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It seems there is now a global trend among smartphone manufacturers, which is to make them bigger, over and over. It reached a point where they have to make "mini" phones which often are low-end knock-off of the flagship.

Is there a logical design-related explanation ? Are people's hands getting bigger (mine certainly aren't) ?

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  • Lately, content is king and bigger display basically equals more things to see. No matter how many pixels you have in a 2" screen, it will be no match to a 720p 4" screen in terms of content presentation, especially because screen real estate is not measured in pixels, but in actual physical length. Basically, people want to have a mobile TV
    – Raestloz
    Sep 30, 2014 at 15:24
  • There are 2 big points for me, more ux than design: gaming and office watch the apple presentation: apple.com/live/2014-sept-event
    – user54844
    Sep 30, 2014 at 16:10

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It's a trend.

One company does it, two companies do it. Two companies do it, four companies do it. Etc.

Tim Cook said they wouldn't make a bigger phone but now with the iPhone 6 Plus, they have. Why? Because other companies have done it too. And as a company you sometimes have to go with market demand: users want it, so they have to make it.

Users switched, because if they wanted a bigger screen, they had to switch to e.g. a Samsung Galaxy.

Phones/tablets are becoming our PC.

No matter if you're working, sending some emails, browsing on Facebook... phones and tablets are taking over these tasks from the PC. Therefore, a bigger screen is required. You have to admit, sending documents on a 3.5" inch screen isn't that comfortable, right? ;)

They're still compact.

This trend is probably nowhere near it's end, because the devices are still compact.

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