Samsung Galaxy Tab review

Samsung's eagerly anticipated Android tablet is finally here, but it doesn't live up to all the hype. Read our in-depth review to find out why.

IT Pro Verdict

We wanted to like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, hoping it would have all the strengths of the Pad, but none of its weaknesses. We loved its slender, lightweight and attractive design. The microSD card slot is undeniably useful. The bundled apps, although rough around the edges, allow you to get real work done. Unfortunately, the sluggishness of the touchscreen interface, as well as some badly designed features such as copy and paste, can make the Tab infuriatingly frustrating to use, especially when compared to the iPad. It’s all the more frustrating given the Tab’s powerful 1GHz processor and ample RAM. You may be nonetheless still be tempted by the Tab’s slender and lightweight build, but we can’t recommend it wholeheartedly - especially as it’s no cheaper than the 16GB 3G iPad. We’d recommend waiting for a software update, perhaps the upcoming Android 3.0 Gingerbread operating system due next year, to fix the Tab’s software issues before buying. If you must have a tablet now, the iPad is still better, despite its own flaws.

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There aren't any USB ports, but there is a microSDHC memory card slot for adding more storage if the integrated 16GB isn't enough. There's also a SIM card slot, since the Tab has integrated 3G in addition to WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0. The Tab can also be used as a phone, although it's unlikely to be used for making calls regularly due to its size. It's a potentially useful option to have when paired with a Bluetooth headset though. Sadly, there's no HDMI port for display videos or PowerPoint presentations on an external display or projector.

Unlike the other tablets we've seen so far, the Tab has two cameras, a three-megapixel forward facing camera and a 1.3 megapixel forward facing camera. The Tab can place video calls to other Tab users over 3G, so you need a suitable mobile contract, but we couldn't get this to work in our tests, either by calling other Tab users or anyone else. Disappointingly, other Android apps, such as Skype, didn't seem able to work with the Tab's cameras either.

The cameras can of course be used to take photos and record videos. The rear camera has a bright flash for illuminating dark rooms. Although the results are good enough for sharing on Facebook, the quality is unimpressive compared to most modern smartphones and camera phones. The rear-facing camera may be of more use when used with augmented reality apps.

A USB charger is included in the box, but the Tab doesn't use a standard USB cable. It uses a proprietary USB cable with a plug that resembles the dock connector on the iPhone. You'll want to carry the Samsung charger with you on long trips too. Although the Tab will charge when plugged into computers or third party USB chargers, it charges much faster when plugged into the Samsung charger.

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