Some more statistics mainly from GSMArena.com…
Nokia, at its best, offered an N97, and 6 months after an N97 mini.
N97 screen size : 3.2" (2009)
Samsung Galaxy S phones all come with a mini version:
S3 mini screen size : 4"
S4 mini screen size : 4.3"
S5 mini screen size : 4,5" (2014)
S6 mini screen size : ??"
S7 mini screen size : 4.6" (rumors)
Sony Compact series:
Z1 compact : 4.3"
Z3 compact : 4.6"
Z4 compact : 4.7"
Z5 compact : 4.6" (2015-10)
Interesting to see that the screen size did reduce between the Z4 and the Z5. Less is better here.
iPhone mainstream series:
4 : 3.5" (2010 ; Steve Jobs died in 2011-10)
5 : 4" (2012-09)
6 : 4.7" (2015-09)
SE : 4" (2016-03)
Still smaller than FP2.
Newer is smaller again.
Apple on Steve Jobs era conducted experimental researchs concluding than the 3.5" will always be the size to be.
_Gizmodo (2011) : This Is Why the iPhone’s Screen Will Always Be 3.5 Inches This Is Why the iPhone's Screen Will Always Be 3.5 Inches
Touching the upper right corner of the screen on the Galaxy S II using one hand, with its 4.27-inch screen, while you’re walking down the street looking at Google Maps, is extremely difficult and frustrating. I pulled out my iPhone 4 to do a quick test, and it turns out that when you hold the iPhone in your left hand and articulate your thumb, you can reach almost exactly to the other side of the screen.
Other mini series:
- Motorola DROID mini : 4.2" (2013)
- HTC One mini 2 : 4.5" (2014-05)
- OnePlus Mini : 4.6" (rumors)
So phone makers are merely all offering “hand-sized” phones, in addition to bigger and bigger screens presented as mainstream…
They might be making bigger screens just because they miss another improvement to announce. Still, my hands are not growing anymore, and I don’t want to watch videos on my cellphone.
My opinion on this matter is that a good market positionning for an FP2 mini would be 3.5" screen size. (and lets consider 4" max if it’s technically way too difficult to achieve 3.5")
This would address a clear other segment of the market. And a 4" FP3 would be a one-size-fits-all product…