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awintersdaybyth

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 22, 2013
94
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As the title says really. I've seen people not happy with the perceived lack of current apple devices that can be used with one hand and was just curious as to what people mean when they're posting - for me, I can't really recall a iPhone since the OG se that I could easily navigate to the top bar in safari for example. Or am I getting completely the wrong end of the stick?!
 
As the title says really. I've seen people not happy with the perceived lack of current apple devices that can be used with one hand and was just curious as to what people mean when they're posting - for me, I can't really recall a iPhone since the OG se that I could easily navigate to the top bar in safari for example. Or am I getting completely the wrong end of the stick?!

The last time I can truly use phones one-handed quite easily was the iPhone 4S. With that said, I don't want to go back to such a small display.

For me, as long as I can reach the full width of the display and I'm not prone to dropping the phone when sliding it around trying to reach different parts of the display, then that's good enough. Also, I started getting constant pinky pain so I need to be able to support the phone without having the bottom resting on my pinky.

I know there's the reachability accessibility setting but I hate it. I always trigger it accidentally when I don't want to and can't use it when I need it.

Granted, I have small hands (~6 1/4" from base of palm to tip of middle finger). My brother has no problem using Plus/Pro Max iPhones and I think his hands are like 3/4-1" longer than mine.
 
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The last time I can truly use phones one-handed quite easily was the iPhone 4S. With that said, I don't want to go back to such a small display.

For me, as long as I can reach the full width of the display and I'm not prone to dropping the phone when sliding it around trying to reach different parts of the display, then that's good enough. Also, I started getting constant pinky pain so I need to be able to support the phone without having the bottom resting on my pinky.

I know there's the reachability accessibility setting but I hate it. I always trigger it accidentally when I don't want to and can't use it when I need it.

Granted, I have small hands (~6 1/4" from base of palm to tip of middle finger). My brother has no problem using Plus/Pro Max iPhones and I think his hands are like 3/4-1" longer than mine.
Thank you for the reply, from reading posts of yours on other threads I think we're fairly similar in having small hands and also hating rachabiltiy :)
 
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I'm a vocal member of the Mini Gang. For me, one-handibility means narrow, specifically so that I can reach the full width of the keyboard with my thumb. I'm right-handed, which means I need to be able to reach the Q key and the emoji button with my thumb. This is easy on an iPhone 13 Mini (5.4"), I could even do this on an iPhone X (5.8"), but I cannot do it on any 6.1" or 6.3" display.

Yes, I know about one-handed mode for the software keyboard. It's not very good. Moreover, it can only be initiated from the Emoji button - on the opposite side from my thumb. Make the thing that makes the keys reachable hard to reach - great job, iOS team!
 
I'm a vocal member of the Mini Gang. For me, one-handibility means narrow, specifically so that I can reach the full width of the keyboard with my thumb. I'm right-handed, which means I need to be able to reach the Q key and the emoji button with my thumb.
Cheers, I get you - just given it a try out of curiosity and I can reach the W but not quite the Q key (both on a iPhone 15pro and an air that I'm thinking about replacing it with)
 
If the phone form factor is too big for one hand, just use both.

It's why people are borne with two. Don't let one go to waste.
 
I'm a vocal member of the Mini Gang. For me, one-handibility means narrow, specifically so that I can reach the full width of the keyboard with my thumb. I'm right-handed, which means I need to be able to reach the Q key and the emoji button with my thumb. This is easy on an iPhone 13 Mini (5.4"), I could even do this on an iPhone X (5.8"), but I cannot do it on any 6.1" or 6.3" display.

I could do one-hand typing on the 4.7" iPhones but anything bigger requires two hands for me. I reckon it would be doable for me on a 5.8" display but only if they reduce the bezels so it's closer in width to iPhone SE2/3.
 
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I'm a vocal member of the Mini Gang. For me, one-handibility means narrow, specifically so that I can reach the full width of the keyboard with my thumb. I'm right-handed, which means I need to be able to reach the Q key and the emoji button with my thumb. This is easy on an iPhone 13 Mini (5.4"), I could even do this on an iPhone X (5.8"), but I cannot do it on any 6.1" or 6.3" display.

Yes, I know about one-handed mode for the software keyboard. It's not very good. Moreover, it can only be initiated from the Emoji button - on the opposite side from my thumb. Make the thing that makes the keys reachable hard to reach - great job, iOS team!
I am not a big person. Around 5’7’ and I can reach all the keys you mentioned with 1 hand. Although it is easier to type with both hands.
 
I am not a big person. Around 5’7’ and I can reach all the keys you mentioned with 1 hand. Although it is easier to type with both hands.

I'm short - 5'2" with short stubby fingers. My aunt is shorter than me but she actually has bigger hands and longer fingers than I do. I've given up on typing with just one hand on newer iPhones.
 
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