Phablets are large smartphones. They got this name because of it’s big screen. Phablets range from 6 inches to 8 inches diagonally. Some folks decided that they didn’t need to buy a phone and a tablet, that they could just get a big-screen smartphone, hence the name “Phablet” (Phone+Tablet).
The larger screen size provides more real estate for content consumption, making them a great choice for entertainment and for productivity.
In this article, I want to list the best phablets on the market.
1. Apple iPhone Pro Max 15
- Released: 2023, September
- Display Size: 6.7-inches
- Display Technology: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolutions: 2796×1290 (460ppi)
- Operating System: iOS
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera: Main: 48MP 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture. Selfie: 12 MP 23 mm, ƒ/1.9 aperture
- Battery: 4,422 mAh (Up to 20 hours)
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the largest iPhone from Apple. It features a 6.7-inch OLED Retina XDR Display, which results in vibrant and true-to-life colors that really bring the videos and pictures to life. Makes a lot of difference if you watch movies and videos on your phone.
It has incredible build quality and it has gotten lighter with the titanium frame with subtly rounded edges and slimmer bezels. Overall, it looks similar to the previous model, but it’s more lightweight and stronger.
It’s powered by the new Apple A17 Pro chip. Allowing you to handle the most demanding tasks. You can browse, play games, edit photos and videos on your iPhone without experiencing slow downs.
The cameras on the phone are incredible. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is equipped with three sensors: a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera. Notably, a key enhancement is the inclusion of a 5x optical zoom, a significant improvement compared to the 3x zoom featured in the previous model. Main camera features sensor-shift OIS and shoots in 24MP by default now.
The 256GB model is starting at $1199 on Amazon.
- Lightweight
- Beautiful Display
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Excellent Cameras
- USB Type-C Port
- A Customizable Button
- Very Expensive
- Charging Is Slow
- No Charger Included
2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Released: 2023, February
- Display Size: 6.8-inches
- Display Technology: Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolutions: 3088×1440(500ppi)
- Operating System: Android
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera: Main: 200MP 24 mm, ƒ/1.7 aperture. Selfie: 12 MP 26 mm, ƒ/1.7 aperture
- Battery: 5,000 mAh (Up to 13 hours)
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the largest S series smartphone by Samsung, featuring a 6.8-inch AMOLED 2X Display (It’s based on OLED technology). It has a variable refresh rate that goes from 1Hz to 120Hz. The screen can get very dim, making it perfect for night use, there’s less strain for the eyes.
It’s the biggest Samsung phone, but it’s still relatively lightweight, 0.51 lbs (234g), and you can easily fit it into a pocket.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It has massive improvements in comparison to the previous model. It’s 40% faster. It’s constructed using the latest and most efficient 4-nanometer technology, this marks a significant advancement, especially beneficial for gamers.
The camera has improved in comparison to the previous model. The new 200MP sensor does much better in low-light conditions. All the pictures indoors have better quality than S22 Ultra.
The 256GB model is starting at $857 on Amazon.
- Beautiful Big Display
- Long Battery Life
- Excellent Cameras
- Built-in S Pen
- Expensive
- No Charger Included
- Charging Is Quite Slow
- Base Model Only Has 8GB of RAM
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Released: 2023, July
- Display Size: 7.6-inches
- Display Technology: Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolutions: 2176×1812 pixels(373ppi)
- Operating System: Android
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera: Main: 50MP 23 mm, ƒ/1.8 aperture. Selfie: 4MP 26 mm, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- Battery: 4,400 mAh (Up to 11 hours)
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a foldable phone/phablet. When unfolded, it gets a 7.6-inch AMOLED 2X Display. It offers a peak brightness of 1750 nits, making it great to use outdoors and in direct sunlight.
It weighs 0.55 lbs (253g), and when it’s folded, it’s 6.2 inches big. You can easily put it into a pocket.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs a Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, it’s the same chip that’s inside Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s fast and reliable, able to handle the heaviest apps without slowing down.
Considering the fact that this device costs $1800, I will say the camera is ‘Okay’ but at least you get a 5x telephoto lens.
- Good Performance
- Long Battery Life
- Beautiful Big Foldable Display
- No DeX Support
- Extremely Expensive
- No Charger Included
- Minimal Hinge Wobble
- No S Pen Included In Price
4. Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Released: 2023, October
- Display Size: 6.7-inches
- Display Technology: LTPO OLED
- Resolutions: 2992×1344 pixels(373ppi)
- Operating System: Android
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera: Main: 50MP 25 mm, ƒ/1.7 aperture. Selfie: 10.5MP 20 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture
- Battery: 5,050 mAh (Up to 10 hours)
If you want a phablet and you like Google products – Google Pixel 8 Pro is the right choice for you. It’s 6.7-inches big with a beautiful OLED display, 2400 nits (peak). Very bright display with vivid colors, making the photos and videos you capture come to life.
It has a great build-quality aluminum frame and gorilla glass display, and it’s lightweight considering the size and everything that’s inside.
It operates Google Tensor G3 SoC. It’s undoubtedly an upgrade over the previous model and you can run heavy, demanding apps on the device without worrying that the device will slow down or freeze up.
The camera could be better, but you can still take world-class selfies and Instagram pictures with this device.
You can get the Google Pixel 8 Pro for $757 at Amazon.
- Solid, Aluminum Body
- Beautiful Colors & Sharp Display
- Slow Charging
- The Camera Could Be Better
- Some Of The Software Features Are Limited To Specific Countries
5. OnePlus 12
- Released: 2023, December
- Display Size: 6.8-inches
- Display Technology: LTPO AMOLED
- Resolutions: 3168×1440 pixels(510ppi)
- Operating System: Android (US), OxygenOS (International), ColorOS (China)
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera: Main: 50MP 23 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture. Selfie: 32MP 21 mm, ƒ/2.4 aperture
- Battery: 5,400 mAh (Up to 15 hours)
OnePlus 12 is a 6.8-inch big-screen phone with a beautiful display with Gorilla Glass at the top for protection. It can reach up to 4500 nits of brightness, allowing you to see the screen perfectly, even in sunlight. It has a solid build with an aluminum frame.
It runs Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset that will be able to deal with the heaviest of tasks. It’s fast, with 24GB of RAM capacity and that’s more than enough to never feel your device slow down.
It’s equipped with great cameras at the front for selfies and a great camera at the back for your Instagram pictures.
The big screen, beautiful colors, fast performance, and great camera make it a great choice if you are looking for a Phablet. You can get Onepus 12 at Amazon for $709.
- Fast Charging
- Great Battery Life
- Fast Performance
- High RAM Capacity
- Glossy & Slippery
- Operating Systems Outside US Has Limitations
What Is Considered A Phablet?
Phablet is just a large-screen smartphone. A phone with a 6+ inch screen is considered a phablet. It has the same functionality as a phone, not as a tablet. Big screen phones don’t have active digitizer screens, meaning you can’t use active Stylus pens on them and take notes; you can only use passive styluses that work as a finger replacement.
Is Phablet a Phone?
Yes, technically speaking, phablet is a large-screen phone with the same functionality as most smartphones these days.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Phablet?
Phablets are less pocket-friendly and more challenging to handle with one hand. The larger screens also lead to increased power consumption. The device is not the most optimal when it comes to texting or making a simple phone call. They are devices made for users who prefer to use their devices for multimedia and productivity. There are advantages to the big screen phones, but there are same trade-offs as well in terms of comfort and ease of use, especially for those seeking a more compact and easily manageable device.
I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.