Samsung’s Latest Tablet Targets the Youngins: GALAXY Tab 3 Kids

Given the sheer number of kids I’ve seen playing with their parents mobile devices, it’s clear that a device made for them has some serious potential. After all, what’s fun about the base iOS or Android interface? Not much. While it could be a bit fun for a child to get into your device’s settings to wreak havoc there, and potentially delete some data or make $100 purchases via in-app purchases, that’s not so much fun for the adult. Samsung has a solution, with its just-announced GALAXY Tab 3 Kids.

This isn’t the first time a tablet designed for kids has been launched, but it’s the first from a company that knows tablets through and through. Tab 3 Kids will launch with just a single model, sporting a 7-inch TFT display (1024×600), 8GB of storage (expandable to +32GB via microSD), 1GB of RAM, a 1.2GHz dual-core SoC (which, is not mentioned), 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, a 3 megapixel camera at front, 1.2 megapixel camera at rear, and Android 4.1 providing the OS duties.

The tablet’s interface has been fine-tuned for kids use, and some bundled software will make sure that kids have something to do right away. Bundled apps encapsulate games, educational, entertainment and eBook. As you might expect, parental controls are a big part of the Tab 3 Kids, with parents able to limit the amount of time the tablet can be used each day, and disable certain apps from being seen / loaded.

Included with the tablet also is an “easy-to-grip C pen”, which allows kids to use the pen on the tablet but not scuff-up a wall (a nice plus).

Currently, there is no pricing information on the Tab 3 Kids, and there’s no mention as to how apps will be loaded on the device (we’d assume it’s via the Play Store as normal, however). The tablet will first launch in Korea next month, with China, Europe, US, Africa, South America and South East Asia to follow shortly afterwards.