Enough is enough: it’s time to bring back the small smartphone

There is a clear trend with mobile phones that they just get bigger and bigger. Here’s my thing: I want a small smartphone.

I recently tweeted about what kind of mobile phone size I’d want:

I’d like a phone the size of an iPod nano. If Apple, or anyone else, creates that, I’m a given buyer!

— Robert Nyman (@robertnyman) January 28, 2013

I figured it would be good to write a little about it, to expand on what I mean and also to cover some of the replies I got.

Mobile phone size

To begin with, I’d like a really small and lightweight mobile phone. I fondly remember my old Nokia 8210 and how small it was. I recently found it, actually, so I can know it wasn’t just a dream but indeed a perfectly sized phone, at that time.

Recently I got an iPod nano and the size, weight and screen are great! And that led me to thinking that it was exactly what I’d want in a mobile phone.

I think the really flat design the nano has, with a weight of only 31 grams, is something worth striving for in most scenarios.

The trend

The trend recently, though, with Android phones, the new iPhone 5 and much more, is bigger screens, thus bigger dimensions. I have to say, they do work hard to keep the weight down, but honestly, they’re still way too big.

I can definitely appreciate a 4-inch or 5-inch phone (with 7 inches you’re really pushing it), but overall, I’d much more prefer a small phone.

And when companies start producing remotes for your smartphones, ie one small device to run your massive smart phone, then things really have gone too far.

Current options

Some of the few options that I got suggested were the HP Veer and the xPeria Mini, but I’d say that, while smaller, they’re still too big for my taste and what I believe we should be able to produce nowadays.

Also, with the Veer and HP dropping WebOS, it was discontinued and not a viable option anymore.

Phone providers, go for it!

I seriously believe there’s a great niche in the market for this, and I’m sure most people would like a very small and lightweight phone. Many would probably also get it in addition to a regular smartphone, and bring the one that’s most suitable for the occasion.

I’d be more than happy to lose a few features, as long as it has a touch screen, decent storage and the basic smartphone features, such as an internet connection, web browser and similar.

I don’t know what the margin would be in producing such a device for manufacturers, but at the same time, I think they could make up for it with bulk sales.

So, please, make it happen!

This article by Robert Nyman originally appeared on Robert Talks and is republished with permission.