Android’s phablet reign to last through 2013 as Apple, RIM and Nokia fail to compete

Android Phablets

Apple (AAPL) and Research In Motion (RIMM) will continue to sleep on the emerging “phablet” market in 2013, according to a new report. Android vendors including Samsung (005930), HTC (2498) and Sony (SNE) will capitalize on strong demand for 5-inch smartphones in 2013, Digitimes claims. Meanwhile Apple, RIM and Nokia (NOK) have no plans for 5-inch smartphones this year according to the site’s unnamed industry sources. How big is the opportunity these companies are missing? Digitimes cites research suggesting 60.4 million smartphones with screens measuring 5 inches or more will ship this year, and that figure will climb to 146 million units in 2016.

[More from BGR: Two new 4-inch iPhones set to debut this year, iPhone with larger display to launch in 2014 or later]

This article was originally published on BGR.com