Consumers continue to desire combined features of a smartphone and a tablet in a device. This yearning has given rise to the 'phablet'. By enticing smartphone and tablet users with a syndicate of features, will phablets be able to steal tablets' or smartphones' thunder?

ABI Reseach reported that more than 208 million phablets will be shipped worldwide in 2015.

A smartphone with a display size of 4.6- to 5.5-inch is classified as a phablet. Currently, there are several phablets makers in the industry, but Samsung steals the show with its Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3, which sport a 5.3-inch and 4.8-inch display, respectively

"One of the chief drivers for phablets is the amount of time people use their smartphones for web browsing, reading articles and newspapers on the go, or simply navigating their journeys," according to senior analyst Joshua Flood, ABI Research.

Flood is also of the opinion that "The larger screen sizes make a significant difference to the user's experience when compared to conventional-sized touchscreens between 3.5 to 4 inches." Phablet users get smartphone feature advantages in plentiful that a smaller smartphone display may not be able to do justice to, like watching videos and checking online maps.

Why should existing smartphone or tablet users opt for a phablet?

With a phablet, users won't have to carry two separate devices, a smartphone and a tablet. The portability of the phablet makes it easier for the user to carry the device in a pocket or a purse. Be it listening to music or watching videos, a phablet suffices for users who use these features on the go. However, depending on personal preference, many users may prefer watching videos on a bigger display. Reading an e-book is another facet for which a phablet can be perfect. Smartphone users who like playing games on their devices will enjoy gameplay more on a phablet, owing to its bigger screen size.

Provided phablets are pocketable, consumers may embrace them because they are a perfect synthesis of a smartphone's portability and a tablet's user experience. The question remains if the rise of phablet users will see a decline in smartphones and tablet sales, or both.