Samsung unveils giant Galaxy View tablet with 18.4-inch display

By Killian Bell

If super-sized tablets that aim to replace your TV are your thing, then Samsung’s new Galaxy View tablet should be at the top of your wish-list this Christmas. The device boasts a Full HD display measuring a whopping 18.4 inches, a speedy octa-core processor, and long-lasting battery life.

“At Samsung, we are committed to creating new possibilities and bringing our consumers the best mobile experience,” said Samsung Mobile CEO JK Shin. “We are very excited to introduce the new Galaxy View, providing an entirely new way of consuming mobile video and entertainment.”

You might think a device this big, that’s focused on entertainment and content consumption, would deliver the best specifications you can get from a Samsung tablet. But Galaxy View is more of a midrange offering internally.

Its 1.6GHz octa-core processor is combined with just 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, though there is a microSD card slot for expansion. There is no rear-facing camera (you shouldn’t be using Galaxy View as a camera anyway), but a 2.1-megapixel front-facing sensor will let you video chat with friends over Skype.

Perhaps the most disappointing stat on Galaxy View’s spec sheet is its display resolution. It’s just 1920×1080, which is Full HD like most modern TVs, but not as sharp as the Quad HD offerings we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s latest devices.

Nevertheless, Galaxy View may well be the ideal TV alternative for some, and its giant 5,700mAh battery will ensure you get plenty of viewing time in between charges. Samsung has also optimized its TouchWiz interface for the Galaxy View’s larger display.

There’s no word on when or where Galaxy View will be available yet, or how much it will cost — but we do know it will be available in both Wi-Fi and LTE configurations. We should hear more from Samsung soon.