18.4-inch tablet for media playback
Samsung believes people who consume a large share of their media on a mobile device need a bigger screen.
The compay unveiled the $599-suggested Galaxy View Android tablet with 18.4-inch FullHD 1080p display and “video-centric” interface with a dedicated video home screen showing video-streaming apps all in one place. It comes with two-way stand and handle, built-in stereo speakers and eight hours of video playback on one charge. A 4G LTE version will also be available.
It weighs 5.8 pounds and measures 10.1 by 17.8 by 0.47 inches.
The device will be available from Best Buy and other retailers starting Nov. 6.
The tablet features Android 5.1 Lollipop, 1.6GHz octacore processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 128GB MicroSD slot, 2.1-megapixel camera for video chats, and 5,700 mAh battery. Cellular 4G LTE is optional.
The View will launch with apps from major cable companies and video-streaming providers, including Netflix, ESPN, Showtime, and others.
Apple and Microsoft have also announced up-sized tablets in recent weeks at 12.9 inches for Apple’s iPad Pro and 12.3 inches for Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4, but the companies are positioning their products as offering improved productivity for professionals and enterprises. Samsung’s largest tablets to date are 12.2-inch models introduced in 2014. A pair of Tab S2 models launched this year feature 9.7- and 8-inch screens.
Calling the View “the largest Android mobile device on the market,” Samsung said the device will also deliver “a new level of gaming” and a Family Square feature, which provides a customized dashboard for sharing information with friends and family members.
The Galaxy View provides “an entirely new way of consuming mobile video and entertainment,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of Samsung’s IT and mobile business.
