Let me make a disclaimer. I am writing this after having watched the live-stream of the Samsung event, read tens of articles and watched any hands-on and first impression video on Youtube that I could find. After that virtual experience once thing has become very clear. Samsung has launched a highly desirable phone with the Galaxy S6 Edge. If it wasn’t for the Edge stealing the show, even the S6 in itself would be a phone to lust for.
I am a smartphone-geek, not loyal to any brand or ecosystem. I have owned phones from pretty much any manufacturer from the main stream like HTC, Apple, Samsung to the lesser well known Chinese manufacturers. My current daily drivers are a Lumia 930 while also switching between a couple of Android phones (Moto X, Galaxy Alpha and Ascend P7).
During all those years there haven’t been many phones that I really needed to have. And I am talking about that illogical desire and need to just own a gadget. With the Galaxy S6 Edge Samsung has definitely achieved this feat. This really is a very desirable piece of technology. From the edged screen to the glass back and front and the sheer raw power of the device. This phone seems to have it all.
During the presentation the statement “design with a purpose” was mentioned multiple times. Actually, the S6 Edge is the complete opposite. There isn’t really any functionality that makes the edge version worthwhile functionally. But what it does is to create a really cool phone. So not design with a purpose but rather the complete opposite. And that’s a good thing.
Following on from the previous post to determine which phone has the smallest bezel overall. The screen-to-size (or bezel size) ratio expresses the percentage of a phone’s front size is taken up by the display.
With CES-15 out of the way I have update the list with the latest releases and announced phones. Some of the key findings:
The incredible bezel-less Sharp Aquos Crystal remains the leader and there are no changes to the Top 10. One would hope that Sharp releases the phone unolocked for all carriers and internationally.
Lenovo seems to be getting their designs sorted out with the highest new entry, the Vibe X2 Pro (74.55% @ no. 13). This is the 3rd highest ratio of any sub 5.5” device. Lenovo also has the top 2 phone with the Vibe Z2 Pro.
Thanks for everyone’s comments, corrections and feedback. Keep it coming.
I wondered what Nokia (or rather MS) would do with all the stock of parts and material they must have stocked up for the highly unsuccessful launch of the Nokia X series phones. First it was the X, X+ and XL, then followed by the X2. This was such a strange move anyway while already being taken over by MS.
Anyway, have a look at the comparison between the Nokia X2 and the Lumia 532. Well, then you know how Microsoft has recycled the parts. Obviously some things have changed in an effort to cut cost. The flash has been removed and the screen has been reduced to 4″ but it’s essentially the same phone. Nothing wrong about that, just saying…
It is the usual annual ritual for every mobile phone manufacturer to launch at least one flagship with big fanfare during a trade show or dedicated press event. Also this year during CES, Mobile World Congress or later in the year for the inevitable iPhone 6S event tech bloggers, journalist and other high profile tech geeks will cover the latest device launches. Before each event most of the device specs are already leaked so there are few surprises left.
And each time I am hoping for the “perfect” phone just to be disappointed again that the phone has at least one (if not more) so obvious flaws that it would be impossible for product developers, designers and R&D Departments of multi-billion dollar companies to overlook. And each time I ask myself why this is and have as yet failed to come up with a good reason.
Let’s have a look at some of the current flagships and what I consider a major flaw that make it obviously not perfect.
Apple iPhone 6:
Too large bezels making it much too large for a 4.7″ screen device
Protruding camera
No SD card
HTC One M8:
Sub-standard 4Mpx camera
Large form factor for a screen this size
Samsung Galaxy S5:
Plastic built is sub-standard for a flagship
Fingerprint scanner is nearly unusable
Rear firing loudspeaker
Custom Android skin
LG G3:
Custom Android skin
Plastic body
5.5″ screen is phablet territory
Motorola Moto X:
Mediocre battery life
Large form factor
No SD card slot
So as you can see each of these phones has some obvious drawbacks that any product marketing expert should have spotted right away. Is it a lack of attention to detail, a certain carelessness about the level of perfection or just something within the product development of any company that is going wrong?
Well, in any case if you have the answer, please let me know.
IFA 2014 is over and the iPhone 6 has officially been released. Hence it’s time to update the Ultimate Screen-to-Body Ratio Comparison.
There has been quite some move at the top of the table with 3 new phones occupying the top 3 spots. Moreover the top 3 are the first to break the 78% mark. This is especially an achievement for the Sharp Aquos Crystal being only a 5″ phone. To reach a ratio of 78.5% is much more of an achievement for a smaller screen compared to the 6″ phablets.
Both versions of the iPhone 6 can be found in the middle of the pack with 67.9% for the 5.5″ and 65.7 for the 4.7″ iPhone 6.
As always I appreciate any comments, suggestions and corrections. Please comment below.
IFA 2014 is over and saw some major phone announcements. Just as in the previous years, Samsung used the stage in Berlin to announce the updated version of the Galaxy Note, the phone/tablet to create an entirely new category, the phablet.
While the Note 4 turns out to be an evolutionary step from the Note 3 with just the right amount of changes and upgrades to keep us gadget geeks excited, Samsung surprised everyone with the Galaxy Note Edge. The verdict is still out if the Edge screen and navigation is more of a gimmick or a tool but you have to give credit to Samsung to at least trying out something new.
But some other manufacturers announced their phablets as well. Huawei released the Ascend Mate 7. Maybe it used the 7 to signify that it’s only been 7 months since the Ascend Mate 2 was released. The all metal chassis, Emotion UI 3.0 and fingerprint scanner scream premium and high-end.
Alcatel launched the OneTouch Hero 2 adding a metal back-panel and a 1080p screen. It’s predecessor is heading the screen-to-size ratio table. Let’s see how the new phablets will fare.
While not announced at IFA, Lenovo had the Vibe Z2 Pro on display that was released a couple of weeks ago. Lenovo used IFA to announce the X2 and Z2, however the Vibe Z2 Pro clearly is the top-end device of the Chinese manufacturer.
Let me know which of the phablets you think is the one to rule them all by voting for your favorite tablet launched in 2014.
I have updated the post to include the iPhone 6 Plus after it’s release.