A Study With Close Ties to Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc (GOOG)

When it comes to the tablet market, we all know that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and its iPad lineup stand alone at the top. Cupertino has done a great job with its tablets, and there is no reason to believe that the competition will be able to chase it down anytime soon. Of course, this hasn’t stopped the likes of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) from trying (find out how).

IHS recently published an interesting report, touching on the growth of high-resolution tablet panel shipments. As you make your way through the information, you will find that it pertains to both Apple and Google, as well as many other companies dabbling in the tablet market.

Here is what you need to know:

“Making a stellar debut, high-resolution liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels featuring resolutions of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) or more are appearing in media tablets for the first time this year, with shipments set to approach 13 million units.

Up from virtually zero in 2012, at least 12.6 million LCD tablet panels with 300-ppi-or-higher resolutions will ship in 2013, according to insights from the Display Materials & Systems Service at information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). Shipments will then more than double next year and continue to climb to 55.0 million units by 2017.”

As you know, both Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) are serious about providing the best user experience, which often times starts with the display.

The fact that LCD panels are picking up so much steam will definitely alter the state of the market over the next few years.

Here is more from the piece, mentioning Apple in particular:

“Prior to 300 ppi, the highest resolution for tablets was in the 251- to 300-ppi range, where Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad 4 and the 9.0-inch Barnes & Noble nook HD+ belong. Panel shipments for this resolution segment are forecast this year to reach 67.2 million units, up 47 percent from 45.7 million in 2012.”

As you can see, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has no problem being out in front when it comes to the tablet market.

The Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Nexus 10 is mentioned as a tablet pane in the “200- to 251-ppi range.”

If there is something Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) can do to improve its tablet display, you can be rest assured that both companies will take full advantage.

What do you think about this piece by IHS? How do you see things shaping up over the next few years? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. While you are a it, see what the iPad has been up to (this story touches on the tablet market).