A thinner, lighter you
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Samsung releases an updated version of its popular Galaxy Tab weighing just 306 grams
Samsung has updated its popular Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch tablet computer with the release of the new and improved Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch model.
Tab 3 comes with a faster CPU, better front camera and a newer Android operating system as well as a smaller chassis.
It’s powered by 1.2 GHz dual core processor, compared to 1 GHz processor of Tab 2.
And while Tab 2 has a VGA (640 x 480 pixel) front camera, Tab 3 comes with 1.3 megapixel camera.
The new Tab 3 runs on Android. 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS, as opposed to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) of Tab 2.
Although both tablets feature a 7-inch display, Tab 3 comes in a smaller body, measuring 111.1 x 188 x 9.9 mm, compared to the Tab 2’s 122.4 x 193.7 x 10.5 mm of Tab 2. And Tab 3 is lighter, weighing in at 306g, compared to its older brother’s 583g.
Both models have the same display resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and use the same TFT display.
And both Tab 2 and Tab 3 use the same Li-ion 4,000 mAh battery and boast 1 GB RAM or active working memory for handling applications.
While Tab 2 comes in a solemn black body, Tab 3 comes in a sleek white with a silver rim.
I had the chance to try the Wi-Fi only model, which Samsung Thailand tells me will be on sale here at a later date. However, the Wi-Fi version has the same specifications as the 3G Tab 3 7.
I tested Tab 3 7-inch Wi-Fi by connecting it to my home Wi-Fi router, using True Internet connection.
The Tab 3 has good performance with the touch screen and menus both pleasingly responsive. The tablet rendered web pages fast and played YouTube clips smoothly.
Since it is thinner and smaller, it’s easier to grip too. And the Android 4.1 comes with better user-interface than Android 4.0.
I tested it with my Sony premium in-ear headphones and found that tablet also played music with good quality.
Samsung Thailand has not yet set the retail price for the Wi-Fi version. The 3G version, which supports the HSPA+ 3G service of all operators in Thailand, retails for Bt9,900.
Key specs:
_ Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual Core processor
_ Display: 7-inch WSVGA(1024 x 600, 169 PPI) TFT
_ OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
_ Camera: Rear: 3-megapixel camera, Front: 1.3-megapixel camera
_ Video: Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV, Playback: 1080p Full HD @30fps
_ Audio: Codec: MP3, OGG, AC3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WAV, FLAC
_ Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz), Wi-Fi Channel Bonding, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0
_ GPS: A-GPS + GLONASS
_ Sensor: Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Light (3G version also has proximity sensor)
_ Memory: 1GB (RAM)
_ Storage: 16GB internal storage with a microSD slot (up to 32GB)
_ Dimension: 111.1 x 188.0x9.9mm
_ Weight: 302g (Wi-Fi), 306g (3G)
_ Battery: Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000 mAh
