Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG ) -Samsung May Enter High-end Tablet Segment

Even as Apple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) is in the midst of building an iPad Mini (according to reports by all and sundry) to compete with the Google Nexus and Amazon.com, Inc.(NASDAQ:AMZN )’s Kindle Fire tablets, Google Inc(NASDAQ:GOOG) and Samsung have got together to take on Apple’s high-end iPad.

AppleInsider ran the story on Tuesday, quoting a report by CNET.

NPD DisplaySearch's analyst Richard Shim told CNET that one of the main features of the Google-Samsung venture was the 2560x1600 pixel display, with a pixel density of 299 pixels per inch.

Compare that with the iPad 3, which has a 9.7-inch 2,048-by-1,536 pixel Retina display that tops out at 264 PPI.

The price tag of course will be in keeping with the high-end features and will not be in the same category as Google Nexus where its hardware partner is Asus.

If this rumour turns out to be true, then it will be Google’s entry into the high-end tablet PC segment and bring it in direct competition with Apple.

This will also mean that both Google and Apple will be competing with each other at both ends of the market.

The iPad Mini is thought to be a smaller and cheaper version of the regular iPad, designed to get customers at the lower end of the segment, which is now being addressed by Google’s Nexus and Amazon's Kindle Fires.

The iPad Mini seems to be taking some concrete shape with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Asian component makers have taken orders to build about 10 million iPad Minis.

However, shares of GOOG are down 1.17% to $748.99.