Samsung expanded its Galaxy Tab 3 range of Android tablets today with a new 8-inch and 10.1-inch variant which will be sold “globally” from the beginning of June.
Similar to the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note 8.0, the revamped 8-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 3 has been designed specifically for one-handed use. The display is a WXGA affair, coming in at a resolution of 1280×800 (189 ppi). That’s a fraction higher than the iPad mini (163 ppi) but a far cry from the Nexus 7 (216 ppi). Regardless, it should perform just fine for first-time tablet buyers and those on a tight budget.
Samsung’s decision to launch a tablet at this size is odd, however, given the existence of the Galaxy Note 8.0 and also the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3, which was announced in April. Presumably, the company thinks there is room to have multiple devices at a similar form factor, or believes that they serve different purposes in the market.
Samsung’s new slate also features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory. As with almost all new Samsung products, there’s also a microSD slot for up to 64GB of extra space.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
The device runs Android version 4.2 (Jelly Bean) out of the box alongside Samsung’s custom TouchWiz skin, and is powered by a 4,450 mAh battery. It’s also LTE-enabled and comes with Samsung’s usual suite of exclusive apps.
The internals are almost exactly the same on the 10.1-inch version, although there are some small differences in the photography department. The 8-inch version offers a 5-megapixel snapper on the back, while the 10.1-inch model offers a weaker 3-megapixel rear-facing camera. Both offer a 1.3-megapixel shooter on the front, however, for video calls and capturing self-portrait photographs.
The tablet also comes with a larger 6,800 mAh battery, as well as a 10.1-inch display built at a resolution of 1280×800 (149 ppi).
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.