While the variety was nice, I think the phablet aesthetic is most popular for good reason - the sheer amount of screen real-estate and convenience is really unparalleled.
What I could see in the future is built-in ways to expand functionality without loss of the current usability - imagine a phone with the ability to project images and a keyboard on a table, and recognize keystrokes, while still being just as good of a handheld device.
> the sheer amount of screen real-estate and convenience is really unparalleled.
Personally, that's my exact complaint. I miss smart phones I could operate with one hand without straining my thumb to reach the opposite corner. I want a quality smart phone with a screen size ~4.5". I don't really want a screen larger than that. It would be nice if the big brands made a small version instead of a "normal" and "XL". The iPhone homepage currently has the motto "Welcome to the big screens". If I wanted a tablet, I'd buy a tablet.
What I could see in the future is built-in ways to expand functionality without loss of the current usability - imagine a phone with the ability to project images and a keyboard on a table, and recognize keystrokes, while still being just as good of a handheld device.