Nokia is expected to release a phablet device with a six-inch screen to the US market by the end of the year, if the rumours are anything to go by.
Sources familiar with Nokia's plans have reportedly revealed the company is testing the device with the latest version of Windows Phone OS.
The phablet, supposedly codenamed "Bandit", will allegedly sport a 20MP camera and will be based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. The six-inch screen will offer a full HD 1080p display.
According to reports, the Bandit will have a slight hump at the back, similar to the Lumia 925, and will be fashioned out of polycarbonate.
Rumours of the upcoming Nokia phablet have been doing the rounds ever since a Chinese tech news site published an image of the phablet's alleged display panel that was supposedly photographed during the manufacturing process. However, Nokia has dropped no hints of an upcoming phablet, let alone if and when it will be available in the emerging markets.
IDC analyst Richard Hlongwane says should the rumours prove to be true, there will definitely be a place for the device in the market. "I expect the device will do better locally, than globally."
He notes that Nokia has been a preferred brand for South African consumers, making it easier for the phablet to gain traction in the market. The quality of Nokia's products and loyalty from its consumers are also likely to boost the phablet's sales, he says.
Hlongwane notes, however, that in the end it will boil down to price. "Knowing Nokia, the phablet won't be that affordable, which creates a problem for them as there are a lot of competitors offering affordable phablets to the market. Most of the phablets now offer pretty much the same things, so consumers will be looking for the right product at the right price."
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