Some points about aesthetics of phone designs.

September 24, 2012

there big misconception design of phones, have been used countless times in arguments phone better etc, , idea that:

the bigger display, better phone looks. (in terms of percentage screen area)

or even:

the bigger display, better phone.

utterly wrong, there nothing intrinsically having big display. if don't understand intrinsic is, here's short explanation. money not intrinsic good, instrumental because instrument can use buy other things, iphones or food, or services. wouldn't want money if can't use buy other things. things intrinsically good, specifics of can differ person person examples can include happiness, safety, beautiful gem stones, music, love, success, etc...

reason, 1 cannot bigger display makes phone better. because display size not intrinsic good. 1 can argue more beautiful design makes phone better (all else being equal) because beauty intrinsic good.

makes no sense connect measurable objective fact aesthetics, because nobody has been able come such example. can't phone looks because thin, because there thin phones not looking, in fact there phones better if thicker. can't painting because has lots of red, because there lots of other paintings have red, though don't have many previous one.

, second reason, makes no sense phone looks better because has bigger display, happen case, case, screen size no evidence better looks. can't prove me painting better because has more red in it, or statue better because more expensive.

====================however====================

there many reasons have bigger display, or bigger display give other things intrinsic, example:

flexibility of content or function.

can view more content faster, less scrolling.

without having deal bigger body.

those reasons, whenever want argue phone better, make more sense use these reasons themselves, rather bigger screen because there can disconnect between two. example:

samsung galaxy s8 has "bezel-less" display iphone x, samsung has more screen percentage iphone x. people might begin argue because of this, s8 better.

if @ fundamental reasons have bigger display have listed above, it's not convincing more. because iphone ears house status icons, entire area of screen underneath notch usable. s8 has status bar, , row of software buttons, neither of flexible, or show more content, compared iphone x.

this isn't sincere argument against galaxy s8, example show how logic works. since differences in screen area talking here microscopic, regardless of has upper hand. important clear want, , offered each product.

====================aesthetics==================

think reason people mistake screen size aesthetics, if 1 imply other, because screen size implies else, , people mistake aesthetics.

screen size implies shock value, big screens visually striking because have historically been difficult haven't seen many of them. their attractiveness comes lack of exposure, , not aesthetic contribution.

what's difference? here 2 cars:

lot of people first looks better, mom would. because first car more beautiful more aesthetically pleasing? don't think so. it's because first more striking, more fresh, more curves , designs haven't been possible in past.

difference is, 30 years now, consider first car old, , average looking, old cars. second car still classic design , beautiful in own way.

see getting @ here?

not have final on phones , not, opinion. trying here screen size , aesthetics 2 different independent concepts. phone can have huge screen , still horrible (like idiotic iphone concepts keep seeing), while other phones can have small screens , still great (iphones before x).

maybe i’m being little harsh on pixel here, think still bit better elephone s8, giant chin ridiculously ugly. still, pixel phones vastly inferior samsung , lg offerings.