87 per cent of people have never heard of a phablet, according to research from uSamp. In case you havent either, a phablet is a smartphone with tablet-esque capabilities – hence the name – and a screen between 5-7” in size.

33 per cent of respondents said they would be likely to purchase one after learning what it is, and a further 33 per cent said price – as compared to purchasing both a phone and a tablet – would be their main motivation to switch.

As a developer of market research technology, uSamp believes these hybrids could be the next disrupter in their industry, eliminating the need to carry multiple devices, offering larger screen size to enable more detailed questioning and better readability, along with the availability of models with a stylus. 

For developers and brands looking to reach users no matter what device they are on, the mid-size screen is yet another added consideration. Angry Birds scaled up from their phone version to phablet, but users found the buttons were too small for the screen. 

At best, the different user behaviour should be taken into account. What new things can be done with the stylus, for example? These plastic wands have long been the butt of the mobile joke, but Apple has quietly applied for a patent for an optical stylus…