Google believed to drop Asus, partner with LG for 2014 Nexus 7 to bolster hardware

While Google has only launched its latest tablet just last week with the redesigned, higher-resolution Nexus 7, there is already talk about next year’s model. Analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo has issued a new report today that outlines his belief that Google will drop its tablet-hardware-design partnership with ASUS in favor of LG.

Google has partnered with ASUS for many hardware components for the Nexus 7 in both the first-generation model and the 2013 edition. The two companies are closely knit in this regard, with Google even stamping ASUS’s logo on the rear of the 2012 model.

For 2014, Kuo says that Google will team up with LG to advance display design. Such a partnership would not exactly be unprecedented. Google and LG have worked together on the Nexus 4, Google’s current flagship smartphone. With this successful partnership on the phone side, a translation over to tablets would seem to be sensible…

Based on the 1920 x 1200 high-resolution screen on the new Nexus 7, Google is taking display resolution seriously. LG is one of the parent companies of LG Display, and this partnership would likely give Google a strategic advantage in the displays department. LG Display is currently a supplier of displays for some of Apple’s iOS Devices. Kuo notes in his report that LG Display’s access to both thinner/lighter and IPS panels would “narrow” the design gap between Google and Apple’s devices.

While Kuo is known for his accurate Apple-related predications (timing not withstanding), the analyst provided mostly accurate information about the 2013 Nexus 7, including display, camera, and hardware design details.