Not everyone has the necessity or ability to carry around a laptop with them everywhere. The convenience of a 6.5"+ screen is great if you are away from a laptop.

True, but for watching video? Is the need that common away from home/office/workspace? I get YT videos, which often don't need as big a screen, but movies and tv shows on a phone?

Have you actually compared the view of a phone that is inches away from you face to a Tv that is a few yards away from you?

Besides that, have you thought that everyone’s lifestyle may not be just like yours?

I don't watch tv a few yards away, but point taken people have different lifestyles and needs. I should have rephrased the context to be my surprise that the big phones came to totally dominate the market, when it makes them harder to handle and more cumbersome to keep on your person. I didn't think consuming content would completely trump that, not with the simultaneous rise of tablets. Choice is good.

Go to any public transport commuter city and the buses and trains are rammed with people watching tv in their phones

Your TV isn’t at least 9 feet away from you?

Only if I'm at someone else's place. I watch on a monitor two feet away.

You do realize how atypical that is, don’t you?

What? Watching things on your computer is atypical? These days, I'd argue owning a TV is atypical.

96% of households in the US own a TV

https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/nielsen-estimates-that-119-9...

Are we really going to do the whole Slashdot meme “Do people still watch TV? I haven’t owned a TV in 10 years”.

I often end up watching TV on a phone when I'm on a bus/train. Though I'm not too bothered about the size.

Before quarantine many people watched videos only during commute as they were too busy working at work and housekeeping at home.

Movies, no. Casual TV shows, yes.

When I'm in a plane, in coach, watching on my phone is way more comfortable than pulling out my 15 inch MBP.

Put your phone in a transparent sandwich bag, and tape the bag to the top of the sear in front

Back when I was going minimalist and traveling more, I learned to watch my shows on the phone. I would lay on the couch or in bed and watch it with headphones. I ditched my desktop. For me, it was about having a few, high quality tech than a profusion of tech. If a device can serve multiple purposes, even better.

Now I am more settled and have a family, I watch things on my phone a lot less.

I understand, but wouldn't a tablet have worked better for that, in addition to reading and browsing? It's not a like a tablet takes up that much room or weight.

Being minimalist is about what works specifically for that person. What seems to work for you doesn't mean it works for me. I have spent effort at intentionally designing my life and environment. Not having a tablet at that time was an intentional decision on my part.

Rather than using a tablet, I was using a Kindle Paperwhite so that I can take my library with me. I don't use it to browse the web.

I have quite a bit I use my SE, including Evernotes, my meditation timer, my Go client, etc. I don't actually need a tablet.

I have a tablet now. More because my wife and the T-mobile guy convinced me that I can use it as a backup 2FA device with Krypton. There are some use-cases that I am looking to incorporate things with... but again, I don't actually need it. I probably won't take it with me when I travel.

Public Transit, being in a place that doesn't have places to put things down on.

I guess, but seems weird to me to watch video on public transport instead of listening to music or a podcast, or reading something (which I do use my phone for). Then again, I don't have good public transport where I live, so I don't spend time on it to know.

But it's more about do enough people want to watch video in public or on the go such that large phones became the dominating choice?

And the same question, why does it seem “weird” that other people have different preferences than you?

Fair enough, but I edited my comment to add that it surprises me that this preference became the popular one. The reason being that in a public place, people can often see what you're watching and there are potentially a lot of distractions, plus on transport the ride might won't always be smooth.

> people can often see what you're watching

Given your handle I can understand your concern...

Yeah it doesn't really mean that ...

> I guess, but seems weird to me to watch video on public transport instead of listening to music or a podcast, or reading something

... Why?

Watching TV is, for some people, a Very Important Activity

I don't get it myself, but for whatever reason a lot of people do enjoy this. I'm guessing as a coping mechanism. Probably in the same vein as reading books/news, or playing video games etc.

I have an old friend who every night picks out some criterion collection DVD to watch, and posts about it on social media before/during/after.

That said, I have a tablet I use for long-form reading/youtube (90%+ reading) during train/ferry rides > 10 min, but obviously haven't had to use it much recently. Mostly reading.

I like to watch lots of videos and television sometimes but not all the time. Ive lately transitioned to watching YouTube / Netflix . Also, when I want to learn something I try to look for Youtube videos that are relevant.

Can I carry around a tablet, laptop, desktop, smart TV around in my pocket?

Do you need to? I'll modify my biased opinion and ask, does everyone need to such that phablets became the industry norm?