Skip to main content

Samsung unveils new iPad-thin Galaxy Tab models

samsung-ctia-2011-galaxy-tab-10-old-on-display
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For many companies, CTIA has taken a backseat to the Mobile World Congress and CES this year, but not for Samsung. Just a month after unveiling its Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1, Samsung showed off two new tablets and mouthful of software and UI enhancements for its entire tablet lineup. Our complete recap is below.

Newer, thinner Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

samsung-ctia-2011-galaxy-tab-10-new
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In a sign that competition is incredibly stiff in the tablet space, In the last two weeks, Samsung went back to the drawing board with its already revealed Galaxy Tab 10.1 and remade it. The new tablet has done away with the hard corners of the Galaxy Tab 7, now sporting rounded edges and a flatter back. The large, round Samsung logo on the back of the unit has also been replaced by a more minimal logo without the circle.

The manufacturer claims that the new 10.1 is the “thinnest and largest tablet in the industry.” It measures a scant 8.6 mm thick. For comparison, the old Tab 10.1 (unveiled Feb. 13) was 10.9 mm thick and the new iPad 2 is 8.8 mm thick. The back of the unit features an “easy grip” material.

Oddly, the 10.1 units on display at CTIA are still the older, fatter 10.1. The newly designed, thinner Tab 10.1 was in a plastic display case and hasn’t yet been seen in operation.

samsung-ctia-2011-galaxy-tab-10-new-2

Galaxy Tab 10.1 specs:

  • Weight: 595 grams (Samsung claims lightest in market)
  • Thickness: 8.6 mm
  • Sound: dual-speakers (stereo)
  • Cameras: 2MP front, 720p rear
  • Processor: Dual-core
  • Battery: 6800 mAh (10 hours of video playback)
  • Resolution: 1280×800
  • Connection: 4G HSPA+ up to 21MBPS (LTE and WiMax coming)
  • OS: Android 3.0 Honeycomb with new TouchWiz 4.0 UX added on top
  • Software: Full suite of newly announced Samsung e-book stores, music, media, enterprise, magazine, productivity apps
  • Samsung Stick Bluetooth headset
  • HDMI dock available
  • USB Connection kit available

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

samsung-ctia-2011-galaxy-tab-89-full
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to the revamped 10.1, Samsung announced its new Galaxy Tab 8.9, a slightly smaller tablet that is being marketed as more of a productivity device than the 10.1, which is being framed as a movie and media consumption tablet. The new Tab 8.9 isn’t a whole lot smaller than the 10.1, but Samsung claims it is just small enough to fit in a business suit pocket. For the most part, the Tab 8.9 shares most of its design with the new 10.1 including the grip rubber back.

Much like the Tab 10.1, the working Tab 8.9s on the show floor are of an unannounced, older design. The newly designed, thinner Tab 8.9 was in a plastic display case and I haven’t seen it working.

samsung-ctia-2011-galaxy-tab-89-back

Galaxy Tab 8.9 specs:

  • Weight: 470 grams (Samsung claims lightest in market)
  • Thickness: 8.6 mm
  • Sound: dual-speakers (stereo)
  • Cameras: 2MP front, 720p rear
  • Processor: Dual-core
  • Battery: 6000 mAh (10 hours of video playback)
  • Resolution: 1280×800
  • Connection: 4G HSPA+ up to 21MBPS (LTE and WiMax coming)
  • OS: Android 3.0 Honeycomb with new TouchWiz 4.0 UX added on top
  • Software: Full suite of newly announced Samsung e-book stores, music, media, enterprise, magazine, productivity apps
  • Samsung Stick Bluetooth headset
  • HDMI dock available
  • USB Connection kit available

Pricing and availability

In a unique movie, Samsung also announced pricing and availability information for both new tablets. Both will come in Wi-Fi and 3G (and HSPA+ for AT&T) versions at 16GB and 32GB, just like the iPad 2. The prices for the 10.1 match the iPad 2, while the 8.9 actually undercuts Apple a bit. 3G and 4G versions will be very competitive, claims the company.

  • Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi: 16GB for $499, 32GB for $599 – Coming June 8
  • Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi: 16GB for $469, 32GB for $569 – Coming early summer

We’ll have more information on Samsung’s new software announcements in a separate post.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal
The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.

Read more
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 heavily discounted today
The Surface Pro 9 in laptop mode on a table.

Microsoft's Surface devices are well known for their versatility and performance, but they command premium prices. That's why there's always high demand for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals, as who doesn't want to enjoy a discount when making a huge investment? If you're interested, Best Buy is offering the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 at $300 off, which brings its price down to $1,000 from $1,300, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 at $540 off, which lowers its price also to $1,000 from $1,540, ahead of the arrival of the consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10. You need to push through with your transaction as soon as possible if either of these bargains caught your attention, as we're not sure how much time is remaining before they disappear.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 -- $1,000, was $1,300

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a traditional Windows 11 laptop that's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 Evo processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. It won't match up to the performance of the best laptops, but it's going to be more than enough to handle daily tasks for work or school. The laptop features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen with vibrant colors and sharp details, a battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, and a 512GB SSD that provides ample storage space for your files. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 also comes with a 720p webcam and dual far-field Studio Mics for clear video calls.

Read more
We have some bad news about the Google Pixel 9
A render of the Google Pixel 9 smartphone in black.

When the first wave of Google Pixel 9 series leaks arrived on the scene a few weeks ago, what really got us excited was the camera upgrade for the entry-level model. The leaked renders envisioned a triple-lens rear camera setup for the Pixel 9 that added a periscope-style telephoto snapper at the back alongside a radical design change.

Well, it seems those changes will remain a pipe dream, at least in 2024. OnLeaks, in collaboration with 91Mobiles, has shared alleged renders of the Pixel 9, claiming that the triple-camera devices in those leaked renders actually depicted the pricier Pixel 9 Pro and a new Pixel 9 Pro XL variant.

Read more