The rise of the phablet! Figures show more demand for larger mobiles in the UK

We’ve said it before: big mobile phones are big. And they’re only set to get bigger if we Brits have anything to say about it. New research shows we can’t get enough of wide set devices and think phablets are… er, fab.

According to tracking company Context, phones bigger than 4.9 inches made up 23% of shipments to retailers in the first quarter of 2014, compared to just 7% during the same period in 2013. Shipments of phones with screens 4.2 inches or smaller (including iPhones) reduced from 62% in the first quarter of 2013 to 48% in the first quarter of 2014, suggesting high consumer demand for the big boys. In fact, the most speedy growth was for models with screens 5.9 inches or bigger, like HTC’s One Max.

The iPhone 5S is still the most popular mobile in the UK, but with Samsung snapping at its heels and customers keen on devices they can grab with both hands, if Apple’s next model really will have a supersized option, it could be exactly what they need to stay on top.

Image via  Kārlis Dambrāns’s Flickr.