The tablet market is dynamic, to say the least; manufacturers have to be on the cusp of adapting to consumer demands and Samsung even decided to push back the release date of this tab after its unveiling; they re-engineered it in order to compete with its rivals. So, was the “11th”-hour re-work worth it?
There is no doubt that the engine tune-up was a clever idea, but tablets aren’t only defined by pure raw power.
They dropped the ball with the poor resolution (800 x 1280 pixels); direct competitors are packing their devices with Full HD screens – this is a major oversight for the Korean company.
They have however scored with the redesigned S Pen stylus, which brings new life to the user interface; far more comfortable and responsive than its predecessor on the 5.3” Note – it’s an awesome tool. The device packed with tons of features and ability to run third-party apps.
The Note 10.1” is a powerful device that will easily be able to perform all of the tasks expected from a tablet.
Key specs
- 10.1” PLS capacitive touchscreen
- Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels
- Primary camera: 5 MP, autofocus, LED flash
- 9 MP front-facing camera
- OS: Android OS, v4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Exynos 4412 Quad chipset
- CPU: Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
- Video: 720p
- microSD dedicated slot (expandable up to 64 GB)
- 2 GB RAM
- Storage capacity: 32 GB
- Bluetooth: 0, A2DP
- Non-removable Li-Ion 7000 mAh battery
- Up to 33 h 20 min talk time
Pros: S Pen stylus; Quad-core CPU; split-screen capability
Cons: Sub-par display; average camera; plastic frames; a lot of bloatware
Verdict: 6/10
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1” 32 GB Tablet with Wi-Fi and 3G available for R4,999