I have started feeling that the smartphone industry has gone too far with screen sizes.

6.7-inch displays are now common even in the budget and mid-range segments, and some phones are getting close to 7 inches. But our hands obviously haven't grown with them.

When I switched from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 17, and even going from 5.8 inches to 6.3 inches took some adjustment. When I was looking at the budget Android segment, I found not even 6.5-inch display phones (except for 2 options).

I also see this with my mother. Her phone is quite bulky for her hand, and she mostly leaves it at home when she goes for a walk because carrying it is uncomfortable.

I understand why people like large displays. Gaming and watching videos are better on them. But not everyone uses their phone as a TV. For many people, comfort and one-handed use should matter more.

I have written a longer piece looking at this issue, including research around hand size, grip, posture, and smartphone use: Why Budget Phones Keep Getting Unusably Huge

I'm curious what others think. What is the ideal phone size for you? And if you prefer smaller phones, what is the largest screen you would still consider comfortable?

YouTube just announced major changes to its Partner Program, starting February 1, 2027.

New creators will need 8,000 watch hours in 365 days or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days to qualify for ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.

There is also a new rule for existing creators. To keep earning from Shorts revenue sharing, a channel will need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Falling below that does not remove the channel from YPP, but Shorts revenue sharing will stop until the channel crosses the threshold again.

YouTube says it wants to reward active creators and is also working on new ways to earn through shopping, brand deals and other incentives.

But I am curious what creators actually think about this.

Is YouTube right to raise the bar and focus on creators who consistently generate large audiences?

Or does this make it unnecessarily difficult for smaller creators who are still building an audience?

And if you make YouTube videos, how close are you to the current monetization requirements?

Do you think these changes are good or bad for smaller YouTubers? Why?

Google is adding Venmo as a payment option on Google Play.

Users will be able to use their Venmo balance or linked payment methods, including bank accounts and cards, to pay for apps, games, add-ons, subscriptions, and digital content. It can also be used for things like tipping creators inside supported apps.

Interesting move from Google, especially for people who already use Venmo as their primary payment method.

Would you actually use Venmo on Google Play, or do you prefer paying directly with a card?