Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Samsung's 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II |
''Samsung is working on introducing a new phablet using a 5.9-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen,'' an official told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.
Phablet is a term created by combining parts of phone and tablet.
He said the new handset will be powered by the in-house Exynos octa-core chipset to meet consumer demand for faster data processing and downloading speeds. But it's unlikely that the company will use flexible display technology as its display-making affiliate ― Samsung Display ― is having difficulty coping with demand.
The move comes as the Korean electronics giant's seeks to further strengthen its foothold in the phablet market where Chinese rivals such as ZTE and Huawei have unveiled products in similar sizes.
Samsung has already secured a solid position in the phablet market with the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II but there has been a new market created as Chinese players have introduced 5.8-inch to 6-inch devises. The firm has sold more than 10 million Galaxy Note IIs since they were unveiled last September.
An inside source from Samsung said that the firm is expected to see a rapid rise in its phablet business, which will help it maintain its lead over rivals, including Apple.
Although Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently said he wished Apple had made a wider version of the iPhone, the Cupertino-based outfit has yet to make little effort to modify it. Observers expect that the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 are likely to have a 4-inch display.
Larger screens dominated this year's technology shows in Las Vegas and last month's Mobile World Congress.
Nearly early every Google Android flagship released in 2013 will have a 5-inch display. Together with Samsung Electronics, Sony, Asus and LG Electronics all have 5-inch models in the works.
''Even if these kinds of sizes ― from 5-inch to 6-inch ― are stretching the limits of traditional pockets, well-made phablets using bezel-less technology have been warmly received. Users prefer bigger phones and they use them more often. Samsung will be more focused on larger phones,'' said a top-ranked executive at one of Samsung's parts suppliers.
