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Samsung Galaxy Tab
78
This product hasn't been reviewed yet.
We've added this product to our database but we haven't actually tested it yet. If you want us to review it drop us a line and we might just bump it to the front of our reviews queue.
Joanna SternNovember 01, 2010
Pros
- Compact and extremely solid build Great quality 7-inch, capacitive touchscreen Two cameras
Cons
- Not all apps scale to the screenLittle support from GoogleNo decent video calling software
Samsung
Galaxy
Engadget - Not yet scored
0
Critics
5 reviews70
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users
41 reviews79
AVERAGE USER SCORE
View All Critic & User Reviews
Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Critic Reviews (5)
- User Reviews (41)
- 70AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE5 ReviewsComputerworld804 Android tablets vie for your attention - ComputeBy combining Android's tablet abilities with high performance and 3G capabilities, the Galaxy Tab is the most complete Android tablet available.Gizmodo50Samsung Galaxy Tab Review: A Pocketable Train WrecThe Tab is like a compromise's evil twin, merging the worst of a tablet and the worst of a phone. It has all of the input problems of a tablet, with almost none of the consumption benefits.Engadget80Samsung Galaxy Tab reviewIts crisp display, compact form factor, touch-friendly software and dual cameras undoubtedly have what it takes to win over the average tablet seeker. However, we still have some reservations right now.SlashGear80Samsung Galaxy Tab ReviewThe high resolution and responsive, accurate capacitive touchscreen add up to a user experience that’s significantly better than a regular smartphone for browsing, multimedia and – thanks in no small part to Samsung’s custom apps – messaging.TechRadar60Samsung Galaxy Tab review from TechRadar UK's expeIn truth, the Galaxy Tab is no match for the iPad. It's nowhere near as smooth, it's not as polished and remarkably, it's not even a match when it comes to value for money.
- 79AVERAGE USER SCORE41 ReviewsEngadget Reader70August 16, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80February 23, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70October 30, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I use mine as a GPS which it's great for. The large screen is great for long car trips, and the screen is bright enough for use on bright days. IMO the forn factor is a bad idea. I feel like I use it too often to keep it in my bag, and too big to fit in my pocket. The performance is OK, and RAM is a little lacking. I really don't like Samsung's skin for the phone. It's really a pain to look at and to use. The storage is expandable up to 32GB, so I can't complain. The back of the Tab is made of plastic which scratches like crazy. The MEID is just a sticker right above the FCC stuff and the text will fade. The tablet feels ok in your hand, but is kinda thick compared to tablets now. As far as I know, there's two speakers and they sound pretty full for a budget tablet. The display is ok, It doesn't look as balanced as the IPS display of my iPhone (blue's and greens are harsh), but the contrast ratio looks great. Again, I'm not a fan of the Samsung skin on the tablet. The homescreen is choppy, the apps look like they were thrown together is a couple hours.Engadget Reader90June 15, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Excellent tablet! very portableEngadget Reader100May 6, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought the Galaxy Tab 7" 3G from T-Mobile when it was first sold in the US. Feature packed with front & rear camera, GPS, mobile broadband, great audio from the speakers, bright crisp display, and excellent battery life. I've had absolutely no problems with it at all. It gets heavy usage daily and the kids are pretty rough on it watching movies and games. Its compact form factor is perfect for carrying it around like a small notepad. The custom Samsung calendar, contact manager/dialer and email turn it into a classic PDA.Engadget Reader70April 28, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader50March 21, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I might not have been so hard on this tablet if I hadn't already owned an iPad. The Galaxy Tab has many issues in my book, but I found the lack of good apps on the Android market, how fast the battery drained, and the awful cameras the worst. The one thing that I loved about it was the size. I could frequently put the tablet into my pocket, yet it's quite a bit bigger than a phone.Engadget Reader50February 26, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A disappointing product with a lot of problems. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70February 1, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80January 28, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90January 6, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader50January 2, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought this device and sold it again within a few months (albeit for a similar price to what I paid, so that was good news, and an indication of the ongoing demand!). My first impressions of the device were good, in that it was small, and the build quality felt good. However, it was, and as I understand, still is, a glorified big boned phone. When you now compare with the array of tablets available it is very old-hat, with poor performance and nothing 'additional' to offer other than a bigger screen (with probably a lower resolution than your smartphone). I would not recommend this device, even at a low price point.Engadget Reader90December 30, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Great, lovely, fast,Engadget Reader80December 27, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader60December 20, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A forgettable product. It isn't bad, exactly, but also doesn't do anything particularly well. - EngadgetZen40December 16, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A poor product that's more likely to be frustrating than useful. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70November 29, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90November 12, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90November 7, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This is the device that made me fall in love with the 7" tablet. Coming from the iPad which stayed in my bag at work and was used really when I was sitting on the couch watching TV, I found myself bring this device everywhere with me. It even fits in my back pocket. It is great for people wanting a device between your laptop and smartphone. Great portability, 5 to 7 hour battery life and a bigger screen then your phone.Engadget Reader90November 7, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Perfect size for our home and away from home tablet. Use in kitchen for recipes and throughout the house for music streaming and news reading.Engadget Reader90October 23, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This was bought as a replacement for my kindle which if I hadnt promised it to my sister would still be sitting next to my bed for a better night time (or any time) reading experience. Strait out the box its a simple and easy device to handle and navigate around so when I finally opened the instruction manual after a few hours playing there wasnt to much else to learn. The display is bright and crisp but like all pads is a fingerprint magnet, luckily for me though I always keep a lens cloth in my pocket for my glasses so its just a quick wipe every now and again. The battery life was a bit of a shocker, switch everything on and you can use the battery monitor as a countdown, ok not exactly true but my advice is if you want the tab to last out the day turn off what your not using. Storage is up to you, the built in 16gig is more than enough to keep things ticking over and the extra 16gig mini sd card they provide should cover the rest of your needs. The weight and glass give the tab a nice solid feel and is a perfect size in the hand.I LIKE my new toy, I like that it drops into my pocket and I'm away, I like that I dont have to strain my eyes to see whats on the screen, I like that theres an app out there to make it do whatever I want it to do, I like that when it sits in my hand it feels comfortable and safe but most of all I like that its not an ipadEngadget Reader100October 6, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90September 16, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70August 27, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!it's not bad, but still not a match for the iPadEngadget Reader50August 11, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!To much of an early adopter-product unfortunately. Not a very good purchase in retrospectEngadget Reader80July 18, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Very goog, but defenitly 9.7/10.1 inches is the size to go.Engadget Reader90July 7, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100June 7, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader80June 5, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70June 1, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90May 22, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This is a great device for the average user that wants the familiarity of the Android 2.x platform, but the screen size of a tablet. To many it feels like an android phone on steroids, but it is a great device with plenty of power. I have had mine for a month and have discovered that I use it constantly over my other devices. It has the potential to last a while.Engadget Reader80May 18, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Though this is just a magnified version of the Galaxy phones, it's nice to see some of the native apps are designed with a bigger screen in mind. Feels nice to hold since it's as big as a DVD case and can be held with one hand.Engadget Reader90May 17, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Excerpt from one of my many blog posts on this device:The Best Tablet Is the One You Have With YouThe Tab is roughly the same size as, but thicker than Amazon’s Kindle, which ironically I sold when I got my iPad. Prior to iPad ownership, my Kindle would go everywhere with me because of its small size, light weight, stellar battery life and integrated connectivity. And I do mean everywhere: the device would fit in my jacket pocket or could be thrown — figuratively, not literally — in the car or in a gear bag. The Galaxy Tab offers me that same level of portability, while the iPad doesn’t.Here’s a perfect example: I purchased the Tab on a weekend at the local T-Mobile store and my family wanted to hit the mall afterwards. I either carried the device in hand or placed it in my back jeans pocket while cruising the mall for hours. As my wife or daughter stopped to browse for clothes, I quickly whipped out the small tablet to manage email, web-surf, and watch YouTube videos. I wouldn’t have been able to do that with the iPad for one simple reason: the iPad wouldn’t have come with me on a trip to the mall in the first place.If you look at the Tab and compare the screen size to the iPad, it’s easy to think there’s little difference between the two: one has a 7-inch display and one has a 9.7-inch display, right? But in actuality, the Galaxy Tab is half the size of an iPad, making it far easier to tote around and use while standing or walking. As an aside: the difference in icon size is negligible and icons on my iPod touch are actually smaller than those of the Tab, so Apple’s “sandpaper down your fingers†to use a 7-inch tablet argument is a fallacy in my opinion.Compromises Must Be MadeThe iPad surely wins out on the breadth of application choices, media content availability and overall polish of the user interface. But it’s difficult to quantify that advantage. Is the iPad twice as good as the Tab or is it just a little better? Obviously, the answer will vary for each person, but after a month with the Tab, I find that what it lacks in functionality or ease-of-use is more than offset by the portability for me. And in some cases, the Tab has more functionality than the current iPad; it acts as a mobile hotspot to share the 3G data connection and can accept the microSD card filled with music from my smartphone, for example.For my needs, both devices work perfectly fine for email, web surfing, occasional gaming, using social networks and other bite-sized activities that don’t require a full-blown desktop operating system. Yes, there are more apps for iOS and even when an app is available on both platforms, I often like the iOS version slightly more than its Android equivalent. But to think the Tab is unusable as compared to an iOS device is overstating the difference.I’m willing to give up a smidge of usability or a wider array of software to gain the ability to easily use the device everywhere I go. It’s this very concept that makes the smartphone so enabling, regardless of make, model or platform: the ability to be connected everywhere is what’s driving the mobile revolution forward. In fact, I’m actually using my Android smartphone less as well. The Tab does all of the same things as my Nexus One, but on a larger, higher-resolution screen, making for a better overall experience.Engadget Reader80May 17, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader60May 15, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This was my first Android device. Probably won't be the last, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I ended up returning the Tab after a few weeks with it. The problems were numerous. 1.) This is the most egregious. The Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi is dramatically lower spec'd than its 3G counterparts. Therefore, every review you can find online does not apply. It has an older generation processor (Arm v7 vs. Arm v8), the graphics processor is also a generation behind and dramatically lower in speed (530 vs. the 540). What does this mean to non tech geeks? The buttery smooth performance you see in reviews for the earlier Tabs is replaced by slow scrolling in webpages, the homescreen taking several seconds to work when you rotate the device, and games simply not working. I couldn't believe Samsung would completely cripple the device like this but a casual glance at the product page produces this gem "features and specifications subject to change without prior notification". It is absolutely insane a major tech company has that disclaimer on a product page, and the fact they don't advertise the radical difference between the devices is shameful. 2.) Another major consequence is one of the coolest features of the 3G Tabs is not present here, HDMI out. HDMI out does not work on the Wi-Fi only version. Probably a result of Sammy putting the Wi-Fi only Tab a generation behind the 3G version. 3.) Finally, this really cemented my decision to return it. I can handle the inferior performance, grudgingly, but I can take it. I can't handle the fact that this device is Wi-Fi only and it doesn't properly connect to Wi-Fi. When I first got the device I had trouble connecting it to networks. After resetting it like 5 times and assigning a static IP address to it, it finally randomly worked. Then, after a couple of weeks and no change on my part I got the same connection problems! Now, after a few more resets, I finally had it. Less you think its just me, google Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi problems and marvel at how widespread they are. Simply put, Samsung is launching new tablets next month (June 8th), and they've clearly given up on the current Tab despite it launching only a couple of weeks ago. Save your money and wait, I promise you this device will only bring frustration.Engadget Reader90May 15, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90February 18, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90February 7, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This is my wife's primary tablet, secondary to her Laptop and her Android 3g Froyo Phone. She loves it, I also love it. Lots of apps in android marketplace, Froyo may not be "ideal" or "perfect" for a tablet, but is plenty powerful and speedy and supports new hardware. All in a all I am very happy with this tablet and would recommend it. It is not as gorgeous as my iPad, but it probably can do a bit more. Cameras, expandable memory, Flash 10.2, GPS, Google Voice Search, Smaller for better battery life all are exceptional features for this sub 300 dollar tablet. BTW- Purchased w Tmobile 3G data plan, in CT. 3G so good so far, wifi works like a dream. A bit better wifi range than my ipad. Nice device to have.Engadget Reader90December 3, 2010Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I recently bought this as an upgrade to Dells 5 inch tablet, the Streak. Although an excellent little device, the Streak didn't differentiate itself enough and seemed to me to be simply a large phone. Wanting more, I checked out the recent Android tablet releases and eventually chose the Galaxy Tab after seeing the performance of my wife's Galaxy-S phone compared to my Nexus One. The Tab has some great features and is a great size when it comes to partability and connectivity. 3D gaming performance is stellar, the camera is good enough and music + video playback are perfect. Another feature I've already found a use for the mobile hotspot feature when our home broadband went down recently. Android application compatibility is good although it initially didn't run some apps full screen until I used the "spare parts" compatibility fix posted on jkkmobile. This is definitely worth considering if someone wants an Android based tablet or simple a smaller tablet that is more portable than the iPad, the Archos 10.1 or the Advent Vega.Engadget Reader90November 17, 2010Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100October 28, 2010Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - Engadget
Key Specs
FORM FACTOR
Tablet
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android
SCREEN SIZE
722
STORAGE TYPE
Internal, Memory card
CAMERA (INTEGRATED)
Yes
MAXIMUM BATTERY LIFE
Up to 2520
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