Having already handled the 5.3inch Galaxy Note, I was definitely looking forward to the reviewing the bigger 10.1inch Note tablet. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is one of Samsung’s first tablets with a quad-core processor and is equipped with an even better S-Pen, makes for a recipe to be one of the top high-end Android tablets. After demoing it off at its launch event, I was able to take it home and really test it out. And with further testing I seek to answer the question: Is there any room in the tablet market for a tablet w/ a stylus? Find out below.
For a tablet of this size, it is definitely lightweight thanks to the plastic build Samsung typically uses. Only weighing 1.31lbs, it is actually lighter than the latest iPad by 0.13lbs on the scale. Being not so heavy w/ a big screen is something consumers will appreciate.
Pop-up play is a feature last seen on the Galaxy S III and is present here on the new Note. With about 5.3 more inches than Samsung’s latest smartphone, you can definitely appreciate the feature with more display at your disposal. And just like on the SIII, Pop-up play works without a hiccup when moving the video, opening apps, etc. The video plays without stuttering at all. The only time there was a delay was when I brought the video back to full screen. Pop-up play should be the new way to watch video on all devices (Android & others). So everyone can watch video & send a message at the same damn time.
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| Photoshop Touch in action |
Photoshop Touch is a nice software addition as well. Definitely adds to S Memo for the wanted stylus use. The Peel app turns your note into a 10.1inch universal remote. A welcomed feature as always from Samsung.
The Note 10.1 uses a 7000 mAh battery (actually the same one from the Galaxy Tab 10.1) which offers great battery life for tablet users. Consistent use of media, browser, & doodling will get you a little over 8 hours. Moderate usage will easily get over 2 days of juice with no problem. Which shouldn’t be an issue for majority of users.
As big as the Note 10.1 is, the LCD display does attract more fingerprints than I would like it to. Samsung should have definitely shipped a microfiber cloth along with it. It’s not extremely terrible but noticeable. The display is also pretty average and you can easily see it.
Dual-multitasking sounds good in theory but for some reason, it isn’t executed properly. There is a noticeable delay when jumping back-and-forth between screens. My guess is that it is a software-related issue as this tablet is using a quad-core chipset & carrying 2GB of RAM. Since its one Samsung big selling points, would have loved to it work seamlessly.
Although the new Note is sporting a 5MP rear-facing camera, don’t expect the best results. This is nowhere near the optic performance you would see on the iPad’s 5MP shooter. In well-lit macro shots I got great results. Everything else came out with a slight blur & needed some serious sharpening to the image. I didn’t have high hopes but expected better than this.
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| Galaxy Note 10.1 camera shots |
Samsung has gone and made some improvements on the S-Pen as it now looks more like a stylus but behaves more like a real pen. The S-Pen now pressure sensitive where it now write thinner lines when applying light pressure & thicker lines when adding more pressure. Making writing & drawing more organic with its use. The button on the S-Pen still takes screenshots as an alternative to the actual screenshot button. Samsung didn’t allow for the ability to hand write messages I guess since this is a Wi-Fi only tablet, that would have made the Note 10.1 even better. S-Pen usage is limited to select apps like Photoshop Touch, S Memo, & Crayon Physics to use free hand, other than that you can draw over screenshots & photos. More use of the stylus would have been welcomed but most will be complacent with what it can do.
According to the specs, the Note 10.1 sounds like a Galaxy Tab 10.1 with stylus capabilities & new software tweaks. Theoretically, that is true but with all its abilities, it feels like a completely new device. Giving the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a stylus makes all the sense in the world. The Note 10.1 offers several features the iPad and other competitors can’t match. But unfortunately, they all don’t work as advertised (specifically the dual-screen multitasking). That doesn’t mean that this is a terrible tablet. It is still a good tablet overall. Samsung mentioned at the unveiling that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will make its way to the new Note before the end of the year. Just in case that was a factor to you.
This will cater to students, business, and the creative crowd. Average consumers can easily enjoy this as well but not sure if this would be something that catches their eye. I hope Samsung can fix the bugs to make it run a little smoother.
This is a tough call. Retailing at $499.99 for the 16GB and $549.99 for the 32GB maybe a hard sell as the Galaxy Note 10.1 may not appeal to everyone across the board. Some may feel compelled to look elsewhere for a better buy like the ASUS Transformer Pad or the iPad 2 which is a little cheaper but subtracts the stylus support. If your use of the stylus will justify your hard-earned $$$, go for it. If not, seek out the alternatives suggested above.
