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Samsung readying an 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet for MWC 2013

by Mark Tyson on 21 January 2013, 10:55

Tags: Samsung (005935.KS), iPad, PC

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Last year we saw a big surge in popularity for “tweener” sized tablets – between the size of a “proper” tablet and a smartphone. Popular 7-inch models emerged from the Android camp and worried Apple enough to induce it to throw up an (almost) 8-inch tablet in the form of the iPad mini. Does the extra inch make a big difference to usability? As we know, Samsung isn’t reluctant to widen its Galaxy device range and seems to have decided to make a new 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet, to be released at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2013.

Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N5100 / GT-N5110

A news exclusive on sammobile reveals that Samsung will launch two versions of a new 8-inch tablet at the MWC, Barcelona 25-28 February 2013. The new tablet is called the Galaxy Note GT-N5100 in its Wi-Fi/Cellular form and the Galaxy Note GT-N5110 for the Wi-Fi only version.

Here’s the spec list:

  • Official name: GALAXY Note 8.0 (3G, Wi-Fi)
  • Display: 8.0-inch 1280×800 TFT (Super Clear LCD)
  • RAM + Storage: 2GB (RAM) + 16/32GB (optional) + microSD (up to 32GB)
  • S-Pen functionality and software
  • Camera 5 Megapixel (BACK), Camera 1.3 megapixel (FRONT)
  • Connectivity:  BT 4.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, A-GPS
  • Galaxy Note GT-N5100 GSM networks: EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) HSPA+21.1Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps (850/900/1900/2100)
  • Dimensions: 211.3×136.3×7.95 mm, 330 gram.
  • Battery: 4600 mAh
  • Android: version 4.2 Jelly Bean

8 is the magic number - Apple iPad mini takes a big bite out of full sized iPad sales

Late on Friday exclusively Reuters reported that Sharp Corporation “has nearly halted production of 9.7-inch screens for Apple Inc's iPad”. There were no reasons given for the dramatic reduction in production levels but the Reuters sources thought it might be a permutation of the following; “a seasonal drop in demand, a switch to another supplier, a shift in the balance of sales to the mini iPad, or an update in the design of the product”. Two other iPad screen suppliers, Samsung and LG, have not reported significant changes in iPad screen orders.

A week ago the iPhone 5 screen order cutting news caused quite a drop in Apple’s share price but the markets haven’t opened in the US for trading as yet, following this latest iPad screen production news.

While sales of the regular iPad have fallen, by as much as 40 per cent, sales of iPad mini are almost making up for the drop, according to Macquarie Research. Forbes Magazine reports this with the headlining question “Did the iPad Mini Just Kill Off the iPad 4?” Its analysis of the situation suggests that the market for full sized iPads was almost saturated with little reason to upgrade to the latest model. The new, smaller, lower priced iPad mini has therefore “simply sped up the death of the traditional iPad” and got a few iPod Touch owners to upgrade.

It looks like Apple and Samsung are going to focus their efforts in the 8-inch tablet battle, at least for the first half of 2013. What other manufacturers will join them?



HEXUS Forums :: 5 Comments

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I have a 7“ tablet and the display is just that little bit too small for comfortable use. However I don't have an issue with the ”low resolution" (1024x600). The 1280x800 of this device will be perfectly fine, and the extra diagonal inch will make the screen size perfect - as clearly Apple's research had already shown, hence the iPad mini's screen size. And it's a Note too, which is a bonus. And micro-SD support. Hopefully an Exynos 5 too, or at least a quad-core Exynos 4.

Of course now we will have another year of applebois claiming that Samsung are copy Apple again (despite Samsung having had varying sizes of tablets for longer than Apple). Ugh.
If it comes with 4.2, they better role this out to 10.1 owners too.
I have the ipad maxi and the mini, and IMO they both have a place, with the main pro of the mini (for me at least) being that it is so light. So maybe Apple can make the Ipad5 lighter ?
OTOH the 7“ tablet (16:9 display) fits into my coat pocket, just. An 8” wouldn't, especially an 8" 4:3 ratio display.
I'm not so sure that Samsung releasing an 8“ tablet will make much difference to be honest. That extra inch on the iPad mini is nice, but its not why I bought one over an android tablet.

Even taking aside the OS for a moment, if samsung had released an aluminium, light, super thin tablet with that premium feel, I would have been very tempted.

Aside from the ”sheep“ or ”apple“ effect, thats the big reason the mini has sold like crazy..pick one up and you want one (in most cases) - it has that feel which not a single big-name 7/8” android tablet has.

From the looks of things this is cheap white plastic again :(