Google rumored to be launching an 8-inch Nexus tablet in April

Google’s second-generation Nexus 7 tablet will apparently be the last Nexus device at that size with the company said again to launch an 8-inch Nexus 8 tablet in the near future. Apparently, the Nexus 7 (2013) has not performed as well as expected, having sold only three million units last year. With a bigger tablet, the company is said to be interested in avoiding price competition with 7-inch tablets and having to face 5- to 6-inch smartphones.

Google’s Nexus line might soon have a new tablet to join the fray. Google will launch an 8-inch tablet in April, dubbed the Nexus 8, to complement its current Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 offerings, Digitimes reported on Friday, citing people in the supply chain. Digitimes has a spotty past of producing accurate predictions, however, so its report should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Still, this isn’t the first time that we’ve heard rumblings of an 8-inch Nexus hitting store shelves at some point. According to Digitimes’ sources, the move reflects Google’s desire to deliver more value to customers who might otherwise choose a 7-inch slate.