Next Phone

[hilmar2k]

I don't know that I ever could get used to using a phone with two hands. The screen looks nice and all, but you're using a phone w/two hands.

I had a Palm Treo 650 a few years ago. At the time, that thing was so big and clunky I hated carrying it around. I got it for work email, but it was such a pain I almost never used it. I decided I needed to back to basics, a phone first, everything else second. I decided the best option for that was a BlackBerry Pearl 8130. I used that for a while (maybe a year). That was so much more user friendly that I used email and the web a ton. Problem was that th escreen was too small for the web and apps, so I decided I needed a little more screen real estate. I wanted to stick with BlackBerry, so I got the Storm 2 9550. That was much bigger and heavier, but the screen size made it worthwhile. I had that for another year or so, and decided that I needed more screen real estate (I was also fed up with BlackBerry at that point). So I went to the Inc2 about 8 months ago.

So, in the matter of a couple years, I went from needing a nice little phone, to one with a 4" screen (that now feels a tad small). It's amazing how your perspective can change over time.

 

[A.Nonymous]

What will be interesting is whether the next iPhone sticks with the 3.5" form factor or not. I think if they stick with the 3.5" size we may see some smaller phones come out on Android.

 

[jrmckins]

What will be interesting is whether the next iPhone sticks with the 3.5" form factor or not. I think if they stick with the 3.5" size we may see some smaller phones come out on Android.

There are and have been plenty of "smaller" Android phones.

 

[blackepoxy]

There are and have been plenty of "smaller" Android phones.

My first one was hTC wildfire 3.2".

 

[hilmar2k]

What will be interesting is whether the next iPhone sticks with the 3.5" form factor or not. I think if they stick with the 3.5" size we may see some smaller phones come out on Android.

I think if the next iPhone has the same 3.5" screen, you'll see Apple start losing a lot of traction. Now that 4" is considered a "small" screen, even the most diehard Apple fanboys will be seriously disappointed if the iPhone 5 doesn't sport at least that.

I don't think Android phones will revert to smaller screens.

 

[blackepoxy]

I don't think Android phones will revert to smaller screens.

No, they're not. To me, now, they are borderline coming up on 6".

Watch, by the end of this year I bet we see a six inch device. (smartphone)

 

[valorian]

I think we will still see two classes of Android phones. The low end / lower cost 4" and smaller phones. Then you will see high end / higher cost phones with 4.5" and larger screens. The OEMs still need to release phones for those with smaller budgets.

 

[hilmar2k]

I think we will still see two classes of Android phones. The low end / lower cost 4" and smaller phones. Then you will see high end / higher cost phones with 4.5" and larger screens. The OEMs still need to release phones for those with smaller budgets.

When was the last sub 4" screen phone released?

 

[blackepoxy]

When was the last sub 4" screen phone released?

I surely can't say I remember...

I think 4" with a 1ghz processor will become a low end budget phone...

With this current trend, just look at this...

LG teases Optimus Vu, a 5-inch Android with 4:3 aspect ratioAndroidGuys

600 to 800 used to be budget processors, now we got 1ghz , then into dual core 1.2 , 1.5, now we are on the verge of quad core...

 

[A.Nonymous]

When was the last sub 4" screen phone released?

Better question. When was the last sub 4" phone released that was high end? The HTC Rhyme (I think that's the purple phone I'm thinking of) is 3.5", but it's hardly high end. Has there been a sub 4" high end phone released since the DInc?

 

[hilmar2k]

Better question. When was the last sub 4" phone released that was high end? The HTC Rhyme (I think that's the purple phone I'm thinking of) is 3.5", but it's hardly high end. Has there been a sub 4" high end phone released since the DInc?

The Rhyme is actually 3.7". That one is actually the answer to the question I asked (I forgot its screen was < 4").

The bottom line is that screen sizes are getting bigger, not smaller. Thats what Android phone makers are using to distinguish themselves from the iPhone. If the iPhone 5 comes out with a 4"+ screen, I think you'll see even more 5"+ screen Android "phablets".

It's the end of the 3.5" screen era.

 

[blackepoxy]

I'm keeping my Inc2 until I can get a dual/quad core, LTE, 4" screen phone with sufficient battery to last all day (probably 3000+ mAh).

That is probably late 2012 or early 2013 at the soonest, as it probably requires second gen LTE chips.

EDIT: I'm also holding out until VZW can figure out their LTE network issues.

I would like a 4" to 4.3" with next gen LTE chip, (less power hungry) dual core 1.3 to 1.5ghz processor with, I guess something better than S- LCD, (not that I find anything wrong with the Dinc2's display) running Android 4.0.
With those specs I guess it would come out with ICS, preferably hTC. I don't know with sense 4.0 looking like a mess like that and all...

I wonder when we will see the "benefit" of Google acquiring Motorola for Android 4.0's sake? Specifically a more vanilla/stock UI.
I find the see thru black and I guess out would be cyan color scheme of ICS to be kinda ugly.
We'll see...

Kinda off topic but, i found this article interesting about custom Android UI's/manufacturer skinning and stock Android...

Why Android&#8217;s custom UIs are important to the future of the platform | Android and Me

htc, imho, has lost it's innovation & motorola makes phones with ugly corners & non user replaceable batteries and such recently. That LTE phone needs a battery that can keep up, 1900mah+ at least...maybe more, but that would add more bulk.

 

[PatyCake]

This is my first smartphone, got it the day it was released. A few months later(mid summer) it already felt outdated with specs. Dont get me wrong, its an amazing phone. I bought the extended battery for it because i knew i would have it for my whole 2 year contract or even longer. But when i started checking out verizons lineup, all i saw was: -dual core -1.5ghz -1gb RAM. And i felt like my phone was a kid trying to ball with the pros. But i would never jump ship on htc, best hardware manufacturer in the game. I also love sense. My next phone in early 2013 would need the following specs:
-1.5Gb ram
-5.0 inch screen
-HTC+ newest sense
-newest android version
-quad core clocked at 2.0ghz

 

[hilmar2k]

This is my first smartphone, got it the day it was released. A few months later(mid summer) it already felt outdated with specs. Dont get me wrong, its an amazing phone. I bought the extended battery for it because i knew i would have it for my whole 2 year contract or even longer. But when i started checking out verizons lineup, all i saw was: -dual core -1.5ghz -1gb RAM. And i felt like my phone was a kid trying to ball with the pros. But i would never jump ship on htc, best hardware manufacturer in the game. I also love sense. My next phone in early 2013 would need the following specs:
-1.5Gb ram
-5.0 inch screen
-HTC+ newest sense
-newest android version
-quad core clocked at 2.0ghz

While on paper it looks like the Inc2 can't hang, reality is a different matter. My friend has the Rezound, and it feels marginally faster at best. The screen is slightly bigger, but the higher resolution doesn't make a noticeable difference in sharpness.

Right now, I actually wouldn't trade my Inc2 for the Rezound stright up.

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

While on paper it looks like the Inc2 can't hang, reality is a different matter. My friend has the Rezound, and it feels marginally faster at best. The screen is slightly bigger, but the higher resolution doesn't make a noticeable difference in sharpness.

Right now, I actually wouldn't trade my Inc2 for the Rezound stright up.

I would have to agree on all points here. I tried the rezound and wasn't impressed. I think the DInc2 holds it's own especially well considering "the specs".
And I would add that I would not trade straight up for any phone on the market. My DInc2 has been rock solid, and I hope for all your sakes I am not the exception.

 

[hilmar2k]

I would have to agree on all points here. I tried the rezound and wasn't impressed. I think the DInc2 holds it's own especially well considering "the specs".
And I would add that I would trade straight up for any phone on the market. My DInc2 has been rock solid, and I hope for all your sakes I am not the exception.

Did you mean "would not trade"?

 

[blackepoxy]

I would have to agree on all points here. I tried the rezound and wasn't impressed. I think the DInc2 holds it's own especially well considering "the specs".
And I would add that I would trade straight up for any phone on the market. My DInc2 has been rock solid, and I hope for all your sakes I am not the exception.

After the last update that was pushed out, Rock solid performer. Handles everything I throw at it!

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

Did you mean &quot;would not trade&quot;?

Haha, of all the places for a typo! Yes, that is what I meant thanks!

 

[blackepoxy]

What do we here?...

New HTC handset found with Android 4.0, LTE supportAndroidGuys

Droid incredible 3? HTC fireball? It's to soon for a rezound 2...

Looks interesting, boot animation suggests Verizon... I wonder, MWC is not that far off...

Nah, no rezound 2 the specs are lower & that would be too soon. (Motorola)... I am going with hTC fireball 4G LTE world phone, or Incredible 'X'

 

[hilmar2k]

Looks like it might be the Incredible 3. Depending on battery life, it could be my bext phone.

Presumed Droid Incredible 3 spied in wild | Android Atlas - CNET Reviews

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

I think the specs line up pretty well with the GNex, and under the Rezound. Kind of makes me wonder if they intend to always release the Inc line sub-nominal.
I think the design could use some improvement. I hate to say it but the bottom side of the battery cover looks too much like the V in verizon. Of course maybe that was intentional, but I don't like it.

 

[CoronaDoug]

Now I am more confused than ever .... Only if this phone was a quad core. I don't really like the white back cover and the silver front. It needs to match IMO.

I am one the fence about my next phone. Do I wait for the HTC (enter name of the day) quad core or the Samsung GSIII? I am upgrade eligible next month I just hope that I can hold off until all of these are released so that I can compare. I have to resist the upgrade urge.... Luckily my DINC2 is running just fine.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I don't see the size referenced anywhere and it's hard to tell from the photos. It looks huge though.

 

[hilmar2k]

I don't see the size referenced anywhere and it's hard to tell from the photos. It looks huge though.

I think that has to do with the perspective in the photo.

 

[blackepoxy]

4.3" display for the Dinc3/fireball

Edit/Update:

Now we have this...

http://phandroid.com/2012/02/26/htc...mpanys-affordable-entry-level-handset-of-mwc/
3.7" display & the "chin" to boot!

Well, I have just officially read that none of the devices at MWC will hit VZW...shame. MWC is mainly for gsm boys...
Have to wait for CTIA...
Looks like all we have to look forward to is the Dinc3/fireball, lg cayman and Droid fighter, whatever that's gonna be, hitting VZW...