Even if only one percent of people want smaller phones, with the huge volume of phones sold I don’t understand how that’s not enough to justify a healthy market.
It probably doesn’t make sense to spend the time, money, and staff to develop/market a small phone for most of the manufacturers because the people that want a small phone will still buy a bigger phone if there isn’t the option for a small one. They can spend less money and make the same number of sales.
Right I don’t doubt that the decision makes financial sense because I know several companies, most notably Apple, gave it a really sincere effort with enormous resources.
But it does show that even this last supposed benefit of hyper capitalism—consumer choice—is a bit of a lie. All TVs spy on you, it’s almost impossible to buy a small car in the US, even expensive clothes are made in the same cheap fast fashion factories, and on and on.
Unfortunately, the same goes for headphone jacks, removable batteries, even sliding keyboards.
I really miss being able to find a phone with features I want.
I hear you. I do wish there was more variation, but their all basically the same now.
Pretty much why I still use a Note 9. I’ve tried switching to other phones but keep going back to this phone.
Expandable storage was great for consumers but not the big corporations. They can charge much more for storage and keep their prices high for that reason.
As long as this phone works, I’ll stick with it.
But there is the possibility they could capture almost the whole small phone market, instead of competing against titans for a piece of the big phone market. I also don’t see how this is not still a big market that is being ignored. So many random trash phones that must be getting pitiful sales numbers, but they can’t make anything in a small size, like they used to do in huge numbers just half a decade ago?
I get that the Mini might not reach numbers acceptable for Apple, but for some random Android manufacturers, those same numbers would be huge, and they have basically no competition right now. The first company to offer something decent in that size bracket would have that whole market to themselves.
But no, i think they all just dream that they might beat Google and Samsung for the same 6.3-6.8" market and be rich.
99% of the folks that want a particular phone will buy another one instead. Can’t discount the bullheaded consumer (like me).
1% is nothing for a company like Apple or Samsung. Making something actually nice for 1% of the market would never pay off.
Especially when those 1% will just buy whatever else they offer most of the time.
As a small phone enthusiast, for my current phone I just got a Galaxy Fold 5. I know it sounds counterintuitive. But when the cover mode, the phone has the same width as my old Xperia Z3 Compact. The unfolded mode is a bonus where the two hand usage is justified with the much larger screen. You just need to deal with the thicker phone because of its foldable nature.
I’m not paying that ridiculous amount of money just to get a small phine that fits in my parents pocket. Foldable phones at the moment is just a fad that they push to keep enthusiats engaged and prices high. Same like to hyperfocus on 4k Raytracing in gaming.
I would love a pocketable phone that is also large enough for my failing eyesight. Foldables are a solution, but they need to become more sturdy, and come down in price to reasonable levels.
I don’t want a small phone but at the same time I don’t want a phone that is massive. Can I just get a medium?
I don’t want a small phone but at the same time I don’t want a phone that is massive. Can I just get a medium?
Isn’t that what foldables are for?
