Do smartphones already seem huge to you? There’s some bad news…

Who hoped for a return to pocket-sized devices, easy to handle with one hand and able to disappear comfortably in your jeans pocket, will probably have to come to terms with it.

Despite a sizable portion of users continuing to loudly demand compact but powerful devices, the mobile industry seems to have taken a diametrically opposite and decisively irreversible direction.

If you thought the current sizes had reached the limit of practicality, the latest leaks from the supply chain suggest that the concept of ‘phone’ is about to undergo a further enlargement.

The return of phablets, soon smartphones bigger than 7 inches?

According to recent reports leaked from Asian production circles, at least two major manufacturers are actively working on developing new displays that will break the psychological and physical barrier of seven inches.

We’re not talking about foldable devices, where the book-like opening justifies large surfaces, but about traditional smartphones.

We must remember that until a few years ago a seven-inch diagonal was the standard for small tablets. The line between phone and tablet, which we thought was stabilized, is about to become very thin again.

Even though the names of the two pioneering manufacturers of this new wave of gigantism have not been confirmed, the market leaders are by no means just watching.

Apple and Samsung have progressively increased the sizes of their flagship models year after year. Currently, devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max sit around 6.86 inches, brushing against the limit that seemed insurmountable.

Rumors about the future Galaxy S26 Ultra already speak of a further elongation to 6.89 inches. Industry history shows that when a new technical spec is introduced and normalized, competition tends to adapt quickly to avoid falling behind in the race for specifications.

More Space for Energy

The increase in size isn’t just about aesthetics or multimedia consumption, but opens up interesting technical scenarios. Bulkier chassis mean, inevitably, more internal volume available.

This extra space could prove essential for housing next-generation batteries. If the giants of the industry were to decide to adopt silicon-carbon technology, already seen on some Chinese devices, the pairing with seven-inch casings would lead to energy capacities without precedent, solving the eternal battery life problem.

However, this evolution brings with it a troubling shadow: a memory crisis caused by the soaring demand from data centers for artificial intelligence.

Larger panels and enlarged batteries, in a context of rising component costs, could translate into further price increases for the public, making these future technological giants a luxury for a few.