(image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jul. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The demand for larger-screen smartphones sized 6 inches and above is expected to grow down the road as more consumers enjoy games and movies, data showed Sunday.
According to the data compiled by Strategy Analytics, phablets with screen sizes larger than 6 inches are set to take up 4.3 percent of the global smartphone market for 2017, rising sharply from 2.3 percent posted last year.
The outlook came as global tech giants have been seeking to release larger smartphones to meet the demand.
The presumed Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the LG V30 and the Apple iPhone 8, slated to be released over the second half of 2017, are anticipated to come with displays larger than 6 inches, industry watchers said.
Industry watchers added the release of larger phablets was also be made possible as tech firms adopted the so-called bezel-less design, which allowed smartphones to boast wider displays and yet maintain the overall size.
Such phablets are expected to take up 5.4 percent of the market in 2018, eventually to reach 6.4 percent in 2019, the researcher added.
“Bezel-less smartphones are not just about new designs but about technology development,” an industry watcher said. “The budget LG Q6 smartphone adopted the bezel-less design, and screens for budget smartphones will also expand down the road.”
(Yonhap)
