Are Phablets a Fad? Flurry Report Looks at Screen Size

Large-screen smartphones — often called phablets — have been getting a lot of attention lately. But so far, the devices make up only a tiny portion of the global mobile market,according to a new study.

Flurry, a mobile analytics company, found that of the 200 most popular device models used worldwide in February, 2 percent had screens of 5 inches to 6.9 inches, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note. The vast majority of mobile users — 69 percent — opted for models with 3.5-inch to 4.9-inch screens, such as Apple’s iPhone, the company said.

Does that mean phablets, which blur the lines between phones and tablets, are a fad?

“This kind of category is in its infancy, and we are seeing success in Samsung,” Teri Daley, vice president of public relations for Samsung Telecommunications America, said in an interview. “Our sales numbers give us confidence in the category.”