Next Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 to have Intel chip

31 May 2013

Samsung is believed to be planning to switch from an ARM-based design for its next 10-inch Galaxy tablet to include an Intel processor instead.

According to Reuters, Samsung is planning to deploy Intel’s Clover Trail+ mobile chip in a forthcoming version of its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 device which will run Android.

Samsung currently uses Intel processors within its line of Microsoft Windows ATIV tablets, which will be revealed at a 20 June event in London.

The decision by Samsung signals a major coup by Intel, which is chomping at the bit to make its presence felt in the smartphone and tablet space, as well as notebook and ultrabook devices.

Last week, Intel CTO Justin Rattner told Siliconrepublic.com that Intel’s forthcoming Haswell chips will also add vim to the market for tablet/PC and ultrabook devices, which will be low energy and will give consumers the best of both tablet and PC worlds.

He said this will result in consumers examining the trade-offs between standalone tablets and their hybrid rivals.

In related news, Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer HTC has reportedly scrapped plans to launch a 12-inch tablet running Windows RT because the bill of materials for such a device would be too great.

Instead it is going to stay on course to bring out a 7-inch tablet device running Windows RT with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, according to Bloomberg.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com