Samsung To Sell 12-Inch Tablet This Year, Beating Apple To Retail

AppleAAPL

may have been the first company to sell

, but it seems that

Samsung

SSNLF

will be the first to release a 12-inch device. According to

, the South Korean tech giant will release a 12.2-inch tablet (with a film-based capacitive touch solution) at the end of 2013. This rumor is interesting because it follows the path of a previously rumored Samsung product:

Galaxy Gear

. Originally known as an everyday smart watch, the rumors for Galaxy Gear did not begin until other rumors claimed that Apple was

developing a wearable computer

. After that, people within the Taiwanese supply chain reported that Samsung had begun experimenting with a

number of smart watch concepts

. Though it may have seemed like a long shot, Galaxy Gear turned out to be a real product. If that device is any indication, Samsung should release a 12-inch tablet very soon.

Mega Tab?

It is not yet known what name Samsung may apply to its oversized tablet, but it is likely to maintain the "Galaxy" moniker. That being the case, the company could to take a page from its

largest smartphone series

and call it the Galaxy Mega Tab.

Related:iPad Air Launch Draws Modest Crowd At Apple StoreApple's Response: TBD

Thus far, Apple has not provided any indication that the company will release a smart watch. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that he thinks that

the wrist is interesting

, but that may not have anything to do with a product Apple is planning to release. Disclosure:

At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report.Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ