[i_am_jl]

Small phones (to an extent) are less expensive than larger phones to manufacture.

The thought that "Small phones are only more popular because they're less expensive" seems to willfully ignore that the phones are less expensive because their inputs are less expensive, because they're smaller.

[frereubu]

I wonder about the idea that they're less expensive. True in terms of materials, but possibly not true if the smaller production run means you can't offset the capital costs of manufacturing the parts.

[i_am_jl]

That's fair. I suspect that as phones get more "premium" the margin from a small phone shrinks faster than a larger phone.

HTC has been making cheap (very cheap) and small phones for the discount market. Foldables exist in the premium space, but the price tags appear to bake in a higher margin for a device that won't sell the same volume.