coverstory 5 Key Things to Know Before Buying a Phablet Smartphones have always been business and multimedia powerhouses, but at times, consumers have asked for bigger and better screens on their hand held devices. If you’re looking for a super-sized phone that can also replace your Tablet, a phablet could be just what you need - Zishan Ahmed s the name implies, a phablet is a phone that longer periods. Some high end devices in this category approaches tablet proportions. To be classified even have high end styluses included with the phone which a phablet, the device would need a six-inch or let you take hand written notes, create and edit images or Alarger screen, and it needs to do everything navigate the phone with gestures. that a phone does. So you’re not looking at a smaller tablet with a SIM card built in. A phablet is a phone first and Games foremost, but the size lets you use it for things that you can Regardless of whether you’re using your phone for mostly do more easily on a dedicated tablet than on a phone, like business or personal purposes, almost everybody loves watching movies, editing documents or playing games on a mobile games. If you own or have ever played games on larger screen. a Tablet then you will know that the experience leaves a much better impression than that of a regular smartphone. Why should I buy a phablet? There’s something special about the extra screen size that The main advantage of a phablet is always going to be the really brings you closer to the action. Even if the difference additional screen real estate. Below we will explain in more is only one or two inches in screen size, the difference detail what this means for tasks that you’re performing is almost night and day. If you’re looking for the most every day on your phone. impressive mobile gaming experience, a phablet could be just what you need. Multimedia Playback Multimedia playback, especially movies and TV shows are Two Devices In one something of a novelty on a regular smartphone, but to One of the reasons that phablets are starting to take off get a full sense of immersion, a bigger screen definitely in a lot of markets is the value for money factor. While helps. Whether you’re watching the latest movies released a well spec phablet will cost you as much as a top end to digital format or keeping up with a popular soap opera smartphone, it’s the savings that you will make that count. online, you will appreciate actually getting to see every A phablet can do the job of a phone and a Tablet, and movement and detail on screen. All of the flagship phablets although there are compromises either way, it’s a viable sport 1080p screens, which means that all of your high all in one device. So for someone on a budget who wants definition content will really come to life. to enjoy a Tablet for multimedia, gaming and a bit of work, but who also needs a capable smartphone, a phablet is the Editing Documents obvious choice. Using programs like Polaris or Microsoft Office to do your business on the move is a two sided affair. For one, it’s Ease of Use nice to have the functionality to review and make quick Over the years, technology has allowed phones to become edits to documents, but it’s also difficult to get any real smaller, thinner and lighter but there are some who prefer work done when you’re dealing with screen sizes like that some heft and size to wrap their digits around. Phablets of the iPhone 5 or even on larger devices like the five-inch are large devices, so if you’re someone with larger hands, Samsung Galaxy S4. With a phablet, the larger screen will or if you just prefer to be gripping something substantial, really shine when it comes to editing documents, letting a phablet could be preferable for you, above other you view more and feel more comfortable working for smartphones. 42 PCQUEST OCTOBER 2015 pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] What are the drawbacks of using a phablet? A phablet aims to be two devices in one, and on many levels it succeeds, but there are still downsides. They’re not perfect smartphones, nor are they perfect tablets, TIPS but they’re the best that you can get in between. The • As you can tell by now, a phablet is compromises made when using a phablet are as follow:- not for everyone, but if the pros outweigh A smartphone is generally portable and most can be the cons, it can be the best device to go for, operated with one hand, but with a phablet, the average especially if you want to eliminate an additional person would need to hold the device in one hand and tablet and save money. navigate and input with another. This might not matter • Before purchasing one online, make sure you when using it in the home or office, but if you’re on the move a lot, then this could be a major drawback. get into a store to hold and use a phablet sized Most phablets are thin, but the surface area is large. phone. Pictures don’t do the size justice Most men could fit the phone into a pocket of regular cut and you won’t know if the device works jeans, business trousers, etc., but for skinny jeans or female for you until you hold one in your attire, which usually has smaller pocket areas, the phone own hands. becomes slightly less portable, needing to be kept in a bag or large purse. Compromised tablet features Many tablets are almost notebooks when it comes to CPU with 2 GB RAM and features and portability. Some like the ASUS Transformer 32 GB of internal storage series have keyboard docks with built in batteries, full that’s also expandable sized USB ports and HDMI ports for outputting video to by microSD. This phone projectors and HD displays. With a phablet you don’t also has a 1080p display have the option for accessories like docking stations, and measuring at six inches. the connections on the device are the same as a regular A big selling point of phone, so if you rely on these things in a tablet, a phablet is the Lumia line is the probably not your all-in-one device. advanced cameras and custom Nokia The most popular phablets today software builds. This Samsung Galaxy note Series device has a best in class 20 MP camera that would put The Samsung Galaxy Note Series is the most popular line most dedicated point-and-shoot cameras to shame. of phablets, and the pioneers of these over-sized phones. Since the release of the Note I, phablets have reached sales Sony xperia of 20 million in Korea alone. The latest version, the Galaxy The Xperia Z Ultra is Note III sports a full 1080p 5.7-inch touchscreen with another Android OS stylus support, 3 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage with phablet and is one microSD card expansion. The Note series phablets all run of the largest at 6.4 on Android OS. inches. Like most high end devices in this category it has a 1080p screen for enjoying your high definition content. It runs the same top of the line quad core CPU as the Nokia with 2 GB of RAM, but only 16 GB of nokia Lumia 1520 internal storage. (You The Lumia 1520 is Nokia and Windows Phone 8’s first foray can still expand it with into the phablet market. It’s running the latest quad core microSD cards.) pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] OCTOBER 2015 PCQUEST 43.