iPhone 6 rumored to get 4.7 and 5.5-inch displays
One of the most frequent criticisms of the iPhone is that its screen is too small and Apple might finally be addressing the iPhone's puny screen size relative to other competing smartphones. The current iPhone 5s ships with a 4-inch display with 1136-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 PPI.
By comparison the Motorola Moto X ships with a 4.7-inch screen and the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Nexus 5 ship with 5-inch displays. And they're getting even bigger. The forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 is rumored to ship with a 5.25-inch display. The Galaxy Note 3 comes with a larger 5.7-inche screen pushing it into "phablet" territory.
Research firm DisplaySearch reports in their new Quarterly Worldwide FPD Shipment and Forecast Report reports that Apple is likely to launch two new versions of next-generation iPhone with two larger display options. According to the report Apple will launch a 4.7-inch model with 1600×900 resolution, 386ppi and LTPS TFT LCD display technology. A larger version of the "iPhone 6" could pack a 5.5-inch display with 1920×1080 resolution at 401 PPI utilizing the same display technology.
While I find the 4-inch screen on my iPhone 5s perfect for my needs, it seems downright puny compared to my second phone, a Moto X. Large screened smartphones aren't for everyone though. I know a number of users that don't like 5-inch smartphones because they become unwieldy and don't fit in pockets and small purses. Large phones also start to encroach on tablet and notebook territory and many users prefer a more "pocketable" phone and simply switch to their tablet when they want to look at photos and videos.
It's important that Apple diversify into two screen sizes on the iPhone 6. It provides options for both camps and addresses the growing screen-envy problem that Samsung and Google/Motorola are clearly capitalizing on.
What's your sweet-spot for a smartphone display size?