Apple iPhone 6 Plus Dominates U.S. Phablet Market Which Quadrupled In Size During Q1

It's official, size matters. The numbers don't lie, and an increasing number of gadget owners are opting for larger smartphones (what did you think we were referring to?). According to the latest Kantar Worldpanel ComTech market share data, the so-called phablet category accounted for 21 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2015.

That's nearly quadruple the 6 percent share phablets held in the first quarter a year ago, and a large reason why is the iPhone 6 Plus. At a generous 5.5 inches, the iPhone 6 Plus boasts the biggest display of any iPhone model to date. More importantly, it claimed 44 percent of the phablet segment, proving that there's a significant market for iPhone devices with enlarged displays -- Tim Cook can pat himself on the back.

Lest there be any doubt about why consumers are infatuated with the iPhone 6 Plus, screen size was cited as the main reason by 43 percent of buyers. The same is true of those who roll with Android -- 47 percent of Android device owners surveyed said that screen size was the primary factor. Or as we previously stated, size matters.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus already account for 18 percent of all iPhone models in use in the U.S., while 64 percent are rocking an iPhone 5 or newer model. These are numbers Apple likes to see, as it means that customers are upgrading. It's also good for the company's Apple Watch launch, as the wearable only interacts with newer iPhone models.

Serving as more proof that customers have been waiting for Apple to enlarge its iPhone, 11.4 percent of new iOS customers in the first quarter switched over from Android. That's about twice as many new Android customers who came from iOS (5.9 percent).