Has the definitive Android tablet arrived?
As they say, imitation is the purest form of flattery, and the Samsung has drawn much of its inspiration for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from its biggest competitors. Combining the impressive specs and features of the Motorola Xoom and the sleek and slim form factor of the Apple iPad 2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1offers a solid balance between form and function, and at a competitive price. Though certainly not without its flaws, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has the potential to be one of more successful Android tablets.
Unlike other Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 strikes a great balance between stylish industrial design and technological prowess.
At just 8.6mms thin, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 takes on and surpasses the iPad 2's ultra-slim design, which measures at 8.8mms. Additionally, the overall weight of the unit is roughly 1.25 pounds; also just shy of the iPad 2's 1.33 pound design. While the size and weight differences between the iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 are difficult to discern, they do make the Galaxy Tab 10.1 stand out against other Android tablets, which generally feature bulkier, more simplified designs.
In terms of aesthetics, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 features tri-tone plastic casing, with black framing along the screen, silver trim on the edges, and either a black or white back panel.
Though the aluminum unibody casing used in the iPad 2 looks and feels better, the Galaxy Tab 10.1's plastic body looks decent and ultimately allowed Samsung to reduce the overall weight.
Like most Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 sports a widescreen aspect ratio display, which has a 1280x800 resolution WXGA TFT screen. While the Galaxy Tab 10.1 struggles at wider viewing angles, it has great color representation and displays incredible amount of detail.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, the same found in the Motorola Xoom, which allows it to tackle multitasking with ease and run large, complex apps to run smoothly. Menu navigation is also responsive and app loads are almost instantaneous.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is running Android 3.1, the latest version of Google's tablet-specific mobile OS, which is near-identical to the one found on the Motorola Xoom. Compared to the original Galaxy Tab, which ran on a tweaked version of Google's smartphone Android OS, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a far more intuitive and fluid user experience.
Unfortunately, however, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 suffers from the fact that the range of tablet-specific apps on the Android Marketplace is still extremely limited. Though it is steadily expanding, there are a lack of exceptional exclusive apps. In fact, most of the most popular apps are those which can also be found on iOS, like Pulse, Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, etc. While some are identical to the iOS version, others have a clunkier, less intuitive interface.
But the Galaxy Tab 10.1 also has some issues in terms of hardware. Though it rivals the Motorola Xoom and other competing tablets with many of its components, it lacks some common features, like support for expandable SD storage and direct HDMI output. Fortunately, Samsung has addressed the need for HDMI output with an optional adapter, the inability to expand upon the 16GB or 32GBs built-in storage on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 could be problematic for users in need of additional space. Of course, the iPad also lacks expandable memory, but it also has the benefit of data and media management via iTunes, allowing users to quickly and efficiently remove and replace data.
Then, of course, there are the built-in front- and rear-facing cameras, which are the 2-megapixels and 3-megapixels, respectively. The quality of the cameras is better than the iPad 2, which is not exactly a difficult feat, but they are still inferior to smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras.
The most compelling aspect of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is its price, which is intended to compete with the iPad 2, at $499.99 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model. There is also a 32GB variation, which costs $599.99. Unfortunately, unlike the iPad 2, there isn't a 64GB variation, which when paired with the fact that there is no SD card expansion, is somewhat limiting. Pricing for 3G-enabled versions has also not been announced.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, the same found in the Motorola Xoom, which allows it to tackle multitasking with ease and run large, complex apps to run smoothly. Menu navigation is also responsive and app loads are almost instantaneous.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is running Android 3.1, the latest version of Google's tablet-specific mobile OS, which is near-identical to the one found on the Motorola Xoom. Compared to the original Galaxy Tab, which ran on a tweaked version of Google's smartphone Android OS, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a far more intuitive and fluid user experience.
Unfortunately, however, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 suffers from the fact that the range of tablet-specific apps on the Android Marketplace is still extremely limited. Though it is steadily expanding, there are a lack of exceptional exclusive apps. In fact, most of the most popular apps are those which can also be found on iOS, like Pulse, Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, etc. While some are identical to the iOS version, others have a clunkier, less intuitive interface.
But the Galaxy Tab 10.1 also has some issues in terms of hardware. Though it rivals the Motorola Xoom and other competing tablets with many of its components, it lacks some common features, like support for expandable SD storage and direct HDMI output. Fortunately, Samsung has addressed the need for HDMI output with an optional adapter, the inability to expand upon the 16GB or 32GBs built-in storage on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 could be problematic for users in need of additional space. Of course, the iPad also lacks expandable memory, but it also has the benefit of data and media management via iTunes, allowing users to quickly and efficiently remove and replace data.
Then, of course, there are the built-in front- and rear-facing cameras, which are the 2-megapixels and 3-megapixels, respectively. The quality of the cameras is better than the iPad 2, which is not exactly a difficult feat, but they are still inferior to smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras.
The most compelling aspect of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is its price, which is intended to compete with the iPad 2, at $499.99 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model. There is also a 32GB variation, which costs $599.99. Unfortunately, unlike the iPad 2, there isn't a 64GB variation, which when paired with the fact that there is no SD card expansion, is somewhat limiting. Pricing for 3G-enabled versions has also not been announced.
Check out the Samsung Review
No comments:
Post a Comment
Blast away! I'm all ears. SPAM me and it gets erased. :)