Samsung has just quietly introduced while at a press event in Russia a new series of mid-range tablets called Galaxy Tab A. They'll be available in 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants, with the displays offering a unique Nexus 9-like ratio of 4:3.

Some reports have claimed the Galaxy Tab A series will succeed the Galaxy Tab 4, with the name change likely being due to Samsung simplifying its product range. The new Galaxy Tab A series has tablets starting at $276 (converts to £187). They each have a metallic design, as well as support for wireless charging, suggesting Samsung wants to cater to consumers demands with premium materials and innovative technologies.

As for hardware specifications, the Galaxy Tab A series has displays with a resolution of 1,024x768. They also feature a 1.2GHz Cortex A53 CPU (some reports have said it is a Snapdragon 410), 5MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 1.5GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and microSD card slot support. The 8-inch version also has a 4,200mAh battery, while the 9.7 inch version has a 6,000 mAh battery.

The 8-inch and 9.7-inch Tab A, which are available with Wi-Fi or LTE, have a thickness of 7.5mm. They will go on sale in Russia next month, with the 9.7-inch version costing upward of 20,990 rubles (converts to $341/£231). We're not yet sure when they'll land in other global markets.

More details should be revealed in the coming weeks.