Are Phablets Hurting 7 inch Tablet Sales?

[Gaugerer]

The gap between the original 3.5 inch iPhone and 9.7 inch iPad left plenty of space for 7-inch tablets in the middle.

But now phablets are well over 5 inches and there is one over 6-inches which does not leave much room for 7-inch tablets.

So some people who would have bought a 7 inch tablet will now consider a phablet instead which will hurt 7-inch tablet sales but not the 10-inch tablets.

What do you think?

 

[AppleRobert]

Possibly but right now all the rage seems to be the iPad mini. The Note 2 is interesting but not prime time just yet at least. I am pretty sure the n7 is doing quite well in the 7 inch arena.

 

[inselstudent]

I cant imagine someone with a note 2 buying an iPad mini or any other seven inch tablet, but since there are enough people who prefer smaller smartphones I think there's enough room for seven inch devices.

 

[3bs]

Yes they probably are eating away some of the sales but I doubt it's significant. Not everyone who wanted a tablet wants to carry them around with them in their pockets (phablet) and not everyone who wanted a phablet is willing to settle with not being able to make calls and text (tablet).

 

[Internaut]

Does the iPad Mini hurt the iPad? Do the 7" tablets hurt the 10" tablets? Who knows? One thing is clear to me though; Apple and Google (and partners) have a delicate balancing act between maximising revenues from hardware (Apple) and maximising revenues from ecosystem (both Apple and Google).

 

[charlieegan3]

The Note 2 is interesting but not prime time just yet at least.

In terms of general tech news I've read more recently on the note 2 (than ipad mini). Especially this year/month. I think it's got to the prime time. Phablets were big at ces too.

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...have a delicate balancing act between maximising revenues from hardware (Apple)

Google don't have this then?

 

[Internaut]

Google don't have this then?

If you're referring to hardware, Google appear to be selling at or close to cost, to the extent that even their own partners would struggle to compete on price. Apple OTOH extracts a healthy markup from all its hardware endeavours.

Edit: Apologies if my first post on this thread was insufficiently nuanced.

 

[spinedoc77]

The gap between the original 3.5 inch iPhone and 9.7 inch iPad left plenty of space for 7-inch tablets in the middle.

But now phablets are well over 5 inches and there is one over 6-inches which does not leave much room for 7-inch tablets.

So some people who would have bought a 7 inch tablet will now consider a phablet instead which will hurt 7-inch tablet sales but not the 10-inch tablets.

What do you think?

I think that would be more true if there wasn't such a difference in price. A nexus 7 can be had for what $199? Contrasted with an unsubsidized note at $800 or so. If price was the same and carriers let me use the Note as a data device add on (ATT won't) then I would buy the Note over the N7 in a heartbeat.

 

[b166er]

I'd say not really that much. The nexus 7 and the iPad mini are both doing well. And they're both great tablets.

For me, it's uncomfortable to do a lot of heavy reading on a phone. Even a note 2. But on a tablet it's nice. Plus I use my iPad for school and a lot of music stuff. That would be awkward on a phablet.

 

[ppfd]

I don't think so.

I'm running a Note 2 and an ipad 3.

I jumped from the iphone 4 as I found the screen on any of the iphones too small for what "I" want.

I still carry and use my full size ipad daily. Somethings are still not "doable" on a Note 2. When I read a book or magazine, I want to read. Not "swirl" all over the screen trying to get all the text, Ipad is the answer.

I still have not seen or handled an ipad mini, yeah I know, unbelievable right! But, maybe the next gen will replace my full size.

Bottom line is a person has to figure out his or her needs and work from there. I do think "big phones" are going to be in now.

 

[rhinosrcool]

At present, I have the Note 1 and an iPad 2. However, in a few months, I plan to change to a mini and the Note. Like the above poster, even though the Note has a large screen, for web, it's still not as good as a 7" screen.

Plus these are two different operating systems; the nexus 7 and the Note or the Ipad and the iPhone (any iteration), would seem redundant.

 

[Lindsford]

I would say yes, in some instances.
I know many people who run s3 or note1/2 with ipad and macbook.
I know others who refuse to use any of the main wireless companies (tmobile/att/verizon/etc) and go with older phones (S2, HTC EVO 3d rendition, etc) and rock full sized tablet.

7' Tablets are too small to be a tablet imho. I'd rather have something a little smaller like a Phablet or a bit bigger like a real tablet.

Currently im doing iP5/iPad3/MBA. Hoping this summer brings out some awesome stuff from both Samsung and Apple. If iOS7 doesn't bring some awesomeness, and the newest iPhone doesn't come with a larger, higher res screen I have a feeling S4 is the way to go for me

 

[JaySoul]

If Apple released a competitor to the Note 2, I'd buy it without question.

That would be instead of an iPhone + iPad Mini combination.

 

[smwatson]

I hate the idea of a phone as big as the Note/Note 2, and I know that plenty of people share that opinion. I don't think the phablet has caught on in the UK to the extent it has elsewhere, and I can't see that changing.

I'll stick with the smaller smartphone with 7" tablet combo for now. Though if my next phone is the S3 or Nexus 5 as I'm hoping, the 7" might be a little small/pointless. Then again, the next Nexus tablet is supposedly 7.7", so who knows.

Overall though, it's great to have so many top quality devices at different sizes. There will always be people who want one or the other (or both), so I don't think anyone is overly concerned with phablet vs 7" tablet competition.

 

[VoR]

Are the 3G chipsets in things like the iPad that much (at all?) different than what's inside smartphones? Is it 'just' certification?
I think all 3G devices from all manufacturers should give people the ability to make phone calls/texts/etc, I simply don't see the point in not allowing it.

Before you mention it, a full size tablet with a headset could actually be convenient and a cost saving for some people

 

[RA19]

Had iPhone 5 & iPad 3 - changed to Nexus 4 & iPad Mini (been hankering to try out Android for some time) - realised that cash was tied up unnecessarily, sold Nexus & iPad Mini & bought Galaxy Note 2. Loving it - great phone & doubles up as a tablet for use in bed too.

P.S. I am in the UK - so at least one caught on here!

 

[Tinmania]

As stated in the subject, I would say yes to a certain degree. By that I mean 7" tablets of which the iPad mini is not.

I think the problem is the Android 7" tablets have ridiculously large bezels. I wanted to buy a Nexus 7 but was turned off by that. I think I'd rather have a Note 2 than a 7" Android tablet. In fact I'm considering buying one.

On the other hand, I also think I would do just fine with the iPad mini vs my current iPad 3 (which feels heavy and unwieldy lately for what I use it for).




Michael

 

[Billy95Tech]

I think Phablets are replacing/killing of 7 inch tablets but not 8 inch tablets as 8 inch tablets is the perfect size for tablets because they are as portable as a smartphone and with the sceen size it offers a enough screen real-estate then 7 inch tablets(they are too small IMO).

When i am talking about 8 inch tablets i mean 8.4/8.9 inch tablets like Google Nexus 9, Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro /S 8.4, LG gpad 8.3.

So 8 inch tablets are here to stay and they are growing more and more in popularity every day and there are lots of people buying 8.4/8.9 inch tablets.


Phablets are too small as a tablet and too big as a phone, you will look ridiculous when you making a phone call with your phablet near your head in public.

 

[Oohara]

I think Phablets are replacing/killing of 7 inch tablets but not 8 inch tablets as 8 inch tablets is the perfect size for tablets because they are as portable as a smartphone and with the sceen size it offers a enough screen real-estate then 7 inch tablets(they are too small IMO).

When i am talking about 8 inch tablets i mean 8.4/8.9 inch tablets like Google Nexus 9, Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro /S 8.4, LG gpad 8.3.

So 8 inch tablets are here to stay and they are growing more and more in popularity every day and there are lots of people buying 8.4/8.9 inch tablets.


Phablets are too small as a tablet and too big as a phone, you will look ridiculous when you making a phone call with your phablet near your head in public.

Good job necroing a two year old thread - while quite faithfully replicating the kind of dross some would keep spewing back then (bolded part).

 

[Tinmania]

Good job necroing a two year old thread - while quite faithfully replicating the kind of dross some would keep spewing back then (bolded part).

Yea the "look ridiculous when making a call" thing, in 2015, is rather humorous.

Heck, I would venture it is stranger nowadays to see someone making a call using a 3.5" iPhone 4S or earlier.

With that I, thread-killer that I am, shall await the next response in 2017.


Michael

 

[Hastings101]

Yea the "look ridiculous when making a call" thing, in 2015, is rather humorous.

Heck, I would venture it is stranger nowadays to see someone making a call using a 3.5" iPhone 4S or earlier.

With that I, thread-killer that I am, shall await the next response in 2017.


Michael

Actually, I still snicker when I see people talking on 6 inch phones. It makes me think of the old gigantic brick phones that some people used to lug around 20-30 years ago