Skip to main content

Leaky Samsung reveals Galaxy Note 8.0 specs and some budget phones

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet.

If you’ve been wondering what Samsung has on the horizon for early 2013 then you’ll be interested in this leak. Samsung’s mobile boss, JK Shin, already confirmed that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will be revealed at MWC next month, but what you didn’t know is that Samsung is also going to unveil a range of underwhelming mid-range and budget smartphones as well.

According to TechnoBuffalo, a whole host of specs and a range of new devices were revealed in a product portfolio it “stumbled upon.”

Most intriguing by far is the aforementioned Galaxy Note 8.0 with its 8-inch 1280×800 pixel Super Clear LCD, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 5-megapixel camera, and 16 or 32GB of storage with microSD support for more. It also has a big, beefy 4,600mAh battery and it runs Android 4.2, but there’s no support for 4G LTE. One thing that does stand out as unusual on the spec sheet is the mention of “E-book” support. It’s due to land in March, but we’re not sure where or how much it will cost.

We were also treated to news of the X Cover 2 which looks like a mid-range rugged smartphone. It supposedly has a 4-inch display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel camera, 4GB storage plus microSD support, and it runs Android 4.1. Once again there’s no LTE support, but it is also IP67 spec which means it will be dustproof and waterproof. It should be available in February.

There was also a trio of budget phones which are probably aimed at developing countries. The Galaxy Young is a dual-SIM device with a 3-inch display, 1GHz single-core processor, 3-meagpixel camera, and Android 4.1. Then there’s the slightly scaled down galaxy Pocket Plus with a 2.8-inch display, 800MHz single-core processor, and 2-megapixel camera. Finally there’s the Ch@t 226, a cheap-looking BlackBerry feature phone.

If you’re waiting for news of the flagship Galaxy S4, it looks like you’ll have to remain patient a bit longer.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
The best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus cases and covers
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is a beast of a smartphone, combining strong flagship specifications with a versatile triple-lens camera. The design is similarly top-notch, with glass curving almost seamlessly into the aluminum frame — but in some ways, the Note 10 Plus' great beauty is its biggest weakness. The glass body is beautiful, but if it takes a tumble, it can shatter and crack. No one wants that to happen, and that's why a protective case is an excellent idea.

Protect your day from going to pieces by checking out the best cases for your phone. We've gathered some of the top cases from the best manufacturers to bring you a list of the best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus cases around.

Read more
A famous cartoonist drew me on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
galaxy tab s8 plus art baltazar famous cartoonist samsung leader actual

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is a powerful tablet that is centered around creators. The expansive screen and included S Pen with its lowered latency seems to be a perfect fit for a cartoonist, and I just happen to know one. Art Baltazar is a comic book artist (self-described as a "famous cartoonist"), proprietor of Aww Yeah Comics! and my only friend who has his own Wikipedia page. He's currently working with DC Comics while continuing the stories for his own characters. You probably know him for his work with Tiny Titans, The Cray-Baby Adventures, and Action Cat.

I met up with Art at his comic shop in the Chicagoland area for a Drink and Draw event with a number of local artists, and I handed Art the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+, and asked him to draw with it for a few hours. I'll share his thoughts with you, but first I'll talk a little about his typical setup.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
A Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 held up with a cover on.

Samsung has revised its playbook for the Galaxy Tab S8 series. Instead of sticking with two models, as with the Tab S7 and Tab S7 Plus, it has now split the series into three. This means users have the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8 Plus, and Tab S8 Ultra to choose from, with the Ultra going all-out to yank the tablet crown away from the latest iPad Pro. This division leaves both the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus in an interesting position, insofar as the Plus is no longer that much more of a premium experience compared to its standard model.

Still, there are differences between the two tablets, with the larger display and bigger battery being the most obvious features of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus. However, does this make the Tab S8 Plus a better tablet overall than the Tab S8? Is it worth the extra $200? We find out in this head-to-head versus article, which compares the specs, displays, performance, cameras, and software of each device.
Specs

Read more