Welcome to the top spot, Samsung.
The outstanding Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Honeycomb tablet is lighter and a hair thinner than the Apple iPad 2, and has a smaller footprint than either the Motorola Xoom or the Acer Iconia Tab A500, which are heavier and bulkier than most tablets.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a major contender.
We reviewed the short-lived Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V already, but that thicker and heavier device has since been discontinued (It looked as if Vodafone might pick up the 10.1V tab but it is now waiting to release the newer 10.1 model).The only other important players in the tablet market, are the brilliant 10.1-inch Asus Eee Pad Transformer as well as the BlackBerry PlayBook and the HTC Flyer, which are both so-so 7-inch models.
Oh, and keep your eye on the HP TouchPad which goes on sale in the UK next month.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is currently slated to go on sale in the UK at the end of July/beginning of August.
And if you want to take a closer look at the slate, you can check out our Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 video review.
So what sets the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 apart? For starters, this is one light and thin tablet. At just 8.6mm, it is 0.2mm thinner than the iPad 2. And you know what? At 565g it's also 36g lighter.
It's as though someone at Samsung sat down and demanded that the 10.1 have world-beating raw system specs.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a marvel of engineering, given its size. Holding one in your hand, you might mistake it for a truncated version of a Samsung LED HDTV, which are also market leaders. There's a slight edge around the screen that is not touch enabled, a silver edge, and an all-white back.
The device just feels right. Unlike the Acer Iconia A500 and the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 finds that ideal balance between a pick-up-and go e-book reader such as the Amazon Kindle 3 and a 10-inch tablet that's perfect for watching movies on a long car trip.
By including Android Honeycomb (version 3.1 to be exact) Samsung has also one-upped the competition (though 3.1 has also already landed on the Transformer). The point release includes a few new additions. You can resize widgets and scroll through open apps in the pop-up thumbnails for the "recent apps" list.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 doesn't have a USB port, so it doesn't take advantage of the new Android 3.1 feature to support USB-connected peripherals which is a shame, but that's not the direction Samsung is going with this tablet. This is all about pick-up-and-go functionality and portability.
Samsung actually downgraded the built-in camera on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 compared to the Galaxy Tab 10.1V, which had an 8MP rear camera. Still, the new model has a 3MP rear camera, which is three times higher than the Apple iPad 2's camera. There's also a front-facing 2MP camera.
There are quite a few interesting perks and additions on this tablet. Some may seem underwhelming at first, but as a whole they give Apple a good run for the prize.
One subtle change is that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 7000mAh battery for all-day tablet use. In our tests, it lasted about nine hours for everyday tasks. The Apple iPad 2 battery is 6600mAh.
The 10.1 also has a four-way accelerometer and gyro (the Apple iPad 2 uses a three-way accelerometer and gyro - starting to see a pattern here?). That may seem like a minor upgrade, but most of the games we tested on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 responded faster to quick turns and screen rotations, and generally worked better for controlling games. It also has great side speakers for playing music and movie audio, and plays smooth 1080p video.
And of course, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 matches the features of other Android tabs: built-in GPS, support for Adobe Flash in the browser (you still have to download it on your own), 1290 x 800 screen resolution, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor and Android tablet app.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a smart buy for anyone who wants a light and portable Android tablet. Google still has a ways to go on apps for Android – there are only a few dozen that are seriously worth downloading, compared to thousands of worthy iOS apps.
The ecosystem for media is a bit underdeveloped on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 as well. Sure, you can watch movies stream on the web, but for downloads you're mostly on your own.
Update:
August 5 2011: Samsung has now released a software update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (the kernel says 2.6.36.3 but the Android OS version is still 3.1).
The 10.1 now comes with Samsung's TouchWiz software overlay which is designed to add some more features to Android by building on the foundations that Google laid down.
There is now a small arrow in the middle of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. You press that, and can open the new Task Manager (to close and open apps), a Calendar (which uses Google Cal), a World Clock, a Pen Memo widget (for adding notes and drawing), a Calculator, and a Music Player. Each of these works reliably and adds to the value of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 beyond the usual Android 3.1 release on other tabs. Widgets stay up on the screen at all times, even when you open other apps.
Samsung also (finally) released the Music Hub, Media Hub, and Social Hub apps. There is also a new app called eBook which lets you read books you have downloaded from other book stores like Kobo, or that you have obtained by other means – such as download a free ePub file. As you might guess, the eBook app is not tied into the Kindle store, and so that means a separate app. You can add stores which are just links that take you to those Web sites to buy more books.
In the box Samsung includes a charger, USB cable and earbuds, but no case or docking stand.
Price
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been price-matched with the Apple iPad 2, which means that devices with the same amount of memory costs the same. So the starting price will be about £399.
Your comments (73) Click to add a new comment
geopaeg
January 13th
73. Let me add some negative comments as a one week user:(Good comments is easy to do)
A) Email client for pop3 is very poor and not professional at all.
B) Prints only to Samsung printers !!!
C) Does not support or is not familiar with Adobe reader 11 (most now sites is using)
geopaeg - Greece
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jinxs
December 14th 2011
72. whay all games and apps i installed from markets goes to RAM instead of HD. coz this device has no microSD slot, so Apps2SD is useless. anyone been happened the same case? any tips/tricks/solution? i love this gadget.
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kimble
November 19th 2011
71. this freezes, disconnects from the internet and force closes on me all the time, like every 5-10 minutes... whether i'm watching youtube, netflix, on facebook, etc... it just force closes, freezes all the time.. its very annoying, and gonna return it ASAP.
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alanjay
November 9th 2011
70. I bought my Galaxy 10.1 from Simply Electronics (SE) and it was nice while it lasted. When the dreaded oil slick appeared after a few weeks SE went into prevarication mode and then automatic phrase mode, telling me that the tablet would be inspected to see if there really was a fault (?!) and if yes they would look to repair it. They have now had the goods longer than me and I've said that as they are refusing to refund me I am going to invoke Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to get a refund from my credit card company. I urge everyone with a similar problem to claim from their credit card company. That way Samsung may get the message to stop selling faulty goods.
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hpblze
October 7th 2011
69. I had the Ipad 2, I gave it away, and got the Galaxy Tab 10.1, heres why -
You can connect a usb pen drive to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 ( Gtab) with the small USB CONNECTOR provided in the box, with this you can play movies directly from the pen drive,open documents edit them and save them back to the usb pen drive ( you get the idea ) , all of this is impossible with an ipad.
Secondly you need itunes for every data transfer that you want to do,with the Gtab you can drag and drop files from any Windows Pc without any additional software
Third, the PLS display is far more vibrant, high res, and colorful than the ipads Lcd screen
To me the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is my netbook replacement.
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balec
October 3rd 2011
68. I definitely do not work for Apple but have to say that this device is pants. I to am also a victim to the oil slick. The best that Samsung can do is offer a repair, what a joke you don't pay £399 for it to have to be sent away after six weeks. When the device was working it was OK at best. Once the novelty factor wore off I went back to the iPad. Ipad great device and as importantly great service. Might be manufactured in the same place bu a world apart in attitude to customers and service.
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thubleau
September 29th 2011
67. I'm beginning to wonder about some of these complaints as I have seen the compaints word for word on other review sites.
Is it possible that some of these have been put up by Apple themselves as a way to undermine the galaxy 10.1 ?
I ask this as none and I mean none of the reviews I have seen make any mention of the oil slick problem,so I have to ask is this an over exagerated problem.
I liken it to the release of a new camera,there always seems to be a bunch of people with a dud all with the same problem and yet with my own experience of buying digital cameras i have never had a problem.............it just makes me wonder.
Anyway, I will find out next month when i test the 10.1 to see whats going on...........just my luck it will probably be faultless.
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amywoods99
September 10th 2011
66. after all the waiting for fixes and silence from samsung, ive given up, made up my mind and opted for......the ipad. so far, so good, loving it! recommend anyone having probs to just take their tab back and get the same :)
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kittyprice
September 7th 2011
65. I guess Samsung must be inundated with this problem hence my email answered, but never followed up! So I rang and finally moved a step closer to solving this "Oilslick" problem
All I have to do is simply take the unit into a retailer near me and they will send it off for inspection. Customer servce did reconize the problem as "Newton Rings" (after a few line transfers)
Great...I thought...however I wish I could feel a sense of release but it seems all I have to look forward to is waiting for weeks of repairs and replacements and no closer to using a gift that I loved so much.
I just wish Samsung could have prevented this.
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matthewg77
September 7th 2011
64. It looks like Cat Deeley loves it:
http://allthingsandroiduk.blogspot.com/2011/09/long-awaited-samsung-tab-10.html
Hope people who are struggling manage to get their issues sorted soon.
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marisatenby
September 7th 2011
63. I feel so dejected about this I have simply given up....for the time being anyway! I guess I'll just accept that my tab has a funny screen and occasionally freezes..but I WONT be buying anything from Samsung ever again, that's for sure!
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s123
September 6th 2011
62. By the way, regarding the 'oil slick' issue, I think it is interference fringe, and I see it too (I got my tablet as soon as it was launched), and although Samsung have offered to repair it, I have not taken them up on their offer so far, since it felt not a big deal to me personally, and I would miss the use of the tablet meanwhile. It is visible when turned off (across an inch of the center of the screen) but not when powered up. However, some people would not like the fringes, and should return to samsung. The fringe expands when the screen is pressed, and contracts back down to about an inch in length when I release the screen.
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s123
September 6th 2011
61. Ok, it has been a week since I've been running the software update (Tablet purchased in the US, but I live in the EU).
I've not experienced any problems. The best feature for me was the new 'eBook' reader as part of the update. It allows for dozens of PDFs to be stored and categorized, and has search capability within PDFs. It also allows highlighting/scribbling, bookmarks, etc. I'm using it more than the Kindle app currently. I wish the 'snapshot' button on the Android bottom bar could be removed, and to be able to edit the shortcuts (centre of the Android bar), but I don't think this is currently possible. The new 'Music Player' is nice. It doesn't have coverflow but is a cleaner design than the 'Music' application. It also allows you to e-mail songs directly, which is neat. I can see the day when I will be able to e-mail songs directly to my car hi-fi. The 'Media Hub' was a disappointment, I can find no way to purchase any media, it seems to detect I am not in the US somehow, and I can find no workaround. Anyway, the update was well worth it in my opinion, and so much nicer than the old ipod software upgrades that still give me nightmares (Apple's 400MB updates that required a backup of media). I don't know if that still is the case with Apple, it may have improved.
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zzzxtreme
September 6th 2011
60. u didn't dislike that it doesn't have microusb and microSD slot ?
using microSD slot, I can get XD to microSD adapter , useful for fuji/olympus camera owners
having microUSB, useful for connecting directly to camera
waiting for new Toshiba/Sony tablet makes more sense
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eyreno1
September 4th 2011
59. Anyone got through to Samsung customer support? I called for advice on a few issues I'm having with my tablet. It's got the oil slick problem, was told to do a factory reset but this hasn't fixed it (kind of suspected it wouldn't - how would it really???) Wasn't impressed with the tech advisor either pretty rude :-(
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kittyprice
September 4th 2011
58. Did anyone return their Galaxy Tab 10.1 due to a design fault…the “oil slick” / “Newton Rings”?
As mine was a gift and have since travelled leaving the friends with the receipt.
Can I take it to any dealer and they will recognize the universal problem?
The email I received last week as not been followed up by Samsung:
Thank you for contacting Samsung Electronics.
We understand that there is a oil slick underneath the tab and the tab is not exposed to any extreme weather.
We are sorry, to hear that the tab is having the issue
Please check if the issue is persisting on all applications. If you are able to view the oil slick even if the tab is
turned off the tab requires a service.
If you are not able to view the oil slick when the tab is turned off, please perform a hard ware reset.
Samsung Philippines have admitted that there is a problem.
What do I do now?
Confused!
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marisatenby
September 4th 2011
57. I've tried calling customer services, put on hold for so long i gave up!
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kwaters
September 3rd 2011
56. Samsung have finally responded to complaints about the oil slick aka 'newton rings' on the 10.1:
http://www.yugatech.com/blog/personal-computing/samsung-tablet****-with-oil-slick-issues/
and no, they don't won't us anything useful just 'call customer service'.
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marisatenby
August 29th 2011
55. @bradw...well it seems I have been quoted in the article! Maybe Samsung will sit up and listen to us now!!
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