Samsung Galaxy Tab Review (EU Version) Discussion

[Dragan Petric]

Please note, the following is a review of the European version of the Galaxy Tab. The US version, now available, does not feature voice-call support. For a detailed look at the Galaxy Tab feautres and apps, check out our Galaxy Tab second-look review.

Originally Published 10/18/2010

The Samsung Galaxy Tab, spectacularly unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show in Europe in September, is a seven-inch tablet running Google Android OS 2.2 (Froyo). It includes the Samsung TouchWiz UI upgrade, which enables applications from the Android Market -- a key feature lacking on other Android tablets -- as well as Samsung's Apps store.

The device has a TFT capacitive screen, an A8 ARM 1 GHz Cortex processor, a PowerVR SGX540 graphic accelerator and 16 GB of internal memory, with additional microSD card slot. It supports all 3G bands and has the HSDPA network connectivity option, along with Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS and Bluetooth 3.0 support.

At first glance, the Galaxy Tab is most similar to Apple's iPad, but compared to it, the Galaxy Tab has certain advantages, as well as shortcomings. At .84 pounds, it weighs nearly half as much as the iPad, which tips the scales at 1.5 pounds, the Galaxy Tab has voice call capability (though, the feature is disabled on the US Galaxy Tab) and video conferencing over Wi-Fi. This tablet also includes multitasking (a feature coming to the iPad with the iOS 4.2 update in November), and web browsing with Flash support. On the other hand, the Apple iPad has a bigger, more pleasing screen, solid aluminum body, and a hardy battery.

Read the full content of this Article: Samsung Galaxy Tab Review (EU Version)

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[heatlesssun]

Thanks for the review! 5 hours of battery life? Hmmm... For the weight not bad but also not quite what I would have thought. This is a nice device and with a phone contract the price isn't bad but for $600 without a contract I don't know.

[leaftye]

The review says you must either use the headset that comes with it or to plug into the the headset port. Can bluetooth headsets be used? That would be disappointing if not. The upside is that Galaxy Tab users would be much less likely to walk around all day with a headset on their ear, even when they're not making calls--I hate that.

5 hours of battery life seems quite good, especially for the weight. I would be more interested in this device if they bumped up the resolution.

[Synergi]

I like my Samsung Fascinate, I like my iPad, heck I like my 6 year old HP TC1100. I'm not feeling this tablet. When Netbooks are getting 9 and 10 hours, the iPad 10 to 12 hours, 5 hours seems to low.

Also the screen. This year taught me one thing, I'm done with screens that don't have top notch viewing angles. I'll take a hit to how good it is outside before I will the angle. I can't count how many times I've laid my iPad flat, tilted, turned sides ways and any other angle so I could prop it up while in bed. I can see it just as good at all angles as I can dead center.

Not to harp, its a tablet, give me a freaking pen! This is where all of them are failing at the moment for me. I'd pay a premium, if I only had a pen. (Well not this one.)

I keep saying it but give me Win7. Sorry, I just want full software and I'm a bit tired of half as*ed Apps. Most of my productivity is spent looking for Apps to give me more productivity aka work a rounds for all the things each App can't do. I find for me, I have my iPad and my laptop side by side. I pick up my iPad, look up a news story, then I set it down and pick up my laptop. I don't want to have to pick up my laptop.

Anyway, just a few of my thoughts.

[leaftye]

I'm not feeling this tablet. When Netbooks are getting 9 and 10 hours, the iPad 10 to 12 hours, 5 hours seems to low.

It's half the weight of the iPad. How much does a 10 hour netbook weigh? Obviously it was a compromise. They chose to make it light instead of having incredible battery life at the same weight as the iPad. Now what I'd love is if they made an extended life battery that fit in place of the regular battery...basically, a thick battery that fits the entire backside.

This year taught me one thing, I'm done with screens that don't have top notch viewing angles. I'll take a hit to how good it is outside before I will the angle.

I'm with you, but want both. I would love a screen I could use outdoors in direct sunlight, but I often tilt it a lot when lounging on a couch.

Not to harp, its a tablet, give me a freaking pen!

I concur. It basically requires Win7 though. No point in a pen without Win7 and vice versa.

[Synergi]

It's half the weight of the iPad. How much does a 10 hour netbook weigh? Obviously it was a compromise. They chose to make it light instead of having incredible battery life at the same weight as the iPad. Now what I'd love is if they made an extended life battery that fit in place of the regular battery...basically, a thick battery that fits the entire backside.

This is true but it is on par in weight with the iPad and its much longer battery life. People will then sit back and ask if a 2.7'' difference in screen is worth sacrificing 5 to 7 hours of extra battery life. That's pretty huge to me at least.

I'm not all that sure there is much of a difference between them as far as App's go. Apple has better Apps because they have more and been at it longer. At the end of the day, most of those App's are still half assed and have me wishing for full software. Its okay for a phone, but once you hit tablet size I start to want more.

What advantages Android had is quickly losing ground to Google getting locked out of their own system because its ''open.'' Verizon, Amazon making their own market places, Verizon locking out Google search on the Fascinate, I think is just the start. If those two make big bucks at it, it won't be long before everyone is doing it and you might as well just jail break your Apple and call it a day.

[leaftye]

I like the smaller form factor. I think giving up the 2.7" is a plus, not a negative. The extra size is only helpful if there was actually a good way to write on it. It's closer to the size of a novel, can be held more easily in one hand, actually has ports, can be used as a cell phone. The weight and smaller battery are probably because they wanted to keep the device slim. Add that option for a thicker battery and add resolution and it'll be hard for me to resist for a fancy ebook reader. Add Win7 and an active digitizer too and I'll probably get rid of my other tablets.

[Jamison Cush]

The review says you must either use the headset that comes with it or to plug into the the headset port. Can bluetooth headsets be used?

That's a great question. I'll check with Dragan on that.

Dragan really did all the legwork on this, and he deserves a ton of credit for turning the review around so quickly. He scored the review unit through his personal connections in Europe, which is why this is a review of the European Galaxy Tab. As stated, voice calling will be disabled on the US verision.

[Jamison Cush]

So it turns out that calls do work via Bluetooth, and you can also use the speakerphone. Also, the rumored Bluetooth stylus is now for sale in the UK.

[Jamison Cush]

We are working on getting a US version for review.