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Motorola phablet tipped to launch in time for the bigger iPhone 6

Published Mar 24th, 2014 7:25AM EDT
Motorola Phablet vs iPhone 6 Release Date

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Motorola will reportedly launch a 6-inch phablet this year at some point in the third quarter, a source familiar with the matter revealed on Weibo, although an actual release date for the handset has not been offered. Hardware details for such a Motorola big-screen smartphone have not been shared either, with a previous rumor claiming that a Motorola Xplay handset in the works for 2014 may have a 6.3-inch display. However, G for Games reports the same source has provided accurate details about other Motorola devices in the past, and has recently revealed certain credible tidbits about Motorola’s upcoming Moto 360 smartwatch.

Last year, Motorola – and Google – talked about smartphones that were about the right size, hinting that the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone would not match in size similar devices from the competition. “”Certain people like a large screen, but there’s a sweet spot for consumers that we’re currently exceeding in the market,” Motorola design chief Jim Wicks said last April. “There are some people that like a big display, but there’s also a lot of people that want something that’s just about right.”

The Moto X launched in August 2013 with a 4.7-inch with 720p resolution, while competitors proposed bigger 5-inch displays with higher 1080p resolution. However, Motorola did launch smartphones with 5-inch displays last year, although they were only available on Verizon.

Motorola’s phablet – if indeed real – may have some tough competition when it launches, as Apple’s bigger iPhone 6 model is also expected to hit stores around the same time, and is already seen as a more than successful product for the company. Apple is rumored to launch its bigger iPhone earlier than anticipated this year, in summer rather than fall.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.