Samsung Galaxy Tab A making its way to the U.S. on May 1st for $230

Samsung has just unveiled some additional availability information for the budget-friendly Galaxy Tab A series tablets. Starting Friday, May 1st, the 8.0-inch Galaxy Tab A will be available in the U.S. for $229.99 and the 9.7-inch variant will be available for $299.99. Both sizes are available for pre-order from Samsung’s website starting today, and come May 1st, you’ll be able to order both tablet sizes from other retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and HH Gregg. The tablets will be available in Smoky Titanium, White and Smoky Blue. There will also be a 9.7-inch Smoky Titanium variant bundled with an S Pen available on May 17th for $349.99.

Additionally, both sizes are now available for purchase in Canada in White and Titanium color options. The tablet will be available online and in Samsung Experience Stores from today in the country, and the 9.7-inch version will automatically be bundled with an S Pen.

First announced in Russia, the Galaxy Tab A series aims to offer users a smooth tablet experience without breaking the bank. Both the 8.0-inch and 9.7-inch tablets have a 4:3 aspect ratio, a display resolution of 1024×768 pixels, and measure just 7.5mm thin. Both tablets have a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory with microSD card expansion up to 128GB, a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facing camera and a 4,200mAh battery. The 9.7 inch Galaxy Tab A also features two speakers at the bottom, while the 8-inch model only has one. Both tablets are also running Android 5.0 Lollipop.

For more availability information in Canada, check out the press release below. And if you’d like to pre-order the tablets in the United States, head to the source links at the bottom of this page.

[press] Samsung’s GALAXY Tab A is the Ultimate Family Solution

The GALAXY Tab A offers a better viewing experience and greater productivity at home or on-the-go

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 20th 2015 – Samsung Electronics Canada, one of the leading suppliers of mobile technology in Canada, today announced the introduction of the new GALAXY Tab A, the go-to tablet for your family’s digital needs, delivering a feature-packed experience that’s great for viewing content and getting things done on-the-go. Designed to meet the changing demands of the today’s family, the GALAXY Tab A keeps everyone connected to what matters most to them, while including the leading edge features they’ve come to expect from a powerful Samsung tablet.

“The technology needs of Canadian families are changing,” said Paul Brannen, Executive Vice President Mobile Solutions, Samsung Electronics Canada. “The GALAXY Tab A enables families to share one device while experiencing a high level of personalization and a better viewing experience, all in a portable form factor, at the right price. I truly believe that this is the ultimate family solution.”

Whether you’re creating, consuming or connecting, the GALAXY Tab A has what you need, all packed into a lighter and thinner form factor running the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop software. Perfectly portable, the GALAXY Tab A is designed to simplify Canadians’ lives. Whether it’s safely letting children experience the digital world in Kids Mode, or having the ability to read night-time stories with Reading Mode, this tablet is ideal for the whole family.

Family-Friendly Features:

The ultimate family solution: Affordable and accessible, the GALAXY Tab A can accommodate every family member. With the Multi-User feature, families can create up to six profiles on a single device so that everyone can enjoy the GALAXY Tab A with their own personalized experience. Thanks to Kids Mode, kids can more safely access kid-friendly content, while giving parents the peace of mind of knowing their own files are better protected.

Better viewing experience: With the Tab A’s awesome 4:3 screen ratio, content fills the screen and appears larger. This means reading your favourite Next Issue* publications, viewing videos, browsing, emailing and social networking has never looked better. Additionally, Reading Mode adjusts the screen colour and brightness to reduce eye fatigue, making it easy to read on your device in any light.

Productivity at home or on-the-go: The GALAXY Tab A offers access to Microsoft Office for Android (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the Multi-Window view allows for outstanding multitasking. If you’re on the go, Ultra Power Saving Mode extends the battery life by shutting down background apps. Additionally, the 9.7-inch Tab A comes with an S-Pen designed to make it easier to take notes, be creative and to select pictures, images, objects and text.

Product Availability: The GALAXY Tab A will be available from major retailers and at Samsung Experience Stores starting April 20th in either 8-inch or 9.7-inch (9.7 inch comes with S Pen) in White and Titanium. For more information check out: http://www.samsung.com/ca/galaxytaba.

Samsung GALAXY Tab A customers will receive a complimentary, three-month trial of Next Issue – Canada’s only all-you-can-read, digital subscription magazine service. In one easy-to-use tablet app, Next Issue delivers unlimited access to a comprehensive catalogue of more than 100 premium magazines including: Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Chatelaine, Time, FLARE, Vogue, GQ, People, Us Weekly, The New Yorker, Maclean’s, Esquire and HELLO! Canada, in addition to an extensive library of back issues. Beginning today, Next Issue also offers more than 20 Quebec-based French magazines. For more information, please visit www.nextissue.ca.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Canada inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances and printers. Samsung globally is a leader in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home initiative. In 2014, Samsung was ranked one of top 10 most influential brands in Canada, based on a study by Ipsos Reid. Committed to making a difference in communities across Canada, its Samsung Hope for Children corporate giving program supports children’s education, sustainability and health-related issues. Globally, Samsung employs 307,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of $196 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.[/press]