Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Release Date Set: 5 Rumors Debunked Or Confirmed By The 7-Inch Tablet's Unveiling

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is upon us. Samsung unveiled its third-generation Galaxy Tab device in Seoul on Monday and has set an early May release date for the Wi-Fi variant and a June release date for the 3G variant.

Now that Samsung has released full specs for its newest tablet, we can see whether or not the rumors were true.

Size

Samsung will release its 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 with a 1024 x 600 WSVGA display at 169 ppi. While preliminary rumors proposed a Galaxy Tab 3 "7.0" variant, which would indicate a 7-inch screen, we saw suggestions of Tab 3 "8.0," "10.1" and "Plus" variants.

An 8-inch Tab device may now be unlikely, as Samsung recently launched its Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet in April, but rumors of an 8-inch Tab have not died just yet. According to the Wall Street Journal, such a device will hit stores in June. Perhaps some are holding onto hope for a cheaper device, as the Note 8.0 sells for a whopping $399.99. As we now know, the Galaxy Tab 3 3G variant will release in June. It’s completely plausible that the Journal was off by 1 inch.

According to Unwired Review, the Galaxy Tab 3 "8.0" was recently spotted at the Bluetooth SIG; however, this device appears to be slated to release only in Europe. This makes us further question the validity of this rumor. Not only is the Note 8.0 already available in Europe, Samsung says the Tab 3 will release globally.

Internal Specs

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 will release with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, in addition to 1GB of RAM, internal storage up to 16GB and a microSD slot with expansion up to 64GB, all of which are upgrades from the Galaxy Tab 2. The Galaxy Tab 3 will also include a 3-megapixel main camera; a 1.3-megapixel front camera and 4,000 mAh Li-ion battery remain the same as in its predecessor.

In comparison, specs for the ever recurring Galaxy Tab 8.0, which were leaked by the Greek site Techblog, proposed a device with an 8-inch 1280×800 pixel display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 3-megapixel camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a Micro SD slot, 3G and 4G connectivity, and a 7000 mAh battery. No specs were ever leaked for a 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 device.

Other rumors proposed a much more high-tech device. A device leaked to SamMobile, which the source referred to as the Galaxy S Tab and which the tech website proposed could be the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus, supposedly featured Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa chipset containing the quad-core 1.6GHz ARM-Cortex A15 processor and the quad-core 1.2GHz ARM-Cortex A7 processor, as well as 2GB RAM, internal storage up to 64GB and a microSD slot with expansion up to 64GB.

With current advances in technology, these Galaxy Tab 3 specs do seem plausible for a tablet. The Galaxy Note 8.0 features 2 GB of RAM, internal storage up to 64GB and a microSD slot with expansion up to another 64GB. However, it seems unlikely that a tablet would be powered by the Exynos 5 Octa processor at this point. The Note 8.0 features the quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 processor, while the Galaxy Tab 3 remains a dual-core device. If we are correct in our assumption that the Galaxy Tab 3 will be a less-expensive device, we don’t expect to see it nor any of its possible variants powered by the Exynos 5 Octa processor.

Exterior

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 essentially looks like a tablet-size Galaxy S4. It is slightly less curved than the Galaxy Note 8.0 and stands lengthwise with its speakers, camera, sensors, home button and Samsung logo situated width-wise.

In comparison, the leaked image for the Galaxy S Tab, or Galaxy Tab 3 Plus, as proposed by SamMobile, shows a device that resembles a sideways Galaxy Note 8.0, with its front features situated length-wise.

Systems, Programs And Connectivity

Samsung said the Galaxy Tab 3 will release with a number of features that were never mentioned amid the ocean of rumors. The Galaxy Tab 3 will feature Samsung Kies, as well as the Samsung Hub and Samsung ChatON services that were unveiled alongside the Galaxy S4 smartphone in March. We will also see a number of standard features such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Maps (Turn-by-turn Navigation) and Google Now. The Galaxy Tab 3 will run the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system.

Few rumors have mentioned details of programs or systems on any Galaxy Tab 3 device, proposed or confirmed, save for Techblog’s leak of a Samsung device, codenamed Roma, that many consider is actually the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. The device is proposed to run Android 4.2 at a point where most Samsung devices, except for the Galaxy S4, are still shipping with Android 4.1.2.

In addition, the Galaxy Tab 3 will not be 4G LTE capable. Conversely, rumors across the board insisted the device would come in Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G variants. This further leads us to believe that the Galaxy Tab 3 is meant to be a less costly device. Its price remains unconfirmed.

Release Date

Preliminary rumors proposed that we would see the Galaxy Tab 3 unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 3 phablet at the IFA Expo, which will take place in Berlin Sept. 6-11. While the Note 3 remains in the rumor mill, we now know the Galaxy Tab 3 will land in stores worldwide in May and June.

Other rumors have suggested that the Galaxy Tab 8.0 would see a launch of its 3G variant in June and a launch of its Wi-Fi version in July. Those reports also included vague mentions of Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch, 7.7-inch, 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch models, but with no specific release dates. Such a focus on the supposed 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3, even amid confirmation of the release date and specs for the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3, especially makes us consider that the 8.0 may be a decoy.