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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

109. AngelTs

Posts: 1; Member since: Sep 13, 2014

Best detailed new search engine (startup) for high end Chinese smartphones ($150-$180)- better than iPhone 6 Plus or Samsung!!! skyfg.com (in Promotions and discounts directory->Smartphones-> Top hot cheap Chinese smartphones)

posted on Sep 13, 2014, 8:30 AM 0

108. fynyx

Posts: 1; Member since: Jul 15, 2014

For all you Note 3 Fans: AnTuTu Benchmark Score PAD RANKING TOP 1 Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 N8000---- Score:15899 TOP 2 RAMOS W30---- Score:14965 TOP 3 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity---- Score:14564 TOP 4 HTC One X ---- Score:14022 TOP 5 Lenovo IdeaTab A3000---- Score:13818 TOP 6 Toshiba AT330---- Score:13352 TOP 7 Google Nexus 10 ---- Score:13351 TOP 8 Lenovo IdeaTab S6000---- Score:13296 TOP 9 Huawei MediaPad 10 Link---- Score:13002 TOP 10 ASUS ME301T---- Score:12776 New CHINESE phablet: Cube Talk 9X AnTuTu Benchmark Score: 41091 Battery: Li-ion battery, 10000mAh approx highest display resolution 2048*1536 which is the same as iPad 3 and Apple iPad mini 2GB RAM / MTK8392 Octa Core 1.7 ghz measured Processor with dual sim built in 3g support... and this item isn't on this list why? your note 3 only scored a 27337 somebody didn't watch for the upcoming processors, lmao

posted on Jul 15, 2014, 11:48 PM 0

107. jackson_kaeluen

Posts: 87; Member since: Mar 12, 2013

It's already months! How's the Galaxy Note 3 after 5/6 months? Does it lag in multi tasking, playing games, downloading apps and using other applications at the same time. Would like to hear from you guys. Thanks!

posted on May 18, 2014, 10:34 AM 0

102. mio15

Posts: 38; Member since: Mar 21, 2011

Hi, this is a nice List. But why is the Note (3) Neo missing? I get it from the review, that its price point was set too high in the beginning, but in my country it no gets much more closer to the price of a Note 2. And keeping design and software (features) in mind i would choose a Note 3 Neo over a Note 2. Not saying that a Note 2 is a bad phone. greetings

posted on May 01, 2014, 4:46 AM 0

100. aksa123

Posts: 368; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

In 2014? This is still first semester, pal. More to come.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 8:02 PM 0

99. gigaraga

Posts: 1454; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

Note 4 is the only phablet or phone in that case that can dethrone the Note 3 and so on...Note 3 is excellent by the way. Best phablet ever. Period.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 4:57 PM 0

97. SemperFiV12

Posts: 949; Member since: Nov 09, 2010

I like Note 3 and G Pro 2 , but I would definitely follow with the Lumia 1520 (pretty close between them three.) This segment has a lot of room for growth and improvement!

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 4:48 PM 0

95. iphoneman37

Posts: 53; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Note 3 all day my wife loves to multitask.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 3:17 PM 0

94. zachattack

Posts: 621; Member since: Jul 31, 2013

Hopefully Samsung uses the note 3s design and just either makes the plastic metal or upgrades the specs respectively

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 2:12 PM 0

93. magnum44 unregistered

The 5.5" + ones in my current collection are the Note 3, Note ii, Z Ultra and lumia 1520 (but only the last one bought in 2014). To me all are strictly for indoor and bedtime musing. My favourite one is the Note ii although it's the smallest and oldest, and not speced with Full HD display. I alternate between the N9 and Z10 as main phone ... Z30 mainly for music indoors (hate headphones) ... N8 and iPhone 5 confined to the drawer ... smile.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 1:34 PM 1

92. Epicness1o1

Posts: 333; Member since: May 30, 2013

lol where is the htc desire 816?

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 12:46 PM 0

90. preetmalhotra

Posts: 114; Member since: Apr 27, 2012

*blush* mine is at 10th!!!

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 12:04 PM 0

87. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

Anything under 6 inch screen should not be classified as a phablet. They are just large phones. When I compare Sony Xperia Z Ultra to Note 3 it is evident that one is much more like a tablet (Z Ultra) and the other is much more like a phone (Note 3). The Z Ultra is designed to be used in landscape mode. The UI rotates and there are side bezels for your fingers. The Note 3 does not do well in landscape mode.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 10:27 AM 0

89. Suo.Eno

Posts: 556; Member since: Feb 17, 2013

Another dude...that "ph" in phablet means phone and I've seen more than enough people happy to use 4.7" ones in landscape too. So automatically anything larger than that gives better ergonomy already.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 11:46 AM 0

91. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

In certain apps you can use any phone in landscape. But to be a phablet it needs native landscape UI, a landscape dock port and a 6 inch or larger screen in my opinion.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 12:30 PM 0

84. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Wow, phone arena left out a lot of phablets that are better than what was mentioned...also, the Note 3 is more of TINY phablet - anything under 6 inch cannot be considered a phablet. The Coolpad 9976A, for the money and value you get in return, should be on the list...luckily, I do not listen to the mainstream media tech sites to tell me what I should buy...

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 10:24 AM 1

88. Suo.Eno

Posts: 556; Member since: Feb 17, 2013

"luckily, I do not listen to the mainstream media tech sites to tell me what I should buy..." Agreed... luckily "I' does not represent "we" as in you don't speak for the rest of us either. That "ph" in phablet stands for "phone" = possible one handed use hence averaging anything 5.2 - 6" range is a fair assessment across a larger percentage user base. 7" tablets that happen to make phone calls are still tablets. End of.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 11:41 AM 0

79. chocolaking

Posts: 495; Member since: May 22, 2012

Samsung = lies Pa loves samsung I love PA My friend ask me if they can get blinkfeed on his Galaxy mega. and I said " No, you can't never get it, and stop looking at my phone "

posted on Nov 13, 2013, 3:07 AM 0

74. TheM16

Posts: 80; Member since: Aug 14, 2013

Note 3 and Ultra Z are the BEST Phabs. Out there period and ... I prefer the UZ :) IMO Nokia should not be on the list ... OS is limited and way behind others, what multitask can it do? Shutting down the apps with the new (X) in the corner?!!! No thanks... The browser sux and crashes with heavy sites and inaccurate when inputting data (like Android few years back). No access to HDD only for images& Videos! You cannot download directly from the internet!! So no use of big HDD except for images and videos… the only thing I liked (for a limited time) is the smooth OS, Cam and maps. If they putting them just for the screen size and specs...ok but not for the OS BB10 and Android kings of Multitasking

posted on Oct 29, 2013, 7:58 AM 1

98. SemperFiV12

Posts: 949; Member since: Nov 09, 2010

Your experiences do not seem to mirror mine... and you constantly negate yourself... 1) What multitask can it do? (and then you follow with an example of its updated multi-tasking interface) 2) Browser works fine for me... better than fine actually. 3) No access to HDD... only for... (so it does.) 4) You cannot download directly from the Internet. (really? lol. Si, si se puede.) Oh and the ONLY thing you liked... smooth OS (lol), Camera, and Maps (those are all pretty big points towards rating a smarthpone.) Anyway, hope you find peace with whatever device. Lumia 1520 is definitely a top 4 or 5 phablet.

posted on Apr 30, 2014, 4:56 PM 0

65. Jalil

Posts: 40; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

Galaxy note 3 is the best ever.

posted on Oct 24, 2013, 2:33 AM 0

64. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

If only the Lumia 1320 had the Lumia 925's camera, it would be pretty compelling, as much as I like the 1520. I'll probably wait for a 6" with the 1020's successor's camera.

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 7:22 PM 1

73. Tamer81

Posts: 37; Member since: Mar 15, 2013

I agree. The 1320 with at least 925's PureView tech would be awesome for that price!

posted on Oct 28, 2013, 3:07 PM 0

76. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

watch the documentary with the 1520 and that discovery survival guy. He did one with the 1020 and he has stated that the 1520's camera is on par with the 1020. Go to nokias website to watch them.

posted on Oct 29, 2013, 9:57 AM 0

62. GrapeEyes

Posts: 248; Member since: Sep 01, 2013

Put some videos of the amazing Nokia Lumia 1520 Lumia 1520 is a beast!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8xJXhltcp4&feature=c4-overview&list=UUR7sdA7XHNWDYwPL4z4-U4w

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 4:15 PM 1

61. GrapeEyes

Posts: 248; Member since: Sep 01, 2013

Within 6 months, Nokia will have the best apps in the world. Imagine taking a pictures, putting it on facebook then your friends and family can retouch the picture to the original image while it is on your facebook page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cds1tX3a9rg Nokia is incredible!!!

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 4:08 PM 2

60. jellmoo

Posts: 2699; Member since: Oct 31, 2011

Title could use some work. It isn't so much a list of the best phablets and big screen phones money can buy as it is a list of all the phablets and big screen phones money can buy.

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 11:00 AM 0

59. supersammyfans

Posts: 26; Member since: Nov 24, 2012

Are you kidding me? Why you even waste your time bringing Samsung Phones compare with any others? Nothing beat Samsung. NOTHING. Not even HTC, Google/Motorola, Sony, Microsoft/Nokia, Apple or any other can compete with it. It is such dishonor to compare it with other. Samsung FTW!!!!!!!

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 10:58 AM 0

58. PhoneCritic

Posts: 1382; Member since: Oct 05, 2011

Give credit where credit is due. Everyone laugh at Samsung when they introduced the Note ( it's too big, no one wants to pull that thing out in public etc...) fast forward to today. Everyone else wants in on the phablet action. ( I believe even Apple secretly wants in on this segment ). Samsung is way ahead of everyone because (IMO) 1. they took the stylus to another level ( Steve Jobs said "a device with a stylus means the device is bad"- Boy was he wrong< any one renumber the "Newton by" apple>) and added real productive features like multitasking split screens, air view, a sounding alarm fro when you unknowingly leave the stylus behind etc.. 2. Samsung hit it out of the ballpark with the Note series by catering to a market for it. Have you very seen basketball players or football players hands. I watch a former NBA star (visits our schools regularly ot speak with the kids) who was a iPhone 4s user switch over to the note 2. The iPhone looked ridiculous in his hand. in fact it look like a Barbie fun house toy phone. But, the Note 2 looked like a normal smartphone compared to his proportions. Samsung has won over a segment in the market place that other manufactures ignored too long and are now all playing catch up.