Once upon a time you could get a small android device with good specs.
https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz1_compact-8610.php

It’s still my favourite phone, even though it’s been retired and is only used as an MP3 player with AUX in the garage nowadays.
I realize that for most people the phone is now a device to consume media through and that the larger screens are helpful there, but having a smart phone that is fully usable with one hand is still something I miss. Often.

Considering that modern androids have about 85% to 90% of their size as display size then a phone with the size of the xz1 compact should get a screen size of ~5 inches instead of the old 4.6 inches.

With the SoC advancements I don’t even feel that the phone would require a flagship SoC to interest me. Put a Snapdragon 6, as much battery as you can fit and an AUX input in it and I’m game.

What would make you guys interested in a smaller phone today?

  • witty_username@feddit.nlEnglish
    3·
    9 months ago

    Man I totally agree. I have an XZ2C running lineage but it isn’t working correctly. Am going to try to flash it again, hopefully that helps.

    At any rate, I haven’t come across a satisfying explanation about the reason for the absence of small smartphones. I’m convinced that there is a market for it so why aren’t any of the established companies producing them?
    Is it a matter of profit? I.e. are the profit margins better for larger devices?
    I don’t expect it to be a battery capacity problem, since the trade off seems sensible to make.

    • anamethatisnt@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      I was thinking about trying another ROM on my old XZ1C but my banking apps wouldn’t run properly if I did that anyways.

      I can only imagine that your conviction is wrong. If we were large enough a market to make a nice profit then I imagine the smaller phones would still be around.
      With all the video that’s being consumed through phones today I kinda understand why most people prefer a larger screen too. I have friends who has neither tablets nor computers at home and if I didn’t have both of those I might even prefer a 6 inch screen myself.