Samsung has a reputation for quality, and their tablets are no exception.
User reviews of the Samsung tablets have been largely complimentary, citing the bright display, durability, and built-in speakers of the Samsungs as some of their most appreciated features.
The following is a guide of how to choose among the growing family of Samsung tablets.
A Samsung tablet is going to have a rear-facing and front-facing camera.
The tablet will be wi-fi capable, operate through the Android system, and offer internet through Verizon. Your Samsung tablet will be compact and lightweight, will feature a bright display, and have comparable weight and heft to the more well-known iPad.
But within the Samsung family are some variations which you should be aware of before you make your purchase.
The Galaxy Tab 7.0 is your basic model. Smaller than the 10.1 or the 8.9 (the numbers refer to the size of the tablet), the 7.0 features a smaller body, smaller display, less resolution, less camera quality, and less battery than its counterparts.
It also features a proportionally smaller price tag, of around $350.
Aside from the smaller price tag, the 7.0 has a good deal to recommend it to the price-conscious consumer.
The display is 7 inches in diameter and offers 600 x 1024 resolution. The unit is Wi-Fi capable and service for the 7.0 is carried by Verizon, Sprint, and several other national carriers.
This stands in stark contrast to the pricier 10.1 which is supported only by Verizon.
Users found the 7.0 more than adequate for the price tag, citing its bright display, durability, and light weight as positive features.
However, some users found the model too slow, and wished it featured the newest Android operating system.
Those users would be delighted to know that the 10.1 does feature the newest Android operating system (Android 3.1, Honeycomb), and the 4G model has delighted users with its speed.
The 10.1 also offers a widescreen, HD, 1280 x 800 display.
The 10.1 is thinner than the 7.0, though it clocks in slightly heavier, at a still pillowy 20 ounces to the 13 ounces of the earlier model.
That is not all.
While the rear camera in each model offers 3 megapixels, the front camera for the 10.1 is superior at 2 megapixels. Users buzz that the 10.1 is fast, durable, lightweight and bright.
However, some regret the higher price and others wonder if the product could be greatly improved with the addition of a USB port.
The Galaxy Tab 8.9 has not yet hit the market, but promises to offer marry many of the features of the 10.1 with a smaller size.
Samsung advertises that the model will come with improved document features and will come pre-loaded with Amazon Kindle and Google Books, indicating this model is meant for the lovers of quality tablets who are also bookworms.
The price for the 8.9 is not yet advertised.
All in all, Samsung offers a quality selection of tablets, competitive with and perhaps superior to the iPad in many ways.
For those looking to run applications on their tablet, you would perhaps be well advised that tablet applications for Android are not yet up to the quantity and quality of those available for the Apple models.
Galaxy Tab 10.1 With Verizon 4G LTE ‘the Better Tablet’
- 4G
- Android 3.1
- 2 cameras, 2 and 3 megapixels
- 1280×800 HD display
- 8.5 inch screen
- 32GB memory
- 20 ounces
- 10.1x7x.34 ‘thinner and heavier than 7.0’
- User reviews: ‘bright display’, ‘durable’, ‘built-in speakers’, ‘fast’
- Cons: ‘price’ and ‘lack of USB’
Galaxy Tab 7.0
- Wi-fi only
- 13.58 ounces, 7.5 inches x 4.75inches x 0.5 inches
- 3 megapixel camera (rear) 1.3 megapixel camera (front)
- Android 2.2
- 16GB
- 7 inch display
- Li-Polymer battery
- 600×1024 resolution
- User reviews: ‘compact’, ‘bright display’, ‘durable’
Galaxy Tab 8.9 – ‘Coming Soon!’
- Li-Polymer battery
- Android 3.1
- 2 and 3 megapixel camera
- 1280×800 display
- Wi-fi only
- Preloaded with Kindle and Google Books apps.