Mockups suggest that the launch of a phablet iPhone makes sense

RaduTyrsina · Feb 3, 2013

Rumors of a purported 5-inch iPhone being in the works at Apple have taken the tech world by surprise, but many have been wondering if such a device might actually make sense. The Instapaper developer Marco Arment seems to believe that the so called 5-inch iPhone Math could become reality by creating some mock-up versions of the device. However, he prefers to call the device iPhone Plus.

Arment noted that the Retina Display iPhone offers a resolution of 326 pixels/inch, while the Retina Display iPad features a more limited 264 pixels/inch display. Following this train of thought, the developers managed to calculate that if Apple were to release an iPhone with a 4.94 inch screen the device will sport 264 pixels. However, the screen could match the iPhones 5 1136 x 640 resolution.

The theory is easy to understand: perform John Grubers Mini-predicting math backwards. The iPad Mini uses iPhone 3GS-density screens at iPad resolution. What if an iPhone Plus used Retina iPad screens with iPhone 5 resolution, keeping the rest of the design sized like an iPhone 5?

In order to make everything more intuitive, Arment placed the mockup device he created between the Samsung Galaxy S 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, adding the iPhone 5 too, so people might get an idea how of what Apple might intend to do in the Math/Plus concept, design wise. Arment also inserts his mockups in an Apple product assembly line, so users might get an idea how big the device could be.

Source: MacRumors
Source 2: TechnologyPersonalized

anjali189 · Feb 4, 2013

What does it mean ? Previously it was others following Apple, now it seems Apple following Samsung....

pego99 · Feb 6, 2013

Will never happen as it can't be operated by a thumb when held in 1 hand. People who want a 2 hand operation will have to buy something other than a iphone. Jony Ive and Tim Cook insist on a 1 hand operation,

Thomasjtsi · Feb 7, 2013

pego99 said:
Will never happen as it can't be operated by a thumb when held in 1 hand. People who want a 2 hand operation will have to buy something other than a iphone. Jony Ive and Tim Cook insist on a 1 hand operation,

Apple also said, at one point, that the 3.5" screen was perfect and that they saw no point in making them bigger. Now we have the 4" iPhone 5... things are changing people. Get used to it.

blantz · Feb 7, 2013

Thomasjtsi said:
Apple also said, at one point, that the 3.5" screen was perfect and that they saw no point in making them bigger. Now we have the 4" iPhone 5... things are changing people. Get used to it.

Word.

Sent from my iPhone using iPF.net

pego99 · Feb 7, 2013

This 1 hand operation is based on the width not changing and it didn't when they just made the screen longer not wider. The width must stay at the current width but they could make the screen longer 5 or 6 inches but just keep the width to maintain the 1 hand rule commandment.

Thomasjtsi · Feb 7, 2013

pego99 said:
This 1 hand operation is based on the width not changing and it didn't when they just made the screen longer not wider. The width must stay at the current width but they could make the screen longer 5 or 6 inches but just keep the width to maintain the 1 hand rule commandment.

IMO, if they make the iPhone any taller and keep the current width... it'll look absolutely ridiculous! And I don't mean "ridiculous" in any sense of "California coolness..." LOL!!

DRad2003 · Feb 7, 2013

Thomasjtsi said:
IMO, if they make the iPhone any taller and keep the current width... it'll look absolutely ridiculous! And I don't mean "ridiculous" in any sense of "California coolness..." LOL!!

This brings to mind an iPhone 5 parody on YouTube.