Want a phablet? Yes, I said phablet. It’s a term that sounds like it should be coming from my teenage daughters rather than an IT guy like me. But the phablet is the first device to do what we have been talking about for a couple of years now – combine the functionality of a smartphone and tablet in one device.
I appreciate the phablet – phone tablet – concept and personally would like to go down to carrying only one device. It makes the most sense in business. The trouble? Even the latest releases – Galaxy Note Galaxy Mega, HTC One Max and Nokia's Lumia 1520 – do not fit in your pocket. That may be less of an issue for women, but it is a deal breaker for many men who prefer to slip the device into their pants pocket.
I expect this device will affect the fashion industry more than anything. Seriously. Doug Conklyn, vice president of global design for Dockers, told Fox News that the company reworked the size of its pants pockets "to accommodate the growing size of smartphones."
Laptops are almost obsolete in the consumer world and the business world is following suit. Tablet shipments grew 53 percent in 2013 while personal computer shipments fell 8 percent, according to Gartner Research. The growth of the tablets to $221 million globally was driven by the new phablets last year. Phablets are taking hold and are expected to grow to 407 million units by 2017, according to IDC research group.
We’re entering the phablet age.
Size Matters
The phablet is not necessarily a new concept. Some would say that the first phablet was introduced by AT&T with the EO 440 in 1993. That’s probably a stretch. Early attempts started a few years ago, but really did not take until last year with the release of devices such as the Galaxy Note.
Until recently, tablets with phone capabilities were too large to actually hold up to your ear. At just under 6 inches, the Galaxy Note, the most popular phablet, is just a bit larger than the 4-inch Apple iPhone 5s or the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Tablet typically range in size from 7 to 10 inches while phones commonly come in at 3.5 to 5 inches. Phablets now fall in the middle, between 5 and 6 inches.
Screen size became a key issue in technology design last year. Smaller proved to be preferred with over 90 percent of the smartphones shipped in 2013 having screens under five inches, according to industry reports. Apple has shared that it has kept its screens smaller because its user feedback shows that people strongly prefer using a smartphone with one hand.
The market has trended to smaller tablets over the past two years. The somewhat slow sales performance of the phablets in 2013 reveal that 6 inches still may be too large for the United States.
Worth Buying?
So, should you buy a phablet? If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone, it makes good sense. It’s only an inch larger and its functionality allows you to stop carrying a second device. If not, hold tight. Developments are coming in 2014 to balance a desire for a smaller screen and the functionality of a tablet.
