Phablets are quite the rage these days with more and more people choosing these over regular-sized smartphones. This Techspirited article lists some basic things to look for when buying a phablet.
Dawn of the Phablets!
According to popular market research site, Statista, phablet shipments are set to soar to 208 million units by the end of 2015.
Unless you have given up on all the materialistic pleasures the world has to offer, and are holed up in a remote cave in the Himalayas with Big Foot for company, you would definitely have witnessed the unprecedented rise of the smartphones. These new-age devices have taken over the gadget world, and in many ways, have replaced computers too. In the past year or two, another branch of smart devices called phablets have emerged. These are just bigger than the standard smartphone, and a tad smaller than tablets. This gives them the portability of smartphones, and the large screen size of tablets. These make a great companion for someone who needs the extra screen real estate to watch movies, work on presentations, or for those with extra-big hands that make even the largest smartphone look like a toy.
If you think this description suits you well, then read on, to find out the things you might want to consider before picking up the perfect phablet for you.
Build Quality
Have no a doubt in your mind, phablets are anything but small. So, don’t expect most of these to slide into your pants pocket without making you look rather silly. You would ideally be carrying the phablet in a bag, so size really shouldn’t bother you by much. Having said that though, opt for a device that suits your needs best. For instance, if you simply want to carry a media player along, consider upgrading to a larger-screen tablet. If, however, you need to work on a presentation on-the-go, then phablets would be ideal for you. Opting for a phablet with a polycarbonate body should do just fine for people who are constantly on the move, as these would probably have a good grip and would not be too heavy to carry around. You can choose a phablet with a metal body if you intend to use it while you cool your heels, while you are at your desk at work, or at a coffee table. Glass-bodied phablets might look great, but aren’t the most practical, as they are rather difficult to handle and are very prone to smudges.
Display
Yup, large screens are a given on a phablet, but that doesn’t always mean that the display would be spectacular. In fact, more often than not, most low- and mid-range phablets might have a large screen, but have a mediocre display. Ideally, if you are looking for a phablet for your entertainment needs, opt for one with a resolution of at least 720p. This would mean a decent viewing experience on a display with a good pixel density. Also, look for a display which has some kind of screen protection on, although you would still be advised to buy a screen guard for your device. You should also bear in mind that, when it comes to phablets, a bigger screen isn’t always better. You would be best served by a phablet that has a screen of about 6 – 8 inches. Any larger, and you might as well opt for a tablet.
Input Devices
Due to their large size, phablets aren’t the most convenient to navigate around. This wouldn’t be a problem for most people, but isn’t ideal for people who intend to use the phablet for work purposes and for working on presentations. If you fall into this category, look for a phablet that comes with a stylus, or at least supports stylus inputs. These are perfect to scan through pages, mark things out on a web page, take notes, and even for creating graphics. If you are a heavy texter, you might want to steer well clear of buying yourself one of these.
Software Optimization
Buying yourself a phablet does not automatically mean that all that appears on it would be ‘phablet size’. While most major apps automatically adjust their UI according to the screen size, some apps only work in certain resolutions, and on screens these appear in the letterbox mode. This effectively defeats the whole purpose of having a large screen. The safest bet would be to choose a phablet from a popular brand as these would usually have a standard screen size. Another point that you might want to consider is the operating system on the device. Ensure that the apps you would be using regularly are supported by the OS on the phablet, although most app developers release apps for all the major OSs simultaneously.
Battery Life
Now, this is a factor that is often overlooked by most first-time buyers. Battery life is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when buying a phablet. Without enough juice to power it through the day, there’s little to choose between a dead phablet and an over-priced paperweight! Choose a phablet that, at the least, has a 2,800 mAh battery on board. If you are gonna surf the Internet all day long though, you would be better off with a phablet that comes with a much larger battery.
There you go, these pointers should help you find the most suitable phablet. You might want to keep in mind though, the best way to choose the right phablet would be to get a hands-on feel of the device before you buy it (make sure the sales guy is not whispering into your ears as you make up your mind!). So long then. Cheers.