Please visit the updated report for mid 2016
While the major smartphone manufacturers compete at the top end with ever-increasing screens, Sony has just recently bucked the trend by launching the Xperia Z1 Compact. A top end powerhouse with “only” a 4.3″ screen (which would have been a top of the line phone size just 2 years ago) it’s the first time in many years that there is a real alternative top end smartphone to the iPhone 5S.
But while most are focused on screen size, weight, and thickness of the device, something that is often overlooked is the screen-to-body ratio of a phone which is an essential ratio to express the usability of the phone. Screen-to-body is measured as the percentage of the front surface of a phone that is taken up by the screen. I have compiled a list of the more popular phones, sorted by ratio in descending order.
What are some of my findings?
Android offers it all…. and LG is the king of screens
- Phablets with their 5.5″ and larger screens obviously have a geometrical advantage so that they dominate the above 70% club.
- LG overall offers phones with the highest size-to-screen ratio with the LG G2, G Flex and Optimus G Pro
- Sony generally has a worse than average ratio for all Android phones
Nokia makes Windows Phones bezel-heavy
- Windows Phones generally have a lower screen-to-body ratio which is due to Nokia’s unibody design philosophy which has extremely large bezels all around the screen.
Screen-to-Body ratios are increase, but Apple doesn’t care
- Screen-to-body ratios have increased significantly over the last years which can be demonstrated on the Samsung Note line of devices:
- Galaxy Note 1: 63.5%
- Galaxy Note 2: 68.6%
- Galaxy Note 3: 74.8%
- Apple really hasn’t followed this trend and offers some of the lowest screen-to-body ratios around. The screen of the iPhone 5/5S merely covers 60.8% of the front of the phone. Still, quite an improvement over the 47% of the iPhone 3GS
Please note that the below ratios are not super accurate as they don’t take into account that devices with more rounded edges have a smaller front surface area overall.
| Model | Screen Size (inch) | Resolution (horizontal) | Resolution (vertical) | Body size (width) | Body size (height) | Ratio (screen to body) | PPI |
| Alcatel One touch Hero | 6 | 1080 | 1920 | 80.6 | 158.5 | 77.69% | 367 |
| LG G2 | 5.2 | 1080 | 1920 | 70.9 | 138.5 | 75.91% | 424 |
| LG G Flex | 6 | 720 | 1280 | 81.6 | 160.5 | 75.78% | 245 |
| Huawei Ascend Mate 2 | 6.1 | 720 | 1280 | 84.7 | 161 | 75.22% | 241 |
| Sony Xperia ZL | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 69.8 | 131.6 | 75.03% | 441 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 5.7 | 1080 | 1920 | 79.2 | 151.2 | 74.80% | 386 |
| Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 | 6.3 | 720 | 1280 | 88 | 167.6 | 74.19% | 233 |
| Huawei Ascend Mate | 6.1 | 720 | 1280 | 85.7 | 163.5 | 73.21% | 241 |
| LG Optimus G Pro | 5.5 | 1080 | 1920 | 76.1 | 150.2 | 72.96% | 401 |
| ZTE Nubia Z5S | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 68.8 | 137.7 | 72.75% | 441 |
| Alcatel One Touch Idol X | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 67.5 | 140.4 | 72.72% | 441 |
| Lenovo Vibe Z | 5.5 | 1080 | 1920 | 77 | 149 | 72.69% | 401 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo | 5.5 | 720 | 1280 | 77.4 | 148.4 | 72.60% | 267 |
| Google Nexus 5 | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 69.17 | 137.84 | 72.28% | 441 |
| LG G Pro Lite | 5.5 | 540 | 960 | 76.9 | 150.2 | 72.20% | 200 |
| Motorola Moto X | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 65.3 | 129.3 | 72.12% | 312 |
| Huawei Honor 3X | 5.5 | 720 | 1280 | 77.4 | 149.5 | 72.07% | 267 |
| Meizu MX3 | 5.1 | 1080 | 1800 | 72 | 139 | 71.65% | 418 |
| Micromax Canvas XL | 6 | 540 | 960 | 84.2 | 165 | 71.43% | 184 |
| Nokia Lumia 1520 | 6 | 1080 | 1920 | 85.4 | 162.8 | 71.38% | 367 |
| LG Optimus L9 II | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 66.5 | 128.4 | 71.32% | 312 |
| HTC One max | 5.9 | 1080 | 1920 | 82.5 | 164.5 | 70.71% | 373 |
| Oppo Find 5 | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 68.8 | 141.8 | 70.64% | 441 |
| Motorola Droid Ultra | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 71.2 | 137.5 | 70.40% | 294 |
| Nokia Lumia 1320 | 6 | 720 | 1280 | 85.9 | 164.2 | 70.36% | 245 |
| Huawei Ascend P6 | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 65.5 | 132.65 | 70.09% | 312 |
| Sony Xperia Z | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 71 | 139 | 69.83% | 441 |
| Acer Liquid S2 | 6 | 1080 | 1920 | 86 | 166 | 69.52% | 367 |
| Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 | 5.8 | 540 | 960 | 82.4 | 162.6 | 69.22% | 190 |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 Active | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 71.3 | 139.7 | 69.19% | 441 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | 5.5 | 720 | 1280 | 80.5 | 151 | 68.60% | 267 |
| Oppo R1 | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 70.4 | 142.7 | 68.60% | 294 |
| Motorola Droid Mini | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 61.3 | 121.25 | 68.58% | 342 |
| Motorola RAZR i | 4.3 | 540 | 960 | 60.9 | 122.5 | 68.33% | 256 |
| Sony Xperia Z Ultra | 6.4 | 1080 | 1920 | 92.2 | 179.4 | 68.27% | 344 |
| Lenovo K900 | 5.5 | 1080 | 1920 | 78 | 157 | 68.10% | 401 |
| Blackberry Z30 | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 72 | 140.7 | 68.03% | 294 |
| LG Optimus F7 | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 68.2 | 131.7 | 67.80% | 312 |
| HTC Butterfly S | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 70.5 | 144.5 | 67.65% | 441 |
| Lenovo S930 | 6 | 720 | 1280 | 86.5 | 170 | 67.49% | 245 |
| Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 | 5.2 | 720 | 1280 | 75.3 | 146.8 | 67.44% | 282 |
| LG Optimus 4X HD | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 68 | 133 | 67.33% | 312 |
| Huawei Ascend P2 | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 66.7 | 136.2 | 67.03% | 312 |
| LG Optimus G | 4.7 | 768 | 1280 | 69 | 132 | 66.86% | 323 |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini | 4.3 | 540 | 960 | 61.3 | 124.6 | 66.74% | 256 |
| Sony Xperia SP | 4.6 | 720 | 1280 | 67.1 | 130.6 | 66.57% | 319 |
| Huawei Ascend G700 | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 72.8 | 142.5 | 66.43% | 294 |
| Google nexus 4 | 4.7 | 768 | 1280 | 68.7 | 133.9 | 66.20% | 323 |
| Samsung Galaxy Nexus | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 67.94 | 135.5 | 66.15% | 312 |
| Alcatel One touch Idol Ultra | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 68.5 | 134.4 | 66.15% | 312 |
| LG Vu 3 | 5.2 | 960 | 1280 | 85.6 | 132.1 | 65.92% | 326 |
| Samsung Galaxy S3 | 4.8 | 720 | 1280 | 70.6 | 136.6 | 65.86% | 306 |
| HTC Desire 700 | 5 | 540 | 960 | 72 | 145.5 | 65.79% | 220 |
| Oppo N1 | 5.8 | 1080 | 1920 | 82.6 | 170.7 | 65.77% | 380 |
| Sony Xperia C | 5 | 540 | 960 | 74.15 | 141.5 | 65.69% | 220 |
| Samsung Ativ S | 4.8 | 720 | 1280 | 70.5 | 137.2 | 65.67% | 306 |
| BLU Life Play S | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 67.5 | 137.5 | 65.61% | 312 |
| Xiaomi Mi-2 | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 62 | 126 | 65.25% | 342 |
| Motorola Moto G | 4.5 | 720 | 1280 | 65.9 | 129.9 | 65.21% | 326 |
| Xiaomi Mi-3 | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 73.6 | 144 | 65.03% | 441 |
| BLU Life Pro | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 72.1 | 147 | 65.03% | 294 |
| HTC One | 4.7 | 1080 | 1920 | 68.2 | 137.4 | 64.99% | 469 |
| HTC One X / X+ | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 69.9 | 134.36 | 64.84% | 312 |
| Samsung Galaxy Core Advance | 4.7 | 180 | 800 | 70.5 | 133.3 | 64.80% | 124 |
| Lenovo Vibe X | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 74 | 144 | 64.68% | 441 |
| Sony Xperia Z1 Compact | 5 | 1080 | 1920 | 73.9 | 144.4 | 64.58% | 441 |
| Samsung Galaxy Express 2 | 4.5 | 540 | 960 | 65.8 | 132.4 | 64.08% | 245 |
| Asus ZenFone 5 | 5 | 720 | 1280 | 72.8 | 148.2 | 63.88% | 294 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note | 5.3 | 800 | 1280 | 83 | 147 | 63.47% | 292 |
| Nokia Lumia 625 | 4.7 | 480 | 800 | 72.2 | 133.2 | 63.32% | 202 |
| Sony Xperia ZR | 4.5 | 720 | 1280 | 67.4 | 131 | 63.23% | 326 |
| LG Optimus L7 II | 4.3 | 480 | 800 | 66.6 | 121.5 | 62.99% | 220 |
| Jolla Smartphone | 4.5 | 540 | 960 | 68 | 131 | 62.67% | 245 |
| Lenovo S820 | 4.7 | 720 | 1280 | 69.7 | 139.5 | 62.63% | 312 |
| Sony Xperia SL | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 64 | 128 | 62.22% | 342 |
| Sony Xperia Z1 Compact | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 64.9 | 127 | 61.84% | 342 |
| HTC Desire 600 | 4.5 | 540 | 960 | 67 | 134.8 | 61.81% | 245 |
| Samsung Galaxy S2 | 4.3 | 480 | 800 | 66.1 | 125.3 | 61.54% | 220 |
| Nokia Lumia 925 | 4.5 | 768 | 1280 | 70.6 | 129 | 61.30% | 337 |
| HTC One Mini | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 63.2 | 132 | 61.10% | 342 |
| Apple iPhone 5/5S | 4 | 640 | 1136 | 58.6 | 123.8 | 60.80% | 326 |
| Nokia Lumia 920 | 4.5 | 768 | 1280 | 70.8 | 130.3 | 60.51% | 337 |
| LG Optimus L5 II | 4 | 480 | 800 | 62.2 | 117.5 | 60.35% | 237 |
| Nokia Lumia 820 | 4.3 | 480 | 800 | 68.5 | 123.8 | 60.11% | 220 |
| Nokia Lumia 1020 | 4.5 | 768 | 1280 | 71.4 | 130.4 | 59.96% | 337 |
| HTC Desire X | 4 | 480 | 800 | 62.3 | 118.5 | 59.75% | 237 |
| HTC Desire V | 4 | 480 | 800 | 62.3 | 118.5 | 59.75% | 237 |
| Nokia Lumia 720 | 4.3 | 480 | 800 | 67.5 | 127.9 | 59.04% | 220 |
| HTC Windows Phone 8X | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 66.2 | 132.3 | 58.20% | 342 |
| Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 | 4 | 480 | 800 | 62.7 | 121.2 | 58.04% | 237 |
| Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini | 4 | 480 | 800 | 63 | 121.5 | 57.62% | 237 |
| Nokia Lumia 520 | 4 | 480 | 800 | 64 | 119.9 | 57.48% | 237 |
| Nokia Lumia 525 | 4 | 480 | 800 | 64 | 119.9 | 57.48% | 237 |
| Sony Xperia M | 4 | 480 | 854 | 62 | 124 | 57.37% | 245 |
| Blackberry Z10 | 4.2 | 768 | 1280 | 65.6 | 130 | 57.02% | 361 |
| Huawei Ascend W2 | 4.3 | 480 | 800 | 67 | 134 | 56.78% | 220 |
| Nokia Lumia 620 | 3.8 | 480 | 800 | 61.1 | 115.4 | 56.46% | 249 |
| Huawei Ascend W1 | 4 | 480 | 800 | 63.5 | 124.5 | 55.79% | 237 |
| Iphone 4/4S | 3.5 | 640 | 960 | 58.6 | 115.2 | 50.02% | 343 |
| Samsung Galaxy Fame | 3.5 | 320 | 480 | 61.6 | 113.2 | 48.43% | 171 |
| Apple iPhone 3G/3GS | 3.5 | 320 | 480 | 62.1 | 115.5 | 47.08% | 171 |
| Nokia Asha 503 | 3 | 240 | 320 | 60.6 | 102.6 | 39.90% | 141 |
| Blackberry Q5 | 3.1 | 720 | 720 | 66 | 120 | 33.45% | 355 |
| Blackberry Q10 | 3.1 | 720 | 720 | 66.8 | 119.6 | 33.16% | 355 |
| HTC First | 4.3 | 720 | 1280 | 65 | 126 | 62.24% | 342 |
you should add the new smartphones
On it. The update will be published in the next few days.
Hi Richie,
I have published an updated table. http://wp.me/p1at8R-8a
P