Samsung Galaxy 8" Tab 3 16GB

[RightMACatU]

Acquired one yesterday for C$280 + taxes and I must admit that it's pretty awesome for the price and much slimmer than the 7". The equivalent iPad Mini is C$320 and won't allow for a 64GB Mini SD Card expansion.

For an extra $60 ish (C$340 total) the Tab 3 can turn into an 80GB tablet where as the 64GB Mini will set you back C$529 +taxes

This tablet will be used for couch surfing and farting around the house where WiFi is good enough.

My only 'slightly' negative point is the fact that the screen is 1280x800 and using a full HD Galaxy S4 in parallel makes it look bad. But at C$280 I'll just shut up and surf.

Who else has a Tab 3? What are your +&-?

 

[adder7712]

Still more than adequate for web browsing. How's the overall CPU performance?

 

[RightMACatU]

Still more than adequate for web browsing. How's the overall CPU performance?

Can't say. I've only done (and will only do) some browsing, emails and videos/music from my microSD that I switch between this and the S4.

With a dual core 1.5Ghz, I wouldn't get my hopes up for some serious CPU performance.

 

[kdarling]

I recently got a 8" Tab 3 for my 90-ish mother. She had asked for a small one.

The reason I picked the Tab 3 is because it has a physical Home button, which makes it easier for her. It's hard now to find a really decent tablet with such a button. (I tried an iPad at first, but certain things confused her about it. )

I needed an Android tablet because I'm putting the elderly friendly Big Launcher on it, so it'll have large text mail and contacts, and so I can control the apps she sees.

BL also lets me lock her out from accidentally getting into a homescreen edit mode. This confused her constantly on the iPad. Her memory is bad and the wiggling icons just meant nothing to her.

I think that manufacturers and app writers need to address the elderly audience better. Pretty soon, with Baby Boomers growing older, it'll be a huge market. (There are already desktop PC systems out there that cater to this area.)

Anyway, I'm liking the tablet while I set it up

 

[RightMACatU]

90-ish ... wow & congrats to her for wanting to do this!
You should do an extended elderly-requirements-study on this and sell it to Samsung

 

[maximus96]

so why did you pick the galaxy tab over the new nexus 7? i'm in the market now and trying to decide between the two. thanks

 

[RightMACatU]

The better aesthetics (IMO), the extra inch, the microSD slot and the fact that I love my S4 phone. Processor speed was not a big factor.

 

[adder7712]

The better aesthetics (IMO), the extra inch, the microSD slot and the fact that I love my S4 phone. Processor speed was not a big factor.

Though you are forfeiting the higher resolution on the new Nexus 7 but whatever suits you best.

 

[mpayne2k]

Good ole Samsung...what are the main things separating the Tab 3 8" from the Note 8? I know the S-pen and some specific Notetastic apps...but they do have an MSRP difference of $100USD

 

[ChazUK]

How much internal space is free on the 8" 16GB model? I did play with one in store the other day but forgot to look at the internal storage.

 

[mpayne2k]

I believe it was around 13gb available on the 16gb model.

 

[kdarling]

Good ole Samsung...what are the main things separating the Tab 3 8" from the Note 8? I know the S-pen and some specific Notetastic apps...but they do have an MSRP difference of $100USD

The S-pen is a major part. I've read in the past that adding the Wacom circuitry can add up to $100 in parts and royalty costs. I'm sure it's less now, but still a lot.

I was actually looking at the Note 8 at first, but the price difference helped.

Speaking of multiple versions, Samsung just came out with a kid's Tab 3, with parental and time controls:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/samsung-galaxy-tab-kids-children/story?id=20079292

 

[mpayne2k]

Samsung is proving to be the swiss army knife of the Tablet world. [SMH]

I'm not hating on them...I actually own a tab of thiers and love the build quality and screen (Nex10).

 

[RightMACatU]

How much internal space is free on the 8" 16GB model? I did play with one in store the other day but forgot to look at the internal storage.

I had 10.xGB free

 

[RightMACatU]

Though you are forfeiting the higher resolution on the new Nexus 7 but whatever suits you best.

Indeed... The higher res was no mach to accommodate my 64GB microSD that I use to load up my iTunes Playlists and switch between the Tab3 and S4. And IMO the Tab3 8" looks wayyy better

 

[adder7712]

Samsung is proving to be the swiss army knife of the Tablet world. [SMH]

I'm not hating on them...I actually own a tab of thiers and love the build quality and screen (Nex10).

Samsung is trying to appeal to every market imaginable.

 

[daniellm]

Galaxy Tab3 8.0

hi there, got a question to all you Galaxy Tab3 8.0 owners and users.
in short, is it worth it to buy one?
im from israel and here its not so cheap, so i want to know whats your input about it.
thanks in advance.
D

 

[AAPLinc]

I bought a 2013 nexus 7, took it back because I wanted a bigger screen, got Samsung's 8" Tab 3, kept it for a day then took it back and bought the nexus 7 again.

Tab 3 was a good tablet, and the screen was a perfect size and aesthetically I really liked it. The physical home button was nice. It had a "iPad" feel and experience to it. But compared to the nexus 7, I felt like I was getting less tablet for more money. When the Tab 3 first came out it was $300, $70 more than the nexus 7, Tab 3 is now on sale for $280 which is more appropriate. Also it's only 20$ less than last years mini.

It felt a little laggy and not as swift and smooth on multitasking as the nexus. I loved that it was packed with features but touchwiz is a little annoying to me. Multi view was cool, played with it a few times.

The screen although not nearly as good as the nexus had pretty vivid colors and the battery life seemed like it would be good. The expandable memory is obviously a plus however I would never use it, and got a 16gb nexus 7 myself.

It was honestly hard to let the Tab 3 go but once I had the nexus 7 back in my hand I was happier. I know you could probably root and get rid of all the bloat and make the experience much better on the Tab 3, but I think I favor the nexus because it seems it will be relevant for much longer, updates straight from Google sounded good to me.

I really miss the 8 inch screen on the Tab 3, I think it's my favorite tablet size, however I love the portability of the nexus more. That 1 inch that's missing really allows you to set the nexus nicely in your palm and creates a more grab and go device.

Enjoy the Tab 3, had I not bought the nexus 7 first I probably would have kept it because I had nothing to compare it to. It was a nice tablet that is perfect for browsing and watching movies. I wonder how it compares to LGs Gpad.