There's no Android phone I want - they're too big

[Mildredop]

I currently have a Moto X (2nd gen) and it's ready for an upgrade. Money isn't an issue, but a good Android experience is important.

But it seems that in the world of Android at the moment, premium = big.

The Nexus 6P, Moto X Style, Galaxy S7 (which, to be fair, doesn't really have the good Android experience I want) etc. are all just far too big.

The Nexus 5X, Moto X Play etc. are a better size, but are plasticy, cheap and, from reading, don't have good specs.

For me, Android is in a bit of a rut whereby they're all chasing numbers (bigger screens, higher res etc.) but they're missing an entire market that want to good specs in a pocketable size.

I don't know what to do!!

 

[lowendlinux]

Don't buy a new phone??

 

[Tig Bitties]

The Galaxy S7 non Edge is a tiny phone. No point going smaller for a smartphone IMO.

This old postage stamp sized iPhone's if 3.5" and 4" were useless in my opinion. I could see if you want just a cellphone, yeah get a tiny one, but today smartphones are mini computers we're carrying around.

 

[MRU]

I currently have a Moto X (2nd gen) and it's ready for an upgrade. Money isn't an issue, but a good Android experience is important.

But it seems that in the world of Android at the moment, premium = big.

The Nexus 6P, Moto X Style, Galaxy S7 (which, to be fair, doesn't really have the good Android experience I want) etc. are all just far too big.

The Nexus 5X, Moto X Play etc. are a better size, but are plasticy, cheap and, from reading, don't have good specs.

For me, Android is in a bit of a rut whereby they're all chasing numbers (bigger screens, higher res etc.) but they're missing an entire market that want to good specs in a pocketable size.

I don't know what to do!!

Z5 Compact ....

 

[gotluck]

Regular galaxy s7 and Sony z5 compact are the two high end choices indeed

 

[alex2792]

Galaxy S7 is more compact than an iPhone 6, other than that the upcoming iPhone SE would be pretty much the only other high end choice. There are a ton of small screen budget Androids, but they're all pretty terrible.

 

[Zwhaler]

Galaxy S7 is more compact than an iPhone 6, other than that the upcoming iPhone SE would be pretty much the only other high end choice. There are a ton of small screen budget Androids, but they're all pretty terrible.

The S7 is slightly larger than the iPhone 6S in all proportions. More compact in terms of screen to body ratio, yes.

I kind of disagree with the comment here about the S7 being "tiny". Look at this picture:

Obviously we have grown accustomed to larger phones and don't view them as being huge as compared with the Galaxy Mega, Note series, etc. But OP is right that they are large, and that "normal" sized phones today are much larger than "normal" sized phones 5 years ago.

 

[Blaze4G]

I currently have a Moto X (2nd gen) and it's ready for an upgrade. Money isn't an issue, but a good Android experience is important.

But it seems that in the world of Android at the moment, premium = big.

The Nexus 6P, Moto X Style, Galaxy S7 (which, to be fair, doesn't really have the good Android experience I want) etc. are all just far too big.

The Nexus 5X, Moto X Play etc. are a better size, but are plasticy, cheap and, from reading, don't have good specs.

For me, Android is in a bit of a rut whereby they're all chasing numbers (bigger screens, higher res etc.) but they're missing an entire market that want to good specs in a pocketable size.

I don't know what to do!!

The s7 is almost the same size as the moto x second generation you currently have though. The g5 is a little bit taller but basically same width and thinner.

HTC flagship this year may also be around the same size as your moto x.

 

[mi7chy]

Moto X 2014 isn't a small phone. It's a hair shorter but noticeably wider and thicker than the S7. If you want the plain Moto OS experience just disable things. I use both Moto and Samsung and it's better to have features that you can selectively disable than not having the features that you actually want. Kind of like a car with premium package vs base model.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...oto-X-2014,Samsung-Galaxy-S7/phones/8897,9817

 

[spinedoc77]

The S7 is slightly larger than the iPhone 6S in all proportions. More compact in terms of screen to body ratio, yes.

I kind of disagree with the comment here about the S7 being "tiny". Look at this picture:

Obviously we have grown accustomed to larger phones and don't view them as being huge as compared with the Galaxy Mega, Note series, etc. But OP is right that they are large, and that "normal" sized phones today are much larger than "normal" sized phones 5 years ago.

It's interesting to see that the 5s screen would easily fit into the 4s body, yet the 5s is significantly larger. I'm sure we would see the same lining up the 6s with the 5s. When you look at something like the S7 you can see there is very little on that phone that isn't screen, it's just a very efficient design. Phone's overall are getting bigger, but they are also making much better use of the screen to body ratio, although some more than others.

 

[KillaMac]

I currently have a Moto X (2nd gen) and it's ready for an upgrade. Money isn't an issue, but a good Android experience is important.

But it seems that in the world of Android at the moment, premium = big.

The Nexus 6P, Moto X Style, Galaxy S7 (which, to be fair, doesn't really have the good Android experience I want) etc. are all just far too big.

The Nexus 5X, Moto X Play etc. are a better size, but are plasticy, cheap and, from reading, don't have good specs.

For me, Android is in a bit of a rut whereby they're all chasing numbers (bigger screens, higher res etc.) but they're missing an entire market that want to good specs in a pocketable size.

I don't know what to do!!

The S7 is far from big. It is much smaller than you think.

 

[Mildredop]

Moto X 2014 isn't a small phone. It's a hair shorter but noticeably wider and thicker than the S7. If you want the plain Moto OS experience just disable things. I use both Moto and Samsung and it's better to have features that you can selectively disable than not having the features that you actually want. Kind of like a car with premium package vs base model.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...oto-X-2014,Samsung-Galaxy-S7/phones/8897,9817

I didn't really want to go back to Samsung ( I had the s2 and s3) but it does seem to be the best option for me.

Although I really will miss Motorola's active display.

 

[Blaze4G]

I didn't really want to go back to Samsung ( I had the s2 and s3) but it does seem to be the best option for me.

Although I really will miss Motorola's active display.

Why would you miss Motorola active display when you have an always on display?

 

[MRU]

Why would you miss Motorola active display when you have an always on display?

It's not the same thing. Moto's is far more adaptive and context variable.

 

[Saturn1217]

I know you probably don't want to hear this but have you given a larger phone a try?

I only say this because I used to feel exactly the same way. I had a nexus 5 (which was already too big) and each new Android flagship that came out enraged me. I am a 5'7" girl 120lbs with average to slightly below average hands. I rely on public transport so I use my phone one handed a lot.

Eventually I said F it. If every phone is going to be too big I'm going to at least get the benefit of a big screen. So I bought a 6p. I am typing on it right now one handed on a very packed subway car. It is possible to change your phone size preference. Not saying you will but you should at least keep an open mind. I'm glad I did.

 

[Mildredop]

I know you probably don't want to hear this but have you given a larger phone a try?

I only say this because I used to feel exactly the same way. I had a nexus 5 (which was already too big) and each new Android flagship that came out enraged me. I am a 5'7" girl 120lbs with average to slightly below average hands. I rely on public transport so I use my phone one handed a lot.

Eventually I said F it. If every phone is going to be too big I'm going to at least get the benefit of a big screen. So I bought a 6p. I am typing on it right now one handed on a very packed subway car. It is possible to change your phone size preference. Not saying you will but you should at least keep an open mind. I'm glad I did.

Where do you generally keep your phone when you're out and about?

 

[ozaz]

As mentioned above, the S7 is basically the same size as your 2014 Moto X.

I agree with others above who have pointed to the S7 and the Z5 compact as your best options if you want to buy today. But perhaps also consider the Xperia X series if you haven't upgraded in a couple of months.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...X-Performance/phones/8897,9817,9611,9986,9988

 

[gotluck]

Where do you generally keep your phone when you're out and about?

This is my problem and was a factor in me going back to iPhone. The phone is in my pocket way more than it is in use. I really enjoy using big phones I just don't want to carry them. Even the 6s feels like a brick in my pocket at times imo

 

[Blaze4G]

It's not the same thing. Moto's is far more adaptive and context variable.

Oh, I thought it displayed similar info (time, notifications, etc).

 

[MRU]

Oh, I thought it displayed similar info (time, notifications, etc).

It displays time, but also context aware stuff, so if your playing music it will display the track/artist info and give you options to like, skip & pause. Text messages it will show the sender and a preview of text etc ... It's very adaptive.

 

[Blaze4G]

It displays time, but also context aware stuff, so if your playing music it will display the track/artist info and give you options to like, skip & pause. Text messages it will show the sender and a preview of text etc ... It's very adaptive.

oh okay sounds good! It seems adaptive display is a motorola / lenovo patent. Google used it in 6p because they got the patents when they had Motorola.

 

[MRU]

oh okay sounds good! It seems adaptive display is a motorola / lenovo patent. Google used it in 6p because they got the patents when they had Motorola.

Even ambient display on the 6p is different. It basically gives you a quick flash of lock screen notifications in the same layout as the lock screen albeit in black n white. You still can't interact with them from there which is why one is 'ambient' whilst the other 'adaptive'.

It must be a moto patent.

 

[ozaz]

This is my problem and was a factor in me going back to iPhone. The phone is in my pocket way more than it is in use. I really enjoy using big phones I just don't want to carry them. Even the 6s feels like a brick in my pocket at times imo

This is the same reason I don't like large phones. Handling them is fine. I just don't like carrying them around in my trouser pocket.

But I like the 6S handset size. For me, up to around 140 x 70 mm can provide a good blend of being comfortably pocketable, and a reasonable screen screen (5").

 

[billy the fish]

I didn't really want to go back to Samsung ( I had the s2 and s3) but it does seem to be the best option for me.

Although I really will miss Motorola's active display.

S6 and s7 are light years away from the earlier s models.. I wouldn't touch anything else at the moment after my recent Samsung experiences with the edge plus and tab S ..

 

[Mildredop]

S6 and s7 are light years away from the earlier s models.. I wouldn't touch anything else at the moment after my recent Samsung experiences with the edge plus and tab S ..

I've got the S7 on order. Watching videos, I'm quite excited about it, but I'm not looking forward to spending the first couple of hours getting rid of all the crap "S" apps and turning off the endless different sounds.

The main reason I went away from Samsung is because I found I turned off all the extra features like how it kept the screen on when you were looking at it (never worked) and the 'bump-phones-to-transfer-files' that I'd never use.

Still, let's see how I feel when it arrives next week.