Google working on 8.9-inch Nexus tablet: Reports

Google is reportedly working on an 8.9-inch tablet that will hit the market late this year.

Market research firm IHS Technology has told technology website CNET that Google is working on a “high-performance” tablet with an 8.9-inch display. The internet search giant sells its smartphones and tablets under the Nexus brand.

Rhoda Alexander, director of tablet and monitor research, HIS Technology told CNET that it will be a “lower volume product and carry a premium price tag.” The device may cost over $299, according to Alexander.

She also says that the device will go into mass production in July or August this year, suggesting that it will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2014. Google has tapped HTC to manufacture the Nexus 8.9 tablet.

Chinese technology website Digitimes has also said that Google is readying an 8.9-inch tablet that will go into production in July this year. According to the report, this tablet will have “display resolution of more than 2K (2560x1440p).” The current Google tablet, Nexus 7 (2014 model) has display resolution of 1920x1080p.

Digitimes says that the rumoured Nexus 8.9 suggests Google “is starting to shift its focus to large-size tablet applications.”

Google is also said to be preparing another tablet for 2014. However, neither CNET nor Digitimes could confirm that the other tablet is the third-generation Nexus 7.

IHS’s Alexander said, “We still expect to see a third generation of the Nexus 7 product at some point in 2014 but do not have any confirmation of actual contracts for such a product at present.”

For over six months, speculation has been rife that Google will launch its first 8-inch tablet in 2014.

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