Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Confirmed in Benchmark Results: iPad Mini Challenger to Debut in MWC 2013

In a month's time, the tech world will be seeing a brand new collection of devices including smartphones, tablets, phablets and more. When it comes to Samsung, the South Korean tech giant seems to have some interesting devices in tow.

While the Galaxy lineup of smartphones are too popular, the Galaxy tablets are not so. However, looks like the company is working on a new 8 inch model to catch the global tablet market segment, which is being held by Apple.

According to a SamMobile report citing internal sources, Samsung is prepping a new device - Galaxy Note 8.0, which will come in two variants - GT-N5100 (3G and Wi-Fi) and GT-N5110 (only Wi-Fi).

The report also claims that the tablet will have almost all the features as the Galaxy Note 10.1 except for the smaller 8 inch form factor. Also, Samsung might take the wraps off this new tablet at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona.

Galaxy Note 8.0 - Rumored specifications

As per the leaked benchmark results on a Chinese website, Galaxy Note 8.0 will measure 211.3 x 136.3 x 7.95 mm in dimension and weigh in at 330 grams. The device codenamed Kona will pack an 8 inch Super Clean LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, 1.6GHz quad core Exynos 4412 processor, micro SD card slot, 16GB/32GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera for video calling, Wi-Fi, micro USB 2.0, A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and a 4,600 mAh battery.

Further, the device will also come with S-Pen support and an array of S-Pen apps and optimizations.

Competitor to iPad Mini?

If the current rumored specifications the Galaxy Note 8.0 turn out to be authentic than the upcoming device would surely prove to be stiff competitor to iPad Mini - the 7.9 inch miniature of the tablet market dominator launched in October 2012.

Speaking of specifications, iPad Mini has a packs a 7.9 inch LED-backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, which is not a Retina Display, 1GHz dual core Apple A5 processor, PowerVR GPU, 5MP iSight rear camera, 1.2MP front camera for video calling, iOS 6, 16GB/32GB/64GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, Lightning port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 16.3 Whr Li-Po battery delivering up to 10 hours backup.

As far as the Indian market is concerned, iPad Mini is priced at Rs 21,900, Rs 26,900 and Rs 31,900 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB Wi-Fi only variants and Rs 29,900, Rs 35,900 and Rs 41,900 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G variants.

Galaxy Note 8.0 can be a competitor to the iPad Mini provided it has the rumored specs including a faster processor, battery backup and more importantly, if it retails at a lesser price tag than the Apple tablet.