Samsung adds the bigger, heavier Galaxy Tab3 Lite to its 7-inch tablet line-up

There's no shortage of choice when it comes to 7-inch tablets, and Samsung is extending the selection even further with the release of the Galaxy Tab3 Lite. As you've probably discerned from the not-particularly-enigmatic name, this is a device closely based on the original Galaxy Tab3, albeit in a thinner lighter design. Or so you might think. Despite the name, the Tab3 Lite is not smaller in terms of dimensions or mass. In fact it is both larger and heavier than its predecessor. Here, 'Lite' refers to trimming back on the hardware spec.

Looked at in terms of size, it looks as though the Tab3 Lite has gained a little over the holiday period. The Lite model is more than 3mm wider, over 5mm taller and 10g heavier. The new device is 2mm thinner than the Tab3, but it is the other specs that make for interesting reading. A 2 Megapixel rear camera replaces the 3 Megapixel unit, while on the front you'll find that the camera has disappeared entirely.

This exercise in trimming the internal fat spares the screen and the processor which remain the same at 1024 x 600 and 1.2 GHz Dual Core respectively. This is backed up by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, and there's a Micro SD slot which adds support for up to 32GB of extra storage. Battery capacity is another victim of the cull, dropping from 4000mAh to 3600mAh.

In terms of connectivity, all of the usual suspects are present -- Wi-Fi b/g/n, 3G (HSPA+ 21/5.76) and Bluetooth 4.0, as well as GPS. Running Android 4.2 Jellybean, the Samsung Galaxy Tab3 Lite is available in a choice of black and white. There's no word on pricing or launch date as yet, but this looks to be Samsung's entry-level, budget 7-incher.