The tablet market just got a little bit crowded (again). Samsung has finally started shipping the Galaxy Tab 8.9 to the US, the tablet that basically serves as their “tweener” option for people who think a 10-inch tablet’s too big to pack and a 7-inch screen’s simply too tight. For those who still haven’t heard of it, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is simply a compacted version of the already-available Galaxy Tab 10.1, featuring the same spec in a tablet with a smaller screen for $30 less.
Specifically, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 runs on a Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM, and features the same 3MP (rear) and 2MP (front) cameras. The tablet also comes with the standard set of connectivity options with Wi-fi b/g/n and Bluetooth, as well as a USB 2.0 port for hooking up with a PC. Like the larger Galaxy 10.1, the 8.9’s screen also comes with the same 1280 x 800 resolution and thickness at 0.34 inches.
The Galaxy Tab is now available at Best Buy, starting at $470 for the 16GB version and $570 for the 32GB model.
AT&T’s version of Samsung’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S II, has also started shipping today. For $200 with a contract, AT&T’s version is probably as close to the original as it gets, rocking the same 4.3-inch screen, dual-core 1.2GHz Exynos processor, eight-megapixel main camera and two-megapixel front cam.
There’s still a noticeable difference between AT&T’s version and Samsung’s original design though: the AT&T-marked phone sports the usual four Android buttons below the screen instead of the original’s single iPhone-like home button. Probably not that big a difference (in fact, some people prefer the four Android buttons), but in case you’re shopping for a Galaxy S II in the US, AT&T’s version supports 21Mbps HSPA+ data speeds. Sprint’s version, the Epic 4G Touch, is a little slower on data with 10Mbps support, but comes with a larger 4.5-inch screen. T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II looks to be the best among the three, featuring a lager 4.5-inch screen, a faster 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, and faster data with support for 42Mbps speeds.
Tags: AT&T, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Mobile Phones, Samsung, Tablets
