I’ve been an iPhone user since the beginning, starting with the original iPhone. You know, the one with the 3.5 inch screen that was perfect at the time, making it super easy to use a phone with one hand? As the years go by, the iPhone — and every other smartphone out there — gets bigger and bigger. Now we have phones with almost 7-inch screens, and frankly, I don’t see how anyone can comfortably use these gigantic phones — especially if you have smaller hands!
With iPhone, we went from 3.5 inches to 4 inches, then 4.7 inches to 5.8 inches, and now the standard 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches of iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus/ iPhone 14 Pro Max, respectively. I personally use an iPhone 14 Pro as my primary device, and while I’ve gotten used to the 6.1-inch size over the past few years, I still think it’s too big. In fact, the last perfect iPhone size was the iPhone XS with its 5.8-inch display… and I really wish Apple would bring it back.
5.8 inches was a perfect middle ground
In 2017, to celebrate 10 years of the iPhone, Apple launched the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 8 devices would be the last iPhones with Touch ID, and the iPhone X set the precedent without a Home button — instead using Face ID for biometrics. While the iPhone 8 had a 4.7-inch screen and the Plus version had a 5.5-inch screen, the iPhone X launched with 5.8 inches, and since it no longer had a Home button, that meant a larger screen situation.
I’m one of those people who upgrade their phone every year, but in 2017 I went with the iPhone 8 because I didn’t like big phones and didn’t want to not have Touch ID. So, oddly enough, I didn’t get the iPhone X that year, but I did get the iPhone XS the following year — mostly because, well, I couldn’t get an iPhone with Touch ID anymore. But I learned to love the size of the iPhone XS.
I’ve already said it several times, but I have very petite hands. Whenever I compare my hands to someone else’s, it’s always shocking how much smaller mine are compared to others. This means I can barely use most phones today with one hand. (It’s almost impossible for me to comfortably reach the top corners of the screen, and even with a phone accessory like a PopSocket, I can barely manage without some amazing finger gymnastics.)
It also doesn’t help that Apple makes the iPhone 14 Pro heavy with the materials used, namely the stainless steel frame. So, even though the Samsung Galaxy S23 also has a 6.1-inch screen, I actually prefer it over the iPhone 14 Pro because of the lightweight aluminum frame, which makes it slightly more comfortable for me to use on my own.
However, I can’t help but remember the 5.8-inch size of my iPhone XS back in the day. For me, it was a perfect size for a modern phone, providing plenty of screen space while also being comfortable to hold and even use with one hand. I don’t remember having trouble reaching the top corners of the screen with my iPhone XS, but since the iPhone 11 Pro and later, it’s become easier to use my device with both hands. Of course, this is not a huge problem, but when you’re trying to juggle a lot of stuff or a toddler on your lap, one-handed use is a missed convenience and, in some ways, a luxury.
I really want a mini Pro iPhone, Apple
You might be wondering — why didn’t I get the mini iPhones when they were available. As much as I liked the idea of an extremely small and compact iPhone, the problem was the lack of Pro features. I’m always drawn to the Pro models because I want the triple-lens camera system, more storage, and — in the case of the iPhone 14 Pro series — the faster A16 Bionic chip.
I personally wish Apple would make a smaller Pro model iPhone. It’s literally my dream phone to have the iPhone mini 5.4 inch size but also a powerful triple lens camera system. I know the battery life would take a hit, but I dream of having the powerful capabilities that the iPhone Pro can do, but in a smaller, compact body.
But Apple stopped producing the iPhone mini, probably because the market for it wasn’t high enough (although I don’t think the iPhone 14 Plus is doing much better). Sure, I get it – most people don’t want a tiny phone these days, do they? It just seems to be a very vocal minority. And maybe that’s because 5.4 inches was too small. But what about 5.8 inches? On paper, the difference between 5.8 inches and 6.1 inches is very negligible, but in actual use, one is much more comfortable to use than the other.
Apple already has plenty of size options with four different models right now. Just bring back the 5.8 inch offering — it was perfect! Will this actually happen for the iPhone 15? All signs point to ‘no’, but that won’t stop me from hoping and dreaming.
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