Tech

Apple has phablet in development

Is Apple ready to get phab-ulous?

Rumors are that an Apple phablet — a wide-body smartphone — is in development.

The tech titan has been behind the times when it comes to such smartphone-tablet hybrids, a form factor that Apple fanboys used to criticize.

However, the super-sized smartphone has proved a popular, if still niche device.

Samsung pioneered the phablet category with its Galaxy Note, now a robust 5.7 inches wide.

The iPhone 5 is a relative puny 4 inches, Apple’s largest so far.

Apple “missed the trend toward larger screened phones,” Barclays analysts wrote yesterday, ahead of Tuesday’s next-gen iPhone unveiling.

The larger phones aren’t expected until 2014, and yesterday The Wall Street Journal reported sources saying that Apple was experimenting with screen sizes up to 6 inches.

“We believe 2014 could be a better year for Apple in terms of ‘wow factor,’” Barclays said. “We expect one to two larger screened ‘phablets.’”

Apple declined comment.