Samsung Electronics has extended its Galaxy Tab 3 line-up with 8-inch and 10.1-inch models with dual-core processors and extensive support for LTE networks.
The two new products will be offered alongside the previously announced 7-inch version of the Tab 3 and will start shipping this month around the world, according to Samsung. The 8-inch screen size is a new addition to the Galaxy Tab family, although Samsung has offered a 7.7-inch model in the past. The 10.1-inch version, on the other hand, is an incremental upgrade over the existing Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) tablet.
The Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch screen has a 1280 x 800 pixels and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. There is a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front. The integrated storage is 16GB or 32GB -- of which approximately 11.26GB and 26.16GB are available to users -- and the tablet has 1.5GB of RAM.
The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1-inch screen has the same resolution as its smaller 8-inch sibling and the available integrated storage is the same, but the available RAM is 1GB. The dual-core processor is slightly faster at 1.6GHz, and it has a 3-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front.
That compares to the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) which is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. It too has a 10.1-inch screen with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution.
The new models both run Android 4.2. Other similarities include a microSD card slot to expand the available storage capacity and support for six LTE bands. They are 800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600MHz, which means the tablets can access networks across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.
There will be Wi-Fi versions available for users that don't want to attach their tablets to cellular networks.
Samsung didn't say whether it will release versions that support the 700MHz LTE band more widely used in the U.S.The company didn't say what the new tablets will cost, but since they are scheduled to start shipping in the "beginning of June," would-be buyers will soon find out.
The Samsung tablets weren't the only ones announced on Monday. Asustek Computer introduced the Memo Pad FHD7, which has a 7-inch screen and will retail for just US$129.
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