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The best phablets and big-screen phones money can buy in 2014

posted by Daniel P. / Apr 30, 2014, 9:18 AM

The best phablets and big-screen phones money can buy in 2014

Last year could certainly be titled The Year of the Phablet, whether you like the term or not, and 2014 is off to a great start in that category, too. In 2013, Samsung's Note family representatives met some serious competition for the first time, when most every phone maker decided to introduce their take on those 5.5"+ devices that people seem to be jonesing about lately.

In 2013, Sony one-upped the competition with the 6.3" waterproof Xperia Z Ultra, making it a member of the sub-7mm club. HTC also chipped it with the One max and its innovative fingerprint scanner on the back, while Nokia entered the race in a heartwarming manner with its pivotal for Windows Phone Lumia 1520, and the affordable 1320.

This year we already have the LG G Pro 2, with its optically stabilized camera, the Xperia T2 Ultra, with the longest battery life we've ever measured on a mobile device, and the Oppo Find 7a with a Snapdragon 801 processor. There are a lot of entrants in-between also, so let's recap what are some of the best phablets money can buy at the moment, before something even wilder has been spotted just around the corner.

Best phablets for 2014

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108 Comments

1. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

I like the Note 3, the faux leather on the back makes the phone feel and look premium. I'm also excited to see what Nokia will bring to the table.

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 8:32 AM 47

5. jackson_kaeluen

Posts: 87; Member since: Mar 12, 2013

Same here! :D

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 8:39 AM 7

8. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

Perfect phablet will release soon on October 22, but not with perfect OS. Go Nokia bring lumia 1520 quick.

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 8:47 AM 21

15. ihatesmartphone unregistered

I'm still prefer Note 3 than 1520. No one can beat note 3 in terms of multitasking and customization!!

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 9:18 AM 32

45. SleepingOz unregistered

"perfect phablet" IN YOUR OPINION. I doubt it'll be able to do half the NOTE III can.

posted on Oct 16, 2013, 12:50 AM 17

52. TechBizJP08

Posts: 495; Member since: Mar 25, 2013

I think all OS are not perfect..

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 6:55 AM 8

68. S4Note3

Posts: 2; Member since: Oct 26, 2013

Ya me too. They are all complex OS.

posted on Oct 26, 2013, 2:56 PM 0

31. Damitel

Posts: 66; Member since: Apr 21, 2013

Note 3 is simply outstanding and the overall better phablet. Any lame excuse: "Samsung were the first into phablet market?, they copied this or that? So unfortunate people hardly give Samsung credit. Note 3 all the way!

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 12:02 PM 20

78. tempdogg74

Posts: 136; Member since: Jan 04, 2009

Note 3 all Day.

posted on Nov 10, 2013, 12:24 PM 5

81. PBXtech

Posts: 1032; Member since: Oct 21, 2013

Dell Streak was the first, but it failed in sales. Samsung was the first to release a phablet successfully.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 9:47 AM 1

104. cat5fan

Posts: 16; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

Yeah, I looked hard at the 7" Dell Streak but in the end it was junk. It took another 5 years for them to figure out we want large! Now they are going to shrink the Mega? Why?

posted on May 15, 2014, 6:44 PM 0

32. the_s2

Posts: 239; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

In my opinion, Note 3 no match for the premium finish of the Z ultra! and its a whole 100$ cheaper unlocked. plus the best part of the Z ultra deal is that priceless expression on people's face when you whip out the phablet in public and hold it against your face!

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 1:13 PM 8

83. nofear

Posts: 151; Member since: Jun 22, 2012

Don't you forget expansion and removable battery. Xperia series do not.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 9:56 AM 4

101. Jason2k13

Posts: 1462; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

can you fit the z ultra in your pocket, without looking like a weirdo as you walk or sit down?

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 9:43 PM 1

37. AnTuTu

Posts: 1612; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

Note 3 anytime, any day :)

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 3:54 PM 10

43. Alex123

Posts: 241; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

The Lumia 1520 would be awesome but i don't love OS so Note 3 is the best for me.

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 8:23 PM 4

82. sergiobr

Posts: 718; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

Agree !

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 9:47 AM 0

50. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

My Z Ultra is Second Yehey

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 6:17 AM 2

54. Damitel

Note 3 is a luminary of functionality, its multitasking stands above the rest! I will even chose note 2 above some of the phablets placed 2nd,3rd,4th as well just because of same reason- functionality.