Mobile Technology

Samsung to release Galaxy Note 8.0 to compete with the iPad mini?

Samsung to release Galaxy Note 8.0 to compete with the iPad mini?
This is an altered Galaxy Note 2 – no Galaxy Note 8.0" images have been leaked
This is an altered Galaxy Note 2 – no Galaxy Note 8.0" images have been leaked
View 2 Images
This is an altered Galaxy Note 2 – no Galaxy Note 8.0" images have been leaked
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This is an altered Galaxy Note 2 – no Galaxy Note 8.0" images have been leaked
Will the Note 8.0" undercut the iPad mini?
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Will the Note 8.0" undercut the iPad mini?

Samsung's Galaxy tablets haven't caught fire quite like its Galaxy smartphones have. The company may, however, see an opportunity to change that. If a new leak holds any weight, then Sammy may be taking some cues from Apple's hot-selling iPad mini with a budget 8-inch tablet.

Rumored specs

According to SamMobile, Samsung will reveal the Galaxy Note 8.0" at next month's Mobile World Congress. It will sport an 8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution. Apple's mini, meanwhile, has a 7.9-inch display with 1024 x 768 resolution.

Though the Note 8.0's processor is unknown, the tablet will allegedly have 2 GB of RAM, a 5 MP rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera, and either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage. It will support microSD cards, and sell in 3G and WiFi-only flavors.

The Galaxy Note branding suggests that – like the Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy Note 10.1" – it will support stylus input.

Budget pricing?

Will the Note 8.0" undercut the iPad mini?
Will the Note 8.0" undercut the iPad mini?

The leak doesn't cover pricing info, but the tablet's mid-range components could allow it to match or undercut the iPad mini's US$330 starting price. Samsung's previous Galaxy tablets have been priced similarly to the 9.7-inch iPad, but haven't gained much traction.

Will the Galaxy Note 8.0" help to put Samsung's tablets in the same pantheon as its revered phones? Or is this just another lawsuit in the making? Perhaps we'll have those answers at Mobile World Congress.

Source: SamMobile via CNET

5 comments
5 comments
christopher
The thing that annoys me about the big samsung products, is that on the inside, it's mostly space, and they only last for less than 1 day of charge. They should include 2 or more battery compartments, so users who need more juice can add a second battery (and they can still weigh the unit with those slots empty, to still claim light weights)
Ian McIntosh
Id like to see them give it a removable or expandable battery.... some of us dont mind a bit of extra weight... :)
Australian
The only reason Samsung tablets haven't sold more is because for the asking price they offer underwhelming performance. Sadly this is one area they have always trailed Apple in. I've no doubt there are many people wanting and waiting to buy a tablet with high specs at a reasonable price that are not willing to buy Apple. Samsung is just very late to the market. Perhaps Apple's legal team has hampered their development...........
SamC
Samsung's Note tablets are not budget affairs in my opinion.
Ed
I have a samsung note 1 phone that is my primary device. Plus, I use a Samsung Tab 2-7 that is amazing. I was going to wait for the Note 8, but found the Tab 2-7 going for $200 new on Amazon, so no brainer in my book...toss up between that and the Nexus 7...the $50 price point clinched the deal!