Samsung is set to release its Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 this summer coinciding with the imminent launch of iPad Mini 2.

Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 will come in both Wi-Fi and 3G versions with the former expected to launch mid-June followed by the latter sometime during early July.

The latest details come from the Sam Mobile, who is usually right about Samsung things, which indicated that the devices with the 'SM' prefix will be a part of the Galaxy Tab 3 range of devices. The insider says both the versions, SM-T3100 (3G version of the 16GB Galaxy Tab 3) and SM-T3110 (Wi-Fi version) will come in white.

"This morning RBmen (Dutch Blog) posted a list of SM devices they found on Samsung's service page. The codes: SM-T210、SMT210R、SM-T210X、SM-T211、SM-T215、SM-T310、SM-T310、SM-T310X、SM-T311、SM-T312 and SM-T315 are visible on Samsung's own website," Sam Mobile reports. These model numbers appeared on Samsung Japan's download support page in the tablet section.

Tab 3 8.0 is expected to be priced around $149, which places the device in the most affordable tablet category. Both the devices will ship with 16GBs of internal memory. Tech analysts are already considering the device a direct competitor to the upcoming iPad 5 and iPad mini 2.

According to reports, iPad Mini 2 will feature a screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This is almost four times the resolution of the present iPad Mini and is equal to the fourth generation iPad which was released along with the iPad Mini last year. AU Optronics has been rumoured to be making displays for the iPad Mini 2.

Other specs include a more powerful dual core A7 processor and a 7.9 inch screen. It will also feature a 10-hour battery life, a FaceTime HD camera, and an iSight camera with 1080 pixels HD video recording. Apple is also trying to reduce the thickness of the iPad Mini 2 by using the Sharp's IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) technology in its screens.