Small or big smartphones: Why size matters!

Besides giving me an excuse to use plenty of innuendos, this self-indulgent article serves as a platform for me – a long-time big phone-user – to tell you why you need to pay attention to the size of a phone matters when choosing your next one, and how it can affect the user experience. 

Weight 

You see smartphone brands put a lot of effort into making their products sleeker every year; and not just aesthetically, but practically as well by shaving off more weight with each iteration. Smartphones like the iPhone 12 mini,  Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, and even the Samsung Galaxy S21 are good examples of super light, modern-day devices. 

Many applications call for one-handed usages, so a heavy device can put a lot of strain on your pinky finger and wrists. Trust this Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro user when I say it isn’t just your hands that are at risk of injury, but your face as well when that hefty phone inevitably slips out of your hands during a bout of night-time Tik-Tok-binging.  

Height 

If you drive and rely on navigation apps, you probably know this problem all too well – for some folk, a tall phone won’t fit on that holder that you stick to your windshield.

Even if it does, the bumps and bobbles of driving on Malaysian roads make your device hit the windshield every time – which is less than ideal.  

Popular flagships are notoriously tall – think the vivo NEX 3 from 2019, and the more recent Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Xiaomi Mi 11 are at least 164mm tall and these lanky smartphones won’t sit well on some phone holders in smaller cars.  

On the other end of the spectrum are short-sized flagships like the ASUS Zenfone 8, iPhone 12 mini again, and even the Samsung Galaxy S10e from 2019 – these are all compact devices that still offer big performance and features. 

Thickness 

The girth of a phone is worth taking into account as well – I’m going to mention the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro again, plus I’m even going to give a shoutout an old daily driver of mine in the ASUS Zenfone 2 from 2015; because these phones are two of the thickest phones I’ve ever used. 

Girthy phones are somewhat still a trend, and you know what else is? Tight jeans! These devices won’t fit in your pockets nicely – and it’s one pant bulge you don’t want showing.  

Instead, phones that measure less than 8.5mm are usually ideal – in my experience, the vivo V21, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, Mi 9, even OPPO Find X3 to be the most comfortable to carry in my compartments.  

Are big phones really that bad?

Not at all – big phones mean larger screens which are great for watching videos, multitasking, gaming and more. Some good examples of big phones that don’t feel bulky include the OPPO Find X3 Pro, iPhone 12/ 12 Pro, OnePlus 9 and more.  

With that said, the phone you end up choosing should fit your lifestyle, and meet all your needs – I personally find large phones to be a hassle, but you may not. If it gets the job done for you, then more power to you.