolves.
My Opinion
As a phone user, I also preferred phones less than 7 inches. Because it is easy to use and pocket-friendly. If the phone screen is bigger, then it needs a big battery. This makes the phone heavy and difficult to carry. I always use lighter-weight and slim phones. I think a 6.8-inch screen is enough for watching videos, playing games, and performing other tasks as well.