Phones - best for maps and photos?

[Kanga]

I'm looking at a new phone and trying to decide between getting the maximum size or a smaller one - any thoughts? I find it increasingly difficult to see a small screen. I do want to use the phone for gps tracks and maps but I don't like the weight of the larger phones.

 

[Dani7]

In 2023 I upgraded my iPhone 12 for a 14 Pro Max. Used for my camino and photos, kindle Brierly guide, google maps etc worked like a charm. The change from. 6.1 in screen to 6.7 in was worth the size change. A few pics taken on that adventure.

 

[Kanga]

Thank you @Dani7 that's helpful

 

[trecile]

When I switched to a larger phone it took me about one day to get used to the size and weight, and I absolutely love having a larger screen for reading, maps, photos, etc.

 

[Mycenius]

Just need to keep in consideration the weight (especially if you may be holding it in your hand a lot)

Using @Dani7's post as the start for example:

MODEL	SCREEN​	WEIGHT​	GRAMS PER INCH
iPhone 12 (base model)	6.1″​	164 grams​	26.89
iPhone 14 Pro Max	6.7″​	240 grams​	35.82
iPhone 16 (base model)	6.1″​	170 grams​	27.87
iPhone 16 Pro Max (latest model)	6.9″​	227 grams​	32.90
	​	​

 

[C clearly]

I definitely wouldn't trade in my large phone for a smaller one, to save 100 g!

 

[Mycenius]

I definitely wouldn't trade in my large phone for a smaller one, to save 100 g!

Me neither but if someone is older and/or has smaller or frail hands it might be a consideration...?

 

[Dani7]

Me neither but if someone is older and/or has smaller or frail hands it might be a consideration...?

I have arthritis in both hands and I am older but loved the bigger phone. Clearly a personal choice. The added weight was not an issue…and looks like my next camino will be with a 6.9 inch phone.

 

[Sirage]

but if someone is older

I am and I suspect most wanting to walk a Camino are not frail. As my body is capable of walking 4 or 7 hours / day, and my hands and arms can do all the usual things as well as lift my backpack, the extra 100 gms of my iPhone 12 Pro Max is negligible and easily offset by its productivity benefit.

 

[Robo]

I prefer larger phones.
I'm used to using a PC at home and small phone screens are hard for me. Not great eyesight!
If I'm going to read a guidebook on a phone, or use booking apps, or mapping apps, a larger screen I find makes life easier.

I use a Samsung 22 Ultra. Just slips into my pocket. 6.8" screen.

[td width="110px"]Dimensions[/td] [td]163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)[/td] [td width="110px"]Weight[/td] [td]228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)[/td]

 

[J Willhaus]

I have a newer Samsung Android and really like the quality of photos

 

[Robo]

I have a newer Samsung Android and really like the quality of photos

The Samsung phone cameras are outstanding! I shoot 4k video on mine.

Every time in the last 10-12 years it comes time to upgrade my phone, which was only about 3 times.......I go through an evaluation process. And come back to Samsung every time. My Camino phones have been the Note 3, Galaxy S8, and now the Galaxy S22 Ultra. But others love iPhones too of course.

 

[Robo]

I definitely wouldn't trade in my large phone for a smaller one, to save 100 g!

With the bigger screens, they are almost as good as a small tablet.
Using the Kindle app I can certainly read books on mine.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I'm looking at a new phone and trying to decide between getting the maximum size or a smaller one - any thoughts? I find it increasingly difficult to see a small screen. I do want to use the phone for gps tracks and maps but I don't like the weight of the larger phones.

I feel your pain. I am still clinging to my old iPhone 12 mini as I just love the size. It is just so practical. But, it got harder to read on the small screen.
My solution, for now, are glasses with progressive lenses. So I can read on short distance on my phone when I look downwards and see the rest of the world including yellow markers (mid to long distance) clearly when I look straight.
I know progressive glasses are no the solution to every eye problem.

 

[Kathy F.]

I use my phone for photos and emergencies.
I use a book with good maps (I'm partial to the Brierly's) for finding my way from point A to point B. Being able to read a map is an important skill, IMHO.

 

[Viajefacil]

Just need to keep in consideration the weight (especially if you may be holding it in your hand a lot)

Using @Dani7's post as the start for example:

MODEL	SCREEN​	WEIGHT​	GRAMS PER INCH
iPhone 12 (base model)	6.1″​	164 grams​	26.89
iPhone 14 Pro Max	6.7″​	240 grams​	35.82
iPhone 16 (base model)	6.1″​	170 grams​	27.87
iPhone 16 Pro Max (latest model)	6.9″​	227 grams​	32.90
	​	​

An interesting and useful table. I might add to the table both the new iPad mini with cellular, bigger screen (8.3"), more weight (297 kms), ratio 35.78, similar to the 14 Pro Max, and the 16 Pro at 6.3". 199 grams or 31.59 grams/imch. And has the three lens camera. This latter aspect is a big deal for those of us who used to carry 3-4 kgs DSLR cameras and multiple lenses.

 

[mikeatspokes]

I'm looking at a new phone and trying to decide between getting the maximum size or a smaller one - any thoughts? I find it increasingly difficult to see a small screen. I do want to use the phone for gps tracks and maps

I would say go for the one you like rather than limiting your options by screen size. For navigation you can use voice rather than looking at the screen and for looking at maps, you can just zoom in to the part your are interested in. A degree of waterproofing is more important imo if using as a satnav.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Just the opposite of most comments above. My newer iPhone SE is unfortunately a little larger than the original one but is still the smallest iPhone available as far as I know. It is crammed with Camino and nav apps, MANY other apps and thousands of pages of Kindle books. Decent camera. 4 or 5 years old. Hope the battery lasts. Buen Camino

 

[Mycenius]

I am and I suspect most wanting to walk a Camino are not frail...

Yes - perhaps not quite the right wording - meant in the context of, for example, Dani7's comment below (i.e. frail hands rather than frail in general):

I have arthritis in both hands and I am older but loved the bigger phone.

Yes - I have Dupuytren's Contracture in both hands (one operated on sometime ago, the other being done this year), and on one hand a smashed middle finger (from a cricket ball long long time ago), while the other just had an operation for trigger finger on it's middle finger! So along with the last few years early signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis (and weakening eyesight), and being a guy and having biggish hands, I too favour the biggest phone possible...


But my fiancée, who is quite small and has small hands always favours a smaller 'standard' phone - so its lighter and easier to hold (and fits in her jeans' rear pocket).

Clearly a personal choice.

Yes absolutely - there is never a 'one size fits all' solution for anything...

 

[Mycenius]

I have a newer Samsung Android and really like the quality of photos

The Samsung phone cameras are outstanding! I shoot 4k video on mine.

Absolutely - I am a dedicated iPhone user - mainly due to the O/S and the processor chips, not the other hardware aspects or appearance - Apple definitley dropped the ball on cameras around the iPhone 11 (2019) IMO and they have never been able to beat the top end Samsung's since. Absolutely support opinions in favour of going with a high-end Samsung if you are photography minded or primarly want the phone for that purpose - the camera hardware in the Samsungs is outstanding IMO.

P.S. Unfortunatley (IMO) the iPhone camera hardware just isn't as good overall; and along with the camera software Apple have excessively focussed on Portraits & Selfies, and Night Photos (i.e. people at parties and raves and such like) to the expense of general photography, landscapes, wide angle, sports & nature type subjects and other aspects of photography...

(I haven't seen a 16 first hand or read any reviews so maybe they've improved it?)

This latter aspect is a big deal for those of us who used to carry 3-4 kgs DSLR cameras and multiple lenses.

As an aside, yes, I know the feeling Viajefacil - I lugged a DSLR and several lenses all round the USA for 6 weeks back in 2013 and even though I had a rental car half the time it was a major hassle. They were heavy. Couldn't imagine doing it on a Camino (or any other long hike/tramp/walk) with them on my back the whole way!

 

[Viajefacil]

Absolutely - I am a dedicated iPhone user - mainly due to the O/S and the processor chips, not the other hardware aspects or appearance - Apple definitley dropped the ball on cameras around the iPhone 11 (2019) IMO and they have never been able to beat the top end Samsung's since. Absolutely support opinions in favour of going with a high-end Samsung if you are photography minded or primarly want the phone for that purpose - the camera hardware in the Samsungs is outstanding IMO.

P.S. Unfortunatley (IMO) the iPhone camera hardware just isn't as good overall; and along with the camera software Apple have excessively focussed on Portraits & Selfies, and Night Photos (i.e. people at parties and raves and such like) to the expense of general photography, landscapes, wide angle, sports & nature type subjects and other aspects of photography...

(I haven't seen a 16 first hand or read any reviews so maybe they've improved it?)



As an aside, yes, I know the feeling Viajefacil - I lugged a DSLR and several lenses all round the USA for 6 weeks back in 2013 and even though I had a rental car half the time it was a major hassle. They were heavy. Couldn't imagine doing it on a Camino (or any other long hike/tramp/walk) with them on my back the whole way!

My last trek with a DSLR was the Milford trek. Problem wasn't so much the weight of the camera, but the meter of snow at the pass.

 

[Kanga]

Thank you everyone, that was just the discussion I needed. I finished up with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Read the comments about the better photos in Samsung but I’m in an Apple environment and don’t want to go through the hassle of changing. I’ve just set up the new phone and everything seamlessly downloaded from the old.

I do like the much bigger screen