Can mobile manufacturers stop their obsession with ever thinner phones?

[StrangerGuy]

Because if you ask me, the trend of devices having ultra thin bodies but yet compensate it with corresponding obstructive large bezels is simply dumb as hell. *cough* iPad Air, Xperia Z1 *cough*

1. 99.9% of the time the limiting factor and ease of putting a phone in a pocket would be the length and the width, not the thickness.

2. Thicker phones generally are easier to hold than a thin phone.

3. Common sense engineering says that a thicker but narrower width and length device actually gets more usable internal volume due to a higher volume to surface area ratio and a thinner shell required for same structural integrity compared to the opposite device with the same overall volume. Plus the thicker phone is also less likely to get damaged by flexing and crushing forces.

4. Added depth allows better and longer optics for cameras.

 

[shabby]

Since the z1 is water proof im pretty sure the seals added to its size so it doesn't really count, and the ipad air is a tablet so it doesn't count either, you want bezels in a tablet. Look at the xperia zl if you want your perfect bezel/thickness phone.

 

[bearxor]

I don't agree about the iPad Air. I think it's nearly perfect, size-wise.

But I do agree about phones. Looking at you, Apple. I don't remember anyone complaining that the 4/4S were too thick and heavy. The 5/5S is simply too thin and rigid, IMO. It's uncomfortable to hold. I didn't use a case for my 4, but felt like a case was completely necessary using the 5. It's just too thin otherwise.

 

[Commodus]

I don't agree about the iPad Air. I think it's nearly perfect, size-wise.

But I do agree about phones. Looking at you, Apple. I don't remember anyone complaining that the 4/4S were too thick and heavy. The 5/5S is simply too thin and rigid, IMO. It's uncomfortable to hold. I didn't use a case for my 4, but felt like a case was completely necessary using the 5. It's just too thin otherwise.

I don't think the iPhone 5/5s is too thin -- it's more that it's a fairly blocky design. I could see Apple keeping its next iPhone as thin or thinner, but it'd ideally have a tapered back with flat sides (a la HTC One) to get a more comfortable grip.

 

[corkyg]

Perception and sense of OEMs is that users want thinner phones. Stop buying them and they'll change. They respond to the market.

 

[Ravynmagi]

The reason phones have larger top and bottom bezels is because it's more comfortable for a lot of people to hold a device in landscape mode with a thumb on the front bezel to support the weight.

Though I do find larger batteries to be more important than super thin phones.

 

[Bman123]

It doesn't matter what happens apple will still sell a million phone in no time no matter what they do to the design

 

[shortylickens]

Nope. I want a paper phone I can open up like origami.

 

[bgstcola]

I want a big screen and then it has to be thin or it will be uncomfortable in my pocket.

 

[Joe1987]

I like thinner phones, if you want thicker, just add a larger battery and custom back to any number of phones.

 

[shortylickens]

I like thinner phones, if you want thicker, just add a larger battery and custom back to any number of phones.

Every year more phones debut without removable cases.

 

[desura]

No.

IMO, smartphones need to get significantly thinner. Like, my dream would be a smartphone that's the size of like 3 credit cards.

The ipod touch 5g is much nicer to carry around than my other devices. Even with a flip leather case, it is thinner than many android handsets just by themselves.

 

[Joe1987]

Every year more phones debut without removable cases.

Buy one of thousands of cases?

 

[Oyeve]

I like the thickness of my note 3.any thinner and I feel it may crack in my pocket.

 

[junpertys]

I like thinner ophone with large screen!
I think that is the trend

 

[dbk]

they have.. now it's on to bendy ones

 

[Bateluer]

Buy one of thousands of cases?

I think he meant 'without removable batteries', not cases.

But I do agree with the OP. There's an obsession with making thinner and thinner phones, and battery life is usually the biggest sacrifice made. You can make a 10-12nm thick device that still feels good in the hand and pocket while sporting a massive 3000+ mah battery. Motorola's MAXX line does it fairly well.

 

[DeathReborn]

I do agree on wanting them to stop making ultra thin phones, especially at the high end. They're just too light & flimsy & prone to being dropped. Give me a 8-10mm thick phone with a bigger battery & more performance and I am sold.

 

[corkyg]

Seems to me this would have made a good poll. There are those who want thin and those who prefer sturdier bodies. Apparently thin wishes are what the makers are responding to.

 

[magomago]

I agree if it means that bigger batteries could have been used.