A new category of device is coming up. They have characteristics of both phone and tablet, so they are labeled "phablets." Instead of the 4.0 to 4.7 inch screen found in current smart phones, or the 7 inch screen of current tablets, the phablet has a 5 to 6 inch screen.
The attraction of a phablet is to combine the portability of a smartphone with the usability that a larger screen brings. I think the phablet is a natural fit as a portable navigation device, for example.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the best current example of the phablet. It has a beautiful 5.5 inch 1280x720 screen, a super-speedy processor, LTE 4G cellular data, GPS support, and a battery twice the capacity of most cell phones.
The Note 2 has a body that measures a half inch longer and wider than Samsung's popular Galaxy S III phone which has a 4.7 inch screen. Compared to the new iPhone, the Note 2 is about an inch longer, and 3/4 of an inch wider.
That size increase is not a big deal if you have a large hand. Unlike a 7 inch tablet, the Note 2 still slips into a pocket. And it's certainly not a problem if you tend to use your phone with both hands, tablet style. People with smaller hands may have difficulty using the Note 2 with one hand.
The second feature that distinguishes the Note 2 is its stylus. You can use a finger to interact with the touchscreen, or, in some applications, use the stylus. If you're like me, you find it difficult to press the right button on a small smartphone screen. I often have to enlarge the screen to accurately press the right button. The stylus makes it easier and faster to interact with a complex screen layout without enlarging.
Samsung sells the Note 2 in overseas markets today. The Note 2 will be introduced to North America at the end of October. It will be very interesting to see what price point they (and the cell phone carriers) select.
The attraction of a phablet is to combine the portability of a smartphone with the usability that a larger screen brings. I think the phablet is a natural fit as a portable navigation device, for example.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the best current example of the phablet. It has a beautiful 5.5 inch 1280x720 screen, a super-speedy processor, LTE 4G cellular data, GPS support, and a battery twice the capacity of most cell phones.
The Note 2 has a body that measures a half inch longer and wider than Samsung's popular Galaxy S III phone which has a 4.7 inch screen. Compared to the new iPhone, the Note 2 is about an inch longer, and 3/4 of an inch wider.
That size increase is not a big deal if you have a large hand. Unlike a 7 inch tablet, the Note 2 still slips into a pocket. And it's certainly not a problem if you tend to use your phone with both hands, tablet style. People with smaller hands may have difficulty using the Note 2 with one hand.
The second feature that distinguishes the Note 2 is its stylus. You can use a finger to interact with the touchscreen, or, in some applications, use the stylus. If you're like me, you find it difficult to press the right button on a small smartphone screen. I often have to enlarge the screen to accurately press the right button. The stylus makes it easier and faster to interact with a complex screen layout without enlarging.
Samsung sells the Note 2 in overseas markets today. The Note 2 will be introduced to North America at the end of October. It will be very interesting to see what price point they (and the cell phone carriers) select.
