Samsung super-sizes its Note smartphone to take on iPad

Samsung has launched a super-size version of its Galaxy Note smartphone, the latest salvo in its battle with Apple for the multibillion-euro handheld market.

The Galaxy Note 10.1, which went on sale in Germany and the United Arab Emirates this week, is almost twice as wide as its predecessor and nearly the size of a tablet.

The release comes as Samsung tries to make inroads in the tablet market, which is dominated by Apple’s iPad. The two tech giants are also engaged in a bitter court battle over patent infringements.