Wednesday, Dec 04, 2013
Dubai: LG Electronics is making a second attempt into the tablet market in bid to cash in on the exponentially growing category.
The South Korean vendor has just introduced its 8.3-inch G Pad on Wednesday with an intention of increasing its market share after the success of its G series smartphone.
According to Gartner’s forecast, global tablet shipments are expected to grow to 263.2 million next year compared to 184.4 million this year while PC shipments are expected to be flat next year at 321.4 million.
Stan Lee, mobile division head of LG Electronics Gulf, told Gulf News that there are many vendors in the high-end and low-end categories, but not in the mid-range segment and LG is focusing on that segment.
The world’s fourth-largest mobile phone manufacturer has made a strong come back into the market with its G series smartphones launched across the world and has moved to fourth rank in the third quarter.
Lee said people want bigger screens that are still handy. That is why “we have reduced the bezel and increased the screen real estate.”
Fouad R. Charakla, research manager at International Data Corporation (IDC), said that tablets will overtake portable computers in the UAE next year and will overtake all PC form factors in 2016.
In the third quarter, the tablet market experienced a growth of more than 108 per cent year on year.
The Wi-Fi only version is priced at Dh1,399. LG pad has a 273 pixel per inch (ppi) display compared to Apple’s 326ppi.
Different features
When asked why it price is very close to 7.9-inch 16GB/WiFi Apple’s iPad Mini Retina display which is selling for Dh1,499, he said different brands have different features and LG pad’s advantage is the QPair synchronisation and QSlide which controls up to three different apps in one window.
The feature can pair the device with an Android smartphone, so every call and message received on a smartphone will appear on the Pad for a true convergence experience. Users can send simple replies through the LG Pad. QPair also allows the G Pad to easily connect to other manufacturers’ smartphone and tablets (Jelly Bean OS recommended). Notes created on the G Pad’s Quick Memo can be seamlessly saved into users’ smartphones and shared from either device.
LG launched its Optimus 3D Pad in 2011 and exited the market after disappointing sales.
“We had big trial and errors and then we again developed a tablet in bid to have a differentiation in the market. The demand is for 8-inch Wi-Fi tablets than 10-inch as it can be operated with one hand,” Lee said.
By Naushad K Cherrayil Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
