LG this morning has announced the already sort-of announced G Pad 8.3 Android tablet. It’ll be formally introduced this (next) week at the IFA conference in Berlin.
The G Pad has 8.3-inch display at 1920×1200 resolution (for 273 pixels per inch). That’s a little larger than our current favorite, the 2013 Nexus 7, but with a slightly lower pixels per inch — the new Nexus 7 is at 323 ppi.
Powered by a Snapdragon 600 processor at 1.7 GHz, with the nominal 2GB of RAM thrown in. It’s running Android 4.2.2 out of the box, and has a few of the features we’re liking the look of using the companion LG G2 smartphone — namely Knock On (for turning on the display without using the power button), Slide Aside and QSlide. It’s got a 4,600 mAh battery powering things.
The LG G2 a companion phone for a reason. The G Pad 8.3 will truly pair with it. When you receive a call or message on the phone, it can also appear at the same time on the paired tablet, as part of the QPair app. Same goes for notes. And this feature won’t be exclusive to LG devices — it’ll work on other Android phones and tablets running Jely Bean.
The G Pad 8.3 will be available in white or black. It’ll hit North America, Europe and Asia later this year, starting in the fourth quarter.
Below is the full press release from LG ..
SEOUL, Sep. 1, 2013 — LG Electronics (LG) today announced the LG G Pad 8.3 tablet, the latest addition to its G Series lineup of premium mobile devices. The all-new LG G Pad 8.3 boasts the first Full HD display on an 8-inch class tablet, a unique user-experience and wide range of connectivity features. Set to officially debut next week at the IFA 2013 trade show in Berlin, the LG G Pad 8.3 builds on the recent launch of the LG G2 superphone, reinforcing LG’s commitment to leadership in advanced mobile devices through its premium G Series products.
“Complementing our G Series smartphones, the introduction of the LG G Pad 8.3 further strengthens LG’s premium lineup consisting of our most cutting-edge devices,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our G Pad is just another example of LG delivering devices with the unique selling points consumers around the world will appreciate.”
Pocket-Sized Portability with Powerful Battery
Despite its large display, the LG G Pad 8.3 features a slim and sleek form factor that is comfortable enough to hold in one hand. Such compact portability is based on LG’s learning from consumers regarding the optimum size of a tablet. While maintaining its portability, the LG G Pad 8.3 squeezes in a powerful 4600mAh battery for long-lasting usage time but is still as light as a newspaper at just 338g.
First Full HD Display Tablet in 8-inch Class
Incorporating a key attribute of other premium G Series devices including the G Pro and G2 smartphones, the LG G Pad 8.3 is the first 8-inch class tablet to offer a Full HD display. The G Pad is equipped with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) display capable of delivering picture quality with even higher resolution than a standard Full HD display. In addition, the Qualcomm? Snapdragon™ 600 Processor with 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU enhances the viewing experience with powerful performance as users will be able to enjoy Full HD content without any compromise.
True Convergence Experience with QPair
The LG G Pad 8.3 meets the demanding requirements of the convergence age by improving connectivity between multiple devices. With the unique QPair app, every call and message received on a smartphone will appear on the G Pad for a true convergence experience. Users can then send simple replies through the LG G Pad 8.3. QPair also allows the G Pad to easily connect to other manufacturers’ smartphone and tablets (Jelly Bean OS recommended). Notes created on the G Pad’s QMemo can be seamlessly saved into users’ smartphones and shared from either device.
User Experience Maximized for a Tablet
The LG G Pad 8.3 offers practical features that provide real-life benefits, such as enhanced multitasking. Thanks to its 8.3-inch Full HD Display, user experience (UX) features unique to the LG G Pad 8.3 are maximized for the large screen:
Slide Aside enables seamless multitasking by simply “sliding” currently open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe
QSlide controls up to three different apps in one window with no interruption, especially convenient on a large screen
KnockON turns the device on and off by tapping the display twice
The LG G Pad 8.3 will be rolled out globally in key markets including North America, Europe and Asia as well as other regions starting in the fourth quarter of 2013. Prices will be announced at launch time.
Key Specifications:
Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm? Snapdragon™ 600 Processor
Display: 8.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels / 273 ppi)
Memory: 16GB eMMC
RAM: 2GB LPDDR2
Camera: Rear 5.0MP / Front 1.3MP
Battery: 4,600mAh
Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
Size: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm
Weight: 338g
Colors: Black / White
Really like the idea of an 8.3 inch tablet. Trying to squeeze as much screen space out of of the smaller dimensioned device is an admirable task. Very curious about this one, depending on price my Playbook may have finally found a successor…
I personally think that is the perfect size for a tablet. I hate larger tablets because I end up never taming then with me and as much as I like the Nexus 7 it’s just a tad too small. This G Pad sounds absolutely perfect!