Follow Us on Telegram For Up To Date Tech News and Reviews

GadgetsNews

The Phablet Craze And Why Apple Needs To Join In

samsung mega

Today let’s talk about phablets, you know those huge things (Smartphones) people hold on their ears and they end up looking ridiculous. First, let us define what a phablet is. According to Wikipedia, the word phablet is a combination of the words phone and tablet. It is generally a Smartphone and tablet mash up whose screen size measures between 5 and 6.9 inches diagonally.  The most popular ones include the Galaxy Note series from Samsung, the LG G series, the Lumia 1520 and the some Xperia Z devices.

The sales figures from this sub subsector of the Smartphone market are still unknown as companies have not revealed any details. Even though this is the case, the sales figures from phablets are expected to be well over 100 Million units. This is quite a significant number for any Smartphone manufacturer to ignore.

Who Is Buying The Phablets

South Korea Samsung

So the real question is who is going to buy all these phablets? The popularity of Phablets is high among Gamers, businesspeople, Movie enthusiasts and most people who are always on the go. According to Deloitte Canada, ‘most Smartphone users don’t watch a lot of video or play higher end games because of the smaller screen.’ This is expected to change for them if Smartphone screens keep getting bigger. This makes a lot of sense as it is very difficult and almost impossible to play a high end video game or try to watch a movie on a small screen. Doing so takes the fun out of it.

For business people and those who are constantly working, a bigger phone acts as both a laptop and a Smartphone at the same time. With bigger screens, they are able to get so much work done even when they are not seated in their respective offices. This represents a huge number of people all over the world.

Should Apple Get Into This Sector?

The answer to that would be a definite yes. The customers are already there and with sales expected to pass 100 Million units, Apple would be losing a lot if it bypasses the Phablet craze. This is not just a passing storm and Apple and all the other manufacturers need to take it seriously.

bgs1gwjcmaaqlrx-large

If you have been following Apple closely, you may have heard that the company is planning to introduce two versions of the upcoming iPhone 6. One will be a normal sized Smartphone while the other will be a phablet. Apple, as usual, has not confirmed any of this information but this would be a smart move if they pull it out.

Why Unveil A Phablet And A Normal Sized Smartphone?

The main reason why Apple is not risking going all out with a fully-fledged Phablet is customer preference Apple knows there are customers who want a Phablet and there are those who are not interested in it. To ensure all its customers are catered for in their upcoming Smartphone, Apple may opt for the two variants to satisfy all users.

Apple unveiled the iPad mini for those who did not like the bigger iPads. This is the same principle the company should apply if they decide to introduce both a Phablet and a Smartphone with a normal screen.

What If Apple Sticks To A Phablet Alone?

If Apple decides to stick with the Phablet only, they will definitely lose a lot of customers who may not be Phablet fans. If Apple sticks with their current size, they will also lose a small but significant number of customers.

Apple may counter this by introducing a Smartphone with a bigger screen than the current iPhone 5S  but still shy of the 5 inch size that makes it a phablet. This will still have a bigger screen but it will not be too much for most users.

iphone-6

My Opinion

As for me, I would like for Apple to come out with two iPhone 6 variants with varying screen sizes. With this, they will serve both the Phablet fanatics and those who prefer the traditional screen sizes. I would also want the iPhone to bump up their screen size of their smaller iPhone 6 from the current 4.0 inch screens to something like 4.3 or 4.5 inch. As for the Phablet something between 5.5 and 6.0 inches is not so bad. More than 6.0 inches is just too much for me. If Apple does this, I would be going for the bigger IPhone 6.

Any thoughts on what Apple should do with the screen size of the iPhone 6? Share them with me on the comment section below.

About author

Editor at TechArena. I cover all things technology and review new gadgets as I get them. You can reach me on email: kaluka@techarena.co.ke
Related posts
NewsStartups

Norrsken Accelerator 2024 is Now Accepting Applications From Early-Stage Startup Founders

NewsStartups

BURN Manufacturing Secures $12 Million Carbon Financing for Cookstove Distribution in Africa

GadgetsNews

LG to Offer Customers Up to 27% Discount on Select Products During Easter

GadgetsNews

What Makes The Samsung Soundbars Tick?