Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

Product Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
Website Samsung
Specifications 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 10.1in 1280x800 touchscreen, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung Touchwiz UI, 16GB/32GB/64GB internal storage, microSD storage expansion up to 32GB, 3MP rear-facing camera with flash, HD 720p video, 0.3MP front-facing camera, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi connectivity, 7,000mAh battery, 256.6x175.3x9.7mm, 588g
Price £250

Design and build
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 looks identical to its Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 sibling, which as we pointed out in our hands-on review looks pretty cheap with its glossy white plastic casing. However, given that the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is an affordable device at just £250 SIM free, we can look past that minor aesthetic flaw.

The plastic shell is good for one thing though, and that's portability. The tablet measures just 9.7mm thin and weighs a mere 588g, noticeably lighter than the latest Apple Ipad. We quite happily carried the tablet around in our bag and barely even noticed that it was there, which can't be said for Apple's best-selling alternative.

Although it looks fairly similar to it's predecessor, the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, on first impression, there are a few cosmetic differences between this two. As well as being thinner, the newer Galaxy Tab has a more obvious silver trim, along with an expanded bezel that houses a pair of fairly large speakers. While we think this is all fairly attractive, we can't help but think that Samsung made these changes just to avoid another legal quarrel with arch-rival Apple.

Screen
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 screen certainly sounds decent on paper, measuring unsurprisingly 10.1in and boasting 800x1280 resolution. It proved pretty impressive during our hands-on testing, and although it's just your run-of-the-mill TFT panel, viewing angles were surprisingly good. While we did spot the occasional pixel flaws, the display proved clear and vibrant during our testing, if not all that impressive for on-the-go gaming.

Users who have used the latest Ipad will probably notice the difference in quality however, as with 149ppi pixel density compared to the Ipad's 246ppi, there is a clear difference in image clarity.

Next: Software and performance, battery, cameras