Apple is shifting production of iPhone and iPad displays to Sharp, but the outfit is also reportedly planning to use Sharp panels in its upcoming line of smart TV sets.

According to Bloomberg, the move will hurt Samsung, which has already lost a lot of Apple business over the past 18 months and is embroiled in a patent cold war with Apple. The rumoured smart TV could enter production as early as February and the competition is losing no time working on Android smart TVs.

However, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek believes the competition will lag behind Apple anywhere between 6 to 12 months. He says television manufacturers, namely Samsung, are trying to figure out that Apple’s product will be like before they commit to any launch.

LG is set to debut its first smart TV at next year’s CES and Samsung will follow sometime later. Jefferies reckons Apple will be ready to introduce its first smart TV by mid-2012.

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