Even a 2016 iPhone SE is significantly larger than the candy-bars of yore, though. I have large hands (my hand span, thumb to pinky, measures 26 cm). I have an iPhone 7 for work, and while it does fit in my palm, it does so much less comfortably than my SE. Going even larger is a non-starter.
Yes, there are people with hands large enough that phablets fit in them, but only if you loosen the definition of "fit".
Yes, there are people with hands large enough that phablets fit in them, but only if you loosen the definition of "fit".