The Samsung Galaxy Tab Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Review By: Dragon Petrick, TabletPCReview contributor
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.Samsung Galaxy Tab

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.

BUILD & DESIGN

The screen aside, Samsung's tablet is completely crafted out of plastic, which makes it light. Its back cover is white in the standard version, with a black front. It looks quite modern, complete with rounded edges (some networks will exclusively offer the device in other colors, as Samsung announced at IFA). The tablet's dimensions ((7.48 x 4.74 x .47 inches) are ideally suited for one hand use, keeping the other hand free for key control and screen manipulation.

Given that the majority of other tablets have to be held with both hands, the Galaxy Tab looks more like a smartphone than other competitors' models. In fact, the only thing (apart from its dimensions) making differentiating it from a smartphone is the fact that users cannot make phone calls by keeping the device next to their ear. They either must use the headphones delivered with it or any other earphone set that uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, a Bluetooth headset, or through the speaker. In fact, the only way you can't make a call with the Galaxy Tab is the traditional means of holding it up to your ear.

Four capacitive keys are located underneath the screen, which is typical for devices that use the Android OS. The first activates the menu, the second is the home key, the third is a back key, and the last button activates the search engine.

Since the device supports multitasking, a long press of the home key activates the task manager, which enables speedy switching from one active application to another.

The right-hand side includes the power button, volume control keys, as well as microSD memory card and SIM card slots. The left side includes a microphone, while the device's speakers are located on the bottom side, along with the power cord jack and an accessory slot. Accessories include speakers, a physical keyboard, car kit and others.

Display

The seven-inch capacitive screen features WSVGA resolution (1024 x 600 pixels). The imaging is exceptionally sharp, thanks to Samsung's excellent resolution choice for this size, which delivers 192-pixel density per inch. Since this is a TFT screen, the images do not have the same quality as a SuperAMOLED screen used by Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones (which this tablet very much resembles), or the images on the iPad. Still, the imaging is above average with vividly interpreted colors, and it is highly unlikely that the users will have any objections.

When exposed to direct sunlight, the screen significantly loses contrast, but the images are still very visible and the Tab retains its pleasant display. This is why deciding on the TFT screen, compared to the SuperAMOLED was a good choice, given that the latter technology loses much of its luster in the sun.

Still, SuperAMOLED has one advantage over TFT -- it has a wider viewing angle. The Galaxy Tab's viewing angles disappoint, and any view off center will result in reduced display quality. It is plus that the device's dimensions offer one-hand usage, which means this will not be a problem, given that users will usually have the tablet directly in front of them.

The display's touch sensitivity is fantastic. The Galaxy Tab precisely registers everything you want to do, and the display keyboard is especially well realized. I was able to quickly type long messages without any spelling mistakes after a few minutes of use. This is true for using the screen keyboard in a horizontal position, as well as vertically, when the keys are significantly slimmer.

PERFORMANCE

The ARM 1 GHz Cortex A8 processor solidly performs all the processes taking place on the Android tablet, and multimedia reproduction runs smoothly without glitches, thanks to the graphic accelerator. Still, when Flash-heavy sites load, scrolling and zooming loiters and performance takes a significant hit.

It is possible that this happens due to the Flash player, but websites with Flash run smoothly on smartphones that also use the Android OS 2.2 and Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Of course, these phones have a somewhat smaller resolution than the Galaxy Tab, and that probably plays a role. Fortunately, Flash-heavy sites aren't too common, so this is not a deal breaker.

The 16 GB of internal memory is more than sufficient for first usage, and with time, memory can be expanded with microSD cards. Reading files from the memory card, even when videos are in question, runs fast and without glitches. The user will not sense a difference between using internal memory and the memory card.

User Interface

Regardless of the fact that Google reps stated on several occasions that the Android OS 2.2 version is not suitable for tablets, we did not come across any problems on the OS level. Quite the contrary, Froyo fits squarely into this computer's concept and so far, it is the only serious competitor to the iPad, thanks in large part to the quality of OS implementation.

Of course, the Samsung TouchWiz UI that sits atop the Android OS facilitates much of this success, and it does the same for the Samsung Android smartphones. The home screen can have five to nine desktops that can slide from left to right, each featuring widgets and icons with applications. All intuitive movements characteristic for multitouch are supported, like pinching for zooming. The Galaxy Tab also supports copy and paste functionality.

Thanks to the TouchWiz UI, the Samsung Apps are also available on this device. In contrast to the Android Market, the Samsung Apps are designed exclusively for Samsung products.

Unfortunately, Samsung Apps are only accessible via a data network and not WiFi. Users can access the Android Market via both WiFi and 3G.

The Galaxy Tab eBook application is worth mentioning, and it comes preinstalled in the device. It's nearly identical to a similar eReading application on the iPad. By accessing the application, users can see book covers assembled on a virtual bookshelf, and can also see animations of turning book covers while flipping through the editions. Android OS users should be familiar with other applications that come with the tablet.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Tab includes all types of mobile and wireless network connectivity, and users will not encounter problems while going online, regardless of where they travel. It is quite easy to synchronize the device with email, irrelevant of mailbox or server type.

The web browser swiftly loads sites, especially on Wi-Fi and interprets them without errors, even dynamically generated websites that use various scripting technologies. The Android tablet is also fully functional over Wi-Fi, aside from the Samsung Apps.

The Galaxy Tab battery impressed, even when pushed with either 3G or Wi-Fi enabled. We squeezed a little more than five hours of life out it. With typical use, it is sufficient to connect the tablet to the battery adapter every other or third day. This is relatively infrequent, but the iPad still comes out on top in a direct battery-to-battery comparison.

The Galaxy Tab's battery cannot be manually accessed (just like with the iPad, iPhone and the iPod), which is why it will have to be changed by a service company if it loses its capacity over time.

CONCLUSION

Weighing both the Samsung Galaxy Tab merits and shortcomings, it's a very impressive device. Never mind the fact that it is reminiscent of an extremely large phone (a comment also leveled at the iPad at its unveiling), it is Apple's most serious iPad  competitor because it includes several options that Apple's tablet lacks. One-handed operation is chief among the Android tablet's advantages, thanks to its well thought-out dimensions and compact size and weight.

The seven-inch screen might be too small for some, considering the iPad sports a 9.7-inch display, and others go up to 10 inches.  However, most will be pleased with the highly precise capacitive screen reactions, as well as the excellent Android OS implementation, Samsung's TouchWiz UI, and the admirable mobile and wireless network connectivity.

For a detailed look at the Galaxy Tab feautres and apps, check out our Galaxy Tab second-look review.

Pros:

    * Fast
    * Effective multitasking
    * Great mobile and wireless network connectivity
    * Flash support
    * Includes superb TouchWiz UI

Cons:

    * Flash-heavy sites hinder performance
    * Samsung apps require data connection
    * Inaccessible battery