Samsung has announced their successor to their Galaxy Tab 7.0 imaginatively named….. Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.
With 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 7″ WSVGA (1024 x 600) PLS display , 1GB of RAM, 16/32GB of internal memory, microSD slot (up to 32GB), 3-megapixel auto focus rear camera, 2-megapixel front facing camera, Android 3.2 Honeycomb (with TouchWiz), and a 4,000mAh battery, the unit will keep the functionality for both 3G and voice call support, the ability to make phone calls on a tablet being still quite unique in this market.
The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus will be available starting in Indonesia and Austria from end-October and gradually rolled to globally including Southeast and Southwest Asia, US, Europe, CIS, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and China.
Press release and full specifications at Samsung’s Mobile Press Site.
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I love 7″ tablets. It’s the perfect size to carry everywhere without look awkward lugging around a 9″-10″ tablet. My only 7″ tablet how is the BlackBerry Playbook which I like for the size and not for lack of apps and support on it. Looking to purchase an android 7″ tablet and deciding between the Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus or the Acer Iconia A100. Anyone have the Iconia A100 now and would like to list real life usage pros and cons on it?
I’d buy a 7 inch iPad instantly … yet no change Apple will put that in the market, alas !
An iPad is just too heavy for me to hold it for long when reading an ebook.
It’s Android holding me back from buying a Galaxy Tab, the user experience of my iPod and my iPhone is so superior to all other software I’ve ever used before.
@Jackie – I love my “original” 7″ Galaxy Tab for it’s form factor, size and weight ( albeit with an alternative ROM and the LCD density pumped up ) . It’s much more portable than a 10″, even pocketable at a stretch. That above upgrade seems pretty minor, basically a new processor which is probably a good thing as my original does run slow on a few apps and I suppose if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Probably not enough reason for me to upgrade…but who knows ? 🙂
There’s quite a few 7″ tablets on the market already and more coming out so it’s obviously a sellable form factor. There’s also the HTC Flyer and a new Toshiba one coming out soon and if you look at all the FCC approvals, there’s till more on their way ( e.g. Viewsonic ) that might be worth looking at. Going to be an interesting space.
@Ronald – Yeah don’t think there’ll be a 7″ iPad. Mister Jobs stated that 10″ IS the ideal size for a tablet 🙂
The other statement I’m leaving alone, not getting involved in an IOS v Android religious war 🙂
I wouldn’t put a 7 inch ipad on the ‘apple will never make list’.
Steve has a history of deceiving and lying about what products they will never make as a business strategy. Look at it this way. We are a bunch of geek who like 7 inch tablets. Apple has a bunch of geeks working for them. Chances are those geeks would want a 7 inch tablet too. And since Apple never makes what customers think they want for themselves (they make what their employees want; i.e. no focus groups) I wouldn’t write off a 7 inch tablet just yet.
In the meantime, that new samsung 7 inch plus is right up my alley.
The upgrades are not “minor”, this thing has a new and improved screen, a thinner chassis, dual core processor and double the ram. I’de say those upgrades are pretty significant.
@DownSouthLivin – Ahh well there ya go then. Sorry about that. Obviously didn’t read the specs properly myself 🙁 Still don’t know if that’s enough to make me want to upgrade ( but of course YMMV ) 🙂
I have been using the Iconia a100 since Walmart sold them for $300 on their web site in August 2011. The A100 3.2 Android is boss. It runs fast 8GB/1GB ram. Does what my laptop does. Iuse it out and about teathered to my Nexus S. I carry it in a money belt type strap around holder, so it is hands free to carry. It has tabs across the top and they are hard to close; I found that the tab would close if I swiped 7:30 to 1:30; other than that, which is nothing, I think it is the best thing since apple pie…I f you enjoy lugging aroung a 10 inch Ipad/tablet that does exactly what the Iconia A100 does, please enjoy doing so!
1024×600 on a 7″ gives it a greater pixel density than the present iPad with 1024×768 on a 9.7″ screen. The iPad does have IPS for wide viewing angles but Samsung’s PLS is a superior technology that provides more clarity as well as wide viewing angles.
The 1.2GHz dual core processor should give a little over 50% performance boost over the original tab. While the iPad2 is also dual core but only 1GHz.
MicroSD card slot is something not always available on tablets. RIM Playbook, Apple’s iPad, among others have no expansion options.
Main camera is a bit weak at 3MP, when many are now offering 5-8MP, but the 2MP front facing camera should be good enough for video chats.
Physical improvement over the original Tab is this one won’t be as easy to slip out of your hands. Original Tab had a bit of a too smooth back that could slip from your grip if you didn’t keep a good hold on it.
Honeycomb is a nice improvement to the OS and Samsung’s TouchWiz is a lot better than when it first came out. Though like any custom UI it may not appeal to everyone.
Overall, it looks like a good successor to the original but these days people care more about the price.
If they manage to hit a $250 or lower price point for this thing, I’m there. If it stays over $300 with all the other 7″ tablets, I’ll be hard pressed not to just go with the Kindle Fire instead, given that the Fire will be entirely adequate for 95% of what I’d use the Tab for, and my laptop can handle the rest.
@implos @ James – When the original 7″ Tab was released in Australia, the price on the unit was over $1000 to purchase outright !!!!
I picked mine up at $408 which I figured was pretty reasonable at the time but of course a couple of weeks later they started selling at $299 as an end of life product 🙂 That’s fine because I’d had more than the $100 difference worth of use ( and fun ) out of it.
Yes pricing will have a lot to do with how well these ( or any other ) unit sells these days.
The other questions for me is, at what expense to battery life do the improvements come ?? It’s got a 4000 maH battery just like the old one. My Tab has a more battery efficient Firmware on it and is underclocked to maximise it’s battery. I’m willing to put up with a bit of “slowness” to get extra battery life.
As I say, it’s currently doing me well at the moment, and “upgrade” price will play a big part in whether I even look at the new unit or not.
This will not be less than $300. Like the original, it is a phone too. I have yet to see a blogger comment on this despite it being stated in the press release they all reference and the phone app is pictured in all the press photos.
@RuzaR….good point re the phone capabilities.
I think the biggest “issue” is that not many people actually use the phone functionality because of the form factor of the Tab. Yes you can use the wired headset or use a bluetooth headset but I frequent a number of Tab forums and the percentage of people that do this is VERY low. Obviously the 3G is a definite plus, but phone calls not so much.
I’ve used it a couple of times for phone calls as the unit actually makes a fantastic speaker phone, good sound and great microphone.
I suspect that from a bloggers point of view ( and owning the previous model ) you assume that people will know that it still has the phone capability as it’s an upgrade and you tend to concentrate on what’s changed rather than what’s the same.
Probably not the best assumption….ass…u….me…. 🙂
( I’ll amend the item to reflect your comment )