Samsung has released a number of tablets over the past two years, from the original 10.0, 7.8, 7 inch, we now have the 10.1 2 which is said to be the “replacement tablet for the 10.1”, but with Samsung releasing so many tablets back to back, will we be able to really see a difference?
Design
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) is slightly thicker and lighter than then Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (9.7 mm/ 0.38” vs. 8.6 mm/0.33”) I like its design better, mainly because the matte silver finish on the backside makes it more elegant, larger and front facing speaker grills, positioned on the edges and close to the top of the display, larger and front facing speaker, positioned on the edges and close to the top of the tablet, having the speakers on the front actually helps with the audio, when the speakers were on the back, sound was muffled due to me having my hands covering the speakers while holding it.
Camera is positioned on the back of the tablet. There is a microSD Card slot is located on the top of the tablet right next to the volume power button along with the 3.5mm headset jack port. On the bottom edge, the only thing we find is the proprietary charging/data port and the microphone.
Display
You have to give it Samsung they’re one of the top providers of LCD panels. Compared to the iPad 3 at maximum brightness, the Galaxy Tab 2 has a comparable quality, although it is a little more reflective. Both have a similar footprint (9.7? and 10.1?) but the latest iPad (gen 3) has a higher pixel density since it has a much higher resolution (2048×1536 vs. 1280×800). Now when compared to the previous Galaxy Tab 10.1, at maximum brightness, the Tab 2 display offers a similar image quality. In direct sunlight, the Galaxy Tab 2 is still readable.
Virtual Keyboard w/ Handwriting recognition
Keyboard, available by default, has been updated and it is slightly different than the one running on Android 3.2 in the previous Galaxy Tab 10.1 model. The difference is the handwriting recognition capability, a great feature that has been developed for the Samsung Galaxy Note. To switch from typing to handwriting, you simply have to hit the key with a T and a pen. This feature is also accessible from the S-Memo application where you can mix drawings with text, photos and videos, just like in the Galaxy Note.
I find it much easier and faster to use the Handwriting recognition, especially when you are in a rush. In the 10.1 model, you had the choice between the custom keyboard from Samsung or the Android one. The 10.1 2, only has Samsung keyboard available and you can switch on and off the Google Voice typing feature from the Settings. When activated, Google Voice typing is accessible directly from the key with the microphone icon.
Hardware
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 runs a 1Ghz dual-core processor which is now a regular for tablets. This processor is similar to the 1GHz dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 that powers the previous Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It has same perceived performance as the Galaxy Tab 10.1” from last year. 10.1 2 comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the enhanced Samsung TouchWIZ interface. Not a big difference from the original.
Samsung also has Mini Apps they are available across the OS from the bottom sliding navigation bar and they can run on top of any other application, no need to switch from one to the other. The Pen Memo app has been replaced by a quick access to your email. An Alarm clock and a World Clock have been added
Samsung Mini Apps are very convenient because they are available across the OS from the bottom sliding navigation bar and they can run on top of any other application, no need to switch from one to the other. The Pen Memo app has been replaced by a quick access to your email. An Alarm clock and a World Clock have been added. Mini Apps include: Alarm Clock, Calculator, Email, and Music Player just to name a few.
When it comes to Video capture, there’s nothing much to say since it’s only boasting 720p as opposed to 1080p that many devices are offering. The only thing going for it is the clear audio recording. When it comes to the camera there is no LED flash anymore which doesn’t make a big difference for me I don’t really use the camera on the tablet to take pictures, and honestly I don’t know anyone who does.
As expected, the tablet does well when it comes to playing high-definition videos, as it’s able to perfectly. It has support for a wide array of codecs, like XviD, MPEG-4, and H.264, to ensure you’re covered with all your video watching needs.
Battery Life on the 10.1 2 is about the same as the original, when fully charged just surfing the web it last 9 and half hours before I had to charge it, now when watching videos it gave me 7 hours before dying on me.
Conclusion
The Samsung 10.1 2 is a good tablet, you see some upgrades from the original 10.1 such as handwriting recognition, High resolution, Speakers located on the front of the tablet and Samsung mini apps. Now everyone knows how much I love Samsung’s products, but for $400 I wouldn’t be in a rush to go out and buy, especially if you have the original. If you like a tablet with a 10 inch screen and you do not already own the original, I suggest picking up the 10.1 2.
