Juniper Research: Phablets to claim a 20% market share by 2019

Market analyst Juniper Research has just published a report, stating that phablets will surpass one fifth of total smartphones shipped in 2019, with 400M large-screened pocket devices sold. The phablet term encompasses devices within the 5.5-6.9" screen range, according to the company.

Juniper Research notes several market tendencies that will lead to the phablet's prominence. The constant increase in screen sizes will likely put most company flagships within the quoted range by year 2019, a trend we're already seeing. The larger displays provide a more appropriate stage for mobile gaming and multimedia content consumption.

With Apple finally yielding to market demand and launching a 5.5-inch iPhone, the segment has seen further exposure, the report indicates. That being said, the majority of those 400M devices are projected to be budget offerings.

Another point the researchers make is that smaller-screened tablet sales will take a hit, with smartphones catching up to them in size. On the other hand, the higher asking prices of larger tablets might drive consumers away entirely. This grim outlook on tablet future is, however, largely applicable to China, where the smartphone is the predominant means of computing.