Samsung Seeks to Dethrone Apple in Tablets in 2014 as new Rumors Surface about a larger iPad in the Wings
Yesterday we noted that Samsung is working with Google in an effort to attack the education market sometime in the second half of 2014. We also noted that in May of this year we reported that Apple was working on 12.9" iPad for the same market. Today The Korea Times is reporting on new rumors that Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch iPad early next year.
The move is seen as the U.S. firm's effort to meet growing demand for bigger displays on smart devices amid a slowdown in conventional PC demand.
An official at a local Apple supplier in Korea told The Korea Times by telephone Tuesday that "Apple's local first-tier display supplier is now producing a 12.9-inch Retina Display to be used in the new iPad, which will be coming out sometime early next year. That display is now being manufactured by the supplier's plant in Korea," he added.
The official said Apple is increasingly interested in introducing bigger iPads as the U.S.-based consumer electronics giant is already acknowledging that tablets will replace PCs in an era of convergence.
"The 12.9-inch iPad will have improved picture quality. As the Apple partner intends to boost its lineup for displays that have almost ultra-high-definition (UHD) quality, the upcoming iPad will provide very clear quality similar to that of UHD," said the official.
An official at Samsung Electronics stated that "By diversifying its tablet lineup, Samsung plans to significantly narrow differences with Apple in the race. Samsung believes it also can dethrone Apple in tablets as it did in smartphones.
Whether the continuing rumor of a 12.9" has any merit is unknown at this time. Yet being that Apple's iPad market share for education stands at 94%, I doubt that Apple will idly sit back and allow Google and Samsung to waltz in and steal that market from them without a fight. Yet only time will tell how this will play out in 2014, so stay tuned.
Comments