Samsung Galaxy Tab Review – Don’t Buy Until You Read Our Guide!

Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 11:19 am

The Samsung Galaxy Tab has been touted as a true rival to the Apple iPad. The tablet is running the most recent version of the Google Android OS, which has been steadily growing in popularity, and it has a good many benefits in its favor. It’s a significant upgrade on the latest generation of Galaxy tablet, but can it really give the ubiquitous iPad a run for its money?

Samsung Galaxy Tablet – Specifications

* Cost: $500-$600
* Release date: 2011
* OS: Android 3.1 Honeycomb
* Size: 0.3 x 6.9 x 10.1 inches
* Weight: 1.2 lb./ 0.54 kg
* Display size: 10.1 inch
* Resultion: 1280×800
* 16GB or 32 GB storage options
* CPU: NVidia Tegra 2 Dual 1 GHz
* 3G/4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
* Cameras: 3MP and 2MP
* Battery life: 10 hours

Samsung Galaxy Tab – Good Points

Battery Life: The advertised battery life on this tablet is 10 hours, putting the Samsung Galaxy Tab firmly at the upper end of the scale and very close to the iPad 2. 10 hours is more than enough time to keep you entertained while travelling on long journeys and connected while you’re out and about – of course, you need to remember that watching movies or other draining activities will use up the battery faster – as with any other tablet, or smartphone.

3G/ 4G Connection: Just released in a 3G and superfast 4G version, to ensure you are connected whereever you go. If you don’t need to be constantly connected, the WiFi Only version is available at a cost saving.

The advantage of 4G is a much quicker connection than traditional 3G, meaning you can download movies and music on the go without having to wait for hours or connect via WiFi. 4G is currently available in about a third of the US, and is being rolled out to more locations daily.

Cameras: The Galaxy Tab comes with both a front-facing and rear-facing camera. The front one is designed for video chats over the internet, and the 2MP resolution is more than enough to give a reasonable picture for this. On the rear of the tablet there’s a 3MP camera ideal for taking photos or recording video in HD. While this won’t measure up to your dedicated digital camera, it’s great for capturing images on the move.

Design: The Galaxy has no real rival in terms of its size and weight. The screen is larger than the iPad 2 and has a better resolution, but the tablet actually comes in lighter than its rivals – not a huge difference on paper, but it’s very noticeable when you’re holding the tablet for an extended period. The look is also very sleek.

Storage: You can buy the 16gb or 32gb version of the tablet, which should be more than enough for most users. Some may be disappointed that there is no 64gb version available (as per the iPad) but the smaller option is reflected in the price.

Samsung Accessories: Already there are hundreds of accessories being produced for this tablet, which has become a best-seller amongst Android tablets. The bigger the number of buyers, the more accessories will be manufactured. You’re not just stuck with Samsung branded stuff either, there are dozens of third-party offerings.

If you do want an official accessory though, there’s plenty to choose from, including the Samsung Dock, which makes typing even easier than with the on screen keyboard.

Flash Support: Farmville players rejoice! The Galaxy, unlike the iPad 2, can handle Flash just fine. It renders excellently on any websites that have Flash videos, games or other apps.

Samsung Galaxy Tab – Bad Points

The Keyboard: There’s a been a fair amount of grumbling about the on screen keyboard on this and older Galaxy versions. Compared to the responsiveness of the iPad keyboard, it can feel a little cramped and slow. Not good news if you plan to do a lot of typing on the unit, however there is a very easy and free fix! Just go into the Settings menu and switch to “Android Keyboard” – you’ll find this works a lot more smoothly.

No SD Slot: Considering older versions of this tablet came with an SD slot, it’s a bit strange that this version doesn’t. This means there’s no option to increase your memory – once the tablet is maxed out, you’ll have to take something off in order to put something new on. It also means you can’t transfer files via a memory card.

Given that the iPad 2 has the exact same issues, but that both of these tablets are consistently best sellers in their class, this drawback clearly doesn’t matter much to the majority of users.

Design: Some users have complained that the Galaxy feels a little plastic. Doubtless this is a factor in keeping the weight of the tablet down. It’s a tradeoff between weight and looks – and while user comfort is important, the iPad 2 has proved that you also need to be competing on style.

Conclusion

So, is the Samsung Galaxy Tab a true rival to the ipad 2? The answer to that is not definite either way. In terms of its specs it doesn’t have any real major advantages over the iPad, although if Flash is important to you, then that may be a deciding factor. The price is very close to the iPad when comparing like for like on storage. It looks good, if not quite as stylish as the iPad, and performs very well. Your decision may largely rest on whether you prefer the Android OS to Apple’s iOS. One thing for definite: the Galaxy Tab is intent on competing with the iPad and is taking no prisoners!