Did The Apple Phablet Rumor Just Get Real?

The AtlanticWire’s Rebecca Greenfield says the phablet and giant-tablet rumors that contending that Apple is looking to bring bigger screens to both the iPhone and the iPad just got more credible with The Wall Street Journal’s Lorraine Luk reporting sources again saying Apple might go bigger. “In recent months, Apple has asked for prototype smartphone screens larger than 4 inches and has also asked for screen designs for a new tablet device measuring slightly less than 13 inches diagonally.

She notes that Ms. Luk carefully hedges with a disclaimer that Apple routinely tests different designs for its products as it refines them during development, but that the tech tech-nerd media have glommend onto the report as near-fact.

On the other hand, Ms. Greenfield observes that Steve Jobs never liked the idea of an iPad mini, and it’s now the bestselling iPad, the new Apple doesn’t care about its former morals, and consumers want a phablet.

Apple Reportedly Testing Larger Screens for iPhones, iPads

WSJ’s Lorraine Luk reports that sources in Apple’s upstream supply chain say Apple Inc. and its Asian suppliers are testing larger screens for iPhones and tablets, including prototype smartphone screens larger than 4 inches, and screen designs for a new tablet measuring slightly less than 13 inches diagonally. The current iPhone 5 has a 4-inch screen, the full-sized iPad a 9.7-inch screen, and the iPad mini a 7.9-inch screen.

Apple, as usual, has declined to comment.