Would you find a need for a tablet if your phone was almost as big as one?
Would you want to carry around a phone that is so big that you wouldn’t need a tablet? How big is too big? That is the question.
Whether or not you think it’s cool, one thing that Samsung’s Galaxy Note phone has sparked is that “how big is too big” discussion when it comes to smartphones.
The Galaxy Note measures in at a whopping 5.3 inches, while the most popular Android tablet is just a bit bigger at 7 inches. Do consumers want this phone-tablet fusion? T-Mobile says yes.
The carrier conducted a customer survey of those over 18 who already own a smartphone. It found that 77% of those “would prefer a device with a 4.5-inch display or larger.”
The iPhone, by comparison, packs only a mere 3.5-inch display. The reason for T-Mobile’s study is that the Galaxy Note is about to launch on the carrier in the coming weeks.
There have been rumors that Apple is working on increasing the display size in its next iPhone, and other manufacturers have expressed similar interest in developing phones that bleed between smartphone and tablet, known also as “phablets.”
But just how big is too big? The Galaxy Note is selling well, so apparently there is still room for that envelope to be pushed even further.
It would be interesting if T-Mobile’s study had included more dimensions to see if consumers want a 5-inch, or even a 5.5-inch display. Perhaps manufacturers of jeans will need to start increasing pocket sizes as well.
