More than 400 million phablets will ship in 2019, a five-fold increase over the 138 million devices estimated to be shipped in 2015, according to Juniper Research. While the iPhone 6 Plus has brought the category further into the limelight, it is budget devices that will drive phablets (smartphones with 5.5-6.9" screens) into the global mainstream, the company said. Many flagship smartphones are likely to be phablets by default within two or three years. This is because consumers worldwide are increasingly using smartphones as media consumption and gaming devices, which offer richer experiences through a larger screen. Release