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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.

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.