Samsung Galaxy View is official: An 18.4-inch tablet aimed at content consumption
If you want a large tablet for viewing online media, Samsung has one. On Wednesday, the company officially unveiled the Galaxy View, an 18.4-inch Android slate.
While the Galaxy View could be used just as easily for productivity apps, Samsung's focus is on consumption based on its news release titled "Samsung Galaxy View Offers a New Dimension in Mobile Entertainment Experience."
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Indeed, even the Galaxy View homescreen caters to video, showing off various content providers such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Watch ESPN and other apps. Samsung also included stereo speakers in the large tablet for more immersive audio quality.
Of course, the Galaxy View runs Google Android -- version 5.1 -- so it works with nearly any app in the Google Play Store. If you want to play online poker, surf the web, manage email and more, you can certainly do so on the large screen.
Inside the Galaxy View are the guts of what you'd find in most Android devices.
A 1.6 GHz octo-core processor, 2 GB of memory and either 32 or 64 GB of internal storage are included as well is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; Samsung will also offer an LTE version.
Although the display is large, it's a 1920 x 1080 resolution display, so it doesn't have as high a pixel density as many flagship Android phones, including those from Samsung.
Still, it should be more than adequate for its primary purpose and runs for 8 hours on a charge.
As previously reported, the tablet's stand does have a handle for easy transport, although I don't see people carrying the 2.65 kilogram Galaxy View beyond several rooms in their home.
Essentially, the company has built an internet-connected, touchscreen television set with ability to run mobile apps. Will it take off? I'm leery, mainly because people tend to have enough screens in their house already.