Samsung ATIV Tab 3: Thinnest Windows 8 Tablet Comes with Office

Samsung is bolstering its family of ATIV devices with the newly announced ATIV Tab 3, which it claims to be the thinnest Windows 8 tablet on the market. Weighing just 1.2 pounds and measuring 0.32-inches thin, the ATIV Tab 3 is slightly more compact than Apple’s 0.37-inch 1.4 pound fourth generation iPad. When it ships in August, the Tab 3 will cost $699 and come with a keyboard folio case.

Powered by an Intel Atom Z2760 processor, the ATIV Tab 3 comes with 2GB of RAM, a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display and a 720p front-facing camera. Apple’s most recent iPad, however, comes with a sharper 2048 x 1538 9.7-inch touch screen display. Samsung promises that its Windows 8 tablet will boast up to 10 hours of battery life, and the slate comes with 64GB of internal storage space.

Additionally, the Tab 3 comes with SideSync support, just like other devices in Samsung’s ATIV line. This means you can sync the Tab 3 with your Samsung smartphone to run Android on its 10.1-inch display.

Most notably, the ATIV Tab 3 comes preloaded with Microsoft’s Office Home & Student productivity suite, which would otherwise cost $139.99. This news comes just after Microsoft announced at this year’s Computex that all smaller-sized Windows tablets will come with Office for free.

As Microsoft’s Windows 8 PC operating system makes its way to more lightweight, low-cost devices, Windows RT becomes less and less relevant. Samsung is one of several vendors including HP and Toshiba to have canceled plans to manufacture devices based on Microsoft’s ARM-only operating system. Samsung's ATIV Tab 3 is one of several new tablets to run Windows 8, along with Acer's 8-inch Iconia W3 slate-- which also comes with Office for free.  

Lisa Eadicicco
LAPTOP Staff Writer
Lisa has been reporting on all things mobile for Laptopmag.com since early 2013. When she’s not reviewing gadgets, she’s usually browsing patent databases or interviewing experts to track down the hottest tech trends before they even happen. Lisa holds a B.A. in Journalism from SUNY Purchase and has contributed to The International Business Times, The New York Daily News and Guitar World Magazine.