Do you remember when oversized smartphones were the exception rather than the rule? Just a few years ago, devices with 4.7 "to 5" displays were considered normal, and anything larger was easily called a phablet. In 2020, it is almost impossible to find compact Android phones. As the displays keep getting bigger, the design philosophy that inspired phablets has become the standard.
But how did we get here? After the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, let's take a look back at some of the most notable large-screen devices that first blurred the lines between smartphone and tablet and opened the door to today's pocket killers.
Let's take a look at some of the best greatest phones ever!
Samsung Galaxy Mega (2013)
Screen size: 6.3 in
Dimensions: 167.6 x 88 x 8 mm
Weight: 199 g
The Galaxy Note series hasn't always been Samsung's option for large-screen smartphones. In 2013, the Galaxy Mega wore its screen size as a badge of honor. The phone itself was over 167mm long and nearly 90mm wide, with enough space for a 6.3-inch display.
The mega was an absolute monster of its time. Its screen overshadowed its smartphone contemporaries such as the HTC One M7, the Nexus 5, the iPhone 5S and Samsung's own Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4. While this meant it was the ultimate choice for those who wanted more screen for content, it was almost impossible to work with one hand.
See also: The best Samsung phones you can get: high-end, mid-range, and entry-level models
Another disadvantage was the technical data. The Mega was powered by the Snapdragon 400 SoC and only had 8 GB of internal storage. There was plenty of space to browse the internet or take pixel peek shots with the 8 megapixel camera, but the phone lacked the power enthusiasts it craved. There was also a 5.8-inch version, but that was even less powerful than its larger counterpart.
Buyers were asked to spend ~ $ 570 on the Galaxy Mega, which made it a tough sell when the slimmer, more refined, and more successful $ 700 Galaxy Note 3 came out. Still, it was a huge phone
Sony Xperia Z Ultra (2013)
Screen size: 6.4 in
Dimensions: 179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5 mm
Weight: 212 g
The oversized screen genre didn't die after the mega. Instead, it seemed to be gaining popularity. Just a month later, Sony joined the revolution with the Xperia Z Ultra - a ridiculously large phone with flagship specs.
The Z Ultra features an intimidating 6.44-inch display that increases the size of the phone to over 179mm long and 92mm wide. If you had problems with the size of the Mega, the Z Ultra definitely wasn't the device for you either.
connected: These are the best Sony Xperia phones
Even so, Sony paired this 1080p screen with a more powerful Snapdragon 800 SoC, 16GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM, making it a refined entertainment hub and reliable workhorse.
Although we lamented the outrageous lack of usability as a phone at the time, Android Authority praised the Z Ultra for addressing "the toy-driven child in all of us". This is something few current smartphones really do.
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 (2018)
Screen size: 6.9 in
Dimensions: 176.2 x 87.4 x 8 mm
Weight: 221 g
Five years later, the Galaxy Mega and Xperia Z Ultra screens and smartphones kept getting bigger. Xiaomi's line of oversized devices culminated in the 6.9-inch Mi Max 3 screen. Introduced in 2018, the phone was a neater evolution of the big-screen smartphone philosophy. It gave users an affordable device that, despite its size, demonstrated elegant design choices.
See also: These are the best Xiaomi phones you can buy
For starters, the Mi Max 3 had minimal rails next to the screen and used an aluminum construction instead of plastic. For its size, the phone was surprisingly practical too, with a fast capacitive fingerprint sensor on the back, two SIM slots, and a headphone jack. A 5,500 mAh battery also provided enough juice for up to two days. However, this meant the phone was almost 10g heavier than the Z Ultra.
While large screens almost always came with a high premium, the Mi Max 3 launched in China for around $ 250, opening the door for larger, more affordable devices to hit the market.
Huawei Mate 20 X (2018)
Screen size: 7.2 in
Dimensions: 174.6 x 85.4 x 8.2 mm
Weight: 232 g
This wouldn't be a great summary if we didn't mention this absolute monster. We don't think it would be difficult to call the Huawei Mate 20 X one of the most unique devices from 2018.
The selling point of the Mate 20 X was and is its extreme size. The balloon dimensions were considered a feature when kept along with the more refined Mate 20 siblings. With a 7.2-inch display, stereo speakers, and the Kirin 980 chipset, the phone was a great pocket entertainment system for those with large enough pockets.
connected: The Best Huawei Phones You Can Buy Right Now
Although the touted gaming performance was pretty average and the device could not be used without the scaffolding, we praised the Mate 20 X in our test with the words: "It is the best that a phablet has achieved in terms of both smartphone and smartphone usability of a real device to reconcile tablet-like screen so far. "You can find this beast of a phone on the store fronts today, and you can now offer 5G support too.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (2020)
Screen size: 6.9 in
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm
Weight: 220 g
Looking back at February 2020, the Galaxy S20 Ultra made its debut with a 6.9-inch display, the largest we've ever seen on a Samsung smartphone that won't rotate or fold, and a bigger magnification for the company's flagship.
While the S20 Ultra's display is larger than most of the devices mentioned above, it's both shorter and narrower than any one - a testament to advances in display and device design. However, this made the phone unusable. Its weight made it cumbersome to hand and pocket, but left enough room for a whopping 5,000 mAh cell to ensure users had great battery life even with the 120 Hz refresh rate enabled.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra has turned the oversized smartphone from a gimmick that doesn't meet the right criteria for enthusiasts to one of the most feature-rich, oversized phones ever launched.
Giants of today, leaflets of tomorrow?
There is a parallel between oversized phones of the past and the foldable smartphones of today.
Giant smartphone screens are now the norm, but it's clear that companies aren't quite done pushing the limits of screen size in more experimental form factors. These include flexible phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Mate XS, as well as dual-screen devices like the Surface Duo.
These are all somewhat cumbersome phones that further cloud the distinction between phone and tablet. While they may have high prices and questionable shelf life, in many ways this is in the spirit of oversized smartphones, don't you think?
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the greatest phones of all time. So, cast your votes in the poll below and share memories of your favorite super-sized smartphones in the comments!
