Ascend P6 vs HTC One, Galaxy S4, and Xperia Z

With the official announcement of the Ascend P6 yesterday in London; Huawei is hoping to jump into the ring of high-end smartphones with the release of their ultra slim design. Whether or not the Chinese company can compete in the race for the top Android phone, alongside the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, and Samsung Galaxy S4 still remains to be unclear. However, let’s have a look at all the devices side by side.

So, how does the Ascend P6 stack up compard to the rest? / © AndroidPIT

Media attention was all on board for the presentation of the Huawei Ascend P6 last night and as a part of the major event the smartphone was revealed to the assembled tech press. Here at AndroidPIT, we had a correspondent on location during the reveal and the first impressions of the device were very positive.
Behind the impressive design of this new smartphone, lies a somewhat confusing lump of hardware specs that don’t quite fit in with the coveted top spot it seems to be seeking. The Huawei Ascend P6 still does rank pretty well, but when put against the competitors in the same class, it seems to rank more closely to an upper mid class device. So, the main question remains: can the Ascend P6 keep up with the others? I’ve decided to compare it on seven different categories below.

	Ascend P6	HTC One	Galaxy S4	Xperia Z
Material:	Aluminium	Aluminium	Plastic	Glass
Display:	4.7 inches, LCD 1.280 x 720 Pixel 312 ppi	4.7 inches, LCD 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 469 ppi	5 inches, AMOLED 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 441 ppi	5 inches, LCD 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 441 ppi
Processor:	Huawei K3V2 1.5 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.7 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.9 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5 GHz, Quad-Core
Software:	Android 4.2.2 Emotion UI	Android 4.1.2 HTC Sense 5	Android 4.2.2 TouchWiz	Android 4.1.2 Xperia UI
BAttery:	2.000 mAh	2.300 mAh	2.600 mAh	2.320 mAh
Dimensiomns:	132.6 x 65.5 x 6.18 mm	137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm	136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm	139 x 71 x 7.9 mm
Price (Amazon.com)	North American prices unconfirmed. From 449 € Euros.	From $680 US Dollars	From $630 US Dollars	From $590 US Dollars

Material

When it comes to the material that is preferred on a device, that of course is a matter of personal taste. The debate about the pros and cons of each material isn’t worth getting into a heated discussion over, however, personally, I think an aluminum body looks elegant and sleek, feels good, and is less susceptible to grease stains and fingerprints. As such, the HTC One and Ascend P6 are front-runners in my eyes.

Display

When looking at the data sheet above, you can see that the Ascend P6 has the lowest resolution, pixel density, and screen size (along with the HTC One) out of the bunch. In practice, however, the readability of LCD panels in the open air is known to be better than that of AMOLED screens and as we stated in a previous post, the human eye cannot distinguish anything more than 300 ppi at a normal viewing distance of 30 cms.

Processor

All the other manufacturers that were part of this comparison were running Qualcomm chips, with Huawei being the lone wolf building its own processors. Technically, the quad-core chipset of the P6 keeps up with the Snapdragons and is on par with what is behind the Xperia Z. Upon first impressions though; the performance of the device is absolutely satisfactory.

The Emotion UI draws some inspiration from Apples iOS. / © Huawei

Software

The Ascend P6 comes with the latest Android 4.2.2 and with that, Huawei stands ground along with Samsung in releasing the latest version of the OS. As with all the manufacturers, each brings their own user interface to the mix. As with the contentious issue of preferred material, the UI remains a matter of personal taste. The Huawei Emotion UI has similarities to Apple’s iOS and dispenses with the classic App Drawer. In previous tests of the UI, we found the Emotion UI to be surprisingly good.

Battery

The battery capacity of the Ascend P6 is much weaker than that of competing models. With the lower resolution and a smaller display on the Ascend P6, the battery should be more than enough for what it needs. Moreover, thanks to some power-saving technology built inside the device, the P6 should have about 30 percent more juice in its battery.

Dimensions

Here, the Ascend P6 is the clear winner, at least it you are judging it by having the most compact dimensions possible. Coming in at an impressive 6.18 mm in thickness, Huawei has unveiled the thinnest smartphone currently in the world.

Both sleek and stylish, the P6 also is the thinnest. / © Huawei

Price

Huawei also wins in this category as well. While street prices are not yet available, the retail price for the device definitely shows in what direction they’re aiming. With a price significantly below the $680 US dollar amount, the Ascend P6 is a real bargain compared to the other devices. Comparable in price to the Nexus 4, it has a much more pleasing appearance (in our opinion).

Conclusion

The differences are few and tiny. Even if the current top of the line smartphones seem a bit overpowered when it comes to the Ascend P6, it is technically still at the same level of the rest. In conjunction with the low price and stylish design, the Ascend P6 is definitely a serious contender. And while Huawei still has to take on the role of the underdog in most markets, it’s important to note that Huawei are the world’s third largest smartphone maker, behind Samsung and Apple, and are definitely looking to prove that they are up to the task.However, with only a slated release in specific parts of Europe and in China, it's unknown whether this device, or any Huawei device, will make its way to North American shores within the near future.

Google Play Edition HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 Available on Google Play Store

The Google Play editions of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S 4 are available for purchase though the Google Play Store today. The Google Play editions of these flagship smartphones take the manufacturer software out of the devices, stripping away Samsung’s TouchWiz and HTC’s Sense UIs to deliver a pure Google experience. Both devices run on Android Jelly Bean, and will be among the first to receive important updates and Google goodies.

The handsets will come unlocked, allowing owners to choose a month-to-month contract or a pre-paid service option as they please.The device is not being sold outside of the U.S. however, so international customers will have to wait.

Both devices can be purchased through the Google Play Store, and will be shipped to customers starting on July 9th. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 comes with a price tag of $649 for the 16GB version, and the HTC One comes with 32GB of storage and is a little cheaper than the S 4, coming in at $599. So head on over to the Google Play Store if you’ve got your eyes on one of these powerful, pure Google experience touting  devices.

Red HTC One launching in mid-July exclusively to customers of UK’s Phones 4u

British phone retailer Phones 4u has managed to get an exclusive launch window for the HTC One in “Glamour Red.” The sexy device is designed to make a “striking yet sophisticated statement,” and will be available in mid-July.

Inside, it remains the same powerful smartphone as the “classic” silver or black HTC One, sporting a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM, 4.7-inch full HD screen, stereo speakers on the front with Boom Sound, durable aluminum unibody, Ultrapixel camera and a ton of built-in storage.

According to HTC’s President of EMEA Philip Blair, the red HTC One “demands attention, whilst maintaining the high standards set for sophisticated design and build quality.”

We tend to agree with that statement and can’t wait to see the red HTC One hitting other carriers’ offerings. We’ll let you know when this bad boy starts selling in other parts of the world. Stay tuned…

Want a Gold Plated HTC One? It’ll Only Cost You $2,900!

Goldgenie, the company responsible most recently for the gold Blackberry Q10, has done it again. Now a gold or platinum HTC One can be yours, though it’ll cost you a pretty penny. The gold-plated One is retailing for about $2,900 American!

Famed for introducing the Gold Superstar iPhone series to the market along with the Gold Samsung S4, global gold-plating giants Goldgenie are releasing another world first: the Gold HTC One phone.

Retailing prices start at £1895, Goldgenie’s Gold HTC One phone is available in a choice of Gold (£1895), Rose Gold (£1995), or Platinum (£2095) plating. Featured in either Silver or Black, users can choose 32GB or 64 GB of memory. All phones are delivered in a beautifully customised Goldgenie box, making this a complete gift-to-go.

If you want some bling bling on your ring ring, you better be prepared to pony up the big bucks!

HTC One with Windows Phone launching this fall?

It looks like HTC is working on an HTC One variant that would run Windows Phone 8 rather than Android. The information comes from Neowin, which claims that such a device could be launched at some point in the fall, featuring a 4- to 5-inch screen, “a mostly metal body,” and Windows Phone 8 GDR3. An Ultrapixel camera may also be included, but that’s still not confirmed.

The HTC One is the second best-selling high-end Android smartphone (after Samsung Galaxy S4) and it makes perfect sense for the Taiwanese company to rely on the popularity of its existing product to expand to other markets.

At present, HTC sells two Windows Phone devices, 8S and 8X, which sit in the shadow of Nokia’s Lumia range. The HTC One running Microsoft’s mobile platform could help shift the tide in HTC’s favor while at the same time helping the Redmond giant expand its market share…

Google’s Sundar Pichai Announces HTC One Google Edition, Available June 26 For $599

Google will make another mobile phone available with stock Android soon. Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome, and Apps, announced at the D11 Conference that the company will sell the HTC One Google Edition for $599 on the Google Play store, beginning June 26.

Google has previously announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock Android through the Play Store, which will retail for $649. That device was announced during I/O, with availability also set for June 26.

“We’re developing a user experience that scales across the world[...],” Pichai said, explaining why the Google Edition devices are now a priority for the company. “We’re making Android the operating system that is consistent across all of these devices.”

“The challenge is related to what is great about Android [...] The scale and scope of Android is pretty breathtaking,” Pichai explained further. “From a Google perspective, we care about how users use Android and the user experience.”

HTC has already offered a similar device through its own online retail store, the HTC One Developer Edition. The Developer Edition is a $649.99 device that has 64GB of onboard storage, plus an unlocked bootloader. The new Google Play version of the One will differ in that it will also offer stock Android, and updates that arrive in time with those issued for Nexus devices and the Play version of the Galaxy S4. The Developer Edition also ships with Jelly Bean 4.1, but the HTC One Google Edition will ship with Jelly Bean 4.2.2. Also, the Google version will carry 32GB of internal storage instead of the 64 from the dev model. The Google HTC One works with GSM cellular networks.

HTC says it will continue to offer the Developer Edition direct from its own website, but the $599 Google Edition, with its GSM network support and initial U.S.-only availability, is probably the better buy for developers looking to not only try out the hardware but also stay up-to-date on the very latest from Google’s OS.

The HTC One has already been well-received by critics, and offering it with a stock Android experience is sure to be a hit with a specific audience. It’s also impressive that it will cost $50 less than the competition from Samsung. But now that Google is clearly interested in expanding the so-called “Nexus Experience” beyond its own line of co-branded devices like the Nexus 4 from manufacturer LG, it’ll be interesting to see what role those “blessed” handsets will have in the future, or whether “Nexus” becomes more of a designation than a specific device line.

The Mini HTC One Will Be Called The HTC One Mini

There’s plenty of information swirling about theHTC One Mini thus far, especially considering it’s not an officially announced handset by any means. Still, we’ve seen pictures, learned about rumored specs, and today it would appear that we’re one step closer to confirmation.

The folks at TNW spotted a User Agent Profilethat was published to a website owned by HTC, the Taiwanese htcmms.com.tw.

According to the User Profile, the new phone will be called the HTC One Mini. Not much else is glaringly obvious from the profile, save for the fact that the phone will have a 720p display and run Android 4.2.

Past that, there isn’t much else to be plucked from the page full of code. However, there have been numerous leaks and rumors that have surfaced over the past few weeks.

Just last week, we got to see a picture of the alleged device in all its glory next to an HTC One. The HTC One is the Taiwanese handset maker’s latest flagship, following on the successes of the HTC One X that came before it. The One Mini is expected to pack lesser power into a similar design, for those looking for a smaller or more affordable handset with the same style.

That leak also surfaced some rumored specs, including a dual-core Snapdragon processor and dual front-facing speakers.

Before that, early in June, we stumbled upon a whole bevy of photos of the HTC One Mini, or at least a phone that looks incredibly similar to the HTC One Mini.

Phone makers are clearly aiming to spread out the love in terms of phone sizes, with a number of “mini” handsets making their way into stores recently. The HTC One Mini, though unconfirmed, is expected to be the latest to join that category of smartphone.

Sometimes, small size matters in a big way.

Back to reality: Microsoft's new Xbox One policies retreat from the future

Last week at E3, in a private room inside Microsoft's massive, green booth, Marc Whitten spent most of our interview talking about the future. "As we think of the next five to ten years of innovation," he said, "we're going to be able to drive really great new experiences. I'm personally most proud of the Xbox 360, and how different the 360 is from what it was in 2005. And that's all about making really big platform bets and bets about the future of entertainment." Whitten would talk about the launch experience at times, but he was much more interested in finding ways to guide Xbox users to the brave new connected world of gaming and entertainment.

Which made today's abrupt about-face all the more surprising. Microsoft announced that the Xbox One will no longer check to see if you're online every 24 hours, and it won't impose any restrictions on disc-based games. The changes address two of the biggest criticisms with Microsoft's plans — points Sony rammed home during its own E3 press conference — and Whitten said it's all about listening to users. "What we've heard is that people love our games, love the entertainment experience," he said in an interview after today's announcement. "Frankly they love the vision of what Xbox is. But they've also told us very clearly that they want choice. They want the choice to use their games on physical discs just like they always have, and they want to be able to use their Xbox when they can't connect to the internet. And we listened."

The changes aren't completely terrible — today's move breathes life back into the used game market and, perhaps even more importantly, makes the One usable without a stable internet connection. But in reality, Microsoft may have listened a little too hard. Its policy changes are drastic, and they bring a couple of problematic consequences. If you buy a game on a disc, you'll always have to have the disc to play the game, and the Xbox's family sharing plan that would have allowed up to 10 people to share a game library is now pretty much defunct. Fast switching between games is also dead on arrival, unless you've downloaded massive digital titles to the console's hard drive. You'll still be able to access games you downloaded from any Xbox, of course, which Microsoft seems to hope means you'll download a lot more games. The sharing service could be similarly tied only to digital downloads, and why it's gone completely isn't exactly clear.

Whitten talked constantly about giving users "choices," but in doing so Microsoft has brought its futuristic vision crashing back to the present. The company so intent on moving its users into a world full of online single-player games and driveatars now offers gamers a way to use their One almost exactly like they used an Xbox 360. Whitten hopes the advantages are enough to drive people online, though. "We're still very excited about those features, and we think most people are still going to play in this digital, connected experience. They're going to play games like Titanfall and Forza that take unique advantage of the cloud to really change the experience."

Most gamers will still buy into Microsoft's vision, he said, and that vision hasn't changed a bit. "We believe most people will choose to be connected, and play online, because just what they can do is so powerful with the architecture of Xbox One."

One rigid, controversial requirement Microsoft's not changing its mind about? The always-on Kinect. "Kinect is a core part of our architecture," Whitten said, "and how we believe the experience can be transformed. When people get a chance to see how Kinect can transform gaming even with a gamepad in my hand… they love it. And we want to make sure there's a consistent experience that goes along with it, so that anywhere I am I can say 'Xbox TV' or 'Xbox Home' or 'Xbox go to Halo.' And that we believe is critical to the evolution of the gaming experience in the living room."

Only a week ago, Microsoft seemed to believe that an always-on, always-listening, always-connected expereience was also critical to the evolution of the gaming experience. But now, by offering buyers the option to game nearly the same way they did in 2005, it's turned a bold, next-gen console into something that feels all too familiar.

The entire history of Windows in one video

Windows has come a long way over the decades from the now antiquated-looking boxes of Windows 1.0 to the layers upon layers of desktops, start screens, charms, tiles, and whatever that bar on the left is in Windows 8.

Now, you can spend a little over an hour watching the entire evolution of Windows unfold in the video below. For some reason, someone spent what looks to be a few hours (the video seems to have been sped up) upgrading Windows using a virtual machine all the way from Windows 1.0 to the latest Windows 8 Pro.

The result is an hour and seven minutes of pretty comprehensive history for the world's most famous graphical user interface (GUI). Along the way, we get treated to a few quick games of classic Reversi and Doom, which launch easily from the early versions of Windows. However, Doom has some real problems launching from a version of Windows 1.0 running within Windows 8. How deliciously uber-meta-nerdy...

Most hilarious: how quickly the earlier versions of Windows install, and how much of the video is basically waiting for Windows 8 to load. This is to be expected of course, but for someone with distant memories of fumbling for hours with the more than 15 floppies needed to install Windows 95, it's satisfying -- and a little maddening -- to see the process fly by.

Samsung's Ativ Q is a Windows laptop and an Android tablet in one insanely high-res package

Samsung's famous for launching every type of device under the sun, but this time it's crammed them all into a single package. The company's just announced the Ativ Q, a dual-booting device that runs both Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2 inside a 13.3-inch convertible laptop package. The most impressive parts of the hardware are the insanely high-res 3200 x 1800 screen — the first use of the new display Samsung announced in May — and the flexible hinge that allows the Q to work in tablet mode, laptop mode, stand mode, and a sort of floating mode. From a hardware standpoint, it's remarkably similar to the Acer Aspire R7, though at .55 inches and 2.84 pounds it's a much more manageable device.

The Q is powered by an Intel Core i5 Haswell processor. Samsung says it'll get up to 9 hours of battery life, which would be quite the achievement for such a high-res device. But the real selling point is the dual-booting, and particularly the Side Sync software that lets you share data between the two operating systems, and even pin Android apps to your Start screen. It also lets you use your computer to back up your Samsung Android phone, and even use your PC keyboard to type on your phone. To hear Samsung tell it, the Ativ Q is basically a Windows computer with the Play Store — that's a pretty impressive proposition. And, of course, there's an S Pen.

Samsung also announced the Ativ Tab 3, a super-thin 10.1-inch tablet running Windows 8. It's all part of the Ativ family, which Samsung's made a big deal about — bringing laptops, tablets, and crazy convertibles all under the same roof. It looks a lot like the Galaxy Tab 3, a fact Samsung acknowledged during its press conference, but it's very much a full Windows device — "not the RT version," our emcee said with considerable disdain for Microsoft's low-powered OS. It's remarkably small for a full Windows device — it's 8.2mm thick, and weighs only 1.2 pounds. The Tab 3 comes with Office built in, and there's an S Pen here as well. Unfortunately it only has a 1366 x 768 screen, but Samsung promises up to eight hours of battery life.

As these are global launches, there's no word on when the new Ativs will come to the US or how much they'll cost. Samsung's tablet strategy has always been to be different, or at least be extreme. By launching the thinnest Windows 8 tablet, and a type of Windows tablet we've never seen before, the new Ativ models certainly fit the bill. And is it possible that Samsung just used Google to solve Windows' app problem?

Jimmy Fallon test-drives the Xbox One

Late Night host Jimmy Fallon got his chance to play with the Xbox One on his show Monday night.

Microsoft's upcoming new console made its late night appearance courtesy of Phil Spencer, vice president of Microsoft Studios. Spencer touted the Xbox One as an all-in-one entertainment center with games, live TV, a new Kinect camera, and a revamped Xbox Live service coming in the fall.

Fallon, a known technology geek, seemed like a kid in a candy store as he checked out the new console, proclaiming that "the future is here." But the real action took place when the two men turned to a big screen to play a couple of Xbox One games -- Killer Instinct and Forza 5.

Assuming the part of Sabrewulf in Killer Instinct, Fallon earned some gamer cred by taking apart his opponent Jago, helmed by Spencer. Fallon then hopped into the driver's seat of a Forza Motorsport auto simulator where he raced his onscreen car around the track. But his simulated driving skills may have lost him a bit of cred as he took it slow at first before revving it up and then bumping into the sides a couple of times.

Killer Instinct has his roots in the 90s, so it may not have been the best game to show off the Xbox One. Forza 5 certainly looked cool as a racing game, but how many of us have a Forza Motorsport auto simulator in our living rooms? Still, Microsoft managed to get some buzz for the Xbox One, so the late night appearance was certainly worth the trip.

To play out the rest of video game week, Fallon will host folks from Sony, Ubisoft, Activision, and Nintendo.

Microsoft rolls over on Xbox One always-on and DRM policies

Since the Xbox One and its draconian always-online and used games DRM policies were initially revealed, Microsoft has been taking a constant beating from the public. Now, it seems a persistent stream of vitriol has changed Microsoft’s mind, and the company is retracting the offending policies.

Along with the constant beating Microsoft has been taking, it didn’t help that its video game rival, Sony, swooped in and not only priced the PS4 $100 under the Xbox One, but directly addressed all of Microsoft’s undesirable policies by basically saying the PS4 wouldn’t have any of them. Today, a letter from Don Mattrick himself — the guy who told us that if you don’t have an internet connection, tough luck and you should just stick with the 360 — on the official Xbox site has been posted and states a complete reversal of the more hated policies.

First off, Mattrick states that an internet connection will not be required to play Xbox One games — the policy that drew the most hate, and the one Microsoft stood staunchly behind over and over again since the initial announcement. Secondly, Microsoft also stated that the used games DRM has been lifted, and you can buy and play used games however you want, and can trade and sell them back as well. There will be no limitations, and it will work exactly how it does today on the Xbox 360.

The letter also says that you can take your Xbox One anywhere and play any game, which also sounds like the region-lock and activation-lock are no more. Mattrick also noted that the only requirement to play a disc-based game is to have the disc in the Xbox One tray, which certainly sounds like the mandatory game installs are no more.

As for the very last bastion of Microsoft’s ruthless policies, it doesn’t seem like the Kinect policy has changed — you’ll still need to keep your Kinect plugged into your Xbox One if you want to play your games. This, though, wasn’t ever really too terrible to begin with since you can just drop a towel over your Kinect or stuff it into a drawer if you’re that paranoid.

Now, the only things that really give the PS4 an edge over the Xbox One is Sony’s superior hardware at a cheaper price, and Sony’s support of indie developers. With this retraction, however, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Microsoft do something about that price sooner rather than later, and perhaps even change its indie publishing policy.

So, if we’ve learned anything today, it’s that if you hate something loud enough on the internet, you’re going to make a positive difference.

Canada’s Mobilicity and Videotron soon to start selling HTC One

The hot-new HTC One is already available from a number of carriers in Canada — including Bell, Rogers, TELUS and SaskTel — and the list may not stop there. Two smaller players, Mobilicity and Videotron, are apparently preparing to join this trend, as well.

The information comes from XDA-Developers Forums, where one thread talks about two Android smartphones identified as “CA_Videotron VIDEO001″ and “CA_Dave DAVE_001.” DAVE, for those who don’t know, stands for “Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Holdings Inc.” which operates as Mobilicity.

Of course, this is still in the “rumors phase” and we’ll rather have to wait for the official press release from either HTC or any of the two carriers (or both) when we can get back to you with all the details, including the price. We do know the HTC One is sold by most Canadian carriers for $99.99 with a three-year contract or $650 sans any strings attached. It’s fair to guess Mobilicity and Videotron will keep a similar price though you never know…

HTC offers a $25 Google Play gift card to U.S. citizens buying HTC One between now and July 15th

After testing the free $25 Google Play gift card offer with three of Canada’s largest carriers, HTC is bringing it to the United States. Under the deal, anyone who bought the HTC One and activated it in the U.S. between now and July 15th will get a $25 voucher to use for apps and games.

There is a limit of one registration per email account, and codes will be delivered to registered email address within 72 hours of registration.

So if you do grab the HTC One, head over to this page to leave your email, and expect a response with a voucher that you can redeem for some free stuff. It’s that easy. 

And we want to know – what will you spend that money on?

The HTC One Mini Is The Perfect Robin To The One’s Batman

The days of a standard phone size are gone. 3.5-inch? 4.3-inch? 5-inch? Phone makers are less concerned with which size is right, and clearly becoming more concerned with offering as many sizes as possible.

Case in point: Engadget has surfaced a leaked photo of what appears to be a smaller version of the HTC One, or the One Mini. Obviously, the photo itself isn’t confirmed, nor is the phone, but the picture seems to match up to some earlier leaks, so at least leak volume seems to be lending credibility.

According to Engadget’s source, the HTC One Mini has a 4.3-inch 720p display, a metallic unibody design, Android 4.2.2 complete with Sense and BlinkFeed, and all powered by a Snapdragon 400 dual-core chip. None of this is confirmed, but we do call into question the metallic unibody design, as the picture appears to show a plastic bezel on the phone.

You’ll also notice that there is Beats branding on the phone, as well as the same front-facing speakers that HTC is pushing as a key feature of the One series.

Thrilling.

Perhaps more interesting than the phone itself, though, is the constantly evolving nature of smartphone size trends. Remember when Zoolander came out? Derek answered a phone that was the size of a mini army action figure, and finally heard the voice of God.

Before Apple ushered in the era of all-touch devices, small was the new new thing in cell phones. Clearly, that changed. Android manufacturers pushed against Apple in size, knowing that Jobs was reluctant to deviate past the 3.5-inch iPhone screen.

Galaxy devices had larger screens, Droids had larger screens, and HTC jumped on board, too. Until one day, Apple announced that the iPhone 5 would have a 4-inch display, the first time that the size of the iPhone display had ever changed. It was almost unsettling.

Zoom to today.

Android manufacturers are pulling back into 4- to 4.3-inch territory with phones like the Motorola Razr M, the Galaxy S4 Mini, and now the HTC One Mini. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Apple is experimenting with even larger screen sizes, according to a recent report by Reuters.

In other words, they’re covering all the bases they can. Perhaps I’m annoyed that my 4-inch iPhone 5 doesn’t fit as snuggly in the pocket of my jeans, whereas a friend of mine could be downright obsessed with the video viewing and gaming experience on his giant Galaxy Note 2.

People are different, and so must their phones be. But it also seems clear that phone makers, while spreading a variety of sizes out in front of consumers, are still looking for the sweet spot.

So where will we land? Your guess is as good as mine, but be prepared for some more back and forth before phone makers have figured out how to please our eyes, our hands, and our pants pockets all at the same time.