Update: A few errors wehere made in this article. My fault, sorry everyone. While getting my information from a number of different sites, I must have got a little confused. The 8.9 indeed comes with the Bluetooth 3.0 and the Tab 10.1 with 2.1, even though that doesn’t make any sense. Also the new 10.1 and 8.9 have a 3 megapixel camera, the older 10.1 still has the 8mp shooter packed inside. MicroSd slot is also included on the new models, whereas the old, it is not.
Like clockwork, Samsung have held their Unpacked event at CTIA and as expected have announced the newest member to the Tab family, the Tab 8.9. However a little surprise was also in store, a redesigned Tab 10.1, shrinking it’s existing 10.9mm frame down to an impressive 8.6mm. That’s thinner then the new iPad 2 – it seems as though Samsung really meant what they said. Everything else about the 10.1 is the same, except Samsung have now said that it will launch with the new version of TouchWiz – version 4.0 – which by early accounts doesn’t look to bad.
Getting to the new Tab 8.9, we basically see the same thing in a smaller package, except for the Bluetooth stack: the Tab 8.9 will have Bluetooth 2.1, whereas the Tab 10.1 will have Bluetooth 3.0. Both devices measure the same 8.6mm thick, and feature the same processor, camera and normal internals. They are both being shipped in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G versions. Pricing starts at $469 USD for the 8.9 16GB version up to $599 USD for the 10.1 32GB version. The 10.1 is due to ship early June, whereas the 8.9 early Winter. Now pricing or availability has been made available for Australia as yet.
On that note, the “Limited Edition” Vodafone version that was announced this morning, is the older 10.9mm version. It seems it’s only being called “Limited Edition” because it is just that; it’s the old version, Samsung are only looking towards selling the newer 8.9mm version, so it makes sense that the Vodafone one is limited. Other than the thickness, the internals are still the same and the Tab 10.1 is due to release mid-April. Hit the break for the specs.
