Walk into any mobile phone shop these days and you'll be
overwhelmed by the sheer number of screen sizes adorning the smartphones on the
shelves.
From dinky diallers to mammoth mobiles, and everything in
between, working out which one is best for you can be tricky.
But fear not, as help is at hand to make sure your hand is
pleased as punch when you find its perfect smartphone size.
TechRadar has teamed up with Carphone Warehouse to ensure
you make the smart choice when it comes to finding the best screen size for
you.
4 inches and under
A few years ago a 4-inch screen on a smartphone was cutting
edge, but now these displays are more commonly found on our budget blowers.
If you're looking for a cheap phone which can master all the
basics while also providing a screen you can actually use then the 3.5 to
4-inch market is bustling with devices vying for your attention.
Alan Thomas from Carphone Warehouse notes: "All 4-inch
phones and under are very easy to use with one hand or small hands – so a cheap
phone that's also small is ideal for children and adolescents.
NOKIA LUMIA 520
"They're also lighter and more portable than other
phones, so there's no hassle with finding things to carry them in."
A couple of standout candidates in the low cost arena are
the Windows Phone 8 toting Nokia Lumia 520 and the Android Jelly Bean based
Huawei Ascend Y300, offering 1GHz dual-core processors and 5MP rear cameras.
For first time smartphone users the Lumia 520 is beautifully
simple to operate, with clean, clear live tiles delivering you the most
important information with minimum fuss.
If you fancy a handset which can give you a fuller
smartphone experience then the Android based Y300 and Samsung Galaxy Fame give
you access to the well stocked Google Play store as well as the flexibility of
the search giant's operating system.
IPHONE 5S
There is a rather big exception to the 4-inch budget rule
though - Apple. The Cupertino firm is sticking firmly to the smaller screen
size with both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C sporting 4-inch displays.
Both handsets offer up a very different proposition to the
rest of the phones mentioned in this section, and while they cost a similar
amount to the 5-inch offerings below, you can rest assured you'll get premium
build quality, a slick interface and a wealth of applications at your
fingertips.
The "mini"
brigade
Still want something which will happily slide into the
skinniest of jeans but has a bit more oomph, doesn't cost the earth and isn't
running iOS 7? Then meet the "mini" brigade.
The two headlining handsets here are the HTC One Mini and
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, which are essentially pared down versions of their
high-end namesakes.
Both handsets sport 4.3-inch displays, with the One Mini
piping the S4 Mini when it comes to resolution, although the Super AMOLED tech
in the Samsung phone means it's super vibrant.
HTC ONE MINI
While these handsets may not have the huge headlining specs
of their big brothers, you do get Qualcomm's robust Snapdragon 400 dual-core
processor in both, with 1GB of RAM in the HTC and 1.5GB in the Samsung,
ensuring Android Jelly Bean runs seamlessly.
A big plus point of these handsets are their price, giving
you the looks and most of the features of the big hitters in a more affordable
package - perfect if your finances need looking after.
Thomas explains: "This size is great for people that
find they spend a lot of time using their phones for the internet and watching
the occasional video, but still want to have a phone that's phone-sized."
MOTO G
Also worth a mention is Motorola's Moto G which sports a
similar 4.5-inch, 720p display as the others, but a price tag which actually
puts it up against the budget handsets on the market ensuring great value for
money.
High flying 5-inchers
If you want the best tech and a veritable smorgasbord of
features then you'll be looking at smartphones which sport screens somewhere in
the region of 5-inches - unless, that is, you fancy an iPhone. In which case,
back up a bit.
Thomas has witnessed that handsets in and around the 5-inch
mark are impressing consumers the most at the moment: "The 4.5-inch+
screen is what people are moving towards, and once they've seen a larger
display and used it they tend to prefer it.
"The fact is some of the most popular phones around
right now, such as the Galaxy S4, have 5-inch screens. They aren't necessarily
the easiest to use one handed, but offer more choice when it comes to
multimedia and entertainment."
SAMSUNG GALAXY S4
When manufacturers launch flagship products pretty much
everyone can be found in this remit, with Samsung's S4 (5-inch) being joined by
the HTC One (4.7-inch), Sony Xperia Z1 (5-inch) and LG G2 (5.2-inch) - all of
which boast eye-popping full HD displays.
All have various stand out features to grab your attention.
If you fancy a 20.7MP snapper on your smartphone then take a gander at the
Xperia Z1, while the Galaxy S4 will track your hand, eye and head movements,
making the phone even more user friendly.
If premium design is your bag then nab a HTC One, or if
you're looking for something different to everyone else why not grab a G2 -
it's got buttons on the back, don't ya know!
SONY XPERIA Z1
You will be paying top dollar for these handsets, but as
long as you have the funds available you'll be getting a great deal as they all
offer exceptional user experiences and come jam packed with features which will
wow your friends and family.
If you're looking for another anomaly then you're in luck as
the Google Nexus 5, complete with 5-inch screen, packs the same power and
display capabilities of its rivals, but at a rock bottom price.
Concessions have been made on the camera, and it doesn't
come tricked out with features, but if you're happy to overlook these points
you'll be picking up a bargain.
Phablet phones
Phablets are here in a big way now - in terms of screen size
and choice. Alan Thomas explains why: "The phablet is popular because
they're like super portable tablets. They're better at videos and films than
standard smartphones, and are excellent entertainment devices.
"Commuters love them because they're designed for
movies and gamers love them because they're like the PS Vita. Devices such as
the Galaxy Note 3 are also quite unique – the S Pen stylus is proving popular,
and highlights how these phones have more features or uses than a typical
smartphone.
"Because of all the space on screen, business users
also like them, and the extra screen makes the phone larger, allowing for a
larger battery to be fitted making for longer battery life, popular with just
about anyone."
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 3
While a big screen means a bigger phone, you shouldn't be
put off immediately as you could be pleasantly surprised.
"Both phablets and the 5-inch flagships have been made
possible with new technology and techniques though. The screens are bigger yes,
but the phones themselves are not growing much larger," Thomas notes.
Joining the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 here are the 5.9-inch HTC
One Max, 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520 and 6.4-inch tablet-contender Sony Xperia Z
Ultra.
If you're in the market for the perfect tablet-smartphone
hybrid then the Xperia Z Ultra should be top of your list as it gives you the
big screen of a tablet, but still manages to function as a phone.
NOKIA LUMIA 1520
The Lumia 1520 is a milestone in itself, as it's the first
Windows Phone 8 device to sport a full HD display and quad-core processor, making
it a real power house for movies, gaming and business on the go.
Over on the One Max you're treated to a nifty fingerprint
scanner on the rear to keep the phone secure, plus it's got a premium metal
body, while the Galaxy Note 3 gives you ultimate control thanks to the S Pen
stylus.
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