It's not so much that they're bigger, it's that they're longer.

16:9 is a good aspect ratio not because of anything to do with video, but because it's close to the golden ratio. Half the screen is proportional to the rotated full screen, and there's open space to use.

These days there are no more 16:9 phones on the market, and 18:9 is the shortest they get. Many are even 20:9 or even 22:9. What are you going to do with a phone that is 2.5 times as long as it is broad? Sure, a 7" phone that's 2.9x6.5" is less area than a 7" phone that's 3.7x5.7". But it's less practical too. You need a minimum width for a keyboard and other things, and beyond a certain point, more screen height is just not useful.

Longer phones are really only good for scrolling- that activity we do in-between actually engaging with content. The assumption that customers actually like scrolling, along with how it's easier to make a larger "screen size" (longer diagonal) by making the device longer, is a driving perverse incentive that makes the hardware worse- generally unpleasant to use. Not only does it not fit in a pocket, you have to choke up on the phone to reach the corners, you almost need to glance up and down to see the full screen.

Any longer and we'll have phones that look like NEOM.

While it may not help those of you trapped in the Apple ecosystem in such a way that you cannot escape, the Zenfone 10 is less than a millimeter wider than the iPhone SE and is the current model. The Zenfone 11 should come out in the next few months. Just don't get the Ultra as that is a very large phone. Asus has already confirmed that they have no intention of ceasing production of flagship small-footprint phones any time soon.

I have big hands. I miss my iPhone 7, that was the last phone I could hold and touch all parts of the screen.

We had to make phone screens bigger to fit all the fucking ads.

If my pixel breaks my plan is to replace it with a unihertz jelly phone, they seem sufficient

i recently got a pixel 7a and it doesnt even fit in the pockets of some of my womens clothing. we've gone way too far. i dont even know anyone who prefers these enormous bricks to the more moderately sized phones.

I yearn for a smaller phone too, but I'm Android only and not open to outdated phones + super low budget. :(

God has both blessed and cursed me with giant hands. I have no problem holding flagship phones! But I can barely use the keyboard even at real big size.

Smartphone was a mistake, retvrn to Nokia brick.

Am I just being a smartphone boomer? I

My phone is 6.7" and fits fine in my hand and my pockets fit it without issue with a case on. It's at the upper end of what I would be willing to use though. But I think there is a general lack of widespread smaller phones for those who prefer that and definitely have avoided phones for being too large.

Skill issue get hand extensions

Sony briefly had a Compact line. friend had a z3 compact and loved it. I can't imagine they're super usable these days though, at least not without some effort

also you may have better luck looking at what LTE bands a device supports vs official carrier compatibility lookups, if you arent already

edit: cubot pocket might work okay in some markets but it definitely will be spotty coverage wise

the last sony compact was the xz2 compact. 5" screen overall but only 2.6" wide so probably a lot nicer in the hand at least

Karls Darwin says we have evolution, so our hands will get bigger over time to hold the new phones

Get bigger hands?

Hot take: I have a Pixel 8 Pro and I love the large screen size.

This is my second Pro and I recently had a chance to go smaller, but got the Pro again. Sometimes it's hard to hold but I prefer the screen size and it makes me feel, at least, like I'm getting a pretty good view of a video when it's turned horizontally.

I think I'm stuck with my used pixel 5 because that's the last year where the smaller of two options is like <6"

it's funny the whole thing with the larger phone screen is watching movies or video but the increased discomfort and difficulty that came with the larger screen has me just not watching videos until i get to a desktop or TV

i used to watch movies on an ipod touch lmao

I’m gonna take a real simple guess that smaller phones = smaller profit margins

REAL

I remember when the portrait-lock people were getting arsey this time fifteen years ago, they said 'landscape is dumb! what are you, a slidephone user? I just use the eyephone with one hand!' and now they all look really stupid. One hand use is a meme. Retvrn to landscape. Make wpm.

Ew android.

Saving this post for when I need a new phone. (Probably in 2 years)