Phablet Wars - 5 inch smartphones for 2013
Until the autumn of 2011, the idea of owning a smartphone with a screen larger than five inches across the diagonal was outlandish to the point of seeming almost impossible. At the time people were still impressed by phones with 4.3-inch displays and the Samsung Galaxy S2 was ruling the roost.
Then Samsung launched the Galaxy Note, its so-called ‘phablet’, which combined the best aspects of a smartphone and a tablet to impressive effect. With a 5.3-inch high-definition screen it was big but compact enough to slip into a pocket.
2012 saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, building on the foundations laid by its best-selling predecessor. Now that phablet phones are becoming the norm, what other 5 inch smartphones can consumers expect to see in the near future? Here are four HD smartphone models to watch in 2013.
Samsung Galaxy S4
The flagship Galaxy S range has had a progressively larger display included with each annual update and the current Galaxy S3 pushes the envelope with its 4.8-inch panel.
However, it is thought that the Galaxy S4 will arrive in 2013 with a 5-inch screen and that must-have 1080p resolution, which will make it right at home alongside other phablet phones.
By comparison, the 4-inch display of the iPhone 5 will look positively dinky, so if you want to have bragging rights over any Apple-loving friend, the Galaxy S4 will give you the upper hand. Reasons why the Note 2 is better than the Galaxy S3.
Sony Xperia Z
Officially announced at CES, the Xperia Z has the potential to match the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S4. With its 5 inch 1080p display and Android Jelly Bean software powered by a 1.5GHz quad core processor, the Xperia Z has great potential in 2013.
Codenamed Yuga during production, the Z had appeared online in a number of leaked images, months before it’s official announcement. We’re pleased to see the concept become a reality as the Sony Xperia Z offers a stylish alternative to Samsung’s phablet phones in 2013.
HTC Droid DNA
HTC is the only manufacturer to actually get its 1080p phone out to the media. The Droid DNA, as it’s known in the US, has a 5-inch HD display crammed into its slender frame, along with all the usual bells and whistles, including a quad-core processor.
The one problem that HTC might have is that the Droid DNA is very much based on the best of 2012’s technology, while all of its rivals are working with hardware that will impress in 2013. The difference might be enough to prevent people parting with their cash.
Huawei Ascend Mate
The first rumours are filtering through about this Chinese HD smartphone, which will reportedly be launched next year.
If you thought the 5.5-inch screen on the Galaxy Note 2 was a bit of a beast, the 6.1-inch panel apparently featured on the Ascend Mate will be a real monster. The screen will make this a true 1080p phone, with a pixel count that matches its closest rivals from better known manufacturers.
Of course, actually jamming such a big phone into your pocket or purse is a different matter. The Ascend Mate is closer than any of its peers to entering the full tablet sector, since it is only a little smaller than 7-inch devices like the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
5 inch smartphones
These 5 inch smartphones have powerful components and high-quality 1080p screens in common. Aside from this tech making it almost impossible to distinguish between the pixels on screen, it should also make it easy to enjoy full HD video content and high-definition gaming like never before. For the best of now, why not check out multimedia features of the HTC One X vs Samsung Galaxy S3.
Quite what impact these 5 inch displays will have on battery life is another matter, but you might have to get used to dragging your charger with you if you want to avoid midday low battery warnings.