Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0)

[haven]

Not content with selling a 7 inch Galaxy Tab 3 tablet, Samsung just announced a Galaxy Tab with 8 inch screen. Compared to the 7 inch Galaxy Tab 3, I think that the 8 inch model will be a better choice as a general purpose travel companion. The 7 inch model will be considerably cheaper, so it will still be a good choice for a dedicated in-vehicle GPS navigation system.

The clear target for the 8 inch Galaxy Tab 3 is the iPad Mini. Their dimensions are very similar. The biggest functional difference is the Galaxy Tab 3 has a taller, narrower 16:10 ratio screen, while the iPad Mini has a wider 4:3 ratio display. Neither tablet offers cutting edge technology, but they cost half as much as the latest smart phones do.

The Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0) will be available for purchase in the next couple of weeks. Prices have not been announced. I'm guessing the 8 inch model will cost $100 more than the 7 inch, which starts at $179 today.

The 8 inch Galaxy Tab 3 improves on the Tab 3 with 7 inch screen in several ways. Improvements include:
1.5 GB RAM (up from 1 GB in the 7 inch Galaxy Tab)
1280x800 screen (up from 1024x600)
Android 4.2 (up from 4.1)
32 GB storage option (up from 16 GB)
5 megapixel rear camera (up from 3.15 megapixels)
LTE cell radio available (up from HSPA+)
Bluetooth 4.0 (up from 3.0)
might be capable of capturing 1080p video (up from 720p)
4450 mAh battery (up from 4000 mAh)
dimensions 8.3" x 4.9" x 0.29" (vs 7.4" x 4.4" x 0.39")
weight 11 oz (vs 10.79 oz)

There will be three versions of the Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0): WiFi only, 3G HSPA+ cellular radio, or LTE radio. All three versions include assisted GPS. It's likely that the cell service will be data only.

Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0) Specifications

1.5 GHz Samsung Exynos dual-core processor
8 inch 1280 x 800 pixels TFT LCD display
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system

1.5GB of RAM
16 or 32GB of storage
microSD slot for up to 64 GB additional storage

5MP rear camera
1.3Mp front-facing camera,
4450mAh battery
802.11a/b/g/n WiFi
Bluetooth 4.0
3G and 4G models will also be available
A-GPS and GLONASS receiver.

4450mAh battery
dimensions 8.3″ x 4.9″ x 0.29″
weight 11 ounces.

Google apps including
Google Maps
YouTube
Google Now
and access apps through the Google Play Store

Samsung custom software including
Samsung Hub music, games, and video apps
S Translator (voice or text translator)
S Travel (smart travel app)
Dual View
ChatON chat

 

[Scott Brady]

I am in the market for my next tablet - will be interesting if I stay with Apple.

 

[haven]

Apple makes the choice more painful by including GPS only in the expensive tablets that have 3G and LTE cell modems. The least expensive iPad Mini with GPS costs $459 new. Samsung and Google include GPS in their WiFi-only models that cost less than $200.

 

[Honu]

Apple makes the choice more painful by including GPS only in the expensive tablets that have 3G and LTE cell modems. The least expensive iPad Mini with GPS costs $459 new. Samsung and Google include GPS in their WiFi-only models that cost less than $200.

huge apple fan here but wanting a new tablet for GPS/mapping only the samsung and google seem like a really good deal !!!!

sadly the kids have us way to app heavy into apple and still like the interface better but once in the app ? not a huge deal

 

[esh]

I got the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. The water/dust proofing was a big selling point, and it has a beautiful 1080p screen in a very light/thin package. It is significantly more costly than a tablet in the 7-8" market. So far I have been happily surprised with speed and battery life. I have some field testing coming up and intend to use it mainly for photo workflow and some navigation. Using a rooted phone for a wifi hotspot connection.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Interested to see how the GPS on this new one compares to the older Tab 2.

 

[haven]

Samsung has announced pricing for the "premium" Galaxy Tab 3 with 8 inch (diagonal) screen. The model with 16 GB of storage will cost $299. Preorders for the new tablet begin this week at most all Samsung retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The tablet should ship July 7.

That's $100 more than the Galaxy Tab 3 with 7 inch screen. For the extra cash, you get
-- a faster dual core processor (1.5 GHz in the 8 inch model, vs 1.2 GHz in the 7 inch)
-- higher resolution screen (1280x800 vs 1024x600)
-- newer version of Android (4.2 vs 4.1)
-- more RAM (1.5 GB vs 1 GB)
-- more standard storage (16 GB vs 8 GB)
-- more optional storage (32 GB vs 16 GB)
-- higher resolution rear camera (5 megapixels vs 3 mp)

The Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0) is longer and thinner 8.3″ x 4.9″ x 0.29″
The (7.0) model dimensions are 7.4″ x 4.4″ x 0.4″
Both models weigh 11 oz.
Both models have GPS/GLONASS support
Both models have a MicroSD slot for storage expansion

Perhaps because of the extra RAM, Samsung ships the (8.0) model with software that allows you to split the screen and run two apps side by side.

To sweeten the deal, Samsung is including in all its new tablets a $10 voucher for purchases from the Google Play store, one year of free access to Boingo hotspots, and 50 GB of Dropbox online storage free for 2 years.

Many observers are pointing out that the iPad Mini costs just $30 more than the Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0). However, if you're interested in an iPad Mini with GPS, the price rises to $459.

Now we're just waiting for the announcement of the next version of the Nexus 7 tablet.

 

[expedition4x4]

For me the sd card expandability tips the scales to the galaxy tabs vs my ipad for travel companion

 

[haven]

Right. No MicroSD slot in the Nexus 7, either.

The Galaxy Tab 3 with 7 inch screen is priced about $20 higher than the current Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). The Tab 3 (7.0) has a faster processor and a newer version of Android, but otherwise seems the same as the Tab 2. I expect that retailers will lower the price of the Tab 2 to clear inventory. That could make for good deals on a proven GPS navigation tool.

 

[Honu]

always thought one of those small HDD that have the wirelss built into them would be cool for any tablet device
for me at least the SD slot does not matter ?

 

[mbuckner]

GPS???????

Does this mean the unit actually links up to a satellite as a true GPS or you only get a "Google" type map if your
linked to WI-FI?

Best regards.

Mike

 

[ETAV8R]

The other Tabs have internal GPS antennas which people have had positive opinions about.

 

[Honu]

Did they make a 8 inch before ?

I dont onow the samsung droid line up at all ?

In the store today at costco had 8 inch screen ? So was not sure if this is old 8 inch or this is the new 8 inch ?
Did not have time to play for more than 30 seconds but seemed really nice built and looked really nice ?

 

[ETAV8R]

They had Tab2 in 7" and 10". The new one is the Tab3 8".
Just looking at the Costco page and the 8" isn't shown.
The Tab 2 10" is at a higher price than I saw in the store earlier this month. It was supposed to be 279 til 7/7/13. I think I like the Tab2 10" better than the Tab3 10" due to the forward facing speakers.

 

[Honu]

Is this the new one ?
Link below

Again did not spend much time was on a milk and eggs and food shop hahahhaha
And everyone is sick but me so wanted to get back home



http://t.costco.com/Samsung-Galaxy-...ly-Bean-4.1-WiFi-16GB-.product.100057298.html