For nearly a decade web designers have concentrated on transitioning websites to more responsive designs, but many have failed to take into account the rapid increase in screen size. From 2007 to 2011 screen size only changed by a half an inch, then at the end of 2011 screen size exploded. In the past 3 years the size of the average smartphone screen has increased dramatically, going from an average of 3.5” to over 5” diagonally across, the largest being the Asus FonePad 8 with a screen size of a whopping 8”. The additional screen real estate is a double-edged sword, as there is more room to display content, but also now more dead space.
Size Matters: From the Palm to Thumb, the Size of Smartphones
When Apple launched its original iPhone and subsequent models, including the iPhone 5, their designers deliberately chose their screen size. It was most likely chosen for a very simple reason – it was comfortable[i]. The average user’s thumb can comfortably reach from the corner of a phone at the base of their palm to the farthest corner of a 3.5 inch screen. In translation, a person could ideally hold an iPhone in their right hand and reach the top left corner of the screen without awkwardly straining or using their left hand…
