A majority of smartphone users prefer larger display sizes, according to a report from research firm Strategy Analytics. A survey conducted in the United States and United Kingdom found that respondents were most interested in displays that were between 5.0 inches and 5.5 inches, measured diagonally across the screen.
Participants in the survey were asked to rank a series of smartphone displays based on what they would be most likely to purchase. Of all the respondents, more than 36% ranked the 5.3 inch model either first, second, or third. Over 27% of respondents did the same with the 5.0 inch model. Furthermore, 23% and 16% of respondents chose the 5.0 inch and 5.3 inch models as their most preferred, respectively.
A majority of consumers were interested in purchasing a smartphone with a larger display, but were mostly conservative when it came to the sizes they were willing to accept, the report said. Few consumers were interested in a display more than 1.5 inches larger than their current one. Devices with displays larger than 6.0 inches were rated as the least desirable, along with those that had displays smaller than 4.5 inches.
In 2010, Samsung was the first company to release smartphone with over a 4.0 inch display size. Since then, Apple and other smartphone companies have started offering larger displays. For reference, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus measure 4.7 and 5.5 inches, respectively.
The survey also examined the most preferred thickness for smartphones. Given the choice between 6 and 8 mm, most respondents opted for the thinner device. When the participants were informed that thicker models would have more battery life, however, the scale tipped in the opposite direction. The majority of smartphone users would prefer a thicker smartphone if it offered a longer-lasting battery.