Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

The popular Galaxy Tab gets a reboot and redesign for 2012

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
On-par Android tablet plays it straight down the middle

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Lets face the facts, no one buys a tablet for its camera abilities and it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has heeded this advice, as it offers only a basic camera experience.

The fact it has both front and rearing facing snappers is pleasing, as the competing Iconia Tab A200 just has a front camera and iPad 2 can only offer a 0.7MP rear cam, although neither are anything to write home about, and both are inferior compared to the pair on the Toshiba AT200.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

The front facing VGA offering is purely there to facilitate video calling, using services such as Skype, and the odd vanity check – we wouldn't recommend taking photos or video with it, although both options are available to you.

Round the back there's a 3.15MP sensor, but low light shooting is out of the question straight away, as there's no flash to accompany it.

As well as shunning the option of a flash, Samsung has decided not to include auto-focus, tap to focus or a digital zoom to the camera on the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

The camera application closely mirrors the one found on Samsung's range of Android smartphones, providing an easy to use layout and some basic functions including exposure control, timer, 11 scene modes, three effects (negative, black and white and sepia), and a trio of shooting modes; single shot, smile shot and panorama.

Shutter speed is less than a second, mainly thanks to the lack of auto-focus, but this along with a low quality sensor results in grainy images, with motion blur common as the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 struggles to keep up with fast moving objects.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

Outside in good light images a pretty good, if a little grainy

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

Negative: A funky futuristic look can be easily achieved

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

Black and white: like in the olden days

Click here to see the full resolution image

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

The Tab 2 10.1 can produce pretty good panoramas

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

It's unable to balance light, with the foreground very dark here

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

And the sky is now overexposed as it deals with the foreground

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

In good light indoors, the Tab 2 10.1 performs ok

Click here to see the full resolution image

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

But in low light it struggles without a flash

Click here to see the full resolution image

John McCann
Global Managing Editor

John joined TechRadar over a decade ago as Staff Writer for Phones, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He's interviewed CEOs from some of the world's biggest tech firms, visited their HQs and has appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Originally specializing in phones, tablets and wearables, John is now TechRadar's resident automotive expert, reviewing the latest and greatest EVs and PHEVs on the market. John also looks after the day-to-day running of the site.