FollowWhen it comes to smaller tablets there has been quite some competition to be the first at it. In this respect, the credit for having launched the first 7 incher goes to Samsung when it had launched the first gen Galaxy Tab running on Android 2.2 Froyo. This, even when the OS was not officially cleared by Google for running on a 7 inch tablet.
This was followed up by Amazon with their Kindle Fire which trned put to be the game changer here with the most attractive feature being its low price. Apple might be considered a late entrant here, having launched its iPad Mini only last year. The year 2012 can also be considered significant for another reason as it is also the period when the Samsung vs Apple battle reached a climax.
Things seems to have changed a bit this year as both are out to outsmart the other not in the court rooms all over the world but in the retail sector. Their enmity seems to be headed for another climax setting when the two launch their next offering in the smaller tablet segment.
As for android based devices, Samsung no doubt has the most number of tablets devices by size. One of their most popular gadgets has been the Galaxy Note which is a smartphone and a tablet rolled into one. The display size of the Galaxy Note was 5.3 inch which went up further with the Note 2 and the trend is expected to continue with the Galaxy Note 3 as well which, it is believed will be the largest of the Note series to date. Meanwhile, the next iteration in the Galaxy Tab series is expected to be launched this year, one that is believed to come with an 8 inch display. The most interesting aspect of the Galaxy Tab 3 though will be that Samsung is trying out an Intel processor for the device.
As if to keep themselves in the running, Apple too have brought in some changes to its iPad Mini 2. It is expected to have a retina display, which means a screen with more pixel density. The Apple iPad Mini 2 is also supposed to be coming with a new processor and the latest iOS version running on it. Apple is also being speculated to lower their price while having a better camera to the iPad Mini 2. The least priced iPad Mini now costs $329 though the Mini 2 could see it price plunge further to $249.
Samsung too has to consider lowering the price of its 8 inch galaxy Tab if it wishes to maintain a competitive edge on the price front. Samsung has been having a good sale in the US market so far as tablet devices are concerned. It experienced a 200 percent rise in market share on a YOY basis for the first quarter of 2013, which as per reports from IDC stands at about 17.9 percent. As of now Apple with its iPad yet rules the roost with 39.6 percent of the market share.
No dates have been announced officially as yet by Apple for the release date of their iPad Mini 2. It can however be expected to come out after the Galaxy Tab 3 comes to the market or immediately after it. It will be exciting watching the two slug it out where it perhaps matters the most, in the world tech scene.
