It's only 1mm wider than an iPhone 6 with its 4.7" screen.

It's also a full centimeter taller.

And a bit fatter... but for me width is the most important for easier use.

Too be fair it's not really comparable. The aspect ratio has gotten wider and bezels much smaller.

That's good since it's 9.1mm thick

And also that 169g constitutes a "lightweight design".

That same iPhone 5 clocked in at just 112g. This phone is a full 50% heavier.

yeah, if it was 5.5" i would have ordered one immediately! that's my ideal size for a phone

You'll found that iPhone 8 Plus (5.5 inch) is not for you. Screen diagonal inch is bad metrics. Let's check real outer dimensions.

My hands use the screen, and they're of a certain size. If the screen is too big, I can't use it with one hand. The iPhone SE (the original one) can be used with one hand; if they would convert the bezels to screen I wouldn't be able to. I can't use the new iPhone SE with one hand.

In short, I think it's a good metric.

good point, i have never used an iphone but the pixel 3 was pretty comfortable to use.

A decade is a long time in tech terms......

iPhone 5 also had massive bezels that made if physically much bigger than its screen size implies.