How does the new Samsung Galaxy Tab match up against its famed predecessor? What’s new? How do both of them rack up against the Galaxy Note 10.1?
These are just some of the questions that come to the mind while thinking of the new version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.
Samsung has released many versions of its famed tablet, the Galaxy Tab, but it is the 10.1-inch model that people really look up to. So when we stack these two offerings from Samsung, which one should come out on top? Lets see.
Display
Not much has changed when it comes to the screen. Samsung has stuck with the conventional 10.1-inch touchscreen. While the resolution is the same old 1280 x 800, there is a difference in screen type, where Samsung has made the switch from a TFT LCD to PLS TFT. What this means basically is that your graphics will be a tad bit better as a PLS TFT offers better viewing angles, brightness and better image quality. Its just not a big step ahead from the previous screen.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 has a 1280 x 800p WXGA screen, which seems surprisingly better than the Galaxy Tab 2.0
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note
Under the hood
This is where we are a tad bit disappointed. Samsung has managed to hang on to the 1 GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor from the previous tab. Seriously, in the times of Tegra 3 equipped tablets such as the new Asus Transformer, this is no less than a monstrosity from Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy Note comes with a gargantuan 1.4 GHz dual-core processor acing both Galaxy Tabs.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note
Camera
Here’s an unpleasant surprise. Samsung has downgraded the camera! Back in the day, the Samsun Galaxy Tab used to come with a 3-megapixel main snapper and a 2-megapixel front camera for video chatting. In the new Galaxy Tab, you get just a VGA camera for video chatting while the main camera is the same old 3-megapixel HD camera.
The Samsung Galaxy Note comes with a 2-megapixel front and a 3-megapixel back camera. Need we say more?
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note
Operating System (OS)
We have finally reached a place where it gets exciting. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 10.1–inch offers Ice Cream Sandwich out-of-the-box. We do remember it was its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, that really gave us a taste of Honeycomb OS. The Galaxy Tab 2.0 is certainly one to give a delicious frosty bite of the Ice Cream Sandwich OS while the Galaxy Note 10.1 also has the same.
Winner – Draw between Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note
Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy Tab has always been a stellar device when it comes to connectivity. Maintaining the same HSPA + 21 mbps connectivity, Bluetooth 3.0, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 doesn’t offer anything new.The Samsung Galaxy Note too offers the same.
Winner – Draw between Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note
Features
So far, so mediocre. But Samsung really needs a selling point for people to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, doesn’t it? Here it comes. Samsung has added many proprietary features to the Galaxy Tab 2.0 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. First up, Samsung Allshare play – this one is just like Motorola Webcast connectivity. It lets you surf through various devices, wirelessly using the Allshare connectivity.
Then there’s Samsung Chat On, which is something pretty similar to WhatsApp, but it comes directly from Samsung. An upgrade to the Samsung Kies – the Samsung Kies Air is also available. Rest all remain same as the previous tablet i.e. Android market, Polaris document editor etc.
Winner – Draw between Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab isn’t a big step up from the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, its just a minor update. We hope that at the very least, Samsung offers it at a competitive price. In case, there is a price hike, we would find it safer to stick to the original Galaxy Tab.
Coming to Samsung Galaxy Note, the question is not whether it is a good tablet or not but with a 10.1-inch screen, how viable does it remain as a phone?