I sadly feel this way too. I don't think any Android OEM can engineer a phone as meticulously as Apple. For it's size, thinness, and weight, the 5 offers best-in-class performance, camera, and battery life. It seems Android manufacturers can only compete by making big phones.
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Samsung, Google to scale back giant screen sizes on new Android phones
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I sadly feel this way too. I don't think any Android OEM can engineer a phone as meticulously as Apple. For it's size, thinness, and weight, the 5 offers best-in-class performance, camera, and battery life. It seems Android manufacturers can only compete by making big phones.
Not just big, normal size phones as well.
Apple has the tiny phone without many features market down, android has the normal and big phones
Sorry, didn't realize this about A.I. It popped up in my news feed and thought it might be of interest to some on MacRumors. Thanks for the heads up.
I like to state that there is absolutely nothing wrong with 5" smartphones (before the Fandroids start screaming bloody murder). I personally don't want a phone that big. If Android could offer a phone that is roughly the iPhone 5 size (WxLxD) and build quality and made of glass/metal (no plastic) with the same class of performance, battery life, camera, etc. I would be very tempted to switch. Forget 1080P screen, 720P is good enough for me (iPhone 5 is still 640P). But that is just my personal opinion.
Cameras include lenses. You can't use a camera without the lenses. So first off, your statement is plain incorrect. Second, lenses are VERY important in photography. In the DSLR world (which you are obviously ignorant too), lenses can cost more than the body (analogous to sensor). Not to mention there's better processing, software, algorithms, etc. in the 5. Having a sensor with more megapixels isn't the only way (actually it's not a way at all) to increase picture quality.
iPhone 5 camera takes better photos than 4S. That is fact, proven and verified by many independent sites which have their own method of testing. Pictures can't look identical, iPhone 5's screen has 44% more color saturation than before. So even the same photo taken on the 4S displayed on 4S and 5 will look different. So your entire argument, full of holes.
Look at the specs, it's quite terrible for a 4.3" phone with a BIGGER screen than iPhone 5. iPhone 5 is smaller, offers better EVERYTHING (from battery life to CPU/GPU, etc.). The Facebook Home phone is a big downgrade. No thanks. Plus I have to go in and disable Facebook Home, which is kind of the whole point with that device.
Why not try to refute my point without name calling?
I've probably owned more Android/iOS devices than you. Not to mention, Apple devices. Hardly a fandroid.
Weak argument. Classless. Typical iOS supporter.
I hope so, it's been way over half a year since Apple put anything out... Plus, that bolded statement is 100% incorrect. Starting from the sensor itself, it's been shrunk in the z-axis (read: thickness/depth) while maintaing the SAME pixel size as before. This is incredible in itself. Then we throw in a new ISP, noise reduction, filters, low-light performance and of course faster capture. You can read a non-biased article about this (AnandTech): http://www.anandtech.com/show/6330/the-iphone-5-review/16
TLDR: You're absolutely wrong.
Let's not forget iPhone 5 is 18% thinner, 20% lighter and 12% less overall volume than 4S. Thickness is not the only figure that counts. The S4 is only 3g (roughly 2-3 paper clips) lighter (134g vs 130g) than S3. It's only about 0.8mm x 0.7mm smaller in volume (which is not even 1% of overall volume). And 8.2% thinner. Comparing S3 to iPhone 5 (S4 JUST came out so it's unfair to compare that with 5), iPhone 5 had better performance in almost EVERY single category/test done by AnandTech. It had better battery life too. All of this in a phone that is smaller than 4S in volume, thinness, lightness. And the 4S is significantly smaller than S3/S4. No comparison at all.
My source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6324/the-iphone-5-performance-preview
TLDR: Samsung's still doesn't have a phone that is iPhone 5-sized that can even match iPhone 5's performance. S3 was BIGGER in every dimension than iPhone 5, yet offered significantly and noticeably poorer performance.
Of course they don't. The rest of the industry has moved on from tiny, toy-sized 3.5-4 inch phones into the modern era. It's not their fault that iPhone users are stuck in the past.
Spitting back specs off Apple website on how thin and light your beloved iPhone5 is, is pretty lame. We get it, it's a good phone. No one said it wasn't. Your argument will be completely invalid in the fall when the 5S comes out and it looks identical to the 5.
Really? You do realize the majority of Android devices sold in the world is not 5" or anywhere close to that size?
It's really not my fault you think that high-end models account for the majority of Android devices sold.
No crap, my arguments were comparing 5 and 4S. Of course when some new comes along, that argument may no longer apply to the new devices. If you have to resort to this kind of rebuttals, you clearly have lost.
I love watching fanboys fight about their precious phones! 
The iPhone might be built well, but the OS is as stale as moldy bread.
I like Macs because not only to they look great but the OS is great. But for mobile iOS leaves a lot to be desired. I know iPhone lovers will lynch me or something but I think its true.
Apple's been building up WWDC a lot. I hope iOS won't be another "is that all" thing. I want to see actual change. Making a phone longer doesn't count.
That and a new Mac Pro!
The iPhone might be built well, but the OS is as stale as moldy bread.
I like Macs because not only to they look great but the OS is great. But for mobile iOS leaves a lot to be desired. I know iPhone lovers will lynch me or something but I think its true.
Apple's been building up WWDC a lot. I hope iOS won't be another "is that all" thing. I want to see actual change. Making a phone longer doesn't count.
That and a new Mac Pro!
God yes! It's a bad testament to a tech company whose "pro" system was last updated in 2010. My 12-Core Pro5,1 is still "current", and it's using hardware that is long in the tooth. The only Mac without Thunderbolt? C'mon Apple.
All this mobile commentary made me think of the (played out yet still amusing) Nokia Lumia commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19vR1GldRI
"You wanna go?!"
I love watching fanboys fight about their precious phones!
The iPhone might be built well, but the OS is as stale as moldy bread.
I like Macs because not only to they look great but the OS is great. But for mobile iOS leaves a lot to be desired. I know iPhone lovers will lynch me or something but I think its true.
Apple's been building up WWDC a lot. I hope iOS won't be another "is that all" thing. I want to see actual change. Making a phone longer doesn't count.
That and a new Mac Pro!
It's everybody opinion. But what isn't opinion is stuff like "oh the camera is the same". Because it's not. It's like if I said S4? The only thing changed is the number at the end. Because however much I do not like Samsung's phones for whatever reasons that are my personal opinion, I would never make an ignorant and stupid comment like that. It's simply not true. What irks me is that people are blatantly ignorant. On both sides of the debate.
The S4 is really an incredible gadget. Such lightweight, yet packed with the state of the art hardware. It is easy to do one handed operation as well.
I get amused by the comments when people say that the phone is "too big". I have no problem carrying my friends Nexus 7 in my pockets. Phablets are the future because starting from browsing to gaming and productivity, a larger screen enhances your enjoyment in every activity. And S4 is a perfect example of a modern phablet - superlight, one handed operating possibility and brilliant screen ( Although personally i prefer HTC and Sony displays due to better color reproduction).
Its not possible to revert to a 4inch screen once u have used a 5inch phone.
I get amused by the comments when people say that the phone is "too big". I have no problem carrying my friends Nexus 7 in my pockets. Phablets are the future because starting from browsing to gaming and productivity, a larger screen enhances your enjoyment in every activity. And S4 is a perfect example of a modern phablet - superlight, one handed operating possibility and brilliant screen ( Although personally i prefer HTC and Sony displays due to better color reproduction).
Its not possible to revert to a 4inch screen once u have used a 5inch phone.
Firstly, I went from a 4.5" Galaxy SII (Epic 4G Touch Sprint) down to a 3.5" iPhone 4S and I felt no loss at all.
However, generally, I think you are right. I can see a future where a bigger phablet like device is mated to a wearable device.
As smart phones get smarter and more capable, for the sake of interaction and functionality we will need a larger screen, but not always want to be holding a larger device. That's where the "wearable" comes in for calls, messages, music etc etc.
Hopefully you have learned by now that this is dark corner of MacRumors. You're never allowed to say anything good about iPhones/iPads and you're never allowed to say anything bad about Androids. The second you violate either one of those unwritten rules here, someone will inevitably jump all over you.
But for the most part, I agree with most of what you have said in this thread so far. Personally I have grown tired of arguing with people on this section of MacRumors. You can't have a debate with someone who won't listen to logic. So now I just wait for someone else to do it and then watch everyone jump on them
Sorry for the rant. But hopefully you too have noticed that expressing an opinion that is even remotely anti-Android or pro-Apple will attract people like crazy. Just a friendly heads-up
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God yes! It's a bad testament to a tech company whose "pro" system was last updated in 2010. My 12-Core Pro5,1 is still "current", and it's using hardware that is long in the tooth. The only Mac without Thunderbolt? C'mon Apple.
All this mobile commentary made me think of the (played out yet still amusing) Nokia Lumia commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19vR1GldRI
"You wanna go?!"
Off topic I know, but I sold my 12-core Mac Pro earlier this year and built my own workstation. Best decision I ever made. Now I finally have full control of my hardware. Plus when in my pro applications, it feels no different.
Screens have got far too big IMHO, but as others have said it would be nice it people had the option. I know it raises production costs but have a device in 4 and 5 inch option would suit everybody. I don't want a 5 inch screen on a phone but many do. I'm not arrogant like some where I say my choice is the only choice, because everyone has a different preference. Still its nice to see the race to make the biggest smartphone is being curbed somewhat.
That was because
1. It was garbage, they ruined it by gimping the specs. It wasn't really an s3
2. No one carried it. I have NEVER seen one in the wild!
I've seen a few of those here actually.
I played a few games on my relatives' S3 Mini, it ran them fine.
Where are you?
And what carrier had them?
There's no good reason that specs weren't the same though, don't call it an s3 mini if it isn't the same
It isn't a proven fact that the iPhone 5 takes better photos than the 4S, and again you come off as rude and condescending, call me ignorant? Having a lens made of a different material isn't going to drastically change the image quality, but you go off and make assumptions, I used to have a D300 and know about lenses, I did photography as part of my college course too. You seem to have bought into the marketing blurb because you keep quoting it as though fact. Yes on paper it should do way better than the 4S in every regard, but most of the time it produces identical or slightly different colored shots, the front facing camera is leagues above the 4S admittedly, but I'm taking about the rear camera. And of course they look better on the iPhone 5 screen, but I upload mine to the internet, take the iPhone screen out of the equation and they look the same. I'm trying to have a reasonable exchange with you but that's twice you've gone off on your high horse and made childish assumptions about me with no evidence. My argument is full of holes? You tried to justify saying the iPhone 5 has a better camera because the photos look better because of the more vibrant screen?
I'm not the only one to notice it.
iPhone 5 vs 4S
Earlier on you said "No android device can claim to have gotten smaller and faster" like the iPhone 5, and then you admit the GS4'S volume is less "barely". But it is still less.
It was a dig at your "you sound like an Apple commercial" comment you previously made.
Speaking of weak arguments, let's see proof that the S4's camera is "leaps and bounds" better. Because that sounds like hyperbole if you ask me.
And I noticed your detailed and proud signature, which totally makes you legit and assures us your opinions are unbiased.
If you don't believe me, id love to see some counter evidence.
I actually OWN both devices and the S4's is in a different league. It shoots faster, produced sharper pictures, color reproduction is superior, low light is better, and with Samsung's software (eraser mode, dual camera, action shot, etc), its not even up for debate. Apple is stuck in the past with a lame panorama and HDR modes.
If it pains you to admit that Apple is inferior, then so be it. There's plenty of us who have realized that Apple isn't the company it once was.
How does that work? I saw that and was impressed. Does it base it off a series a images before the picture (ie does it take a small video snippet while taking pictures and use one of the frames to "erase" the unwanted portion or use masking a la Photoshop)?
Not wanting to get into a debate, my 2 cents, people like and use different devices for different reasons. I can admit the limitations of the iPhone and agree on some points and I can admit I am impressed with some features on other handsets. However I don't believe any one is inferior to the other. Samsung has nifty features and the iPhone has a solid and well designed device. Pros and cons, whatever works for you may not work for someone else and vice versa.
Now, can we hug it out?