Although I bought this for my wife as a birthday present during
pre-release sales in NYC, I've since used it far more extensively than
her so I've purchased a second Tab 10.1 from Amazon for myself. As a
background, I also have a good amount of experience using a Motorola
Xoom (none with the other Android tablets though) and an iPad 2.
Anyway, here are my thoughts comparing the Tab 10.1 with the iPad 2. I
won't do a comparison with the Motorola Xoom (which, as of writing this
review, is the Tab 10.1's major Android competitor) as the two products
are really similar. I'll leave the Xoom/Tab 10.1 decision to you. Here
are my thoughts:
Operating System/Interface/Web Browsing - Slight edge to the Tab
10.1 running Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). This may just be more of a
personal preference as I don't like products (like the iPad 2) which are
locked down. I feel a company has no right to tell a consumer how
he/she is allowed to use a product (as Apple does with theirs). Anyway,
Android 3.1 OS is blazing fast and going along with the Android Open
Source Project's philosophy, the OS and by rote, the Tab 10.1, is
ultimately configurable. Out of the box, you can easily personalize an
Android 3.1 tablet any way you want, and if you can't, there is free
software out there to let you do it -- there is no hacking/jailbreaking
required. The Tab 10.1's interface is also a lot cleaner than the iPad
2's which can get downright cluttered the more apps you have installed.
I'll also note that there doesn't seem to be a discernible difference
in the actual speed/performance (loading pages, etc) of the two
products. So, we're pretty even so far, but Tab 10.1 clearly gets the
edge for one thing -- Flash. Enough said.
Battery life - Strong edge to iPad 2. Both the Tab 10.1 and the
iPad 2 are rated for 10 hours. Keeping the screen at about 75% max
brightness, I seem to get between about 7 to 8 hours on the Tab 10.1 and
9 to 10 hours on an iPad 2. This may be a result of the screen
brightness as I've noticed the Tab 10.1 has a slightly brighter screen
at 100% than the iPad 2. Regardless, the iPad 2 has better battery
life.
Resolution/Screen - Strong edge to the Tab 10.1's 1280×800 screen vs
the iPad 2's 1024x768 one. If you think this is negligible, you are
very wrong. This means the Galaxy Tab 10.1 screen has a 30% greater
resolution than the iPad 2. You'll notice this difference in every
thing you do -- not just when watching movies and photos. The increased
resolution causes much less eye strain especially when reading
webpages. Additionally, the Tab 10.1's widescreen aspect ratio seems to
work a lot better for watching anything in HD. It's a shame the iPad 2
uses the dying 4:3 aspect ratio as there is a lot of wasted real estate
on the screen in the form of black bars when watching anything in
widescreen. With the Tab 10.1, the screen is entirely filled with
video.
Cameras - Strong edge to the Tab 10.1. The Tab 10.1 blows the iPad 2
out of the water here and it's not even close. The Tab has a
front-facing 2.0 megapixel (vs iPad 2's 0.3 megapixel) camera and
rear-facing 3.0 megapixel (vs iPad 2's 0.7 megapixel) camera. Sure,
you're never going to replace your P&S/SLR/video camera with a
tablet, but it is nice to have a camera on there that can take a decent
picture/video when you're in a pinch.
Portability - Even. The Tab 10.1 is a negligible 0.03 lbs lighter and 0.2mm thinner than the iPad 2.
Cachet - Strong edge to the iPad 2. Apple has a monopoly on this,
it seems. Apple is just the trendier product. Odds are nobody will
look at a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and think "Wow, that looks really nice. I
need to get me one of those." I'm not saying the Tab 10.1 is ugly, but
the brushed metal finish on the iPad does feel and look a bit nicer.
Price - Even. I'm really surprised Samsung didn't undercut the iPad 2 prices, even by $50.
Is this the iPad 2 killer as has been reported here and there in the
media? Honestly, no, but that's more because most Apple consumers
purchasing iPad 2s are brand loyal -- not necessarily looking to buy the
best product. I really wish I could rate the Tab 10.1 with 4.5 stars.
For reference, if I were to write a review of an iPad 2, I would give
it a 4 stars. Giving the Tab 10.1 5 stars seems a bit too generous as I
feel the lack of an SD slot and slight plasticky feel are noticeable
drawbacks, as is the price (which isn't lower than an iPad 2 with the
same amount of memory). And giving the Tab 10.1 4 stars seems a
disservice as I feel that it is ultimately an outstanding tablet and, in
my opinion, definitely has an edge over the iPad 2.
Amazon Verified PurchaseBy M. Patel
This review is from:
Discover the next generation of portable entertainment with the thin,
light, and powerful Samsung WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch. Showcasing a
10.1-inch widescreen HD display and a dual-core processor for stunning
detail and speed, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 delivers sharper movies, better
game graphics, and crystal-clear video chats. Surf the web in its full
glory with Adobe Flash compatibility and WiFi and Bluetooth
connectivity. The Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS provides open access to over
200,000 Android Market apps, giving you the freedom to customize your
Tab however you please. At 1.25 pounds, this sleek, 0.34-inch-thick
tablet is designed for premium mobile computing around the house and on
the go
Dual-Core Processor Provides Speed and Power
A
dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 1 GB of RAM deliver lightning-fast speed
whether you're surfing the web, watching HD video, or playing the
latest games. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also features Adobe Flash
compatibility, allowing you to experience unrestricted browsing on
millions of web pages. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, the
Galaxy offers endurance as well as power.
The Galaxy supports
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1 connections. A 30-pin IF
connector and USB 2.0 compatibility offer easy file transfer and
charging.
Slim, lightweight body is designed for easy grip and portability. View larger.
This version of the Galaxy Tab offers 16 GB of onboard memory. For additional memory storage, Samsung also offers the
32 GB Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Light, Sleek Body with HD Display
Enjoy
your media in beautiful clarity thanks to the Galaxy's 10.1-inch
widescreen display with 1280-by-800-pixel high-definition resolution.
At
1.25 pounds, the Galaxy Tab is remarkably light. Measuring 10.1 by 6.9
by 0.34 inches (H x W x D), this easy-to-grip tablet is designed to fit
comfortably in your hand and travel with ease.
Access to Android Market for Full Customization
The
Galaxy Tab 10.1 features the Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system,
which offers exceptional speed and power for immersive web browsing and
multitasking. With open access to Android Market--the fastest growing
app market--over 200,000 apps are only a touch away, giving you the
freedom to customize your tablet for all of your web and entertainment
needs.
Intuitive Android OS Designed for Multitasking
Since
Android 3.1 is designed specifically for tablets, computing is visual,
fluid, and intuitive, making multitasking a breeze. The Quick App Tray
can float above other applications, keeping important tasks at your
fingertips, while multiscreen scrolling allows you to view up to five
screens at the same time. The system's enhanced browser includes tabbed
pages, form auto-fill, bookmark syncing with Google Chrome, and private
browsing.
Integrated Google Services
Android
3.1 also features key Google services that you can easily access through
convenient apps on your home screen. Use Google Maps with the Galaxy
Tab's built-in GPS to point out your current location, search for
businesses and addresses, and get directions. View your Gmail inbox and
conversations side by side, and drop Gmail widgets on your home screen
to stay on top of all your accounts. The mobile YouTube app provides a
simple way to search, browse, and watch videos on your mobile device,
while Google Talk lets you swap between multiple chats at a time, search
your chat history, and see previews of videos and images within
conversations or video chat.
Back- and Front-Facing Cameras
The
Galaxy Tab 10.1 is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera for snapping
crisp pictures and capturing 720p video. It also features a 2-megapixel
front-facing camera for Google Talk video chat. You can share Tab
content on your HDTV through the Tablet Extender feature, or stream it
wirelessly with Allshare.
Compatible with Popular Media Formats
Designed
to handle all of your portable entertainment needs, the Galaxy Tab 10.1
is compatible with major audio, video, and image file formats, letting
you enjoy all of your media whenever and wherever you please. Stay
entertained with Samsung's music and media hubs, where it's easy to
purchase a wide range of content, including music, books, and magazines.
Security Suite Ideal for Business Use
The Galaxy
Tab 10.1 is compatible with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files,
making it ideal for handling your business needs as well as your
entertainment. An enterprise-friendly tablet, the Galaxy Tab includes a
suite of security solutions. Relationships with SAP, Exchange
ActiveSync, Cisco AnyConnect, Sybase, and Cisco WebEx make it possible
to operate efficiently, confidently, and securely.
The Samsung WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch is backed by a limited one-year warranty.
- 10.1-inch HD widescreen display offers high resolution
- 1.25 pounds and 0.34 inches thick for maximum portability
- Adobe Flash compatible for unrestricted web browsing
- Android 3.1 OS with open access to over 200,000 apps for full customization
- Dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM provide power and speed
- 3-megapixel camera and camcorder; front-facing video chat camera
- Compatible with a wide spectrum of Google services, media, and document files
- Limited one-year warranty
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