It isn’t just phones that make up the
Galaxy range, Samsung also offers a wide variety of high-quality tablets.
Here’s our pick of the best compact Galaxy versions.
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
Design & build
The entire device uses a unibody plastic
chassis to hide its innards. It doesn’t have a premium feel to it and it’s
ridiculously finger print friendly, although the curved edges are a nice touch.
Galaxy
Tab 2 7.0
Display
For its size, the 1,024 x 600 resolution on
the Tab 2 7.0 does a decent job at highlighting colors and making text
readable. The 170ppi means you’ll come across some jagged edges occasionally.
Power & performance
One of the clear benefits of having a
smaller tablet, is that you can usually rely on a fairly nippy device, and with
the 1H2 dual-core processor, the Tab 2 7.0 handles most tasks well.
Features
All the standard tablet features are
included on the Tab 2 7.0, alongside a slightly altered version of TouchWiz in
TouchWiz UX. It also runs Jelly Bean in its tablet optimized form.
Ecosystem & apps
There’s a plethora of Google apps on the
Tab 2 7.0 straight out of the box, with access also available to both Google
Play and a selection of mini apps for everyday tasks.
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 specifications
·
OS Version: Android 4.1
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Processor: Dual-core 1GHz
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Graphics: PowerVR SGX540
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RAM: 1GB RAM
·
Camera: 3.15-megapixel
·
Weight: 345g
·
Resolution: 600 x 1,024
·
Pixel density: 170ppi
·
Best for: Portability
·
Worst for: Build Quality
Galaxy Note 8.0
Design & build
What really makes the Note 8.0 stand out
from the crowd of other Galaxy tablets is just how curved each side of it is.
It feels good in hand and the inclusion of the S Pen port is a nice addition.
Display
Samsung has done a good job at bringing a
quality screen to the Note 8.0. Although the TFT touchscreen might seem a
little basic to some, the 189ppi pixel density makes things look crisp.
Galaxy
Note 8.0
Power & performance
After prolonged use of the Note 8.0, you
can really begin to appreciate the power of the tablet, partly in thanks to the
1.6GHz quad-core processor and also the 2GB of RAM running in the background.
Features
The most noticeable feature of the Note 8.0
is the accompanying S Pen which can be used in conjunction with a variety of
the standard Samsung apps that come with the Note 8.0.
Ecosystem & apps
As well as the usual selection of Google
and Samsung apps, the Note 8.0 comes pre-loaded with the full Polaris Office
suite, as well as a great organization tool called Awesome Note.
Galaxy Note 8.0 specifications
·
OS Version: Android 4.1.2
·
Processor: Quad-core 1.6GHz
·
Graphics: Mali-400MP
·
RAM: 2GB
·
Camera: Five-megapixel
·
Weight: 338g
·
Resolution: 800 x 1,280
·
Pixel density: 189ppi
·
Best for: Editing documents
·
Worst for: Standout features
Galaxy Tab 8.9
Design & build
Despite its size, the Tab 8.9 feels light
when carrying it, but this is also aided by its remarkable thinness. There’s
the usual plastic chassis, but a nice metallic plate across the back.
Galaxy
Tab 8.9
Display
The smaller screen of the Tab 8.9 includes
a crisp 800 x 1,280 resolution that has a pixel density of 170ppi. There are
still plenty of jagged edges around, but it isn’t that noticeable.
Power & performance
Being one of the oldest of the Galaxy
tablets certainly doesn’t help the Tab 8.9 in this department. The 1.0GHz
dual-core processor is pretty slow for a tablet of its size.
Features
Multi-tasking is a massive part of what
makes the Tab 8.9 a truly unique tablet. The variety of mini apps included on
the Tab 8.9 can be moved around to provide a more accessible app drawer.
Ecosystem & apps
Although there isn’t much to really make
the Tab 8.9 stand out from the crowd, it does include a variety of Samsung Hubs
which are suited to it, with Social Hub being a particular highlight.
Galaxy Tab 8.9 specifications
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OS Version: Android 3.0
·
Processor: Dual-core 1.0GHz
·
Graphics: Mali-400MP
·
RAM: 1GB
·
Camera: Eight-megapixel
·
Weight: 453g
·
Resolution: 800 x 1,280
·
Pixel density: 170ppi
·
Best for: Multi-Tasking
·
Worst for: Demanding Apps
