The Samsung Galaxy Note

"The primary purposes of smartphones have clearly changed. Early on, they were phones first, and data devices second. The various advents of modern apps, browsing and media shifted the focus enough that voice is almost incidental today."
– Jon Fingus, 2013 Distro Issue 79, Engadget [1]

"There is a lot of potential in this device because people want to carry one device, not two; it’s a convergence of devices."
Katyayan Gupta, analyst with Forrester Research Inc.[2]

"The phablet is not a bulky phone but a very delicate computer." Finnish technology analyst Horace Dediu [3]

"Phone size was a preconceived notion based on voice usage. Smaller was better until phones got smart, became visual."John Berns, Singapore-based executive in the information technology industry.[3]

"Phones are getting bigger for a reason: what we use them for is changing. This is technology evolution in action." Natasha Lomas, Techcrunch[2]

"In developing markets the phablet may be a more important tool for web access and mobile computer access. Where tablets offer mobile Net access and a plethora of useful apps, a phablet could radically improve accessibility to banking, computing, health and other services in ways that more expensive tablets can't do (because they can't make phone calls, and are more breakable)." Kim Eaton, Fast Company[4]

Phablet (/ˈfæblɪt/) is a smartphone class featuring screen sizes from 5.0 to 6.9 inches,[5] designed to combine or straddle the functionalities of a smartphone and tablet, eliminating the need for two devices.[6] In early 2013, The Wall Street Journal described the devices as "typically hybrids of smartphones and small tablets with a screen size of five to seven inches." [7] The term itself, a portmanteau of the words phone and tablet[8] came into common usage in 2008.[9]

The phablet's larger screen can complement screen-intensive activity such as mobile web and multimedia viewing — and the device may include, as with Samsung's Galaxy Note, software optimized for an integral self-storing stylus to facilitate sketching, note-taking and annotation.[10] While Samsung's Galaxy Note (5.3-inch) is largely credited with pioneering the worldwide phablet market when launched in 2011,[11] international markets now includes larger phablets such as the Sony Xperia Z Ultra (6.4"), Galaxy Tab 7.7 (7.7")[12] and Asus FonePad (7 inch).

In January 2013, IHS reported that 25.6 million phablet devices were sold in 2012 and estimated that these figures would grow to 60.4 million in 2013, and 146 million by 2016.[13] Barclays projected sales of phablets rising from 27 million in 2012 to 230 million in 2015.[14]

In a 2013 analysis, Engadget identified dropping screen prices, increasing screen power efficiency, increasing battery life and the evolving importance of multimedia viewing as critical factors in the popularity of the phablet.[1] In 2012, Forbes Magazine noted that while most clothing cannot hold a typical tablet computer, men's clothing in particular could and may well adapt to accommodate phablets.[15] Doug Conklyn, vice president of global design for Dockers told FoxNews.com said the company reworked the size of its pants pockets "to accommodate the growing size of smartphones."[16]

Reuters called 2013, the "Year of the Phablet."[17]

History

In tracing the 10 earliest devices in the history of the phablet concept, PC Magazine called the 1993 AT&T EO 440, "the first true phablet",[18] followed by these devices:-


The 2010 Dell Streak used the Android (operating system) and a 5-inch, 800×480 pixel display and widescreen-optimized interface. Reviewers encountered issues with its outdated operating system, Android 1.6, which was not optimized for the larger screens. The device was commercially unsuccessful.[19][20][21]
The 2011 Galaxy Note[22] used a 135 mm (5.3 in) screen. While reviewers such as PC World Australia and Techradar questioned the viability of the device,[23][24] the Note received positive reception for its stylus functionality, the speed of its 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, and the advantages of its high resolution display. The Galaxy Note was a commercial success; Samsung announced in December 2011 that the Galaxy Note had sold 1 million units in two months. In February 2012, Samsung debuted a Note version with 4G LTE support, and by May 2012 the Note received an update from Android 2.3 to Android 4.0, an operating system optimzed for larger screens.[25] By August 2012, the Note had sold 10 million units worldwide.[26]
The 2012 Samsung Galaxy Note II employed a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, a 5.55-inch screen and the ability to run two applications at once via a split-screen view.[27] Sales of the Galaxy Note II reached 5 million units internationally in two months.[28] The 2012 LG Optimus Vu used a 5-inch display using a 4:3 aspect ratio—which was considered an unusual aspect ratio for a smartphone screen.[10][19] The 2013 Samsung Galaxy Mega is projected to have two versions, with 5.8" or 6.3" screens, neither with an integral stylus.

The Huawei Ascend Mate employs a 6.1-inch display[13][29] and Huawei CEO Richard Yu has called the phablet to be the future of smartphones due to their "all-in-one" nature.[30]

Other recent phablets include the Asus FonePad (7" Screen), Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (6.3" screen), 2012 Xperia ZU (~6.5" screen) and Xperia Z (5.0" screen).

The Dell Streak received mixed reviews for its large size and dated software despite its pioneering design.

References

  1. ^ a b "The Rise of the Ever-Expanding Smartphone Screen". Engadget, Distro Issue 79, p. 50, Jon Fingus. 
  2. ^ a b Samsung to Surf India’s ‘Phablet’ Wave, The Wall Street Journal, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, March 15, 2012 
  3. ^ a b Wagstaff, Jeremy. "Handset makers scurry to join Year of the Phablet". Reuters.com. 
  4. ^ Why Everyone Suddenly Loves The Phablet, Fast Company, Kim Eaton, January 10, 2013 
  5. ^ Phablets Are a Niche, Not a Fad, http://techland.time.com/, Jared Newman, April 02, 2013 
  6. ^ Why Get A Tablet When You Can Have A Phablet?, Forbes.com, Parmy Olsen, 2/28/2013 
  7. ^ ‘Phablets’ and Fonepads the New Tech Lexicon, Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2013 
  8. ^ Enter the Phablet: A History of Phone-Tablet Hybrids, pcmag.com, Sasha Segan, February 13, 2012 
  9. ^ "Is the Market Ready for a Phablet?", Forbes, 7 February 2012, retrieved 2012-08-15, "I tried to trace this term back as far as I could, but was able to find no clear origin (although several authors incorrectly claimed precedence). However, the term seems to come into common usage sometime in 2008." 
  10. ^ a b Banerjee, Ankit (16 May 2012). "The rise of the Phablet". Android Authority. Retrieved 2012-08-15. 
  11. ^ Samsung Shows Off 7.7-Inch LTE Tablet and More of That “Phablet", allthingsd.com,Lauren Goode, Jan 9, 2012 
  12. ^ Shipments of 'phablets,' or large smartphones, to double in 2013, LA Times, By Salvador Rodriguez, January 16, 2013 
  13. ^ a b "Shipments of 'phablets,' or large smartphones, to double in 2013". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  14. ^ Will Making An iPhone Phablet Hurt Apple More Than It Will Help?, Forbes.com, Haydn Shaughnessy, February 5, 2013 
  15. ^ Will Making An iPhone Phablet Hurt Apple More Than It Will Help?, Forbes.com, Tom Warstall, May 27, 2012 
  16. ^ Is that a phablet in your pocket?, BGR.com, Zach Epstein, April 26, 2013 
  17. ^ Handset makers scurry to join Year of the Phablet, Reuters.com, Jeremy Wagstaff and Lee Chyen Yee, Jan 7, 2013 
  18. ^ "Enter the Phablet: A History of Phone-Tablet Hybrids". PCmag, February 13, 2012, Sasha Segan. 
  19. ^ a b Elgan, Mike. "Rise of the 'phablet'". Computerworld. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  20. ^ "Will 2013 be the year of the phablet as phone screens grow bigger?". Reuters. 
  21. ^ "Dell Streak: A Smartphone With a Tablet Heart". PC World. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  22. ^ "Samsung announces Galaxy Nexus and Note roll-out schedules". GSMArena. 2011-10-27. 
  23. ^ "Samsung Galaxy Note Android phone". PC World Australia. Retrieved 2011-12-04. 
  24. ^ Dan Grabham (2011-09-01). "Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Note review". techradar.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27. 
  25. ^ Mat Smith (2011-12-29). "1 million Galaxy Notes shipped worldwide, US fans throw money at their screens". Engadget. Retrieved 2013-01-17. 
  26. ^ "Samsung: 10M Galaxy Notes sold in nine months". CNET. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  27. ^ "Multi-window update comes to AT&T Galaxy Note II starting today". Boy Genius Report. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  28. ^ "Samsung Galaxy Note II Tops 5 Million in Sales". PC Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
  29. ^ "Ten smartphones with tablet ambitions."
  30. ^ Smith, Edward. "CES 2013: Huawei Unveils Ascend Mate and D2 Smartphones". International Business Times. Retrieved 18 January 2013. 
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