Apple’s 4-inch iPhones are one of the hottest selling smartphones in the market but competitors like HTC and Samsung are having trouble getting consumers to buy into their own similarly sized devices. Smartphones like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 which sport displays larger than those of their predecessors are a result of some consumers’ preference for larger screens. However, HTC and Samsung have released the One Mini and Galaxy S4 mini, both of which are smaller-screened “flagship” handsets with less powerful specs meant to compete with Apple’s iPhone. These “mini flagships” have seen slow sales according to DigiTimes.
Citing industry sources, the folks over at DigiTimes claim that the S4 mini has seen lackluster sales. This is partly attributed to the middling specs of the smaller-screened device, which has to compete with an array of other mid-range offerings from Samsung. Consumers aren’t flocking towards the HTC One mini either and the manufacturer has reportedly been forced in some markets to cut nearly 20% off the device’s sales price just two months after its introduction.
Another factor, aside from the competition from competition from larger-screened, equally specced devices, could potentially be Apple’s iPhone. The iPhone brings forth the high-end performance typically seen in larger devices with the smaller form factor that many consumers seem to prefer. Multiple studies have shown that more Android users switch to the iPhone than vice versa and the recent record-breaking sales of Apple’s newest iPhones indicate that there is still a demand for devices in its size range, despite the poor sales of competitors’ entries. Still, Android manufacturer’s smaller smartphones have found no traction among consumers, even though they are typically priced well below that of the iPhone.
The Cupertino California company’s refusal to move beyond a four-inch screen is due in part to the company’s insistence that iPhone users should be able to operate their devices with just one hand. The screen size of the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C allow most users to hold the device in one hand and access each part of the screen with their thumb. Despite this, the company is still rumored to be working on an iPhone with a larger screen, though such rumors have persisted for quite some time. CEO Tim Cook has hinted that iPhones could potentially get bigger displays when Apple can produce them without making trade-offs in terms of battery life, color reproduction and other factors. We’ll have to wait and see what turns out to be true and what doesn’t by just being patient.
Source: DigiTimes
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