Is it a phone? Is it a tablet? Who is
going to want one? I. McGurren looks at the giant smartphones
There has been an easy
to spot trend in smartphones in the last few years – they’re getting bigger.
When Apple launched the iPhone, its 3.5” screen was actually an improvement
over current phone screens. HTC’s XDA smartphones had only a 2.8” screen, while
most people at this time still used feature phones with even smaller displays.
Later, in November 2009, HTC’s HD2 arrived with it then-huge 4.3” screen, with
many declaring it simply too big for a phone. Oh how quaint that seems now…
How to spot trend in smartphones in the
last few years – they’re getting bigger?
Back in the present
day things are even bigger, with 4.8” being the norm for a high end device. So
what caused the shift in taste? Well, there’s a very good case to be made for
laying the ‘blame’ at Samsung’s door, here. Its release of the Galaxy Note
(and, more to the point, its unexpected success), has played a major part in the
public’s acceptance of ever larger screens. Its 5.3”, 720p screen was so big in
fact that a whole new name was mooted for devices that sat betwixt the largest
phones (4.3”) and the smallest tablets (7”) – thus, a chunky, clunky portmanteau
of phone and tablet was born: enter the phablet. Or not.
Samsung
redefines ‘Phablet’ with its Galaxy Note 8
In 2013 the Note is no
longer alone, nor is it looking as big as it once did. Other manufacturers have
followed suit with varying success; LG’s Optimus Vu being a less than stellar
attempt. However, with Samsung following the Note with the Note II, LG
following the Vu with the better Pro, while Huawei announced the huge 6.1”
Ascend Mate. It seems the phablet has become
Established as a
device for those wanting their mobile cakes and eating it. Maybe the name needs
some work, though.
LG’s Optimus Vu Phabet
Now Samsung has taken
things even further, with the announcement of their Galaxy Mega line, and for
once the name is pretty spot-on. Coming in two sizes, the Mega can be found in
a Note II – beating 5.8” and an –very thing-else-dwarfing 6.3” screen sizes.
Yes, that’s just shy of a 7” tablet, though Samsung argue it’ll fit in your
pocket as it’s designed like a phone (without the bezel associated with
tablets). None of this distracts from the fact that these phones, if they can
be considered phones in the traditional sense, are huge. It would be reasonable;
at least amongst reasonable people that no one would want a phone that big, but
such conclusions didn’t stop the Galaxy Note surprising everyone with its
success. So, while the market for the Mega may be even more niche, it’s
dangerous to write off any Samsung handsets these days. If you think about it,
how much time is spent using your phone to actually make voice calls? Most of
us primarily use it for email, internet, messaging and some gaming, none of
which require you to use the device in a traditional manner. Samsung are
promoting the Mega as a device on which you can have two separate apps running
on the same screen. When you look at its uses, it becomes clear the Mega may
just suit business better than any tablet and even begin to encroach on phones
and laptops.
In fact the 4.8” S3, with its rounded rear
helping the hand reach round the body with ease is more pleasant to hold than
the attractive- but less ergonomic – iPhone 5 with its solid lines.
Is it too big? Yes,
and no. the original Note and the Galaxy S3 are surprisingly easy to hold
thanks to some ergonomic design. In fact the 4.8” S3, with its rounded rear
helping the hand reach round the body with ease is more pleasant to hold than
the attractive- but less ergonomic – iPhone 5 with its solid lines. The Mega
has a similar design so, while it won’t feel as big as it looks, such a large
device I going to be strictly a two handed device in use.
‘Phablets’ are an interesting niche area
to watch
‘Phablets’ are an
interesting niche area to watch. It’s here that we’ll see smartphones as a game
of experimentation and one-upmanship. It’s even possible we’ll also see Samsung’s
flexible OLED screens emerge too and this technology trickle down. One thing is
for sure- If any phone’s going to turn heads, the chances are it’s going to be
a phablet.
