Two of the latest tablets from Samsung are the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, and it’s 8-inch counterpart, the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. These tablets, apart from featuring in the same series, have quite a bit in common with regards to the underlying hardware. While the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 features the very popular 7-inch form factor, the Tab 3 8.0 comes with a newer, fresher form, arguably borrowed from Apple’s iPad Mini. The 7 inch tablet is easy to carry around, and might even fit in your pocket. On the other hand, the 8 inch version boasts of a perfect balance between bulk and mobility; it is fairly mobile and has great screen real estate, making it viable for productivity as well as multimedia.
However, which one suits you better would depend on your style of usage. Let us go ahead and explore what the tablets have on offer.
Display And Processor
Both tablets take the display department easy. The Tab 3 8.0 features an 8-inch display, which packs a decent resolution of 1280×800 pixels. Although the pixel density of this display isn’t as high as you see on smartphones, it can still be deemed as average, given the standards on tablets of today. On the other hand, the Tab 3 7.0 comes with a 7-inch display which features a resolution of 1024×600 pixels. This is something which we would call lacklustre, since even domestic and Chinese manufacturers have been providing better-quality displays on their tablets.
The pixel density on the Tab 3 7.0 is rather low, and wouldn’t make for an enjoyable experience in most cases. However, users who want a no-nonsense productivity-only tablet might not have a problem with the same, because not only will it prove to be faster and snappier, but will also be more battery-efficient than displays with a higher pixel density.
Both tablets come with dual-core processors. While the Tab 3 7.0 features a 1.2 GHz dual core processor, the Tab 3 8.0 takes it up a notch and comes with a 1.5 GHz processor (Exynos 4212). On the RAM front, the Tab 3 8.0 again beats the 7 inch iteration with it’s 1.5GB of RAM standing against the 1GB on Tab 3 7.0.
Camera And Memory
Tablets have been known to be poor imaging devices. We don’t expect the Tab 3 series to be a revolution with regards to this either. The Tab 3 7.0 comes with a standard 3.15MP rear camera which should be an average performer. The front of the device sports a 1.3MP unit, which should suffice for most users since the major use of this unit would be during video calls.
On the other hand, the Tab 3 8.0 does a bit better with an upgraded 5MP unit on the rear as compared to the 3.15MP on the Tab 3 7.0.
As far as memory is concerned, it was expected for the costlier of the two to carry better storage. The Tab 3 7.0 comes in 8/16GB versions, while the Tab 3 8.0 comes in 16/32GB variants.
Battery And Features
The Tab 3 8.0 features an impressive 4450mAh battery, which should give you a nice amount of run time. You can expect a day’s usage, given that you have a smartphone for lesser tasks such as checking mail and the likes. This can be qualified as above average for a tablet of today. The Tab 3 7.0 inch on the other hand features a battery which holds a little over 10% lesser volume; 4000mAh. Given the smaller screen size and lesser pixels to fill up, you can expect the 7 inch version to last almost as long as the 8 inch version, might fall a little short at times, although.
Key Specs
| Model | Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 | Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 |
| Display | 7 inches, 1024x600p | 8 inches, 1280x800p |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz dual core | 1.5 GHz dual core |
| RAM, ROM | 1GB RAM, 8 GB ROM expandable up to 64GB | 1.5GB RAM, 16/32GB ROM expandable up 64GB |
| OS | Android v4.1 | Android v4.1 |
| Cameras | 3.15MP rear, 1.3MP front | 5MP rear, 1.3MP front |
| Battery | 4000mAh | 4450mAh |
| Price | 17,745 INR | 21,945-25,725 INR |
Conclusion
It can be said without any apprehensions that the Tab 3 8.0 wins this tablet war, that too by a margin. The few extra things the Tab 3 8.0 inch has in its arsenal, which the 7 incher does not are the bigger battery, RAM, processor and storage. Since there isn’t a huge margin between the prices of these two tablets, we’d suggest you go for the 8 inch version.
This would give you a much more productivity-centric device in your hands, all this while managing to deliver decent run times with regard to battery.
