Definition: phablet

(PHone tABLET) A smartphone with at least a 5" screen. Today, all top-drawer smartphones are phablets, including iPhones, Galaxy and Pixel devices, and the term is rarely used. However, foldable phones function as small tablets and entry-level phones are available with 3" and 4" screens (see mini phone and foldable phone).

The first phablet was the Android-based Dell Streak in 2010, and a year later, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note. In 2014, Apple's iPhone 6 Plus featured a 5.5" screen. According to Trademarkia.com, LG applied to trademark "phablet" in 2011.

Bigger With Each Model

In 2012, the Galaxy S III screen (right) was almost 5", but subsequent S models were at least five inches.

Galaxy Note II

Samsung's Galaxy Note was the first phablet with a stylus for handwriting and drawing. Android phones were first with large screens. See Galaxy Note.

Any Bigger, It's a Tablet

With its 6.1" screen in 2013, Huawei's Android-based Ascend Mate dwarfed the 3.5" iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 6.5" XS Max and 5.8" XS

Apple was slow to get into the phablet arena, but it made up for it with the 6.5" screen on the XS Max. See iPhone versions. (Image courtesy of Apple, Inc.)