Screens are getting bigger and that’s not just a fad anymore. A new survey finds that consumers want bigger phones and phablets, which are basically smartphones with oversized displays, are gaining popularity. And if carrying around a huge phone was considered odd couple of years ago, now this is the new normal.
Nearly half of new smartphone buyers are looking for big-sized device, according to a global survey by consulting firm Accenture. They polled 23,000 people in more than 20 countries and 57% of the respondents said they planned to purchase a new phone in the next year. 48% of the new buyers would rather get a device with a five to seven-inch screen, or a type of phone, known as phablet. In comparison, the conventional smartphone today has a screen measuring between four and five inches. And consumers in emerging markets turn out to be the biggest fans of this trend – 66% of the people in China want to buy phablets, as do 65% in South Africa and 61% in Indonesia.
The most attractive feature of the phablet is that it combines characteristics of smartphones with those of tablets. This hybrid serves as both devices and is perfect if you can’t afford to get them separately. According to the researchers, consumers from emerging markets are lured by this budget-friendly device and buy the largest model they could afford. At the same time, people in developed countries prefer having different device for their different needs and can afford it. For example, only 40% of US consumers were planning to purchase a phablet. Only 30% of buyers in Germany wanted larger screens and 19% in Japan.
The demand for oversized phones is obviously influencing the demand for tablets globally. While 57% of consumers plan to buy a phone in the next year, only 44% of them say they are looking for a tablet. However, size does matter for tablet buyers, as well – 72% of them are looking for a full-size tablet, while 20% want a mini model and 8% haven’t decided yet. According to International Data Corp., global tablet sales are still increasing, but at a slower rate, or only 4% in the first quarter of 2014, while the market doubled last year.
The desire for large screens is one the factors that has made some tech brands so successful internationally. For instance, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S5 phone has a 5.1-inch screen and the Galaxy Note 3 comes with a 5.7-inch display. With a 2.5-inch iPhone 4 and a 4-inch iPhone 5S, Apple doesn’t have a phablet yet, but many experts predict this will happen very soon. The company is expected to introduce two new iPhones in September, with screens of 4.7 and 5.5 inch, which is still smaller than what Samsung is currently offering. Amazon’s latest gadget, the Fire Phone also comes with a relatively small phone – its display measures 4.7 inch, but its price tag is definitely a winning one at only $199 (the most affordable option).
So bigger is after all better, at least for most smartphone buyers. Everyone just keeps wondering how bigger screens could really get.
