Call me a Luddite, but despite the ubiquity of tablet computing over the last few years, I don’t always get the point of them. Tablets are often too big to replace a smartphone and don’t always have the processing power of a laptop or desktop. If I want to listen to music, a smaller device makes more sense. If I want to watch a video, I can use my smartphone for a small screen view or stream to my television through my Roku box for a larger view. That said, I like to think I have an open mind. When the chance arose to spend some time with Samsung’s full-sized tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, I jumped at the opportunity.
First Impressions
Unboxing the Tab is pretty straightforward. The demo unit I’m reviewing contains the tablet itself, a charger and USB, an AT&T quick start guide, and the usual warranty and health and safety guide. At 583 grams, the Tab is light without feeling flimsy. The back of the tablet is plastic, but still feels sturdy. The touchscreen isn’t particularly smudge-resistant, but it’s no worse than any other tablet or smartphone I’ve handled. Tab 2 can be held in landscape by default, with stereo speakers on the sides, and the buttons, headphone jack, and SIM and micro SD card slots located along the top edge. While I can easily hold the device one-handed in portrait orientation despite my lack of gigantic man-hands, my wife has to use both hands.
Setup is remarkably easy. The Tab 2 boots up quickly, accepted my Gmail login, and pulled down my contacts and calendars with ease. A test wipe and restore of the tablet was equally simple after I found the appropriate settings panel.
Software Experience
The 4G version of the Tab (used here) runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and the WiFi version of the Tab is upgradeable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean). This is my first exposure to an Android device as I’ve been pretty wrapped up in the Apple ecosphere. For the most part, I’m impressed.
The Google Play Store is easy to use, but I was a little surprised that some of the apps that I looked at weren’t compatible with the Tab. Being used to the “walled garden” that is Apple’s App Store, along with the uniformity that comes with iOS, I was expecting instant compatibility across the board. Setting up my home screen and figuring out where my applications are hidden took only a few moments. It feels a little awkward having to go through a few extra steps to access the full slate of my applications, as opposed to iOS’s method.
I can easily download apps for most of the video streaming services I use, such as Netflix and Crackle. Others, like Amazon Instant Video, are conspicuously absent.
Performance
The Tab I used was connected to AT&T’s 4G LTE network and is fast enough that I kept checking to see whether I was actually connected to my home WiFi. Speedtest.net shows a download speed of 18.97 Mbps and an upload speed of 7.49 Mbps.
Battery life is great. The Tab packs a 7,000 mAh battery. With three weeks of moderate to heavy use, involving video streaming, games, GPS, still and video photography, music, ebooks, and internet use, I only had to recharge the tablet once a week. Leaving the Tab on standby for 24 hours only depleted the battery by four percent. Even during heavy use, the Tab doesn’t heat up the way my iPhone 4S does, for example.
Videos run smoothly, with no real load time unless there’s streaming-related buffering involved. I can watch videos from multiple streaming services or direct download. I didn’t think the sound would be all that good, given that the speakers are so close together, but the Tab impresses with how well the stereo worked, even without headphones.
The display is bright and clear, and the touchscreen is as responsive as other tablets and smartphones I’ve used. While I’ve had comic book apps on my iPhone for a while now, I didn’t fully appreciate their use until I could read comics on a large screen. Reading an ebook is also a similarly enjoyable experience.
The Strengths
After only a day or two, I easily adjusted to using Android. Likewise, the Tab’s processor seemed to handle everything I threw at it without complaint. Google integration made things like checking my Gmail, editing documents on Google Drive, and using my calendar seamless. Despite my jitters about carrying around a review unit that I’d need to return undamaged, the Tab handles my commutes with ease. The back feels like it won’t easily pick up scratches or dings.
The Weaknesses
The light sensor on the Tab is finicky. Just shifting in my seat or walking across a well-lit room is enough to cause the screen’s automatic brightness adjustment to kick in, dimming the screen almost to the point of being too dark to view. Some applications, like Facebook, blow low-res images up to full magnification, showing off every blurry, pixelated inch. The 3 MP back camera is adequate for most purposes, but I’ve seen other comparable tablets and phones with better cameras. Tab’s default Chrome browser could use a little work as it seems a little slow and behaves oddly when opening a webpage on a new tab. This surprises me, given how big a Chrome user I am on my laptop, desktop, and iPhone.
At least the important sites load.
The folks at Samsung also included their full-sized keyboard dock along with the Tab for me to review, which is comparable in size to the keyboard on a netbook or smaller laptop. Because of the inclusion of some tablet function-specific keys in a limited amount of space, buttons are a little small. While this makes typing more difficult than I initially hoped (again, despite my lack of gigantic man-hands), I become accusomted to the keyboard after a small amount of use. The keyboard itself feels sturdy and the keys have a good solid response to them when pressed and don’t feel light, cheap, or overly springy. There’s a port on the keyboard to connect the power supply included with the Tab, allowing for charging while typing.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is available in 16 and 32 GB models in both WiFi and WiFi plus cellular. Pricing begins at $299 for the 16 GB WiFi only model, which can be found on Amazon. Cellular models are available in the U.S. with all major providers. The keyboard dock is available at multiple retailers including Amazon, and starts at $64.95.
My experiences with the Tab may not have completely cured me of my anti-tablet ways, but I definitely see what the allure is now.
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