This latest rumor about the iPhone 5, which is likely to be released next summer, is a foretelling of Apple’s likelihood to increase the screen size from 3.5 inches to 4 inches.

Citing an unnamed source, the site says that Hitachi and Sony have already started shipping 4-inch LCD panels to Apple for use in “new iOS devices.” – CNET

A half inch may seem like a small amount, but when it comes to mobile devices it is a very big jump. So far, Apple has been very consistent in it’s decision to keep the iPhone at the smaller size. This is one area in which Steve Jobs was unwilling to budge on. He was all about simplicity and uniformity when it came to design.

“There’s a rumor among Apple staff that says Jobs wasn’t happy with the size of the screen because it “fragmented” the iPhone line. Steve has expressed his distaste for massive screens in the past, so we’re not surprised to hear that a 4-inch display didn’t jive with him” – TomsGuide.com

With the death of Jobs, things are up in the air as far as what direction Apple will be going in as far as design goes. For many people (myself included), one of the main advantages of the iPhone has always been the sleek and compact design.

If a larger screen size is indeed coming to the iPhone 5, hopefully they will find a way to keep the overall size of the phone more or less the same. If they somehow manage to spread out the screen to the edges of the phone, that would be the most ideal in my opinion.

It may seem limiting to some, but one has to admit that it does easily slide into your pocket, it’s not too bulky, and it really fits the hand quite nicely – as opposed to some of the newer droid phones coming out recently such as the Driod Bionic and the Droid Razr, which both have a screen size of 4.3 inches (if you happen to have smaller hands, you’re gonna be hating life if your phone is bigger than your hand, and maybe even your face someday if the trend of bigger = better continues!)

Does bigger equal better when it comes to smart phones?

Here’s my take from my smart-phone experience so far:

I’ve previously owned a Droid X, a Droid Razr, and most recently an iPhone 4S. I will admit that when I first started playing with my new iPhone 4S the lack of real estate was definitely noticeable. But at the same time, the comfort factor kicked in and totally made up for it. I could actually hold the phone comfortably in my hand while performing various tasks without the fear of it slipping, and I could easily reach my thumb up to the top right of the screen without going into double-jointed-ninja mode. That’s definitely something that always gave me a hard time with the Droid phones.

On the other hand, there are definitely times when the larger screen come in handy. For example, browsing the web or reading any kind of text is much easier with a larger screen for obvious reasons, and apps have more freedom when it comes to interface design whereas it can become cramped on a smaller screen.

The pros/cons and differences between Android phones and iPhones could probably fill up a small library, and I’ll most definitely be covering that in a separate article, but as far as size goes, what it really comes down to is what you want out of your phone. It’s about finding that perfect balance between comfort and functionality.