Should OEMs put proper priority on smaller smartphones?

Have a look see: Where have all the small smartphones gone?

It’s hard to believe, but just a few years ago smartphones used to be much smaller, both in specs and stature. While we will be looking at the spec situation later this week, today we’re going to address the latter issue.

At the time of their release, both the original Galaxy Note and Dell Streak were inconceivably large. Samsung in particular made a case for the what would be quickly labeled a “phablet” by offering a Wacom-powered stylus. Around the same period, HTC was also pushing the envelope for what was an appropriately sized “standard” product. The result was offerings like the Desire HD. Things gradually grew larger to the point we are at today: the “defacto” size for an Android phone has a 5-inch screen.

Do we really need more small?

Apple’s iPhone is proof that small sells. Ironically, many people feel the 6/6S is too large with its 4.7 inches of screen real-estate.

Despite the more vocal voices that decree devices under 5 inches are too small, it is a fact that they have consistently sold well: like it or not, Apple’s success in the smartphone market stands as a testament to this, especially amid reports that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 outsold the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus seven to one. Even so, there are countless Apple fans disappointed by Cupertino’s decision to “go big”, longing for the “minuscule” 4 inches of pixel power put in previous products.

Meanwhile in Android territory, OEMs have by-and-large chosen to relegate the small screen form factor to a back-burner experience at best. By using names like “Mini” in particular, they not only seek to describe the device itself, but also offer a tell-tale tell-all on the specs that will be featured inside. This is exactly why Sony’s use of the name “Compact” is so profound, as it doesn’t imply anything other than superior portability.

Sony’s Xperia Z3 Compact was an rare win for small sized Android smartphones.

Are there numerous small smartphones with Android? Sure, but try and count the ones that are actually pushed as full-fledged flagships and the listing is a bit brief at best. Samsung and Sony both had impressive small offerings last year with their Galaxy Alpha and Xperia Z3 Compact respectively. This year, Sony is back at it again with the Xperia Z5 Compact, and now ZTE has jumped in the game as its preparing to launch the Axon Phone Mini. For the most part, everything else is a collective offering of budget priced parts that OEMs can throw in and offload for purely pennies.

Just what can someone do if they don’t want a 5-inch phone? Some people have smaller hands. Some people want more portability. Some people want lighter. What do these customers buy when OEMs give them very little consideration?

The spec sheet

Why would the Galaxy Alpha need a FHD display when the one it has is good enough as is?

Many people misunderstand a major part of the small spec sheet. Granted the devices are often seem as being less relevant than their big brothers, but it’s also a simple matter of logic:

Does a small phone actually need a FHD screen? This argument is as seemingly endless as the question of QHD displays on phablets. Sure it makes everything look that much nicer, but battery life becomes a significant sacrifice. In the case of a small device, there just isn’t that much room to put a giant power cell, hence you have both Sony and ZTE going with 720p-resolution offerings.  Likewise, while it may be technically possible to put a more-powerful SoC inside a small device, is it really a good idea when considering the aforementioned battery problem?

How to substantiate and solve

The ZTE Axon Mini (right) is looking darn impressive despite its small status.

The solution OEMs like Sony and ZTE have taken is simply to provide other top-notch functionality in the more petite product: both the Xperia Z3 and Z5 Compact have fantastic cameras, and the soon-to-be-released Axon Mini has an absolute cornucopia of components ranging from high quality aluminum to Hi-Fi speakers to some pretty impressive cameras, not to mention 3GB of RAM. Both of these products use “lower powered” SoCs, yet still contain feature that high-end consumers might want.

Should more OEMs follow suit?

Without a doubt, yes. While many will be quick to write off the prospect of a small phone as being unwanted or unwarranted. It is important to remember however, that the needs of a few do not dictate the demands of the masses. As mentioned, Apple’s iPhone represents a very clear fact that tens of millions of people around the world are willing to settle with small. Likewise, Sony and ZTE clearly believe that it’s important to have a top-tier small phone for their premium product line. Heck, at least one person has even argued it’s time for Samsung to make a Galaxy Note Mini.

As the smartphone market has already reached a point of saturation and the very devices themselves have become a commodity, it becomes harder and harder for anyone to make a major profit. Even Samsung has been suffering as of late, despite being the hands down “center” of Android since the early days. Competition has never been keener, and it is about time that more companies take note of the small size form factor and start catering to those types of customers as well. At the very least, having a 720p display on a 4.7 inch phone looks a lot better than it does on a 5.2 inch one.

What do you think? Should more OEMs make compact sized smartphones? Leave us your thoughts below!

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