Their screen gives them away. Are half smartphone and half tablet, but the key is in the size of these hybrid devices, larger than traditional mobile phones. There are those who have already baptized them in Spanish as phablets and, in general, all the others doubt whether to speak of “phablets” (for mobiles) or “phablets” (for tablets). We have opted… for the masculine generic, because we believe that phablets are “mobile phones that have come to the fore” ;).
Usually, phablets are smartphones larger than 5.5” (they can reach 8″) although their size has been changing and it is difficult to classify them only by their dimensions. In fact, you can find some models on the market that exceed this size and are not in this category, as is the case with LG G3 Y G4.
Phablets have been a reality for more than three years but it has been in 2014 when have started to gain popularity. They represent a new category of mobile devices, the result of the evolution and natural ‘growth’ of . Its screen size is close to that of a small tablet but it has the necessary technology to communicate.
They are tablets with the most complete features of a smart mobile phone: allow to make calls, send text messages; They have a touch screen, virtual keyboard, integrated camera, webcam… and even specific applications that make them more manageable models.
Advantages and disadvantages of phablets
Comfort (or discomfort) is one of the main features of phablets. They are comfortable because offer two technologies in one device and uncomfortable because they are too big and unwieldy for everyday use.
But the size, which can initially be a downside, can become an advantage if we take into account the majority use that we give to the mobile phone. Every time we use it less to make calls and more to browse, read the mail, the , a book, chat, play, series, a movie… in fact, the increasingly important consumption of multimedia content has accelerated the interest of manufacturers in this type of device .
In the end, it will be the experience of each user that tips the balance to one side or the other. But beyond this, phablets have a series of virtues and drawbacks that help us better understand their fame and their luck in the market.
Advantage
- Your batteries last longer.
- High quality screens and better resolution.
- Powerful processors.
- Higher image and sound quality.
Disadvantages
- Almost impossible to handle them with one hand (most have a pencil).
- They don’t fit in your pants pocket.
- Too cumbersome to make calls.
- The price: they can become more expensive devices.
Samsung, pioneer in the phablet segment
was the first brand to make the leap in October 2011 with the launch of the GalaxyNote, with a 5.3” screen and pencil, a risky bet in a market dominated by more compact devices. In two months he managed to sell a million units. A year later, he managed to sell 3 million of the Samsung Galaxy NoteII in just 37 days. The phablet was here to stay and the competition was quick to react.
Other manufacturers began to develop their own phablets. Sony, LG, Motorola, Xiaomi, huawei… even Manzana he finally gave up and brought out his big version of the , the iPhone 6 Plus.
Currently, the phablet war continues. The initial high-end models have been giving way to more affordable mid-range and low-end models, which have surely contributed to the growth in the number of users of these new devices.
The 21% of smartphones sold in the US during the first quarter of 2015 were phabletsaccording to data offered by , almost 4 times more than in 2014.
More than 250 million phablets in 2015
On a global level, a study indicates that by the end of the year they will have sold 252 million unitswhich represents an increase of 66% compared to 2014. Users (not only companies and professionals) opt for larger and more versatile phones, and forget about the tablet, which in 2015 will only grow by 2%.
If the estimates are confirmed, phablet sales will grow 40% based on compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2014 and 2018. This advance will represent 17% of total smartphone sales globally. In 2016 this segment expects an increase of 21%, which will be higher in 2018. It is estimated that it will reach 30%.
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