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Smartphones may be the first mobile devices we think of, but tablets have also played a key role in the rise of our always-connected lives. Since Apple's iPad essentially created the market in 2010, more and more customers have been opting for tablets' portability and ease of use.
(CNN) -- iPhone and iPad users looking with envy at the ever-ballooning screen sizes of Android devices shouldn't lose hope just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has been experimenting with iPhone screen sizes larger than the current four inches, echoing rumors from earlier this year that the company may be looking to supplement its current offerings.
The WSJ also says that Apple is experimenting with larger iPads, specifically a model with a gigantic 13-inch display. While a larger iPhone would be in line with current trends, the trend in tablets has been toward smaller screen sizes, not larger ones.
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In either case, those hoping for a bigger iPhone or lap-sized iPad shouldn't necessarily hold their breath.
Apple regularly tests out new screen sizes and even brand-new product lines without ever bringing them to market; those that do see the light of day can take their time emerging from Apple's labs.
The iPad mini itself was the subject of similar speculation in the months and years before it was finally released, and the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen was the subject of rumors that predate the 3.5-inch iPhone 4S.
Apple is expected to update both the iPad and the iPad mini later this year.
Speculation is that the larger tablet will go on the iPad mini diet, shedding some weight, thickness, and bezel width. The smaller tablet, on the other hand, may or may not receive a high-resolution Retina display -- these rumors have been known to change daily based on what the folks at Apple rumor sites see in their tea leaves each morning.
Both tablets were last refreshed in November 2012.
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There were tablets before the iPad, but Apple's iconic model introduced the concept to millions who had never heard of one. With its high-definition "retina display" screen, dual cameras and extensive app catalogue, it's still the standard by which other tablets are measured. The newest generation iPads measure almost 10 inches across and cost $499 to $929, depending on strorage and 4G LTE connectivity.
The success of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, like the S4 and Note II, have helped spur sales of the Korean company's Galaxy Tabs. Critics have given mostly high marks to the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, with a size comparable to an iPad and a fast, powerful processor. A 16GB version now sells for less than $329 at some retailers.
There's a lot more competition now, but Amazon's Kindle Fire was the first tablet to dent iPad's dominance with its smaller size and price tag. The new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD costs $199, while a bigger, 8.9-inch Fire HD sells for $299.
Google wasn't the first company to make a tablet smaller than the iPad. But many reviewers think they've made the best mini model. The Nexus 7 is a relatively powerful device running Google's Android operating system and starts at an affordable $199.
Unveiled in October 2012, the Mini found Apple in the rare position of responding to its competition -- in this case Amazon and Google, which had already ventured into the smaller-tab space. At 7.9 inches when measured diagonally, its screen is bigger than its rivals in the "small tablet" category and has the same proportions as its bigger cousin. Its price begins at $329 -- more expensive than other similar tablets.
Computing giant Microsoft took its time getting into the tablet game, but the concept of its hybrid Surface is intriguing. It comes with a "Touch Cover" keyboard and a display screen an inch bigger than the iPad's. In the year since its release, however, sales have been sluggish. The tablet starts at an iPad-like $499, with a more powerful Windows RT version for $599, or $699 with the touch cover.
They don't have broad name recognition, but Asus has quietly become the third-leading tablet seller (at least in the first few months of 2013). Asus has impressed critics with its Transformer tabs, which have filled the hybrid tablet/laptop slot more successfully than Microsoft's Surface. Its top-of-the-line Transformer Pad Infinity begins around $400.
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