I, however, fail to see why Apple wouldn't offer iPhone in its "standard" size, as well as a "big" size - the 5" model.

The rumor sites have them bringing out two models - one a bit bigger and one much bigger. If anyone brings out an android nano I'll defect immediately (having been on iphone since day 1).

The Sony Z1f is a pretty great 4.3" phone. Which, sadly, is 'nano' these days.

And still larger and thicker than an iphone 5 (which is already a bit too big)

The Droid Razr M is about the same size, at 4.82 x 2.40 x .33 inches[1]. It's only .09 inches wider, and .03 inches deeper than The 5s, and it is actually .05 inches shorter[2]. I'm not sure if you'd still find that too big though.

1: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_m-4973.php 2: https://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/specs/

There are definitely smaller ones out there. Htc one mini. Galaxy s4 mini. ect.ect. 4.3 inch screens for both of those ones.

Both bigger than an iphone 5 in all dimensions.

Really looking for something with a hi-res screen, apple-speed touch latency, maximum but preferably smaller footprint than an iphone 4, and at least as thin as an iphone 5. This should be doable in 2014 and I think would be distinct enough without being ridiculously niche to have a reasonable market segment.

You aren't likely to get apple-speed touch latency outside of apple. They have worked much harder on this than everyone else and do a much better job of it. Sadly for you, I don't see them releasing something that small again. The 4S is still a decent phone, but you might have to settle for the 5 sized phones. Unlikely they ever release something smaller at this point.

Sadly the market doesn't love small phones any more - Sony killed their Xperia Mini and Mini Pro range due to lack of demand, which was a shame.

Either you wear your jeans ridiculously tight or you've never tried to put one of the Galaxy Notes in your pocket.

Or the poster is female. People seem to forget that women's bottoms tend to have really tiny pockets (at least in the USA).

One of the reasons I didn't want any smart phone was the size (I had a small flip phone from Virgin Mobile); but now I'm used to my iPhone in a Book Book.

On the other hand, my wife often has no pockets, and never puts her phone in one. Instead it goes in a purse. For her, and I expect many women, the only thing that matters if it is comfortable to hold and use not how it gets stored between use.

No one believes (including me before I got my phone) that my Note 2 is less obtrusive in my pocket than my Moto Droid 3 was.

I was ready to buy a nexus 5 which is much smaller until I tried my friend's one - it feels like I tried to stuff a shoe in there by comparison. Having bought on spec, they agree that it is disappointingly huge and wish they went for an iphone.

I can fit a nexus 7 in a few pairs of my work pants. Stop wearing skinny jeans.

> Stop wearing skinny jeans.

They are standard in Europe and much of the US at least. My apparently heretical pov is that the tech should be user centred, not vice versa

ymmv but hardly going to start wearing fugly cargo pants for a phone - it's meant to be a convenience, not an inconvenience

At some point, the pants are what's inconvenient.

The current iPhone screen is too small. I'm glad to see Apple is starting to figure that out.

the old iPhone screens are too small. current isn't bad at all. perhaps a bit smaller than ideal, but not really "too small" (at least it isn't too small for tens of millions of people)

So you haven't tried it. Good deal. I wear regular fit pants and have absolutely no problem putting the phone in my pocket with plenty of room to wear.