form factor

American  

[fawrm fak-ter] / ˈfɔrm ˈfæk tər /

noun

1. Computers. the design specifications of computing electronics that enforce uniformity and allow interchangeability of components.

   the form factor for circuit boards.

2. the physical dimensions of an electronic device.

   The form factor of the new phone is thinner and lighter than that of the older models.

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Etymology

Origin of form factor

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

But the handheld form factor of the iPod, among other factors, influenced the decision to make a phone instead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

He is hopeful for an all-new form factor that analysts sometimes refer to as the Model Q or Model 2, which will launch in some geographies in 2026.

From Barron's • Oct. 15, 2025

"Unlike VR headsets, glasses are an everyday, non-cumbersome form factor," said Forrester VP, Research Director Mike Proulx.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2025

"For making an actual product, you would need to package it into a usable form factor," he explains.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2024

But the 17-inch form factor allows for a keyboard sized similarly to that of a 12.5-inch notebook, and this one was quite comfortable to use.

From The Verge • Aug. 31, 2022