MWC 2013: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Takes Fight To Apple

Samsung has expanded its tablet range with the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The eight-inch tablet is the latest entry into the Samsung Galaxy Note series, which includes the original Samsung Galaxy Note Tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphone.

Packing a 1.6 GHz processor and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Samsung promises that the Galaxy Note 8 will offer “unrivalled multimedia performance”. It features the series’ trademark S-Pen, a stylus that can be used to take handwritten notes that can be converted into text documents or to create drawings and other compositions.

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The tablet can be held with just one hand, something that Samsung says is ideal for reading eBooks in the Reading Mode, while multitasking is improved by the ability to view two apps at the same time on the screen.

This includes video and voice calls, which are possible on the Galaxy Note 8 thanks to the SIM card. However, due to the size of the device, the likelihood of anyone actually using it as a smartphone seems remote.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be released in the second quarter of 2013, but no specific release date or pricing details have been revealed.

When it does hit shelves, the Galaxy Note 8 will bring Samsung into competition with other mid-sized tablets from the likes of Google, Amazon and Apple, and the Korean manufacturer is confident that it can make inroads in a market that it claims to have created.

“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung Galaxy Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play.”

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