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?
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.
