Samsung Powers Up Tablets... Galaxy Tab S8 and A8 Ready to Launch Side by Side

Rendering image of Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Tab S8' [Source: IT tipster OnLeaks]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] "Catch up with Apple." Samsung Electronics is launching the premium tablet 'Galaxy Tab S8' and the budget-friendly 'Galaxy Tab A8' side by side from the beginning of the year to block Apple's dominance. This is a 'two-track strategy' that pursues premiumization by adding a top-tier 'Ultra' model like in smartphones, while also strengthening the budget lineup to expand customer acquisition.

According to industry sources on the 13th, Samsung Electronics will unveil the Galaxy Tab S8 series as early as next month. It is a new premium tablet PC released about a year and a half after the Tab S7 series launched in August last year. Unlike its predecessor, it features the addition of a top-tier Ultra model and will be released in three types: ▲ 11-inch basic model ▲ 12.4-inch Plus model ▲ 14.7-inch Ultra model.

This move is interpreted as an effort to segment and target specific customer groups within the tablet PC series, similar to smartphones. Since most tablets on the market are 10 to 12 inches, the strategy is to capture demand from users who prefer larger screens by leading with a 14.6-inch model. The global tablet PC market has continued to grow recently due to a surge in demand for remote work and remote education following the spread of COVID-19.

The newly introduced Ultra model is expected to be equipped with Qualcomm's latest 'Snapdragon 8 Gen 1' as the application processor (AP). Prices are anticipated to be in the 800,000 KRW range for the basic model and 1,400,000 KRW range for the Ultra model.

The budget-friendly new product Tab A8, priced in the 300,000 KRW range, will also be launched next month. The Tab A8 has already passed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certifications and is ready for release. More than 60% of Samsung Electronics' tablet production next year is expected to be accounted for by the mid-to-low price range Tab A series. This year, Samsung Electronics has steadily strengthened its mid-to-low price budget product lineup by releasing the first Fan Edition (FE) tablet (Galaxy Tab S7 FE) and a 200,000 KRW range light model (Galaxy Tab A7 Lite).

An industry insider said, "Samsung Electronics is concerned that Apple's dominance in the tablet PC market has intensified while new product launches were delayed due to semiconductor supply shortages," adding, "Recently, the existing wireless division was renamed the 'MX Division,' emphasizing 'experience,' so the strategy focusing on expanding the 'Galaxy ecosystem' is expected to accelerate."

According to market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA), Apple shipped 17.3 million tablet PCs in the third quarter of this year, capturing a 38% market share. During the same period, Samsung Electronics' market share was 17% (7.5 million units), less than half of Apple's.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.