A New 5-Inch iPhone 5 Display Rumor – Will 5-Inch Screens Become a New Smartphone Standard?
Posted by Michael Nace on Thursday May 10, 2012 Under iPhone 5 Opinion, iPhone 5 Rumor
With the preponderance of speculation claiming that the iPhone 5′s new display will be on the lower end of 4 inches, the big, 5-inch iPhone 5 display rumor persists. With the big, new GS3 screen and the marginal success of the Galaxy Note, is the 5-inch display becoming a new smartphone benchmark that Apple could look to imitate?
You’ll recall that over the past few months, we processed some hefty rumors about Apple working on a beefy 5-inch display for its upcoming iPhone 5 release. Delving into the iPhone 5 News Blog‘s repository of posts on the subject of screen size, I am reminded of this rather big story that came out of Japan on March 29th that new, 5-inch displays are being mass-produced in earnest for the iPhone 5. Prior to that, we also had a rumor on March 22nd out of South Korea — Samsung’s home base — that 4.6-inch screens were in production for the iPhone 5.
And let’s not forget: we’ve also heard rumors about a longer iPhone 5 display that would retain the device’s current width. Tech pundits have seemed to like this theory and accompanying rumor — supplied by iLounge last week — because it manages to balance everything we believe Apple is considering for the iPhone 5′s screen size: they want it to be bigger, but they don’t necessarily want it to radically change the overall dimensions of what looks and feels like an iPhone. But as you can see, the iPhone 5 screen size rumors are so varied and inconsistent that there is virtually no consensus. Heck, we’ve even heard some say that the new iPhone won’t feature any change in screen size.
The new 5-inch LG Optimus Vu
Interestingly enough, Know Your Mobile posted an article a couple of days ago that went under the radar, wherein they report the following: “[W]e’re hearing reports that Apple’s up-coming iPhone 5 will feature a 5-inch Retina Display. The news comes via a source based in China. According to the source, they are familiar with Apple’s production process and have access to pre-production models of the iPhone 5.”
I cannot understand why Know Your Mobile would break a story from a supposed inside source, and then completely discredit it, but that’s just what they do; they go on to poo-poo the entire rumor since, to them, a 5-inch screen just doesn’t make any sense. I’m inclined to agree with their skepticism, only because 1) the rumor is extremely thin, and 2) the tech site that is breaking the story doesn’t even believe it. However, I think it is worth taking the opportunity to discuss the concept of the 5-inch iPhone 5 display, particularly in light of the Samsung Galaxy S 3 announcement, along with its large 4.8-inch screen.
The question here is: are smartphone displays that measure around the 5-inch mark becoming a new standard? And if so, is Apple going to adopt that standard with the iPhone 5?
In my opinion, it’s a complex question to answer, since we know the following two things, and they are diametrically opposed to one another: first, Apple clearly loves the dimensions of the iPhone. After all, they have kept them virtually intact since the original iPhone’s release. Second, however, is that Apple has never been averse to copying and imitating tech trends, all in an effort to improve upon them.
Surrealist artist Salvador Dali once said that “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” Steve Jobs seemed to agree: he was known to have said, “creativity is just connecting things.” In this way, Apple never fears appearing pastiche in adopting technological ideas, since they have typically improved upon whatever idea they adopt.
In the case of the 5-inch display, the iPhone 5 would experience a totally radical development, and the pundits would most likely pan the decision from the gate, saying that it was a desperate design move to keep pace with Samsing’s larger-screen devices. But that criticism would be completely false: smartphone to smartphone, Apple need not fear the GS3 or the Note — or both of them combined. Of course, there will be some mobile users who will jump from the iPhone to the GS3 or Note simply because they think that a really large screen is extremely cool. On the other hand, there will be Samsung users wh will counterbalance the migration by switching to the new iPhone in a bid to get away from the often unreliable Android OS. In the end, those transfers will be a wash at best for Samsung. The more likely scenario is that the iPhone 5 will soak up even more market share from Samsung.
While Apple does not have to keep a worried eye on a single smartphone competitor, however, they do have to look at the smartphone trends as a whole. And if they see the entirety of the top-tier smartphone market moving in the direction of 5-inch’ish displays, they may in fact have to think about those dimensions, if not for the iPhone 5, perhaps the iPhone 6. LG has the 5-inch Optimus Vu coming out, for example, which looks more like a square than a rectangle. This isn’t to say that I think the iPhone 5 will come with a 5-inch screen — or that the two 5-inch display rumors referenced above are any more or less credible than all of the other display size rumors. But now that we are seeing a trend toward 5-inch screens in smartphones, the prospect of a 5-inch iPhone 5 is no longer completely impossible.
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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May 10th, 2012 at 11:13 am
While I would prefer a slightly larger (4.0, 4.3 whatever), 5 inches just seems to be a little drastic. Yeah the competitors are doing it and they’re selling them. There will be a market for all types and sizes of phones, there’s also always going to be a large market for the current size up to 4 inches. I don’t see Apple jumping from their current size to 5 inches that fast.
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May 10th, 2012 at 11:17 am
5 inch screen? Crikey!
No thanks, I still want my phone to sit in my hand nicely, I have large-ish hands (not freakish, but large) but my 4S sits comfortable in them.
I have tried the S2 and it felt too large as it was so the S3 is likely to be uncomfortably big for me.
Personally, a screen size of about 4 to 4.25 inches would seem fine if it were edge to edge.
If I want larger, I’ll buy an iPad.
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May 10th, 2012 at 11:52 am
Wasn’t the ip5 one of steve jobs’ ‘last’ projects? I thought he did not want to go beyond 3,5”? So 5” would be really drastic, wouldn’t it? But who knows? They can’t keep the current size forever. Sent from my dumbphone, waiting for…you know what. When it will be released we will be happy for a short time but then missing the excitement of waiting very soon..;-) Okok, there will always be a new one coming out…
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May 10th, 2012 at 11:56 am
@MC5 I’ve read somewhere before that Steve left design plans for multiple future devices.
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May 10th, 2012 at 11:57 am
What about that rumor last year before announcing the 4S that Apple was going to be releasing two different models? I know it played out to be the 4S and then a cheaper phone that people could buy being the old iphone 4. But what if Apple really releases two new models to diversify their portfolio. What if they came out with a 4 inch iphone AND a 5 inch iphone that were the exact same phone but just different sizes? It seems like that would be more successful because there is obviously a market for the “smaller” phones (current sized iphone) and a market for the bigger phones. I think it would be a smart move by Apple….but the skeptical side of me thinks “heaven forbid that Apple will actually allow the consumers to make a choice within Apple products!”
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May 10th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Target is now cutting the price of the iPhone 4 and 4S by $50 each. Don’t know if that means anything or not but interesting nonetheless.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Target-cuts-price-of-Apple-iPhone-4-and-Apple-iPhone-4S_id29892
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May 10th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@Me
Radio Shack too
http://www.phonearena.com/news/RadioShack-slashes-50-off-the-iPhone-4-iPhone-4S-claims-tipster_id29933
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May 10th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@SpasticPat
It probably just means that they are trying to keep up with the competition since a lot of smaller carriers that are now bringing on the iPhone are generally priced $50 less than the big name companies. That’s my opinion.
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May 10th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
If Apple did release a large screen phone then they would likely continue to sell the IP4s which would become their smaller screen alternative for those who prefer.
There is no reason to believe that from that point onwards they could have two phones instead of one with two being released consecutively. Having said that if indeed the phone was to be 5″ where would that leave the rumoured Mini iPad unless this is the Mini iPad with a phone tagged in!
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May 10th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Thats pretty damn big. But I could dig it I think. Take some serious getting used to tho. The only thing I really want is for the screen to be bigger, and for it to make good use of the phones size. I like the design of the modeled one.
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May 10th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
5″ would suck! I want a phone that fits in my hand comfortably and in my pocket.
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May 10th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Are you kidding me? 5inch is a joke!
I won’t buy the next iphone if it’s 5inch. 4 inch is more than enough, it’s still a phone and not a gaming device or an ipad.
4inch screen, better battery and a new form factor and i’ll be happy
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May 10th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
@MikeD “heaven forbid that Apple will actually allow the consumers to make a choice within Apple products!”
Apple has always given a choice to consumers. If you don’t like Apple products, don’t buy them; it’s their loss.
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May 10th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Yea I still think 5 inch screens are too large for conveniently keeping in your pocket. Although, I personally haven’t attempted to fit a 5″+ screen smart phone in my pocket, as it is, my iPhone 4 gets a little stuck in my pocket so I could only imagine a 5″ display.
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May 10th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
@John
Obviously. And if I didn’t like Apple products I probably wouldn’t be reading a blog all about Apple products. The difference is that I like to be an informed consumer and there are particular things about any product that has it’s downsides. While Apple has a lot of great things, they very much limit certain features to what they think is best (which works well for some people and not so well for others). Anybody who disagrees with that should do a little research about Steve Jobs or the way that he ran Apple.
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May 10th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
I tend to agree with you, Mike D., in that Apple need not preempt iPhone 4S sales with the iPhone 5 if the 4S is continuing to sell well. That does make good marketing sense, indeed. But another factor in your analysis has to be the effect of the rumor mill, and how crescendoing iPhone 5 rumors begin to really squelch current iPhone sales. At some point, the anticipation of the next iPhone begins to have a negative effect on current iPhone sales, at which point Apple has to get out their new iteration.
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May 10th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
@Micahel, for instance right now. People are still using their 4′s, and even 3GS’s waiting for the day of the iPhone 5. I fear those that have been waiting since at least the time the iPhone 4 came out to get the 5 may leave the Applsphere. Many people are buying the 4S, but that is just because they are the one’s that could’t wait, many are holding back though…. Apple, PLEASE GIVE US THE 5 THIS SUMMER!
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May 10th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
5″ is a little too big for a phone. IMO Apple should go with a 4″-4.3″ screen.
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May 11th, 2012 at 12:33 am
I would gladly take either a 5″ iPhone, or a 7″ iPad on a data plan if VZW can pull off the family Data plans that have been mentioned in the past.
I can work remotely 95% completely from my iPad, but need a WiFi connection. I really don’t want to pay $20 more a month to tether my poor battery life iPhone to run my iPad off of.
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May 11th, 2012 at 2:37 am
If there is a 5″ screen then I have to believe they will offer two sizes, a “normal” 3.5 or a little bigger and a 5. This would not be out of the norm for Apple. There is more than one size iPod, MacBook, iMac, ect…
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May 11th, 2012 at 7:38 am
I must say that the picture that goes with this story has grown on me and I quite like the look of this as a mock up. Maybe a different matter though if I was to hold it in my hand.
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May 11th, 2012 at 10:08 am
I thought that Apple was like Bose with their “everybody has to have the same price” policy.
There were some retailers that had the $397 or $395 for the $399 phone, but I think they were high volume places like Fry’s and Best Buy. The rest threw add-ins to give a better deal for the phone.
Can anyone confirm this?
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May 11th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Hard to lock down pricing, especially around Black Friday. If you have a Target Red card (Debit or credit) you get 5% off your purchase.
I saw iPod Touch 8GB on sale for 170$ after a $25 gift card last week.
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May 11th, 2012 at 11:09 am
@Michael
It just really seems like there were more solid rumors right before the release of the product for each of the last couple of years. Even the rumor mill seems to be pointing more and more towards a fall release.
While sales of the 4S has declined in the 1st qtr this year (compared to Q4 2011 when it was released), sales are still about even with any other qtr. Up to this point it doesn’t seem like they have actually trended downward. Why fix something if it isn’t broken? In fact it’s very successful. Apple is very strategic and from everything I’ve read about them, I think they are likely trying to make fall their new release cycle rather than summer. There are some temporary pains for current iphone users in that change, but I believe it is a strategic move that will work out just fine in the end.
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May 11th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Thanks for your comment, Mike D. you said, “It just really seems like there were more solid rumors right before the release of the product for each of the last couple of years.” I agree, however, the “solid rumors right before the release” usually come right before the announcement — like, days before. Last year, if you recall, the 4S event announcement still came upon us very quickly. We’re still a month away from the WWDC, and I would say that the iPhone 5 production rumors in 2011 was just this quiet a month before the announcement in 2011 as it is now.
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May 15th, 2012 at 11:56 am
A bigger screen on any upcoming iPhone (ever) is very unlikely. Check out my blog post related to this: http://chaos-reviews.com/2012/05/15/why-the-iphone-5-screen-will-not-be-bigger-3/
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