Larger smartphones, known as “phablets” (phone-tablet hybrids), are gaining fans. Phablets have screen sizes ranging from 5 to 6.9 inches diagonally, which takes them up to the size of the smallest tablets.
Deloitte predicts about 1 in 4 smartphones sold in 2014 will be phablets, amounting to 300 million units. That would be a tenfold increase over 2012 but only twice the sales in 2013, so the market could be reaching a plateau. Indeed, the upper limit for phablet sales may be between 30 to 40 percent of the total smartphone market.
Phablets are harder to hold in one hand or use for phone calls without a headset—and forget about trying to squeeze them into your pants pocket. These portability issues help explain why the lion’s share of the phablet market is at the lower end of the size range. Only 10 percent of phablets sold in 2014 are likely to be six inches or larger, while two-thirds will just meet the segment definition at the low end.
Phablets’ popularity varies significantly by region. Phablet sales in North America and Europe represent only about 10 percent of the market in those regions. Phablets are much more popular in Asia-Pacific markets, in some cases outpacing sales for tablets or notebook computers.
CIOs may need to test whether phablets would appeal to some enterprise users. Workers who are on the go all day may prefer carrying only one touchscreen device. For these users, a smartphone with a larger screen that makes it easier to type, read, and display information may be just the right fit.
Source: Deloitte
