The bean counters at ABI Research have made a bold prediction. They say that more than 208 million “phablets” will be sold in 2015. What’s a phablet? According to them it’s a smarpthone with a screen that measures between 4.6 inches and 5.5 inches diagonal. Now just to be clear, that’s not the definition we use here are IntoMobile Headquarters. We would never classify the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (4.65 inches), the HTC One X (4.7 inches), or the Samsung Galaxy S III (4.8 inches) as phablets. The Samsung Galaxy Note (5.3 inches) and the LG Optimus Vu (5.0 inches) however, those are definitely phablets. But back to ABI’s definition, here’s what they have to say about the form factor:
“One of the chief drivers for phablets is the amount of time people use their smartphones for web browsing, reading articles and newspapers on the go, or simply navigating their journeys. The larger screen sizes make a significant difference to the user’s experience when compared to conventional-sized touchscreens between 3.5 to 4 inches.” – Senior Analyst Joshua Flood
So anything under 4 inches is considered “conventional” by these guys. They’re right if you look at how many iPhones Apple is selling. Rumor has it that the next Jesus Phone will have either a 3.9 inch or 4.1 inch display, which we consider to be manageable. There’s just something about these new Android superphones, their massive size, that make us feel like they’re simply too much. That’s not to say that the Galaxy S III isn’t going to fly off store shelves, it’s just that we would prefer if companies toned things down a little and came out with flagship phones that are just a tiny bit easier to use with one hand.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. If you’re happy with a 4 inch phone, then great, but if your friend wants a Galaxy Note, then don’t pelt him with complaints that he’s somehow abnormal.
Different folks, different strokes.
[Image Credit: Gizmodo]