Here’s Why 2017 Could Be the Year of Phablets such as Lenovo Phab 2

The market of phablets is expected to see a voluminous two-digit growth until 2019, despite an overall retardation in the sales of smartphones, reports IDC. Phablets, a cross between phones and tablets, are typically devices with screen size higher than 5.5-inches display diagonally. The number of phablets will increase from one in every five smartphone shipments (in 2015) to one per three by 2020. Android manufacturers and Apple realize this opportunity and have been focusing on the more dynamic form factor.

Big phones provide a more anchoring experience while gaming and watching videos, besides aiding those with poor eyesight or chunky fingers. Whilst iPhone 6+ & 6s+, Pixel XL and Samsung’s range of premium Notes can be accredited to the revival of this segment of handhelds, brands with cheaper offerings have been constantly riding the wave. Lenovo, as a leading brand in smartphones, has been attentive of this trend with its recent launches; the latest offering from the cradle of the Beijing-headed company which favours this trend is the Lenovo Phab 2 which plays boldly with its 6.4-inches big display.

13-megapixel camera with Augmented Reality features

An attractive choice from the perspective of media consumption, Lenovo Phab 2 boast features that make us feel ready for the future. The 13-megapixel rear camera sports special Augmented Reality features. While Virtual Reality (VR) has gained quite a buzz in the year (almost) gone by, Augmented Reality (AR) is likely to be the big shark in 2017. This is because while VR provides an immersive experience and allows users to sink themselves in a completely distinct world, AR allows them to collate reality merged with a digital experience. The AR market is, thus, foreseen to be worth $120 billion by 2020 while VR will remain at $30 bn.

Augmented Reality

Lenovo seems to have a strong sense of what is likely to play well in an Indian market, with a feature-rich bundle at a seemingly interesting price of Rs. 11,999. Phablets, with a potential to upscale performance and multimedia experience for users, also come with more powerful batteries than standard smartphones. The recent launch of Lenovo K6 Power revealed how Lenovo prioritizes batteries that let you savour day-long performances without worrying about running out of juice. The Lenovo Phab 2 feeds off a 4050 mAH battery – big enough for the daily dose of videos, feature-rich media.

Other features of the phone include 5-megapixel wide angel selfie camera, Dolby Atmos for an enriching sound experience and 3GB of RAM for unhindered multi-tasking. The storage onboard is 32GB which can be expanded to additional 128GB using a MicroSD card. Lenovo introduced a new concept called 360-voice in which uses Dolby Audio Capture 5.1 which uses the triple-layer microphone to embed videos with a 360-degree sound for an integrated sound experience. Lenovo Phab 2 runs Android 6.0.

On the downside, the screen has a somewhat obscure resolution of 1280 x 720 as other cheap phones readily come with FullHD screens. This makes the pixel density of the Lenovo Phab 2 merely 230 ppi, which is not alluring. The other issue with the phablet is its weight. 225 grams for a phablet could repel some of the keen buyers, already.

Lenovo Phab 2 will be exclusively available at Flipkart in two colours – Champagne Gold and Gunmetal Grey.

While phablets like the iPhone 6s and 7 Plus(es) and Galaxy Note series have set standards high, cheaper phablets are evolving in terms of quality and thus gaining value for proposition. Growth in size is likely to lead a growth in volume. Lenovo with this launch has taken a quick step towards leading the phablet journey in 2017, (at least for some time).