Is Apple going big with the iPhone while others go small?

After a photo and more details of the HTC One Mini appeared last night, I posted some thoughts on these new small Androids and speculated that we might be seeing a trend to people using a smaller phone and a compact tablet. A short time later, Reuters posted that Apple could be considering 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch displays for the next iPhone.

Before an actual iPhone announcement, there will be a ton of speculation, and it is not unexpected that Apple is looking at all sorts of different sizes and designs. The iPhone 5 has a 4-inch display and I personally find the size nearly perfect for one-handed use while still being large enough for apps to be very usable.

I do like large phones and would probably purchase a larger iPhone, but there is still something to be said for having a device small enough to use with one hand and fit into the pocket of any person. I am not convinced that Apple will jump from 4 inches all the way up to 4.7 or 5.7 inches.

Apple already has a solution for those looking to spend more time browsing the Internet and enjoying video content on a larger display in the iPad Mini. If Apple decides to launch a large display iPhone, I think they need to still offer a 4-inch model.

I personally would like to see improvements in the camera (better low-light performance), longer battery life, NFC, and continued metal construction. Actually, it is tough for me to come up with too many improvements in the iPhone, but I would love to hear what else people think can be done to improve Apple's smartphone.