Samsung Launches 7-Inch Budget Tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 joins the compact tablet market with entry-level specs.



Samsung Galaxy S 4: 11 Clever Tricks (click image for slideshow)

Samsung on Monday announced the third generation of its seven-inch tablet, called the Galaxy Tab 3. The Tab 3 follows its two predecessors in that it offers a budget experience for a budget price in a compact and portable form factor.

The Galaxy Tab 3 measures 7.4 by 4.37 inches and is 0.39 inches thick. It is lightweight at just 0.66 pounds. (It's worth pointing out that the Tab 3 is just slightly bigger than the Samsung Galaxy Mega smartphone, which has a 6.3-inch display.) This small tablet houses a 7-inch display that includes 1024 x 600 pixels, which puts it well below the HD threshold.

It is powered by a dual-core 1.2-GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM, and it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Samsung didn't specify whether the processor is made in-house or by a third party such as Qualcomm. In addition to Jelly Bean, the Tab 3 includes Samsung's TouchWiz user interface overlay and the accompanying Samsung services, such as Samsung Hub, ChatOn and Samsung Apps. The device will come with two internal storage options, either 8 GB or 16 GB. The Tab 3 supports microSD cards up to 64 GB for additional storage.

[ Samsung wants to cover the entire the mobile market. Read Samsung Galaxy S4 Oozes Innovation. ]

As far as connectivity goes, the Tab 3 includes dual-band Wi-Fi, HSPA+ 3G and EDGE 2G wireless radios. It supports most bands for use on cell networks worldwide. A Wi-Fi-only version is available, as well. It includes GPS and GLONASS to aid location-based services, and packs a bevy of sensors, including accelerometer, compass, light and proximity.

Samsung made modest improvements to the cameras. The main camera can capture 3-megapixel images, while the user-facing camera can capture 1.3-megapixel images. Samsung didn't say what resolution video the Tab 3 can capture.

Last, the tablet is powered by a 4,000mAh Lithium-Ion battery, though Samsung didn't say what sort of battery life that power cell provides.

On its surface, the Tab 3 might look like an iPad Mini competitor, but it isn't. The specs are not nearly close enough to make a fair comparison. Samsung's Note 8 tablet is a much better iPad Mini competitor. So if not the iPad Mini, what is Samsung targeting with the Tab 3? Other entry-level tablets. For example, the Google Nexus 7, which has had a very strong run in its first year. There's also the new HP Slate 7 Android tablet, which recently went on sale. Samsung hasn't suggested pricing for the Tab 3 yet, but it will likely be close to the $199 and $179 price points, respectively, of the Nexus 7 and Slate 7.

The Wi-Fi version of the Galaxy Tab 3 goes on sale in May, with the 3G version following in June. Exact timing of the launch will vary market to market.

We welcome your comments on this topic on our social media channels, or [contact us directly] with questions about the site.