Why Apple *should not* sidestep the Phablet.
Before you read this. First the read this well thought out article from John Moltz:
Why Apple Should Sidestep the Phablet
Read it? Good. Now my turn…
I humbly disagree with this article’s conclusion. Contrary to the opinion given therein, I think it would be a nice iPad mini-esque move for Apple to make a 5”, or even, 5”+ iPhone.
Yes, I know, no single smartphone model out there outsells the Apple 3.5” & 4” iPhones. They moved 48 million last quarter!
However, my championing of the 5” iPhone is not because sales of big-ass phones are threatening the iPhone. Clearly Moltz makes the case that they are not. I also don’t believe that Apple should make Phablets because other manufacturers are making them. That didn’t make sense with netbooks and it doesn’t make sense now. Many other tech companies make lots of things that make no sense. Apple doesn’t *need *to follow.
Rather my argument here is that Apple should make a 5” smartphone because it would be a useful product. A bigger, yet pocketable screen would, in fact, be useful. Bigger text, bigger content display, more typing area. But still pocketable. Yes it won’t be for everyone. The iPad mini is not for everyone. But, my friends, neither is the regular size iPad. One size does not fit all.
Now I’m not pitching that Apple take the machine gun approach and make a phone at every size on .5” intervals like our copycat buddies Samsung is fond of doing. That would be dumb. And yes, I’ll say it, very “un-Apple”.
What Apple needs to do is look at the device category, carefully select a couple of good sizes that serve the needs of the market and perfect the device at those sizes. This is what they have always done.
It worked in MacBooks (11”, 13” Airs; 13”, 15” Pros). Worked in iMacs (21”, 27”). Worked in iPods (Shuffle, Nano, Classic, Touch). Most recently worked in iPads (7.9” and 9.7”). So why would it not work in iPhones? (4” and 5”+)?
Why the hell not? Yes Phablets are large. For some, uncomfortably so. But for many others, Phablets are just right. I’m just postulating here, but for me, I’m guessing that a 5” or 5”+ iPhone would land me squarely in the “just right” camp.
