I have been using an iPhone since I replaced a Nokia with the first iPhone 3G sold in the province of Tarragona, Europe. There were other times, of course, but being one of the first allowed me check the evolution of the Apple smartphone in the palm of my hand since its creation.
The iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 5 passed through my hand. Until then, the question of the size was not a problem: with the thumb I could reach everywhere. And then all of a sudden the iPhone 6 came with the option of have the huge iPhone 6 Plus with its 5.5-inch screen.
From priority to comfort to wider use of the iPhone
I remember compulsively buying the iPhone 6 Plus in Madrid, in the middle of a pleasure trip, taking advantage of the fact that they had already opened the Apple Store in Puerta del Sol. Like everyone else, the idea of having a much bigger screen was very appealing and the initial feeling was fantastic.
But as the days go by I found using this iPhone more uncomfortable. I had to wreak havoc to fit in my pants pocket, and using it with one hand had become a mission impossible. I am a person with very small hands so I noticed this more than the average person.
The iPhone 6 Plus made me go back to the small size with the iPhone 7, and to defend the small mobiles
While many have embraced this big screen as the new standard, after a while I ended up going down to the smaller size with the purchase of an iPhone 7. Being able to use an iPhone with one hand made me feel better. rained again, and I have become an advocate for small mobiles.
But of course it was time to replace the iPhone 7 with a new model and then I switched to the new standard which was the iphone xs. This is the phone I still have today and in terms of performance I’m very happy with it, but I had to get used to using the mobile phone almost always with two hands. We were already in a time when big mobiles were the order of the day, so we had to resign ourselves if we wanted the latest technology and the best performance.
At this point in the story you will understand that the arrival of iPhone 12 mini it was a great joy for me. Finally, Apple contemplated in its flagship line those who wanted the newest but at the same time in a small and manageable size. I decided to keep my XS to pay for it more, but at that point I figured my next iPhone was going to be one of those minis. I confirmed this as soon as I could hold one in my hands for a while. “The perfect iPhone“, mentionned.
But time goes by, and there is one factor that I had not taken into account that has turned my opinion 180 degrees. The way I used my iPhone during the iPhone 6 Plus era was just a paltry part of how I use my iPhone XS in 2021.
The use I give the iPhone in 2021 is conclusive: the large screen gives more advantages than the portability of a small
Work and my mobility have meant that, even with an extremely portable 11-inch iPad Pro in my backpack, I do a lot of work on the phone for convenience and speed. Check and respond to emails, manage my calendar that I use as a task and productivity manager, and even edit personal finance spreadsheets and issue invoices. All this from the screen of an iPhone and using both hands to be more agile.
Doing all of this on an iPhone 12 mini would slow down due to the size of the screen as you would see less data on it. It would also sacrifice autonomy and write messages in a more uncomfortable way because the keyboard would be narrower. More portability and convenience, yes, but a more awkward user experience.
So after testing all the models in person, I have to come to terms with what I see already irremediable: I love the iPhone 12 mini and will love the likely iPhone 13 mini, but my next iPhone will surely be a Pro Max by the size of your screen. How I’m giving the iPhone XS right now is asking me, and it lets me see that every time I’m doing more things with the phone than with the tablets when I’m not sitting at my desk .
Yes, it will be more uncomfortable at times, but for all of these uses I will appreciate it. Even my eyesight, already haunted by a lifetime of staring at screens, will also benefit. Depending on what happens, I will do it this fall or in 2022 … and we’ll see if there will be any folding models with even bigger screens then.
