The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1's fantastic screen and appealing design help to make it the best Android tablet so far. But, while it trumps the iPad 2 in terms of specifications, the lack of Android Honeycomb apps and games is an irksome problem, and the software isn't as smooth or intuitive as Apple's iOS.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the successor to Samsung's original 7-inch tablet. It's also arguably the best Android Honeycomb tablet yet released. It combines gorgeous looks with a fantastic screen, and, in purely technical terms, manages to out-perform the iPad 2, although it lags way behind in the number of dedicated apps and games available.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available with 16GB or 32GB of storage, with prices starting at around £400. A 3G version is expected shortly.
This is an in-depth review, so here's a list of the various sections, for those who are interested in a particular area of the Tab 10.1:
There's no point in beating around the bush -- Apple currently has the tablet market well and truly cornered with the excellent iPad 2. It's a less than ideal situation for Google and its tablet hardware partners, but the one positive thing about having a dominant rival is that you at least know what you're out to beat -- and beating the iPad 2 is exactly what Samsung has attempted to do with the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Almost every aspect of this tablet seems to have been designed in order to score points over the iPad 2. It's slimmer and lighter, and has a higher-resolution screen and better cameras. The Korean manufacturer has unquestionably crafted a truly dazzling piece of hardware.
But, just because the Galaxy Tab 10.1 betters other Android tablets doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to be to everyone's tastes. Just as many iPhone users can't abide Android phones, there are likely to be individuals that find the Galaxy Tab 10.1's convoluted menu system to be a turn-off rather than a turn-on.
Honeycomb is arguably more versatile than Apple's iOS software, but, by the same token, it's far less intuitive. Many options are buried deep within the menu system, which makes it awkward to use in a hurry. It also lacks the smoothness of iOS.
Despite the Galaxy Pad 10.1's muscular, 1GHz, dual-core CPU, the transition between home screens is often accompanied by stuttering animation, and we also noticed lag when moving between applications.
Basically, we'd give the same recommendation here as we would to any prospective smart-phone purchaser. If you want a device that works with the minimum of fuss and you aren't bothered about having complete and utter control over its functionality, then the iPad 2 is the tablet to go for, just as the iPhone is the mobile to go for.
But, if you like your technology to be more flexible and adventurous -- and also don't mind a little lag and the occasional crashing application -- the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is more likely to float your boat.
Of course, you may not even have decided whether a tablet is really what you're after. Although these ultra-mobile devices handle many of the tasks one would normally associate with netbooks or laptops, their capability is limited.
Drumming out an email, browsing YouTube or doing some online shopping are all activities that fall comfortably within the remit of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but editing a home movie, touching up a digital photo or dealing with multiple documents and spreadsheets are tasks that are less suited to the mouse-free, touchscreen-only interface.
If you're in the market for a device on which you can play games, watch movies, read books and generally entertain yourself from the comfort of your sofa, then a tablet like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the ideal solution. For anything beyond that, you may wish to consider a laptop or netbook.
Thanks to Google's suite of dedicated apps, it's easy to perform basic computer tasks such as sending emails, uploading videos and keeping your calendars in sync.
If you've got a Google Mail account, then the Galaxy Tab 10.1's Gmail app will allow you to keep on top of your correspondence. The app uses a multi-pane interface that displays all of your emails on one side of the screen and the main body on the right. It's a system that mimics the one used in Microsoft Outlook, and shows how the increased size of a tablet's screen, as compared to that of a smart phone, can make for significant time savings.
If you're looking to use the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as your main email device, it's worth noting that the Gmail app currently only supports image attachments. It's possible to attach other items to emails, but you'll need to use a third-party app, like Linda File Manager, to do so.
Should you be handling files such as text documents and spreadsheets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with Polaris Office pre-loaded. This surprisingly robust application allows you to create, edit and manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on the fly. It even allows you to upload your precious files to cloud-based storage, although you'll need to sign up to a Box.net account to use this service.
Editing documents using nothing but a touchscreen isn't the most elegant way of doing business, but, if you're seeking a simple way of making small amends or managing your files when you're out of the office and away from a computer, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 should prove an able part-time substitute for your trusty laptop.
Next page: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android 3.1
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User reviews33
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kaley 15 April 2013
Good: light easy to use
Bad: screen freezes constantly
Comment: I have only had this for two weeks and it has packed up working all together, returning it to the shop tomorrow, very dissapointed with it.
Arsenalfan9999 17 September 2012
Good: Great screen, battery life, the entire experience, storage, looks great
Bad: A bit of slowdown and freezing, some games don't look quite as sharp as they would on an iPhone or similar
Comment: I have a 32gb version of this tablet and I love it. After a slight malfunction with the screen on the previous tablet, it had to be sent back and I didn't thing anything could compare with it. That was a 16gb. Now I love this one. I had an iPod Touch before so had no experience with Android before I got this tablet and I love it. It might not look as sophisticated as Apple but I can cope. It's almost like a touchscreen laptop, as the browser looks just like webpages on the computer. The little screenshot button is nifty, it's great for when you have 100 friend requests on Facebook and want to show the world. The display is excellent, and the whole look on the outside is amazing. It has a professional look about it and the black front on the white version makes it harder to see fingerprints if you use it a lot like I do. The homescreens are brilliant, it was nice to see a few preloaded ones on there and it's easy to make it look like an iPad if you really love Apple by saying you want to create a homescreen shortcut for all apps you download. However, I didn't know how to turn that feature off for a while but it doesn't matter, I can customize all I want. It's very flexible, with 2 app stores, the Google Play and the Smasung Apps, which isn't as broad as Google Play. Like quite a few people, I downloaded Angry Birds first and noticed that the display doesn't look quite as sharp as on my previous iPod Touch, but I can live with that. I'm enjoying the flexibility of Android and the way everything is customizable, and the preloaded apps are pretty handy.
When it's been used for a while, or has too many apps running, I've noticed it occasionally freezes or slows a bit, but not for long.
The battery life is pretty good, and the charger is great. However, I plugged it into the computer first and it took a while to charge, and when I turned the computer off it didn't charge any more, which is understandable now I look at it. But it won't need as much charging as an Apple device.
So overall, I've found this to be a great tablet :)
George89 10 May 2012
Good: light and easy to use
Bad: operating system android and little battery life
Comment: prefer the ios operating system for tablets and phones, but samsung decide to put windows on tablet then definitely I will buy it. Ipad is better to use it for Business doing spreadsheets, word and stuff like that for the reason that Apple has better apps than android
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