''PHABLETS'' AND SMARTPHONES

Phablets all set to grab bigger market share :

The Global smartphone market is expected to see steady if unspectacular growth in the next few years-

As consumers turn increasingly to large-screen headsets known as ''phablets'', a market tacker said recently.

A report by the  research firm IDC said phablets -with displays larger than 5.5in  -will account for some  40% of the 1.5 billion smartphones sold in 2017, and-

That the phablet share will rise to more than half by 2019.

The overall smartphone market is on a modest growth pace of around 3% that will boost global sales to 1.7 billion by 2021, according to IDC researchers.

But growth is coming from the large-screen devices as sales dip for conventional handsets with displays of 5.5 inches or less, IDC said.

''In 2012 phablets were just 1% of smartphone shipments and now they are approaching 50% of the market just a few years later,'' said Ryan Reith, an IDC analyst.

''Consumers continue to consume more video entertainment, gaming, social media, and other  data-heavy applications on their smartphones-

Making the display size and type a critical factor in smartphone-buying decisions,'' Keith added.

IDC said iPhone  buyers are following this trend, with the larger-screen Apple handsets to account for 41% of sales volumes in 2017 and 50% or more in 2018.

IDC said the large-screen and 'premium' devices entering market are likely to boost the average price of smartphones.

''There is no doubt that  2017 gave birth  to a high-end segment of the smartphone market,'' said Anthony Scarsella, an IDC research manager.

''The latest  flagship devices from Samsung. Apple, Google, LG, and others has pushed the high-end to the  US$ 850 and above level for the first time.

''Despite these price hikes, consumers look as if they are willing to swallow the cost just to have the latest and greatest device in their pockets.

Average selling prices for  smartphones are expected to rise to US$ 317 by 2021 up from US$ 282, in 2016.

IDC estimated the market share for Android-powered devices to be 85.1% this year,  and mirror the overall market over the next few years to 85.3% by 2021.

The market share for Apple is estimated at 14.8% in 2017, and seen slipping to 14.6% by 2021, IDC said.