Apple 5-inch 'iPhablet' Release Date Rumors: Late 2013 or First Quarter 2014 Expected, Says Analyst; Will It Rival the Samsung Galaxy Note 2?

Apple has released an array of devices with numerous sizes, from 3.5-inch to four-inch iPhones to 7.9 to 9.7 iPads, but could a five-inch device be near?

According to Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes as told clients that Apple could be releasing a five-inch iPhone, although it could go under the name "iPhablet."

The analyst noted that the iPhablet could see a release date of late 2013 or the first quarter of 2014.

In notes obtained by The Mac Observer, Reitzes wrote, "Apple has stood firm that its iPhone is ideal for one-handed use, which is true in our opinion. However, one handed use is arguably less important as phone calls become less and less crucial - the larger form factor has caught on for navigation, texting, videos, books and web access."

The Barclays analyst said markets outside of the U.S. find devices with larger screens "to be more popular" especially in China.

A move to the "iPhablet" could put Apple in further competition with Samsung's Galaxy Note 2, which is 5.5-inches and has been nicknamed as a "phablet" due to being bigger than a phone yet too short to be categorized as a tablet.

Is it a smart move for Apple to venture to five-inch devices? Or was it inevitable following the increase in size seen for the iPhone 5?

Let us know in the comments section below.

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