Tablet screen choice overkill: Samsung's 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 vs. 8-inch version

Samsung on Monday touted its Galaxy Tab 3 line and the ability to have a size for every technology buyer. The problem: It's not clear that the tablet buyer will really care about a 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 and an 8-inch one.

The Galaxy Tab 3 family, available in the U.S. July 7, comes in three flavors---7 inch, 8 inch and 10.1 inch. I question that intermediate step in screen size. Is there a market of folks who really care about that extra inch of screen or is Samsung having trouble making a decision.

Samsung's strategy is to have screen sizes for everyone. The Galaxy S4 smartphone is huge. So Samsung now has a smaller version. From the phone to the TV, Samsung hits those sizes.

The issue here is that at some point, the screen as competitive advantage strategy will wear thin. Samsung noted that the "Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio has something for everyone." Perhaps Samsung is just throwing screens against the wall to see what sticks.

For its part, Samsung's marketers are already struggling with the distinction between the 7- and 8-inch screens. From Samsung's release:

The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is aimed at consumers who are in the market to purchase a portable tablet with all the features and reliability they need to stay connected throughout their daily activities. Built for portability, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 allows users to consume and manage content on-the-go. It is compact enough to easily slide into handbags or a jacket pocket so that consumers on-the-go will appreciate its compact size and lightweight design.

The premium Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 product is thin, lightweight, feature-packed and powerful, making it the ideal portable tablet for on-the-go performance. With Samsung’s built-in Reading Mode, the Tab 3 8.0 is the perfect e-reader-sized tablet.

So how do you decide between the 8-inch perfect e-reader sized tablet and the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 one that slides into handbags easily? Here's how: You flip a coin.