Most smart phone and tablet manufacturers are counting on consumers thinking that bigger is better when it comes to smart phone screen sizes and are also attempting to convince consumers that a “phablet”, the combination of a phone and tablet, is a great idea. However, according to SlashGear, tablet manufacturers are drawing some criticism for attempting to make traditional phone calls seem easy to make on a tablet. One such upcoming release is Huawei’s MediaPad 7 Vogue, their latest seven-inch Android tablet.
While the MediaPad 7 Vogue will be one of the lightest and thinnest tablets on the market once it is released, the screen size makes it almost ridiculous to hold next to your ear to make and receive phone calls. Because most people talk on their smart phones by holding it next to their ear, they need something that fits ergonomically in one hand and isn’t heavy to hold. A larger screen also means a greater chance of it touching its owner’s face, leading to smudges and an oily screen.
While this latest Huawei model is a tablet, not a smartphone, there are many smartphone manufacturers that are also trying to increase the boundaries of acceptable screen sizes. Samsung allows non-U.S. owners of their Galaxy Note tablet to make phone calls, according to PC Mag, and Sony is also pushing a phablet, the 6.44-inch screen Xperia Z Ultra, which was announced on June 25th.
While the phablets available on the market today offer both the option of up to 4G LTE connectivity or the ability to make calls via Wifi from apps like Skype, the fact remains that many consumers are scratching their heads as to how anyone got the idea that giant phones would catch on. While larger screens are great for navigating the web, playing games, or utilizing apps, when it comes to phone calls, consumers still appreciate smart phone screen sizes that are smaller than six inches (with the popular Samsung Galaxy S series having a five-inch screen and the iPhone 5 having a four-inch screen).
Will consumers eventually rebel and let manufacturers know when screen sizes are too big? Or are all we all doomed to walk around holding seven-inch-screen devices next to our ears? While time will surely tell, sales patterns should reflect what consumers are looking for in their digital devices. It is up to manufacturers like Apple, HTC, and Samsung to decide what to do next.
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]
Comments