Mid size phones (4" screen or less)

Genghiz Cohen

(First World Problems incoming)

I'll be due an upgrade from a Desire HD in August.
The DHD, while a fantastic phone is too big for my tastes, it also lacks a hard key to activate the screen within easy reach. I have to shift my grip to unlock the phone and it's really something that grates.

I have 3 phones in my sights currently:
The Xperia P. (EDIT: Probably won't have camera button to unlock )
The Galaxy S Advance.
The Orange San Diego. (May prove a challenge to get :P)

These phones are all good, but none of them has made me go "Oh sh- DO WANT!".

I am a fan of HTC's Sense UI and the One S and X look fantastic. If they had a home key then that would be my decision made easy (Or at least down to 2 phones).

So, my list of demands in a phone:
Key near the bottom to activate the screen.
4" or less screen.
High DPI.
Snappy menus and a good processor for games.
Slim.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

ED E

P doesnt meet your unlock button requirement.

Genghiz Cohen

Isn't there a camera button on the side?
Don't be telling me that won't turn on the screen!

ED E

Genghiz Cohen wrote: »

Isn't there a camera button on the side?
Don't be telling me that won't turn on the screen!

Stock no. Well, assuming it follows the S. From locked the camera button opens directly to the camera. You can go from "deep sleep" to photo taken in about 1.5 seconds. So you sorta could, by hitting the button with it set to boot the camera but not take, then hit the capacitive, unlock and go, but that'd bug the fúck outta me.

Genghiz Cohen

ED E wrote: »

Stock no. Well, assuming it follows the S. From locked the camera button opens directly to the camera. You can go from "deep sleep" to photo taken in about 1.5 seconds. So you sorta could, by hitting the button with it set to boot the camera but not take, then hit the capacitive, unlock and go, but that'd bug the fúck outta me.

Aw lame!
I was hoping it would be a press for unlock and a hold for camera.

You mentioned stock, are there roms/addons to fix this issue?

ED E

Its been talked about, that or the volume down button. With root it should be an easy mod. Thing is root isnt simple atm, and devs are all waiting for ICS before they start working on things.

Genghiz Cohen

A friend linked me to this.
Has the required tweak.

Oafley Jones

The Xperia P has it's power button on the side just above the volume rocker. Really liked the design, much more than the S which left me really disappointed. It feels great, also has the capacitive button on the transparent strip unlike the bizarre placement on the S.

Zonda999

If the Galaxy S Advance had launched with ICS, it would have been a lot more attractive IMO