Feature set summary for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
The display is nothing to really shout
about, but it’s okay for surfing the net and watching films, and the 3
megapixel snapper takes good daytime snaps.
Style and handling summary for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
The device is slim and lightweight and
its glossy chassis is similar to that on the Apple iPad, but with the
addition of metallic-look rim. It offers a comfortable user experience
even for extended periods of time.
Battery power summary for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
You’ll get about six hours of playing
games or streaming video, which is pretty good and what we would expect
from a device of this sort.
Performance summary for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
Under the hood lurks a dual-core chip
that copes well with games and apps, although there was the odd pause or
stutter when carrying out everyday tasks.
User friendliness summary for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
The Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS has
had a bit of a tweak and update, which makes the Galaxy Tab 2 really
easy to use. The touchscreen measures 10.1 inches and is responsive and
roomy.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Review Scoring Summary
| Style & Handling |  |
| User Friendliness |  |
| Feature Set | |
| Performance | |
| Battery Power |  |
| Overall Score |
Pros :
Slim, lightweight, good looks; Android Ice Cream Sandwich; excellent user interface; Dual-core processor Cons : Screen is not an outstanding feature
Verdict:
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a smooth operator, with a dual-core chip and lots of excellent features.
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Full Review and Specification for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
Samsung has already proved its
tablet-making credentials by producing the Galaxy Tab 1, which was the
best Android tablet on the market when it was released, combining a
great user interface with some very neat design. Now Samsung has come up
with the Galaxy Tab 2,
which comes in two sizes. Here we’re reviewing the 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2
10.1, but there is also a seven-inch Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. So can the
successor live up to the original?
iPad wannabe?
At first glance, the Tab 2 has the look
of a very thin iPad, with its shiny front and back and the white border
running around the 10.1-in display. But there are plenty of differences
to set it apart from Apple’s iconic device.
For a start, the Tab 2 has a metallic
look rim, which is where the two slim speaker strips are located. It
does look a little odd next to the white gloss surface, but you don’t
notice it in use. The Galaxy Tab 2 is also built really well – it’s got a
sturdy feel about it, and feels like it can stand up to the odd knock
here and there. That’s good news, because it can be popped into a bag
easily and is light enough to offer a comfortable user experience on
long journeys. But our white review device did suffer from scuff marks
and fingerprints.
You’ll find no home button on the front
of the device - in fact there are no buttons at all on the front. The
home button is actually of the virtual kind, and sits on the
always-present task bar at the bottom of the display, as do the recent
apps and back buttons. Samsung has also seen fit to include a screenshot
button, so you can grab that interesting article you found online
easily. Tap the clock in the bottom right of the screen and you’ll see
the notifications tab – this allows you to get all your new emails, and
offers quick access to power settings, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and so on.
Charging is done using Samsung’s
own charger and the port on the base of the device. There are no ports
on the side, instead the top of the Tab 2 is home to a power button,
long slim volume control and a micro SD slot, which allows you to boost
onboard storage to 32GB. It’s neatly laid out and we never accidentally
nudge a button while handling the device.
Double power
Under the hood lurks a dual-core chip
that does a good job of powering the tablet, although we did see the odd
stutter when checking the calendar and growing through the Google Play
store. We loaded and played some intensive action and racing games,
which all worked smoothly and loaded speedily. The dual-core chip also
futureproofs the tablet for some time to come.
If you plan to take your tablet on long
journeys to work, it should cope admirably – we managed six hours
streaming video before we needed to recharge.
The operating system is the latest
version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which offers as many as seven
desktops that can be customised with any number of widgets, apps and
folders – plus there’s some extra widgets donated by Samsung, including a
useful task list called S Planner, and the S Suggest panel, which
offers suggestions for apps according to your interests.
Movies on the move
The display is responsive, but how is it
for watching films? It can’t compete with the retina display on the
new iPad in terms of brightness or sharpness, but it’s still perfectly
good for watching a movie on the move. There’s also a neat feature
called AllShare Play, which lets you send videos and songs to your
phone, TV and so on.
It also offers a smooth user experience
when surfing the net, thanks to the responsiveness of the screen. Any
pinch or flick registers well, and it is possible to stream TV shows
from BBC iPlayer (once you’ve downloaded the free login for Adobe Flash)
and its ilk. The browser also lets you open a number of tabs at the
same time and save bookmarks into folders.
There is a snapper on the back of the
tablet – although there is no flash so you’re restricted to taking snaps
in daylight. There are two models, one with 16GB of storage, the other
with 32GB, so there’s plenty of space for storing your images.
Our conclusion
The Android tablet market is getting
more exciting with the introduction of devices such as the Samsung
Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. The device is well designed, offers smooth dual-core
performance and has the excellent Ice Cream sandwich operating system.
Its screen isn’t up there with the one on the new iPad, but nevertheless
the device still offers a great way to share and enjoy your media.
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