Korean electronics titan Samsung is taking a big swing at Apple with two new high-end tablet releases. The new pair of tabs features brighter, thinner, lighter screens than the models preceding it. The new 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab S is priced at $499, while the 8.4 inch version is $399.
Industry experts are convinced that it will take more than flashy promotion and pretty devices to repeat the success of Samsung’s smartphones, which are the company’s best-selling products. Samsung not only faces Apple as a competitor, but oversize smartphones that double as tablets, referred to as phablets, are absorbing a growing chunk out of overall tablet sales. Phablets have been a huge success in South Korea and other Asian countries, and conversely, Samsung expects a 12% increase in tablet shipments this year, down from 52% last year (statistics by IDC). Samsung holds 34% of the market shares of tablet makers, but they’re threatened by competing Android tablets that offer comparable hardware at lower prices.
The list of challengers to Samsung’s flagship tablet is growing. China-based Xiaomi offers the 7.9 inch MiPad with 16G for $240. Asus presented a phone-tablet combo that cost $199 with a two-year AT&T contract. The Google Nexus 10 proves to be a match for even the mighty iPad 4, priced at around $389, is praised for its gorgeous display and fast processing.
New Galaxy Tab 10.1
New Galaxy Tab 8.4
MiPad
Asus TF300T
Nexus 10
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