In Asia, phablets now outselling both PCs and tablets

If a camel is a horse crted by committee, then a phablet is a device built by indecision between a smartphone and tablet. Whatever the definition, popularity of the product with a screen between five and seven inches diagonally is skyrocketing in much of Asia. According to IDC, sales of phablets led tablets and portable PCs, up 620 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2012…“Smart with screen sizes of five to just under seven inches, colloquially known as phablets, overtook shipments of ch of the portable OC and tablet device egories in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) in the second quarter of 2013,”according to IDC, viaDigitimes.Manufacturers shipped 25.2 million phablets in the second quarter of 2012, the resrcher announced. That compares to 12.6 million tablets and 12.7 million portable PCs. Demand for phablets rose 100 percent quarter-on-quarter, according to IDC.There is incrsing demand for the device egory in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan), witnessed by ’s declining share of the market.“ was the first to succeed on phablets with the Galaxy Note launched in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) in the fourth quarter of 2011, capturing 90 percent of the phablet market,”said Melissa Chau, senior resrch manager with IDC Asia Pacific’s Client Devices tm.By the second quarter of 2013, the Note accounts for less than 50 percent of phablet sales in the region. The South Korn firm is about to unveil theGalaxy Note 3.What’s changed is along with a of large competitors, local players have come in offering“big screens for less money, averaging a retail price of $220 versus ’s $557,”said Chau.The rise of homegrown competition is also seen in China and India, where big-name brands are seeing stiff competition from locals undercutting and .Why the incrsing demand for phablets? According to IDC, the devices give consumers a safe middle point between smart and tablets, particularly when cash is limited.“Particularly in emerging markets, where consumers may not have the budget to pick up one of ch, a phablet is winning out to capture the telephony and better browsing and multimedia experience,”says the resrcher.In contrast, tablet sales in the region took a hit, but only due to“some”cannibalization of demand from phablets. More likely is the combination of first quarter inventory carried over into the second quarter, along with the usual lull between refreshed products, according to IDC.Should enter the phablet market?
Along with the full-fturediPhone 5S, is expected to unveil a low-costiPhone 5Cnext Tuesday. The company will likely continue offering its older smart either discounted or free.