After seeing the reportedly new specs of the Galaxy Note 10.1 Android tablet yesterday, and after hearing earlier today that the device is already available for pre-order from Negri Electronics, we’re now going to share with you more details about the device’s launch in China.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 is going to be available in Hong Kong starting next week, according to Yonhap News. Samsung officials have confirmed the news, and we also have an actual launch date, October 9.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 with S Pen support is seen to be an ideal tablet of choice for Chinese buyers, as they would have the ability of “easily input[ing] text by drawing Chinese characters” using the stylus. The tablet is going to be Samsung’s main weapon against Apple’s third-generation iPad, although it’s too early to say whether the Galaxy Note 10.1 will become at least as popular as the original 5.3-inch Galaxy Note phablet.

What we’re more interested in are global availability dates for the tablet, but since Samsung officials confirmed the Hong Kong release date we expect the device to soon be launched in other markets.

In fact, we expect Samsung to dedicate at least one of its two upcoming media events to the Galaxy Note 10.1, and since the Galaxy Note 2 has been confirmed to be unveiled on August 29, we expect more Galaxy Note 10.1 official news to be available on August 15.

NEXT: 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phablet coming on August 15, release date not available yet

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 pre-orders canceled, release date and specs again uncertain Galaxy Note for T-Mobile now listed as “coming soon”, August 8 still the most likely release date