While all the information we have on Apple’s iPad 3 is purely speculation at this point, it seems inevitable that the device will boast a high-resolution Retina display. The Retina display has been a big selling point for the iPhone and the iPod touch for a couple years now, and we’re all crying out for one in the iPad.
However, Apple may not be the first to bring a Retina display tablet to market, because Samsung is working on one of its own which could be unveiled in February.
Sources for Boy Genius Report claim that Samsung is hard at work on an 11.6-inch version of its Galaxy Tab which will sport a 2560 x 1600 resolution display. Despite its screen size, however, it won’t be much bigger than the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab:
Even though the tablet features a larger display than Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, we’re told that the tablet is “barely larger” due to the fact the slate will have a thinner bezel with a whopping 2560 x 1600 resolution, 11.6-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
A display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution would actually beat the 2048×1536 display that will reportedly feature in Apple’s third-generation iPad. Furthermore, the device will reportedly run Google’s latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, and could be unveiled at Mobile World Congress this coming February.
Would you drop your iPad for an Android-powered Samsung tablet just to get your hands on a high-resolution display?
[via MacRumors]
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
12 responses to “Samsung Could Beat Apple To Market With A Retina Display Tablet”
Noway cant ditch ipad fr any other tablet i so hate samsung and its Plastic toys
It’s also reported to have a 2GHz Exynos CPU as well.
It would be a very nice tablet, but I’m waiting for the Windows 8 tablet. Intel powered + laptop dock (what like the Asus transformer has) = the ability to run full desktop applications on my tablet comfortably. Meaning? I can officially leave my laptop at home and just take my tablet and it’s laptop dock wherever I go. And I highly doubt Apple will make anything like that. a tablet when undocked, but a full functional laptop when docked.
Matter of fact, the amount of intrest in a windows 8 powered tablet that turns into a “laptop” via a laptop base is staggering. What’s even more surprising is the amount of iPad users I know who want this. They want the ability to run Microsoft Office (chance of the iPad getting this is close to 0%) and a laptop like dock that all they have to do is “dock” their tablet and slide it in their bag because they are sick and tired of having to carry multiple things around for their iPad. Plus having a device like that means that they can officially “kill” their laptop they have to drag around because of what their iPad is not capable off.
If I had —– amount to throw out for this, I would buy it, but I’m not going to throw out hundreds of dollars and then couple months down the road shell out hundreds, if not a thousand or two, for a windows 8 powered tablet. (unless apple magically makes an OS X powered tablet, again which the chance of that happening is like 0%)
“Would you drop your iPad for an Android-powered Samsung tablet just to get your hands on a high-resolution display?”
No. There’s more to the iPad than just the screen resolution.
Just the other day there was a report that Windows was strongly considering dropping the full desktop part of Windows 8 from their tablets. Additionally, Microsoft announced just last week (or so) that they are bringing Microsoft Office to the iPad.
There is one product that I am reminded of every time I hear of a new Windows mobile device: The Zune. They can steal ideas, bastardize them, cheapen them, and market them, but they can not improve upon them. Be wary.
So essentially, Samsung is taking a product which has largely been a market failure (non-iOS tablets), and are now going to sell the same failed product but bigger and in a higher resolution. Hmm.
Further, competitors have struggled to match Apple’s price-points with low-res, 7 inch tablets. So how horribly expensive will this non-Apple, hi-res, 11.6 inch tablet be? And if it’s not expensive, how razor-thin will their profit margins be?
If they can pull it off, though, good luck. Apple needs some competition.
“They want the ability to run Microsoft Office (chance of the iPad getting this is close to 0%)”
Good news: MS just announced they will be, eventually, bringing Office to the iPad. Of course, whether it will be much good or usable is a good question…
“Just the other day there was a report that Windows was strongly considering dropping the full desktop part of Windows 8 from their tablets.”
Last I checked, this will only impact the ARM based windows tablets. x86 based windows tablets would have no impact. (ARM mobile CPUs find in iPad, iPhone, etc…. x86-desktop found in MBA/MBP/etc….)
“Additionally, Microsoft announced just last week (or so) that they are bringing Microsoft Office to the iPad.”
Uh. Where did exactly Microsoft say that? Yes rumors upon rumors say that this is happening, but Microsoft has not confirmed this at all. If they did, let me know where exactly, because I have not read or seen anything that said this.
My apologies, I had read it at CNET here:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1080…
and it was speculation. Usually my memory serves me better.
I wonder if Samsung will make a Windows 8 version of this tablet. That would be suh-weeet.
You are correct in saying that only the ARM-based Windows 8 devices will not run the full desktop or legacy Windows apps.
But Steve Ballmer has gone on the record saying that MS is looking into a Metro-based version of Office so you may not have to purchase a Win8 tablet that’s x86-based.
Also, I own an iPad 2 & I’m seriously looking at well Win8 turns out to be. If it turns out to be as good as people say I may switch as well. And yes I run and need to run Office. IF the rumors are true that Office will come to the iPad & turns out to be well done then I may reconsider.
Anyone who wants an iPad with a retina display will wait for an iPad with a retina display.
Unveiled doesn’t mean actually available. Second, last I checked, first to the shelves isn’t some kind of major prize. Samsung could still have crappy sales and no lines compared to utter chaos when Apple releases the iPad 3 4 months later without a retina display