Samsung announced its biggest phablet to date, the new Galaxy W, which is actually more like a tablet that can make calls.
With a 7-inch display, the new Samsung Galaxy W can't really be seen as a phablet, yet the device is able to make calls just like a phone. Moreover, the Galaxy W comes with LTE-A connectivity for blazing-fast 4G speeds.
The new Samsung Galaxy W is only set to launch in South Korea for now, sporting a massive 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. In terms of design, the device borrows the same faux-leather back plate as the Galaxy Note 3. Color options include black, white, or red paint jobs. In addition to the faux-leather style, the Galaxy W also borrows some software features from the Galaxy Note 3, including pop-up videos, split-screen effects, and other multi-tasking solutions for handling two apps side-by-side.
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy W packs a quad-core processor (unspecified) clocked at 1.2GHz and paired with 1.5GB of RAM. The device further comes with 16GB of storage, a micro SD card slot for additional memory of up to 64GB, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front shooter. A large 3,200 mAh battery will keep things up and running.
When it comes to operating system, the new Samsung Galaxy W comes with the older Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on board, which is definitely a drawback compared to the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat found on the company's latest devices.
In terms of pricing, the Samsung Galaxy W will launch for 499,400 won (about $490) without a contract. As previously mentioned, the device will only be available in South Korea at this point, through telecom operator SK Telecom. It remains unclear for now whether Samsung plans to expand the Galaxy W's availability to more markets in the future. The company may well decide to keep this device exclusive to Korea, the land of phablets.
All in all, one thing's for sure: with a whopping 7-inch display, the new Samsung Galaxy W is the company's largest phablet to date and many will likely see it as a tablet, although Samsung markets it as a phone.
