Event Coverage

Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 & Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

By Wong Casandra - 1 Mar 2012

Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 & Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Hands-on: Samsung Note 10.1 & Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Samsung has been churning out tablets after tablets over the last two years, and the MWC event saw no exception despite not holding any conference this year. The debut of two new 10.1-inch Samsung tablets will hopefully present customers with more options and adds to the plethora of Android 4.0 tablet devices that have made their presence known at the trade show.

The Samsung Note 10.1 is evidently more specialized out of the two, harnessing on the S Note technology to provide users with easy editing and note-taking options. This technology first surfaced in Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note smartphone; the bigger form factor will definitely attract those who require a bigger surface area for sketching and intensive editing. This is why the Galaxy Note 10.1 will come with Adobe Photoshop Touch and Adobe Ideas out-of-the-box, advanced apps that allow users to make extensive edits and apply effects. The latter is a drawing tool that will allow users to sketch and color their images. Both apps are optimized for usage with the S Pen.

We see the Galaxy Note 10.1 as a potential breakthrough for educators, students and those specializing in design, and this is unsurprisingly the direction that Samsung is looking at. No details have been revealed about its price and release date thus far, but we reckon that it wouldn't be released too far apart from the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 comes hot on its 7-inch variant's heel (which was announced earlier this month); the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and 7 are available in 3G and Wi-Fi versions. Starting from UK, the Galaxy Tab 2 series will be launched globally from March onwards. The device is targeted at "home and family use" as opposed to Galaxy Note 10.1's more elaborate S Note set-up.

Despite that, both tablets share very similar hardware specs and dimensions.

 Important Features

Highlights of Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1/ Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
Operating System
  • Google Android 4.0
  • Google Android 4.0
Processor
  • 1.4 GHz Dual-Core Processor
  •  1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Memory
  • 1GB RAM / 8/16/32GB Internal memory
  •  1GB RAM / 8/16/32GB Internal memory
Display
  • 10.1-inch WXGA (1280x800) PLS TFT screen
  • 10.1-inch WXGA (1280x800) PLS TFT screen
Camera
  • 3MP rear-camera
  • 2MP front camera
  • 3MP rear-camera
  • VGA front camera
Battery
  • 7000 mAh
  • 7000 mAh 
Dimensions / Weight 
  • 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.9 mm
  • 583g
  • 256.6 x 175.3 x 9.7 mm
  • 588g
     


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1


The plasticky Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 takes a nod from its 5.3-inch Galaxy Note smartphone cousin and showcases the S Pen technology. Unfortunately, the S Pen stylus cannot be stored within the tablet.

Apps exclusive to the 10.1-inch note-taking tablet include the S Note, S Planner, PS Touch and Adobe Ideas. The Galaxy Note 10.1 centers around the theme of note-taking and drawing/illustration as how you would on a notebook, albeit packaged within a digital experience. 

To give you a better picture of what to expect from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, here's a quick video demonstration of how the S Note, S Planner, PS Touch and Adobe Ideas work.
 


 

Samsung has redesigned the S Pen for the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be more sensitive to pressure than the Galaxy Note, which makes for a highly organic drawing experience.

The device is extremely thin at 8.9mm and is slightly slimmer than the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (9.7mm).

While we liked the rounded edges of the Galaxy Note 10.1 as they provided us with a good grip, we can't say the same for the glossy back that Samsung has opted for. As you can see, it is unfortunately not free from unsightly fingerprints.
 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
  
 

If we were to be very honest, it is pretty hard to tell which is which: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 or the Galaxy Note 10.1. However, the former comes in a light shade of grey and does not showcase Galaxy Note-related apps.

Ports and various card compartments are laid exactly like how they are on the Galaxy Note 10.1 as well.

All nice and clean - we must say that we definitely prefer the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1's less glossy back.

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