Phablets are making a comeback, and they fix everything wrong with modern smartphones

Published Jul 21, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Virtually every modern smartphone is big, but there was a time when companies made extra-wide phablets (a portmanteau of "phone tablets") and were proud of it. Samsung's early Galaxy Note models are the classic examples, but there were several others that made screen width their selling angle. Now, they're coming back. Wide phablets are poised to make a return, starting with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. It could even perfect the formula by offering both a "compact" design while closed and an expansive tablet screen when open. I'm ready for this revival, and it's only getting started. Phablets are better for getting things done Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek Let's face it: while you can use large conventional phones for productivity, their narrow aspect ratios make them best-suited to social media scrolling and streaming video sessions. Book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are certainly better, but their square-like internal screens still tend to be compromises that limit what you can do. Wide phablets unlock creativity and work. Even though Samsung is unlikely to bring back S Pen support with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the larger X-axis should help with image editing, documents, and just about any task that feels cramped on most existing phones. Even typing should be improved — if I already need two hands to type, I might as well have more space for my thumbs. I expect the Z Fold 8 to magnify that experience when it's open. Apps will get the breathing room they deserve, even if it's not quite as expansive as on the limited-run Z TriFold. I could even see myself getting a portable keyboard if the screen is wide enough to use the Z Fold as a tiny laptop. A foldable phablet gives me the mini tablet I want Great for play, not just productivity Ask foldable fans about the sacrifices they make, and they'll probably point to their leisure time. Most book-like foldables have internal screens ill-suited to full-screen videos, games, and anything else that demands a wide ratio. It's embarrassing when you realize that someone's big budget phone is superior for a Netflix spree than your phone costing three or four times as much. That won't be an issue with the new wave of phablets led by the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It should feel more like a real tablet in my pocket. That means watching videos with smaller (or non-existent) black bars and playing games as intended. And while I'm not counting on tablet-optimized apps running flawlessly, that should be more realistic. If Samsung and rivals manage this, they won't just provide a superior experience — they could also save money. Yes, many people already replace tablets with foldables, but it's easier to make that argument when you really are getting a tablet experience in your pocket. I'd love to have a phone that works perfectly for reading in bed, or for catching up on shows during long flights. A compact phablet is perfect for pockets — and digital detox More messaging, less doomscrolling The resurrected phablet might even shine brightest when it's shut. That wide aspect might preclude one-handed use, but it could be perfect for slipping a phone into my pocket. Too many large phones barely fit in my pants pockets, and I'm an average-sized man — I don't envy women or anyone else who has to make do with shallow pockets. So long as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 isn't too wide, it could be a pocket-friendly phone that still delivers a big screen ond. If you've ever complained that there aren't enough high-powered small phones, this might be the closest you get to having your wishes fulfilled. I know I'd love to have a power user's device that doesn't threaten to spill out of my pants. And believe it or not, new phablets like the Z Fold 8 could even help with a digital detox. While I want a usable smartphone, a wide-but-short screen could nudge me away from time-wasters like social media and toward basics like calling and messaging. If I have to open the phone to get the "best" experience for Instagram or YouTube, I might just decide that I don't need to use those apps that badly. It's just getting started The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will effectively kick off the phablet revival for most of the world (Huawei's Pura X Max has a limited reach), but the best part is that it won't be the last. Apple, for instance, is rumored to be releasing an iPhone Fold that will share a similar formula while introducing its fans to folding phones for the first time. That could spark a renaissance for the category that lasts for years, helping us to get away from a sea of familiar-looking slabs.