Samsung aims to topple Apple as No. 1 in tablets

A model displays new tablets, the world’s lightest tablet with a 7-inch display weighing 249 grams “MEDIAS TAB UL N08” (L) and the world’s largest organic EL display at 7.7 inches tablet “GALAXY Tab 7.7 Plus SC-01E” (R) by Japanese mobile phone carrier NTT DoCoMo during a press preview in Tokyo on August 28, 2012. AFP

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics Co. has a new goal after overtaking Apple in smartphones: it wants to be world No. 1 in tablet computers.

A top executive, Shin Jong-kyun, told analysts on Wednesday that Samsung’s tablet business is growing rapidly and the company will become the biggest maker of tablet computers. He didn’t give a timeframe.

Shin said Samsung’s tablet sales will exceed 40 million units this year, more than double sales in 2012.

Research group IDC estimates that Samsung sold 16.6 million tablets in 2012, lagging far behind Apple Inc. which sold 65.7 million iPads.

Apple had more than half of the global tablet market but its dominance has eroded as Samsung boosted sales with cheaper Galaxy Tab computers that offer many different screen sizes.