Differentiation of the Mobile Device

It all started with the iPhone, and before we knew it, the face of computing would change forever. Before the iPhone, the term mobile computing typically referred to the use of a laptop. Now, some years later, mobile computing has a definition much more broader. Although the definition still includes a laptop, the focus is primarily on tablet type devices. Now when I say "tablet", I include smartphones in that category. After all, the so-called "smartphone" is much more of a tablet with a phone capabilities opposed to a phone with computer capabilities.

Within this evolution of the mobile touch device, the line between smartphone and tablet is being blurred. Take for example, the large variation of tablet type devices (including smartphones) offered by Samsung:

If you look at Samsung's differentiation, the first and second level of devices are grouped by the function for which they were designed, namely:

• The tablet device ranging roughly between 2.8 and 5 inches are specialised for phone calls.
• The tablet device ranging between 5 and 6 inches are specialised for note taking.
• The tablet devices with sizes 7 inches are up are specialised for  ..... uhm ..... uhhhh ..... looks like Samsung doesn't know what these type of devices are specialised for.

The specialised function of the device is not determined by the size of the screen per se, however it does so happen that certain ranges have certain functions at this point. The galaxy note 10.1 is the first example of a device that has note functions but not within the 5 to 6 inch range. 

Tablets between 2.8 and 5 inch are likely to always be smartphones though, as any tablet specialised as smartphones would not be ideal if any bigger, however we will see what happens in 2014, the year after the Galaxy S4 Smartphone is at exactly 5 inches.

So, from the above bullet points, three things should be noted - no pun intended.

1. I refer to all the mobile touch devices as tablet
2. The 7 inch and higher tablets don't seem to have a specialised function
3. There is a gap between 6 to 7 inches

A tablet is defined as computers shaped like slates or (paper) notebooks featuring touchscreen interfaces and a s a stylus. Under this definition, all mobile touch devices out in the market (including phones) are considered tablets.

The 7 inch and higher tablets may be hard to find their specialised niche, but the 7 inch has been found to be an ideal tablet for reading and the 10.1 inch ideal for watching video. 

Tablets should then be categorised by their function, and something like the following makes more sense:

  

That just leaves one question ... What function best sits in the 6 to 7 inch range. Time will tell.

Taking a look over at Apple's "iTablets" if you will, we see the likes of the iPhone, the iPad mini and the iPad.

The iPhone would be specialised for smartphone functionality, whereas the iPad mini would be specialised for reading level consumption. The full blown iPad had no specific specialisation other than to provide a new level of mobile computing, whereas Samsung has gone with a strategy of specialising their consumption level tablets quite a bit.

Samsung and Apple are constantly going head to head to claim the tablet market, so don't be surprised if that 6 to 7 inch range with Samsung finds a new purpose.