Apple may have no choice but to make sure that its next model sports a larger display. According to research firm Canalys, more than a third of smartphones shipped in Q1 2014 sported a display measuring at least 5 inches. Underlying their growing popularity, while the smartphone market gew 29% year-over-year, those with 5-inch or more displays grew 369% over the same period. According to Canalys Analyst Jessica Kwee:
“This is still a market segment led by Samsung, but the trend is unmistakably toward larger-screen handsets at the high end of the market. It held a 44% share of devices with displays of 5″ and above, and 53% if the view is narrowed to look at 5.5″-plus displays. But many other vendors, such as Lenovo, Huawei, LG and Sony, have also achieved significant volumes in this space with products at the top end of their portfolios. Consumers now expect high-end devices to have large displays, and Apple’s absence in this market will clearly not last long. It is notable that 5″ and above displays featured on almost half (47%) of smart phones with an unlocked retail price of US$500 or more. Of the remaining 53% of high-end smart phones, 87% were iPhones. Apple plainly needs a larger-screen smart phone to remain competitive.”
Rumours are rife that Apple will unveil both a 4.7-inch iPhone model as well as a larger 5.5-inch one in the coming months. It could launch the first as early as August with the second to follow as early as September.
According to Canalys, some 279.4 million smartphones shipped worldwide in Q1 2014. Android accounted for 81% of shipments with iOS and Windows Phone holding second and third place with 16% and 3% respectively. Samsung remains the top manufacturer with a 31% market share, followed by Apple at 16%.
Will your next smartphone sport a 5-inch or larger display? Or does it already? Let us know below
Source : Canalys