Smartphone screens are on the verge of another growth spurt, and this time the jump looks big enough to redraw the line between phone and tablet. Supply chain reports point to upcoming devices that stretch well past seven inches, while current flagships already hover near that threshold. For anyone who still prefers a genuinely compact handset, the next wave of hardware could mark the moment when small screens stop being the norm and become a niche.
The shift is not happening in isolation. Larger displays are arriving alongside bigger batteries, more demanding AI features, and new form factors such as folding phones, all of which reward extra screen real estate. As manufacturers lock in their 2026 and 2027 lineups, the emerging pattern suggests that pocketable phones are being pushed to the margins of a market that increasingly treats 6‑plus inches as the starting point.
The seven‑inch frontier: when a phone becomes a tablet
For years, smartphone screens have been steadily growing, but the next generation is poised to push size expectations to a different tier. Supply chain insiders cited in one report describe New display sizes under development that reach or exceed seven inches across, a dimension that used to be reserved for small tablets. Separate reporting notes that two major phone makers are working on devices with panels above that mark, with Reports framing these projects as the start of a new smartphone landscape. Once those models arrive, the industry will have effectively erased the old phablet category by turning it into the default.
Current flagships already show how close the market is to that tipping point. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is described as 6.86 inches across, and upcoming devices like the Galaxy S26 Edge are tipped to feature a display measuring 6.89 inches diagonally. A broader look at usage data backs up the trajectory, with one analysis stating that Smartphone Screen Sizes to grow and that larger devices dominate active use. In that context, seven inches is less a radical leap than the logical next step in a long‑running expansion.
Big brands, bigger panels: how Apple and Samsung are locking in the norm
The most influential manufacturers are not leading this shift from the fringes, they are cementing it in their mainstream lineups. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro and Pro Max are expected to stick with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays respectively, sizes that would have been considered oversized only a few hardware generations ago. On the Android side, rumors around the Galaxy S26 Ultra suggest that Samsung Galaxy will keep its largest model as a showcase for expansive screens, high‑end cameras, and faster chipsets. When Apple and Samsung move in tandem at these dimensions, they effectively define what a “normal” premium phone looks like.
That gravitational pull is already shaping expectations for the next wave of devices. Analysts tracking upcoming releases note that Apple could finally join the folding race with an iPhone Fold while still keeping the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at the larger end of the slab spectrum. Meanwhile, speculation around Samsung’s 2026 event warns readers not to sleep on the Don Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is expected to be a major talking point after launch. When the headliners in each ecosystem cluster around 6.7 inches and above, smaller models risk being perceived as compromises rather than equal alternatives.
Why consumers keep choosing bigger screens
Manufacturers are not scaling up displays in a vacuum, they are responding to clear usage patterns. One industry expert notes that Consumer preference has overwhelmingly shifted toward larger screens for media, gaming, and multitasking, even when that means sacrificing some portability. A separate analysis of why small phones are disappearing highlights the Better Multimedia Experience of Watching films and YouTube on a bigger panel, arguing that immersion and comfort outweigh the appeal of a tiny device for most buyers. When everyday tasks like banking, messaging, and streaming all live on the same screen, extra inches translate directly into less squinting and fewer cramped touch targets.
Designers are already treating this as the baseline. One guide to app layout notes that How Do You smartphones in the 6 to 6.7 inch range dominate the market, while Compact phones under roughly 5.5 inches are treated as a separate, minority form factor. At the same time, larger devices that exceed seven inches are expected to enable multi‑column layouts that blur the line between phone and tablet. Social posts echo the trend, with one widely shared update pointing out that Smartphone screens have been steadily growing and that the next wave could force users to rethink how much size really matters.
The compact countercurrent: niche demand, loud voices
Despite the momentum behind large displays, there is a vocal minority that still wants something smaller. A reviewer of the Realme 14 Pro writes that they totally understand the desire for a compact smartphone but calls it a niche, adding that Unfortunately People who want tiny phones are outnumbered by those who prefer a larger screen next to it. On enthusiast forums, one discussion about future iPhones bluntly concludes that There is only a small, niche demand for small phones and that the general public wants big phones with big screens for media consumption. These perspectives underline why compact models struggle to survive in mainstream lineups even when they generate outsized buzz.
At the same time, some commentators argue that 2026 could be a turning point for smaller devices. A recent video on underrated compact phones opens by noting that for years we have been told bigger is better, But claims that 2026 is rewriting the rules and Introducing a massive 340% surge in demand for certain small models. Even if that figure reflects a jump from a very low base, it suggests that there is still room for specialized devices that prioritize one‑handed use and pocketability. For now, though, the weight of sales data and design guidance keeps compact phones on the fringe of a market that is otherwise marching toward tablet‑like dimensions.
Foldables, batteries and the next wave of “phone‑plus” devices
As screens grow, the industry is also experimenting with new ways to make large displays more manageable. Folding smartphones remain a niche, with one academic analysis stressing that Folding phones are still limited by price and long‑term durability concerns, even though the technology has come a long way. Yet device roadmaps hint that mainstream brands are preparing to expand this category, with Fold concepts from Apple and others positioned as companions to, not replacements for, large slab phones. In practice, that means the average user could soon be choosing between a big screen that folds and a big screen that does not.
Hardware priorities are shifting in parallel. Commentators looking ahead to 2026 flagships say they want Bigger batteries, better AI, and more ambitious features, all of which benefit from the extra internal volume that comes with a larger chassis. One overview of upcoming phones notes that a typical “small” screen used to be roughly 5.5 inches, a size that now feels modest next to the 6.7‑inch and above devices that dominate wish lists. Even accessory makers are adapting, with one buying guide explaining that larger cases and screen protectors are now the norm because Watching content on big displays has become central to how people use their phones.
All of this feeds back into the core trend that next‑generation devices are expected to formalize. Analysts describe upcoming models as Next steps in setting new display size standards, with According to insiders, panels at or above seven inches already in the pipeline. Commentators ask whether Will Samsung and follow the early adopters into this territory, noting that Apple and Samsung have already pushed their Ultra‑style devices close to that line. For now, those hoping for a reversal are told that You might have to hold onto that hope for a while, as the market’s center of gravity continues to move upward in size.
