Analysts and Apple insiders are becoming more and more confident that Apple Inc. is developing an iPhone model with a larger screen in order to compete on the emerging "phablet" market (phone and tablet).
Presumably the iPhone 6 could sport a 5-inch screen for all those who have been drawn away from Apple's iPhone to the ever-popular Samsung Galaxy S4, which sports a similar sized display.
According to The Wall Street Journal, in recent months, Apple has reportedly asked its suppliers for larger prototype iPhone screens. Apple hasn't had much time to produce new products, with the original iPad being its most recent new product line since 2010. Instead, it has been focusing its efforts on stamping out its rival Samsung, which offers its products in a variety of shapes, sizes and specs in an effort to appeal to as many consumers as possible. This is the game that Apple will have to play in the coming months if it wishes to stay afloat as it has already lost an alarming number of customers to Samsung. The South Korean tech giant has become the world's largest smartphone maker while Apple only has the lead in tablets.
For that reason Apple seems to be flirting with the idea of a larger phablet sized screen for the iPhone 6. In fact, many unofficial design specs show the iPhone without the classic "Home" button. Doing away with, or redesigning, the home button could be the company's best bet to create a larger display without sacrificing the slender, pocket-friendly design it has become known for.
"Apple has been slow to react to consumer desire for larger smartphone screens, [and] entry level price points on new phones," said BGC Financial's Colin Gillis in an investor note. "Waiting and waiting, for the new products to launch, has become painful."
This is true, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 is already here offering users a 5-inch screen and a bevy of other features, iPhone is still running late on the launch of the iPhone 5s, which promises to be more of an update to the current iPhone 5 rather than a game-changing new product line in the smartphone family.
Tell us what you think. Do you like the idea of a larger smartphone screen or are you fine with your current iPhone's size?
