In the past year, both large tablets and 5-inch smartphones have shifted to razor-sharp, high-resolution displays. Smaller tablets, however, have yet to make that leap. According to an analyst who’s been keeping tabs on the supply chain, that could soon change – with both the iPad mini and Nexus 7 switching to high-res “Retina” displays.
According to CNET, DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza sees the supply chain moving in that direction. After examining data from Asian parts suppliers, he predicts that Google and ASUS will strike first, releasing a 2nd-generation Nexus 7 with a sharper display.
He predicts that the 2nd-gen Nexus 7 will tote a 1,920 x 1,200 display, at 323 pixels per inch (PPI). That would be a significant upgrade over the current model’s 1,280 x 800 (216 PPI) display. Semenza said panel production could potentially start in Q2 2013.