AT&T has announced the new Samsung Galaxy View 2, a gigantic slab that's part Android tablet, part portable TV.
It's an iteration that many probably didn't expect to see, but at any rate, it's there for the users who want to watch on an easy-to-carry big screen.
Galaxy View 2 Goes Official
As AT&T confirmed to Engadget, the new Galaxy View 2 won't be as huge as its predecessor, sporting a 17.3-inch Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080, around 127 ppi). Under the hood, it has an Exynos 7884 chip, a midrange processor that packs 1.6 GHz and eight cores. It also comes with 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of native storage that's expandable by up to 400 GB via a microSD card, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls, and a 12,000 mAh battery to keep the lights on for hours on end.
The slate is equipped with a built-in cover that can be used as a kickstand to boot. Considering its size, it might be cumbersome to use as an Android tablet, but at the very least, the option is there. There are also four speakers with Dolby Atmos Sound to work with to make sure audio is clear.
Based on AT&T's ad, it's a handy way to access DirecTV, which is available at a tap of a button via TV Mode, and other streaming services. In addition, it has 4G LTE connectivity and the carrier's NumberSync feature that allows it to make calls and receive them.
As for the release date and price of the Galaxy View 2, it's set to hit the shelves on April 26 and cost $37 a month on a 20-month installment plan. That amounts to a total of $740.
Now the ginormous tablet likely isn't for everyone, except for those who value screen real estate above all else. That said, the Galaxy Tab S4 is always worth considering, especially now that it has received Android 9 Pie with Samsung's One UI a lower price tag of $650.
Galaxy View vs. Galaxy View 2
As mentioned earlier, it isn't as big as its predecessor the Galaxy View, which measures at 18.4 inches. Released back in 2015, it has the same Full HD display and built-in kickstand. It's powered by an Exynos 7580 processor, 2 GB of RAM, and a 5,700 mAh battery.
It comes in 32 GB or 64 GB variants with a dedicated microSD slot that supports up to 256 GB of capacity. Its camera also boasts 2.1 megapixels. It's priced at $600, making it the more affordable of the two.
In other words, the new Galaxy View 2 is more portable and more powerful, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise since this refresh is rolling out after a couple of years since the original. It's also a tad more expensive.
Not A Big Surprise
Back in August, Samsung has already been rumored to be working on a new Galaxy View. At the time, it was also said to make the iteration more compact, which falls in line with the specs of the Galaxy View 2.
