CES 2013 expected to showcase 'embarrassingly large' smartphones
Big-screen "phablet" devices, positioned between a smartphone and a tablet, are predicted to be a big trend at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
With Huawei expected to unveil the Ascend Mate with a 6.1-inch screen, and 5-inch phones anticipated from LG and ZTE, Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets expects CES 2013 to showcase a number of "embarrassingly large" smartphones.
Though he finds smartphones with screen sizes of 5 inches and larger "awkward to hold," he found in his recent trips to China and Hong Kong that there has been a trend in the market toward "ultra-large smartphones at the high end of the market," such as with Samsung's recently released Galaxy Note II.
If the market is truly headed in that direction, White believes that even Apple may not be immune to this trend. Earlier this week, he predicted that Apple will expand the iPhone lineup this year with new colors, beyond the current black and white options, as well as multiple screen sizes.
"We believe Apple will offer customers more screen sizes with the next iPhone and a display as large as 5 inches is not out of the question, in our view," White reiterated in his latest note to investors on Friday.
He also expects major TV makers will continue to evolve the platform, such as Samsung, which is hyping a new HDTV model with an "unprecedented new shape." But he believes that Apple is the only company on the market right now that could truly reinvent the television experience.
"We still believe the 'elephant in the room' at CES will be Apple TV that we believe will totally reinvent the TV experience," he said. "Apple's ability to develop hardware and software together, combined with a relentless, detailed focus on aesthetics and a robust ecosystem will make the company difficult to beat in the coming years."
With Huawei expected to unveil the Ascend Mate with a 6.1-inch screen, and 5-inch phones anticipated from LG and ZTE, Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets expects CES 2013 to showcase a number of "embarrassingly large" smartphones.
Though he finds smartphones with screen sizes of 5 inches and larger "awkward to hold," he found in his recent trips to China and Hong Kong that there has been a trend in the market toward "ultra-large smartphones at the high end of the market," such as with Samsung's recently released Galaxy Note II.
If the market is truly headed in that direction, White believes that even Apple may not be immune to this trend. Earlier this week, he predicted that Apple will expand the iPhone lineup this year with new colors, beyond the current black and white options, as well as multiple screen sizes.
"We believe Apple will offer customers more screen sizes with the next iPhone and a display as large as 5 inches is not out of the question, in our view," White reiterated in his latest note to investors on Friday.
He also expects major TV makers will continue to evolve the platform, such as Samsung, which is hyping a new HDTV model with an "unprecedented new shape." But he believes that Apple is the only company on the market right now that could truly reinvent the television experience.
"We still believe the 'elephant in the room' at CES will be Apple TV that we believe will totally reinvent the TV experience," he said. "Apple's ability to develop hardware and software together, combined with a relentless, detailed focus on aesthetics and a robust ecosystem will make the company difficult to beat in the coming years."
Comments
I just can't see Apple making a phone larger than 4.2-4.3 inches.
So far Apple has not bothered with scraps.
If those big-screen devices are truly "embarrassingly large" then it won't be something Apple offers, nor will they be market successes for others.
So in other words, nothing much to see at CES.
has anyone check this guys previous forcasts? Did he also call for Apple to enter the "lucrative" netbook market or the cheap crap sub $500 PC market?
Big screens (including tablets like the iPad) are terrible if the software isn't taking advantage of it.
I don't see a problem with adding phone capability to iPads as an option.
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
I don't see a problem with adding phone capability to iPads as an option.
That's a different ball of wax all together and not what the article is stating.
... but, yes, I have no problem with that.
CES 2013
Hot: Driverless cars
Not: Phablets
Phablets: As horrible as their name
Apple might do it. But like with the larger iPhone 5 I think they will wait to see if the trend sticks before jumping in.
Or just support folks doing VoIP for the iPad etc. with that, the iPad mini is your phablet
they better hurry. I hear Forstall and Sinofsky are going into biz together and want to grab him. And Browett is running their retail department. Apple is doomed
Quote:
Originally Posted by ifij775
CES 2013
Hot: Driverless cars
Not: Phablets
Phablets: As horrible as their name
No. Phablets are selling like hotcakes and can be very profitable business. I bet samsung is making a lot of money from each note2 sold.
Obviously, phones like the note sell because they are based on hype and their buyers are stupid or have special needs (huge people, poor vision, etc). As soon as phablets lose fashion status (people are seeing a big screen phone as a more advanced phone, despite the fact that the iPhone as a device is 100 steps ahead on everything), phablets (like the note, etc) sales are going down, because they just can't go "bigger".
However, I can't afford an iphone+ipad. I'm 100% convinced that Apple could make an awesome phablet (A highend class screen, highend class performance, huge battery life, highend ecosystem, something that no phablet is offering right now.) and it would sell like hotcakes, even creating a new device category. I would buy one, and it would be used to it's potential.
On other circumstances, Apple would make one. However stupid people read press, "are" the press, and are flaming Apple even if they do it or even if they don't. I don't forgive them for trying to "force" apple to do something, and flaming them no matter what.
Apple is the only one that is able to make a great phablet, and you can bet a great tablet would quickly become the best selling/more profitable gadget on history. Apple MUST do one.
Look... if I buy a galaxy note instead of an iPhone, what will I get?
- Less speed (java vs cocoa), weak performance especially on GPU (the iphone is at least 2x faster on every test), worse screen (oversaturated pentile crap, less ppi), less build quality, less batery life on demanding tasks, shitty ecosystem that makes the big screen a pain, etc.
You lose a lot and gain nothing unless you have special needs.
But imagine this:
- overclocked a6, overclocked GPU or even ROGUE, big 5inch screen with the same properties or even the new 1080p 440ppi IGZO from sharp, same build quality, 3000mA battery instead of 1050, iOS and its updated apps.
This device is the highway for 1trillion dollars folks, don't let Android stupid decisions and stupid marketing fool yourselves. The iPhoneX could/should even create a third App version for iOS. Every dot is connected. Enterprise, universities and their students, small businesses would "eat" every single iPhoneX that could be made.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
Apple might do it. But like with the larger iPhone 5 I think they will wait to see if the trend sticks before jumping in.
Or just support folks doing VoIP for the iPad etc. with that, the iPad mini is your phablet
I am wondering how others would fare if Apple released a phone in the 4.3 inch range that kept the old aspect ratio of 3:2.
An iPhone of that size with Ive's touch just might make a bunch of phablets disappear.
The problem right now with the iPhone is advertising. Websites (including this one) place far too much modal information on the screen, limiting useful space for browsing. This is where the Blackberry failed in 2006-- not being able to read enough of an article due to limited (effective) screen real-estate. Now we are back at square one. If websites let their readers focus on content, larger devices would not be required.
It will be interesting to see what happens in a few years. I'm not willing to carry around a larger device just so people can dump more ads on me though. It is a nuisance.
Why "phablets" anyway? You could just as easily call them "Tabones".
And not just phablets. Most Samsung smartphones today (and basically all other decent smartphones) are well over 4"
I love my iPhone.... but Apple only recently got to a 4" 16:9 screen... something the original Galaxy S had in 2010. And Samsung smartphones have grown ever since.
Galaxy S 4.0"
Galaxy SII 4.3"
Galaxy SIII 4.8"
How big is too big? I dunno... but I'd like the option to get a larger iPhone. Just a little larger