Planning an iPad Mini buy as holiday gift for the kids? Why not take a close look first on the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids, which could prove to be a certifiable dealbreaker due to its impressive kids-centric features.

The tablet is geared for a September landing in South Korea, according to Samsung, while release dates in the United States, Europe and other select markets should follow in phased mode, heading to the Tab 3 Kids' full availability by the peak shopping months of November and December 2013.

Why look beyond the popular Mini? The reasons stated below should clarify the big advantages of going for the Jelly Bean 4.1 slate.

Slightly higher specs for a kiddie tool

We know the basic iPad Mini prowess - a 1024 x 768 resolution on a 7.9-inch screen that is powered by an A5 dual-core CPU with direct taps on 512MB of RAM. Samsung's toy jumps a little higher with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processing chips that teams up with a 1GB of RAM, somehow ensuring that its performance is snappier compared to the Mini. On the display side, the kiddie Tab 3 sheds bits of numbers as the resolution of the 7-inch screen is 1024 x 600.

In terms of memory contest, however, the Mini commands a big lead that is parents would score the 64GB model, which easily overwhelms the 8GB Tab 3 Kids even with a 32GB memory card, the maximum capacity, on its microSD expansion slot.

Rugged build to withstand abuse

The images provided by Samsung showed off the device protected by a robust-looking tablet shell, which is complemented by Kids Case, designed for better grip on small hands and to absorb the impact of accidental falls. A variant of the same accessory also serves as a stand, which is very useful when the tablet is being utilised as an educational tool.

In comparison, the Mini's delicate appearance, even when wrapped in anodised aluminium, seems unable to prevent possible damages - cracked screen or scratches - in the aftermath of a nasty fall during normal use.

Educational and security features

Built for the kids, this Tab 3 variant offers applications and tools that are designed for children right out of the box. Aside from the pre-installed kiddie games, media apps and e-books, the device is configured to access Samsung's Kids Store, which the Galaxy maker said is portal that fuses the benefits of education and technology, all ready for the consumption of the young minds.

Parental control is also built-in with the Tab 3 Kids thanks to the Time Management and Application Manager app tools. The former allows the setting of a time frame that the device is usable to limit a child's use while the latter filters the applications that can be installed on the tablet, letting mom and dads to decide what applications reside and what not inside the gadget.

Lastly, the Kids Case mention above is "equipped with an easy-to-grip C Pen, providing fun drawing capabilities without the possibility of leaving marks on other objects," Samsung was reported by Engadget as saying.

No specific pricing was mentioned by Samsung for the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids release date next month though it is likely to replicate the $200 price tag of its closest sibling - the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.