Samsung Galaxy Tab vs. Apple iPad: Specs Compared

September 3, 2010 By Nick Mokey

See Samsung’s up-and-coming Android tablet measured up next to the reigning champ, as we compare Samsung’s Galaxy Tab vs. the Apple iPad from a specifications perspective.

What the heck is a tablet computer?

Mainstream America might never have known before Apple bushwhacked its way through technical barriers, misconceptions and skeptics stake its claim on tablet computing with the iPad. The breakthrough tablet, which Apple still struggles to keep in stock, dodged mistakes made by previous tablets by making computing with your fingers easy, relatively inexpensive , and above all, fun.

But no company can dominate an entire market forever – even one that essentially created it. Having eyed Apple enviously for months, other companies are now attempting to elbow their way in on the tablet space. And Samsung is among the first to the table with the Galaxy Tab. Can the supersized version of the company’s successful Galaxy S smartphones compete? We stacked it side by side with the Apple iPad to find out.

Size

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab

No denying it: The iPad is a bit of a heifer. By laptop dimensions, 1.5 pounds sounds phenomenally light, but hold it in your hands for a while, and you’ll realize a 1.5-pound book starts to feel heavy fast. The Samsung Galaxy Tab drops weight to just 0.84 pounds, while shrinking by several inches in width and height as well, due to the smaller screen.

Price

Winner: To be determined

Apple shocked audiences at its iPad launch by announcing that the cheapest iPad would go for only $499, making it one of the most affordable items in the Apple catalog. While we still don’t have full pricing information for the Galaxy Tab, rumors suggest it may be equal or potentially even higher. Rumors have pointed to €699 ($890) for the 16GB version and €799 ($1,020) for the 32GB version, and converting the pre-tax Swedish price puts it around $930. But since it’s all complete hear-say for the moment, it remains to be seen whether the Galaxy Tab will really arrive at a competitive price point.

Speed

Winner: Draw

Comparing the Apple iPad and Galaxy Tab in the speed department at this point is a lot like comparing identical twins on the track: Clearly, one must be faster, but you know they’re going to be neck and neck, and they’ve yet to race. Apple’s A4 processor is derived from the same A8 Cortex CPU the Galaxy Tab uses, so they’re essentially family. In our comparison of the iPhone 4 and A8-powered Captivate, we had to declare a draw considering both seemed to excel in different areas. We’ll do the same here.

Screen

Winner: Apple iPad

As far as LCD screens go, the iPad sports one of the best in the business. Besides efficient LED backlighting and a generous 9.7-inch span, it uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology, which gives it a viewing angle unrivalled by the cheaper twisted-nematic (TN) screens used in most other devices. The Galaxy Tab offers a 16:9 display ratio, which is preferable for watching movies, but it also reduces resolution (from 1024 x 768 on the iPad to just 1024 x 600) and shrinks to just 7 inches across. Less resolution, smaller size, and inferior technology? I think we know which we would prefer to watch last week’s Mad Men on, thank you.

Apps

Winner: Apple iPad

At present, Apple’s App Store contains over 25,000 iPad apps, and it can also leverage any of the 225,000 iPhone apps available. Even if all 70,000 smartphone apps in the Android market play nicely with Galaxy Tab, it will remain at a severe disadvantage beside the iPad just by virtue of sheer volume. Worse, developers can be expected to develop tablet-optimized Android apps when the size and specs on each Android tablet will vary.

Storage

Winner: Draw

Samsung matches the middle-of-the-line Apple iPad with 32GB of internal storage, and leaves room to match the king-sized 64GB version with a microSD slot capable of tacking on another 32GB – if you can afford the card. Which sets you up with the memory you need for cheaper? Until we know the price on the Samsung, it’s a draw, but Apple’s propensity to overcharge for memory and the continually dropping price of SD cards suggests the Galaxy Tab will be the victor.

Camera

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab

How did Apple miss the boat on adding a camera to the iPad? You’ll have to ask Steve Jobs, but Samsung apparently has itself put together a little better. The Galaxy Tab includes both a 3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing cam for videoconferencing. It will even capture 720p HD video. Samsung 1, Apple 0.

Connectivity

Winner: To be determined

We certainly can’t muster much praise for Apple’s choice to marry the iPad to AT&T, but we still have not a clue which carriers will pick up the Galaxy Tab. Rumors seem to swing from Verizon to Sprint and back again, even swaying into 4G territory now and then, but nothing is for certain. 4G connectivity would certainly net the Galaxy a win here, but until we know, it’s a draw.

Battery

Winner: Apple iPad

Samsung hasn’t released full details on battery life from the Galaxy Tab just yet, but from what we know so far, the iPad looks like a winner here. The company claims its 4,000mAh battery will give the Tab seven hours of video playback, while Apple claims the iPad can do 10 – a claim we verified in our own testing. While that’s only one aspect of performance, we’re giving it to Apple until Samsung can defy expectations and outsurf or outread the long-lasting iPad.

Media Support

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab

How can any device hope to compete with Apple’s legacy when it comes to music and video? Well, Flash, for one. The Galaxy Tab will support it, while the iPad infamously will not. Along the same lines, Samsung claims it will handle formats such as DivX, Xvid and WMV that the iPad does not natively support.

Conclusion

On the surface, Samsung’s Galaxy is merely a smaller iPad running Android. And truth be told, we doubt it will offer much temptation to current iPad users, who are probably too busy luxuriating in 25,000 iPad-optimized apps to notice. But look a little deeper, and you’ll find some important reasons not to dismiss the Galaxy Tab altogether. It takes photos. It videoconferences. It plays content – including Flash content – that the iPad will not.

For iPad bystanders who dislike the idea of buying into Apple’s closed ecosystem, those make some compelling points. If Samsung can manage to position the Tab on a superior network – like Verizon – and sell it at a competitive price point, it may present iPad naysayers a genuine alternative. But with those pivotal last points still question marks, we’ll save our pick for overall winner until we have the full picture.

Showing 122 comments

sukarno2 at 7:22am 6th March 2011 Ipad is not a tablet pc,Galaxy tab is a tablet pc due to the size.why should people buy the ipad if they already have a laptop or 10 in netbook,do you know what happen if you use ipad for long hours,(not a friendly user)there is many feedback saying that they have a neck problem when using ipad for long hours,this problem not going to happen when you using laptop or netbook..so ipad is not a tablet pc due to the size just same like 10 in netbook and it not portable.Ipad and tab is diffrent pc.People who buy ipad is a people easily influnce by media and Apple itself but dont know what is actual reason they buy the ipad..just follow the trend for nothing.the people who buy the ipad is the loser and apple is the winner.Look back..how much money this people spend for apple product since ipod ..iphone..now ipad and ipad 2 is nothing much diffrent with first ipad excpt camera.Correction to mr STEVE JOB"Ipad is thinner,lighter and faster what he mean is His body is getting thinner,lighter and getting faster to die,6 week to go"sorry mr job that the fact
Maria Myrback at 8:25pm 23rd February 2011 The iPad does NOT have a better screen.the quality is worse.The tab screen is more crisp and vivid. Hubby has an iPad and is replacing it with the Tab even after the upgrade. The Tab, after having used both, is a better device. I use mine for work when I'm away from my laptop. It fits perfectly in a purse or cargo pants pocket. Can't do that with an iPad.
Pamela J. Dycks at 8:28am 20th February 2011 I guess these are old comments because the Galaxy is priced at $499.00 and if you get the service with Sprint, they will send you a $250.00 card, so you will only be paying $299.00 for the Galaxy. Sorry but I'm going with the Galaxy.
james braselton at 10:12am 6th February 2011 hi there wow ipad now has 64 plus a 32 gb sdhc card wich is a toatal 96 gb flash memory wich is aproching most hard drives but way faster read write speeds hard drive futuer is verge of extention
AeyKay at 11:54am 5th February 2011 Samsung has solved all my concern, i can't carry my Dell everywhere, i dont want 1 kg ipad in my hand when i goto bed to browse books n reading. Samsung has double the RAM of iPad, multitasking feature, flash enabled so u can watch all kinds of videos, supports all video formats, voice recognition... e.g., my little son taps on browser and shouts tom and jerry, n it give search results for tom & jerry... video chat is simple n fantastic... while on picnic u can click any snap... or make a video without desparately searching for a camera in bag
AeyKay at 11:53am 5th February 2011 Samsung Tab is beyond doubt much better than iPad. iPad is for dumb people, who dont want to agree and understand technical advantages. If you dont have any laptop or desktop at home, then i would suggest buy iPad that may suffice ur minimal requirement and carry some external hard drive, web cam, camera, phone, ebook reader, some fruits (as u r carrying almost 900 grams with cover).... and may be another small laptop as u won't b able to see flash content in iPad. Comment continued...
tomtom at 2:21am 3rd February 2011 Just so anyone knows. I bought the Samsung Galaxy s Captivate Android phone about 2 months ago and it is superior to the I phone 4 which is also in my household. I will say that my phone is a basic exact replica of the tablet as far as I can see, just smaller. And I do know that Apple uses parts that are made by Samsung for there tablet.. I do agree that apple is a major player in this game, as I do own and love some of there products, but I am not going to play the little whos trendy game that everyone likes to play with apple. I wish people would learn how to make there own opinion
Apache at 11:30pm 30th January 2011 Agree.. Apple is the Gorilla n everyone plays catch up...it is almost telepathic that apple gets it right the very first time n the competetion takes 20 tries to reach it and by then Apple has the next version ready...Whats the point of getting a tablet if its as big or slightly bigger than my phone? I want it to look like a tablet PC...Smaller than my laptop and bigger than my phone...thats where it fits in...and Marlon Brando has his quirks..So does Apple !! I love the Ipad coz it slots exactly where i intend it to, between my lappie n phone.
1. Hero Hernandez at 1:10am 31st March 2011 are you sure?? "gets it right the very first time" c'mon.. the measly Nokia has had multi-tasking since ages...and, what?? you can't even have it on the very 1st Iphone?? what?? no copy/paste either?? front-facing camera is the...err...is missing also... YEAH RIGHT! THEY GOT IT RIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME! Don't mistake me to be a hater that hasn't touched/owned an apple product. Both my folks owns an iphone, (my dad with iphone4, and my mom, iphone3gs). And it sucked. True, it is some damn sexy unit, but when push comes to shove, they go back to Nokia for productivity. You wouldn't have to be tied down to itunes to open files to your pc...
BEEEEFY at 6:29pm 11th January 2011 What a bunch of wanna be geeks! Hahhahaha! Will the real consumers please stand up! The Galaxy is just that...out of this world!! Rock on wicha bad self Samsung!!
star yun at 11:06am 4th January 2011 At first I bought the ipad... highly dissapointed. I traded it in and got the samsung galaxy tab and was highly impressed :). It does all the features and its small enough to not be such a hassle to carry, not to mention it sleek design. Apple is just getting old for me.
Cedric at 5:39am 3rd January 2011 Now I know what is the best for me i am not looking for a price i'll go with quality w/ standards. I'll go with Samsung Galaxy Tab!
freethinker at 2:53am 27th December 2010 andorid is a better OS compared to ipad's conservative OS. with android you can do alot of tweaks and modifications, however in apple you are caged to whatever they have created.
momo at 2:10pm 24th December 2010 Thank you for your Post. It is wonderful, i made a review the same review which is ideally the same somehow. Why dont you head over on it at http://iphonefuze.com/apple-ipad-vs-the-samsung-g...
rishabh at 2:07am 22nd December 2010 ipad suks infront of galaxy tab
olie at 9:06pm 14th December 2010 I bought the samsung galaxy tab recently. I am happy to explore the new platform which enable me to do almost everything. This is amazing experience. Now samsung galaxy has become a must bring item for me.
Neo Tekkie at 8:44pm 14th December 2010 Edgar, You sound like a hater, more interested in putting people down to make yourself look smarter. I think you should get over the "I hate everything Apple" schtick. Do you do that just to be cool? Have you ever owned or used an iPad? Does it impress your friends that don't have tablets, either? If you don't like it - don't buy it! If people let their money (purchases) do the talking, we'll soon see who is best and who survives. You sound so "middle-school".
J Man at 9:39pm 7th December 2010 HAHAHAHAH!
Pedro a at 3:26pm 7th December 2010 Microsoft office work on g pad ? Coz am using iPad now and I receive a lot of attachments every day so I always leave my iPad and go to the laptop ,,,
JAB at 10:09am 7th December 2010 The size of the device is the preference of the user, and it is up to the user to determine what is too big or small. I prefer the larger apple screen for reading and remoting into other computers. The problem with the new Andriod based tablets is the OS is not ready for them, and google has stated this (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20016085-260.html). The manufacturers, i.e. Dell, Samsung, etc.. are not listening the OS manufacturer and this is a problem. It appears they do not care if they send a flawed device to market. This is what has made Apple successful. Controlling the overall product design and the application development helps maintain the product quality. -Having a Camera or not? -I really don't care if my iPad has a camera. I have a Canon EOS that takes great pictures. -Adobe Flash? Adobe products are some of the most vulnerable products out there and need constant updates. I prefer the Apple approach regarding Flash. Develop toward the HTML5 standard instead of a leveraging a flawed product. - Business use? Don't think Apple is targeting the business community for the iPad. Regarding the original tablets, they were crap and did not function properly. Where I work, we abandoned the HP Tablets along time ago. For all of the Apple haters, "Get a life". With your statements, you have never really used an Apple product.
1. EdgarRB at 10:29am 8th December 2010 Ummm.. yeah. Just wait another year before Jobs decides his little cult HQ needs another coat of paint, and just like that he's going to output yet another iPad, THIS one with a camera!! And Fanbois will wait in line and lap it up like the zombies they are.. But wait! That's not all!! Jobs isn't done bleeding his cult yet, and just like that, BAM! Another iPad, THIS will support Phone Calls!!! And the Apple Tards will line up to be bled. But Oh Noez!! Steve has had an epiphany!! And just like like that, BAM!! An iPad WITH Adobe Flash support, AND directed to a Business Oriented Consumer, and the Fantards will once again, gleefully grab their ankles. And if you don't think Jobs doesn't have plans to include things as technically trivial vid conferencing capabilities, Adobe Flash, and Business orientation, then it's no wonder you enjoy backing up to Apple so much. But you have a nice day. ;-D
  1. JAB at 8:18pm 14th December 2010 EdgarRB your an ass who knows absolutely nothing about technology. Jobs has already stated before that he will not support flash on the iOS platform. Get your facts straight before you make your feebleminded statements. People wait in line for a product that works as advertised, not some piece of garbage with a bastardized os. Seems like you have your hands around your ankles taking the high hard one from google. For your knowledge, Apple-1 was the first mass produced computer on the market. If was not for companies like apple and people like Steve jobs who knows where the computer industry would. So stop being a dick because the only tard here is you. Pedro my iPad opens office docs with no problem. I doubt you have an iPad with such a statement. Post Written on an iPad
vmakunhi at 9:03am 3rd December 2010 I pad is Ipad. Samsung is Samsung Galexy, two different nationalities looks in two different way of culture in design and functions. every newcomer comes with shortcomings and struggle to survive it. I pad is clearly oversized, and samsung glaxy is pocket-elegant design. touch features, not to mention it. Samsung still have rooms to ease the response features. And I pad should come in the size of Galxy with 5 mg pixel camera then things will change into marvelous to say winners is apple. otherwise, both products move in the market according to buyers perception. that is it.
Fred at 10:36pm 28th November 2010 well i just got the samsung tab, and honestly, i hate it. Yeah, they say it has front facing camera, but only use it has is to take pictures of yourself. You cant use it for video conference, skype, msn, yahoo blocked the video feature. Most of the apps crash, sometimes even crashing the whole device. And now that i have an android device, i have to change my mind about the close enviroment of apple, i didnt agree with it, but hey, i didnt expect so many crappy apps, half done from the android market. Im actually returning it tomorrow and getting the ipad on verizon with the MiFi. It is a pitty that android ruined such a good device. And then, makes you wonder why the big names wont fully support the plataform. Very disappointed
kil at 6:57am 27th November 2010 i think tht the galaxy has excellent features compared to ipad...lets get the device rock it...
James at 11:13pm 26th November 2010 I'm over here in Korea. iPads and Galaxy Pads are everywhere. Out of pocket,the cheaper Galaxy reigns supreme amongst the younger crowd. Cameras, ability to play different types of media, etc. all play a big role in their decision of the Galaxy purchase (along with the fact that famous K-pop groups push them in commercials. Apple has a scarce marketing campaign here). For the youngsters who have Apple products, most have had their products jailbroken (jump into any train and look over a college kid's shoulder. You'll see what I mean). Yes, they've already figured out how to break the iPad in the short time since it's release in this country. I've asked several Galaxy pad users (young and old) if they like what they're holding. Most of them said they do but would love an iPad. It's too expensive though in Korea. One user replied that the Galaxy was just another kick ass upgraded, DMB player in his eyes. The unmodified iPad users that I did run into loved their product but weren't used to how apple operates. Amongst the older crowds, there seems to be an even mix of Galaxy and iPad users. I asked one businessman why he chose the iPad and he had no particular reason other than the fact that his secretary had one. Why did I go around getting a poll on iPads and Galaxy Pads? I couldn't decide on either one. I ended up buying both. Each one has its perks. Each one pisses me off. In the end, it all depends on what you're using it for. If you're looking for an all-in-one entertainment gizmo that plays different types of media, takes photos on the fly, etc... go for the Galaxy. All others, go Apple.
A. Sabzali at 8:40am 24th November 2010 Talking about comparition .. why apple lets you buy alot of accessories with any device that you buy !! for the i pad you need to jailbreak .. get an external camera and maybe external HDD ...etc. as the i phone the first thing you need to do to get car charger and potable charger with you every where as the battery will not last for half day ! just make your products worth the money and am sure you will win the market.
iManFan at 5:08am 18th November 2010 If only we could mix the 2 together. I like my iPad however disabled it may be. (No Flash and No Silverlight) I am no fan of Apple - Android - or Microsoft or any other O/S. I am stuck with what is available - When the Samsung Galaxy Tablet is released here I will consider it's merits then. It's personal choice and most importantly value for money.
Jerry at 1:29pm 15th November 2010 I am sorry, but this is most stupid comparison. You compare Size, but you talk about weight. You need to proof read your comparison before you publish in a hurry.
gadget lover at 11:05pm 14th November 2010 Well..actually both have their own advantages..if you have an iphone at home then choose samsung galaxy..it is also the other way round..Healthy challenge between the two giants organizations is an advantage for us as user..and we also hope they come out with better products for us.. I have both and I am happy with both..both serve me great..
1. raviiii at 6:40am 17th November 2010 this is 100000000000 times true and accurate try every thing in life
Fotografo Como at 2:46am 11th November 2010 It'seems that the Galaxy is a nice competitor for Ipad . Galaxy is extremely complete (Tablet + phone) and batteries are better than Ipad. Flash player is also nice. Fro me is a must I really would like to go to my clients and show them my buisness site working ( www.wedding-photographer.it )
sameold at 2:24pm 10th November 2010 They should try to stay away from copying the iPad's external design. They look awfully similar.
TDG at 8:28pm 6th November 2010 has swype - the fastest on-screen keyboard you can get too.
dandyes at 2:48am 1st November 2010 for a beginner : chose galaxy...great device.
pondsdjain at 8:00am 16th October 2010 iPhone and iPOd touch: best internet device ever! -oh, no flash? like seriously?..Ok!! Flash is crap, its a cpu hog, crashes the precious OS X, and generally kills HTML5 (which is now thebest thing since fire). Oh? Android? Motorola Droid is selling? OK!! Android is buggy, cheap... Oh? Droid and HTC Evo works fine with multitasking? OK!! multitasking on a mobile device, you idiots? And whats with that screen size? dont you know Iphone 3Gs screen is absolute perfection? a pixel low or high, then its crap Oh!! iPhone 4 is coming? and it has excact screen size of droid? OK! screen size is not a big issue, but who the freak makes a mobile phone anymore with a Front Facing Camera?? jeez you stupid idiotS!! Oh! Samsung has put 2 cameras on its tablet and iPad has None?? OK!! who the freak needs a camera in a mobile device ?? OOPs!! that went too far, lets crawl back into that warm hole.
1. pondsdjain at 8:08am 16th October 2010 in orderfor theabove joke to work, the sentence: "but who the freak makes a mobile phone anymore with a Front Facing Camera??" should be: "but who the freak makes a mobile phone anymore WITHOUT a Front Facing Camera??"
  1. jake at 4:58pm 28th October 2010 samsung company makes better products in the world market, but apple company makes worst products like ipod touch has same functions and designs like iphone does. anroid is better than apple comapany.
pondsdjain at 7:50am 16th October 2010 Using a fantastic GUI on top of FreeBSD (after failing multiple times with their own solutions) and then turn around and looking down upon Free(dom) and open architectures takes a load of hypocrisy. We (consumers) benefit from Google's need to pry the mobile internet space (advertisement and search) out of the Apples and Microsofts and into the open. a.k.a Android. Bring on Android, iOS, WebM, HTML5, Flash...we will pick and choose what we want for why we want them... go back, improve yourself and come next christmas, we will evaluate and pick again...
pondsdjain at 7:49am 16th October 2010 think about the technology that hides behind the almost blank page with 2 lines of text, a.k.a Google.com. Think about the first iPhone or iPod touch without any Google technology in them, like maps, youtube, search and email...how many of you would have bought that device? think about windows xp or vista or win7 having to run on zillions of various combinations of hardware and software, yes it fails sometime, but 91% Personal Computer market share is nothing to turn up the nose. (flames? bring it on)
pondsdjain at 7:49am 16th October 2010 I really enjoy reading comments on articles in any way related to Apple. True, they are a great company and I have a couple of Apple products myself. But jeeez!! come-on ! they are not the technology behemoth and superhuman geniuses like some people want/need to believe. And they do their business a particular way that does not gel with some people.
Joe at 5:12am 9th October 2010 A message to everyone: naysayers, don't buy a tablet if you don't want one, stop whining about others who bought an ipad for themselves that doesn't do what YOU want it to do. They didn't buy it for you, get over it, move on. If you bought an iPad with remorse and really wanted a G-tab or BB playbook that's your own damn fault. Sell it on eBay and go get the one you really wanted when they start selling them. Apple fanboys, buy an ipad if you prefer high quality components, long battery life, large screen, wide viewing angle IPS LCD, ease of use, style, moderately quality controlled apps, and if you're feeling the need for multitasking, icon customization and hacked programs, jailbreak. Oh yea, and did anyone mention iPad's and iPhones can dual boot anDroid! Best of both worlds, and impresses your friends. Now only if they can triple boot BBplaybook QNX OS. Droid fanboys, buy the G-tab if you want a smaller screen, lighter weight, half smartphone half tablet, ability to do video conferencing, SD card expandability and ability to customize out of the box. Wild West style app store, which allows a much wider variety of apps than Apple. There are definite advantages to this device, such as native ability to run android apps which allow jailbreaking of your PS3. Also it's already been announced that AT&T will carry this device with similar data plans as the iPad, so there's no real difference there. Blackberry fanboys, buy the playbook if you want raw corporate business application processing horsepower, true side by side same screen multitasking, corporate level encryption and security, videoconferencing, with some games and entertainment on the side, lighter weight, and models with multi-carrier support. RIM has a history of making global phones with CDMA/GSM/UMTS and even satellite links in their converged devices. Oh and the best part, you may even be able to expense this item to your IT dept! Try getting most IT dept's to pay for an android or apple tablet, good luck. Palm fanboys, where they hell is your entry to this competition? Palm used to rule the mobile tech what happened? Kindle fanboys, if you want an eReader, stop comparing it to an iPad. You've gone way off the path to finding your device. Sony, Nook, that's your competition. LCD's are not going to match eInk for readability. If you don't care about movies or games, and are a true book reader, save yourself the headache and don't buy a tablet. Final note, I give credit to Microsoft for paving the way (yet somehow putting only enough effort forth so they come in last place every time) with my Windows XP tablet edition running on my old ACER tablet back in 2003, all 15" screen, 5.5lbs and 6 hours of battery life of it. With a GPRS, 802.11draft a/b/g card and 1gb ram and no way at all of fitting in anything smaller than a backpack. Apple has reintroduced that tablets can be successful for personal use. Blackberry will say we have corporate quality devices, and anDroid will be me too! I'm sure I will personally own or be given one of everything, I'm an equal opportunity technologist.
biflam at 3:18am 8th October 2010 nothing can beat a jailbroken ipad !!
1. Hero Hernandez at 1:11am 31st March 2011 hahahaha! very well said...but then again, the G-Tab doesn't have to be jailbroken for it to be productive.
wise_man at 1:11am 26th September 2010 if you want to be crapple fanboys, so be it if you want to be skandroid fanboys, go ahead i buy whatever i need i buy whatever i like i buy whatever please me regardless of the brand. grow up people
1. Pedro Del Angel at 8:38pm 6th October 2010 the only person on here making sense... kudos
2. Joe momma at 5:08pm 19th October 2010 Word up tell it how it is
Tim at 2:41pm 22nd September 2010 To the Apple fanboys who currently own an iPad, and think they have the superior tablet: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S5dFdpF6xm0/TH_wJDxhM-I... You all fail so hard. And Jobs loves your drone-like devotion. Do I find it impressive? Yes. Do I find it stylish? Yes. Do I want one for lounging around the house surfing the net? Yes. Did ANY of you convince me to get either one? NO!!!
1. ioman at 2:43pm 22nd September 2010 So specs win every time Tell that to the MS Zune team :)
Joe at 7:04am 18th September 2010 On the specs comparison, the galaxy tab is a clear winner and that's a fact (only ignorant people will argue). The actual winner IS yet to be determined. So, let's all just wait shall we? I'm guessing, it would just take a year to see who the actual winner is, who will dominate the market, and who will rule the world. Just be patient.
erpo at 9:57am 17th September 2010 take a market-leader tablet (I guess 40+ million by the end of 2011, no discussion) and look at the competition..pathetic...who cares about tech specs..(loosers..), copy it badly, sell it at way over sweet-spot price, release date just before apple's 2nd gen which will blow away any (who?) competition away again for some years to come. Android, R2D2, whatever your tag..the future is iOS, you don't see? you are blind.
1. Pedro Del Angel at 8:36pm 6th October 2010 if the future really is iOS, then why, in just about a year, has android caught up and dominated iOS in smartphone sales?
2. Hero Hernandez at 1:12am 31st March 2011 hahaha, yeah and itunes is you destiny. FAIL
kate59588 at 10:57pm 16th September 2010 Samsung Galaxy Tab vs. iPad, which is better for movie lovers? compare: http://www.pavtube.com/ipad-ipod-iphone-tools/mov...
Apple fanboy 101 at 9:22pm 16th September 2010 You non Apple fans just don't get it. Mac will always win out because of style, design, elegance and ease of use. iPad will destroy this thing and samsung knows it. look at how crappy the apps and icons look on those cheesy Galaxy desktops...pure crap! Samsung is just jumping on the trend to piggyback off this whole tablet craze. I guess forget about being innovative and creating something new. No one can, Apple is one of the only great innovators these days. everything else is a cheap, no style knock-off. just look at all the iPod rip-offs out there can you name one? I thought of one Zune...Do I know anybody that has one...nope! Apple Rules! They will rule the world.
1. Joe momma at 5:10pm 19th October 2010 Yes
2. jake at 5:15pm 28th October 2010 all apple products are piece of crab because they have lack of ideas and designs, and technology, but samsung is better.
zisel at 8:02pm 16th September 2010 I prefer ipad. Galaxy Tab is just a phone,but ipad not only a big ipod touch, but also a computer. It has almost completely replaced my personal computer. For the things I do... Is is perfect! Much nicer than any CPU I have ever owned. All my other computers would do a lot of things I would never use it for, and do it painfully in the process (slow, buggy, etc.). When you get down to what you do most on you personal computer... the iPad does almost all of the things an average user needs, and with a much much nicer U/I. Easy of use, fast, and efficient. The other computer manufacturers could learn a thing or two from this, but even if they do... they will probably screw-up the one they come out with by adding all the crap back in again. Ugggggg!!!! I am sticking with my iPad. I think other will do the same once they try it and realize it is the perfect personal computer :-) And let us keep an eye on iFunia ipad column. the third party supply the free recource for download and powerful app for use.
1. Hero Hernandez at 1:14am 31st March 2011 c'mon man...it is NOT a computer...hell you still have to connect it to your PC/Mac for cryin out loud! Maybe you're just a student/kid allowing you not to have some productivity on your tool/pad... Again, i will spell it out for you kiddo, it IS NOT a computer.
jasonv at 7:33pm 16th September 2010 wow frog wild you sound like you would fit in with apple's walled garden scenario. so you speak for all USSERS now? USSERS will USE the features available to them. apple doesnt have some of the features the g-pad will have. and givin the option i would for sure use them. expandable storage is much more useful. using other cards for certain things. and even an 8gb card goes for under 20 bucks on amozon. the quality apps arnt filled with maliciouse code. android has it as good if not better then apple in every aspect. the ipad isnt the best its just alone. and when tab comes out it wont be alone or the best.
1. Hero Hernandez at 1:15am 31st March 2011 "the ipad isnt the best its just alone." Perfect!
FrogWild at 8:22am 16th September 2010 I just love how a phantom product based on rumor and speculation can win ANY categories! I also find it amusing how basing a comparison on specs seem to acceptable vs actual usability. ATTENTION TECHNO NERDS: The great majority of tablet USERS could care less about theoretical expansion when they have enough memory. USERS really don't want to hold up a 10" tablet to shoot photos with. USERS would rather a have a seamless one-stop shop for buying and upgrading ALL of their apps then have to worry about 1,000 different locations and apps with malicious code included at no extra charge. USERS of tablets have NO intention of using their tablet as a phone. USERS do NOT want a mandatory second phone bill! USERS don't care about resolution as long as the screen looks good. And make no mistake, Apple's IPS LED backlit screen is SUPERIOR to any other tablet that will eventually hit the market because they build their products with superior technology and components. All other tablets will be made of plastic, not aluminum. All other tablets will feel cheap. None of them will work or look as nice as the Apple iPad. If you want a second-class product, by all means... go buy it. I'm sticking with Apple not because of the logo, but because it's the best.
NotTellinYou at 2:40am 16th September 2010 My oh my...lookie lookie! The Android Fanbois are going nuts again! These guys will buy ANYTHING with a green robot cartoon logo on it no matter how much it sucks.
1. Pedro Del Angel at 8:31pm 6th October 2010 My oh my...lookie lookie! The Apple Fanbois are going nuts again! These guys will buy ANYTHING with a white little apple logo on it no matter how much it sucks.
  1. "D" at 8:28pm 1st December 2010 and someone even bit the Apple.....it's not even whole...bad fruit !!
2. Joe momma at 12:55am 20th October 2010 Ya there are so many android fanboys!!!!!!
X-Man at 2:28am 12th September 2010 When the iPhone originally came out where was the Apple app store then? The iPhone has been around for over three years. The Android platform has been around much less and yet has progressed much quicker than the App Store ever did. And regarding screen sizes, the iPhone and iPod Touch screen sizes are way too small now. Apple's refusal to make the screen bigger is a huge mistake, and is one reason the Android phones will continue to sell more than the iPhone. It's ironic because Apple has the largest screen when the iPhone was first introduced.
joepiedepoepie at 7:41am 11th September 2010 command the jungle ?? There wasn't any competition yet. Now there is. And to be honest: the IPad can't compete with the new contender. The Galaxy Tab is smaller, lighter, better CPU/GPU, you can make phone calls, has a camera, microSD, USB, DLNA, open OS, real multitasking, well i can go on forever :))
Terrman at 4:51pm 9th September 2010 When Apple comes out with a smaller iPad model (as rumored), Samsung, HP, and whomever are going to have a hard time getting market share. Apple is the 800 pound gorilla and like it or not, they command the jungle.
Dunkle at 12:29pm 9th September 2010 How exactly is Verizon a superior network? AT&T has a backup data network that, combined with their 3G network (which is faster than Verizon's by .5 Mbps), offers more coverage than Verizon's one and only (and slower) 3G network.
Hans to Franz at 11:08am 9th September 2010 Nick Monkey mus be a puny veakling to assert a 1.5lb 10" tablet to be a heavy heifer.
Steve at 9:36pm 8th September 2010 terrible. just terrible comparison. The worst thing will be 'To be Determined'.
ioman at 7:50pm 8th September 2010 I am confused. Did you read the article? It's only a specs comparison.
John Reno at 7:26pm 8th September 2010 First - if the Samsung wins the Size comparison for a tablet device, then why not include the iPhone 4 - that would win all categories - lighter, includes camera, has the apps, etc. The idea of a tablet is that you need a screen larger than 4 or 6 inches. As far as the iPad not having multi-tasking... by the time the Samsung goes on sale in the US, the iPad will have had the free iOS upgrade to include this feature. One comment said that Samsung should win the storage comparison because of the cheap cards you can stick in the side of the tablet. But have you checked the price of 16 or 32 GB MicroSD cards? You are looking at $100 to $200 for a brand name memory card. And this is on a device that is in the $500 to $650 range?? Expandable, yes. But cheap, not so much. http://www.sandisk.com/products/mobile-memory-pro...
1. X-Man at 2:45am 12th September 2010 Dude, where are you shopping for your memory cards? Because you are getting ripped off! A 16gb card on Amazon is $32, and the 32gb goes for $105. And those are Sandisk cards. Personally, I already own a couple of cards that I use for my digital camera so I have the flexibility to use them with both devices whenever I need to. That's fantastic and makes the memory cards even more useful. And it's always a much simpler way to get data both on and off the device. What do you have to do on an iPad to get data on and off of it? It's a pain in the rear by comparison.
CanCount at 5:11pm 8th September 2010 What's with the constant specious comparisons of the size of the app stores? Once you get over a couple of thousand apps, it's all just replication and dross. Honestly, 20 or 30 core apps and a bunch of toys and games is all that anyone is going to use.
1. X-Man at 2:35am 12th September 2010 Very true except that the Android Marketplace, unlike the App Store, has apps that allow you to customize the UI. That is a huge and important difference to the end user. The simple fact that there are at least half a dozen different keyboard layouts you can download from the Android store to change the one on your Android device is fantastic. Can you change the keyboard on your iPhone? On your iPad? Can you change the icons and the layout on the home screens? Not on the Apple devices, but you can on the Android devices.
  1. Underthebus at 7:30am 7th December 2010 None of the Android products would even exist if it were not for Apple. You would still be making calls and playing with data on a push button Blackberry or making calls on your Star Trek Communicator flippy cell phone. The Smart Phone concept was pioneered by Apple and, just like Windows was stolen from Apple innovation, none of the competitors creations would even exist. If you like Android stuff, good for you, but stop dissing the creator of the concept and start respecting. BTW, the whole purpose of any of these tablet computers is to HAVE a larger screen! As one commenter stated, the galaxy should be compared to the iPhone and not the iPad! The weight may be less on the Galaxy but so is the length of operation of the battery. Big screen, Long Life, easy to use! That's what we want, and that's what Apple gave us. BTW, even if I did want one, where can I buy a Galaxy today? You know you want the iPad.
    BErectus at 10:59pm 9th December 2010 And Apple stole it from Xerox Parc. So what? I have plenty of respect for the guy who invented the wheel. But, that doesn't mean I want to ride around in an ox cart forever. So we are where we are. And the whole purpose is not to have a larger screen. It's to have the most useful device. I can comfortably and securely hold the Galaxy in one hand. Not so much the ipad. The G's screen is a little smaller, but it's big enough and the tradeoff is worth it to me. (If Apple would put a strap on the back of the ipad I might change my tune. But, in the meantime ...)
2. pastorsw1 at 11:45am 8th December 2010 Amen!
MrWhite at 4:21pm 8th September 2010 The Android marketplace is a wreck, as the author stated, with all the different screen sizes from all the different handset makers and now all the different screen sizes from all the so called iPad killers. As a developer, I wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, I don't have time to waste recoding all my apps for all these devices for them not to sell because no one can find your app in the Android marketplace in the first place. It really is a shame and a huge mess. I stick with what has a larger user base, more devices in the hands of actual consumers, (not vaporware that "may" be released to the US) and is easier plaform to develop for, that being the Apple App store, I can actually make money with them, not the other guys. Sorry it's the truth.
reality at 4:20pm 8th September 2010 how does storage come up as a draw? non expandable vs. expandable (with cheap SD cards no less)?
MrWhite at 4:15pm 8th September 2010 If any one buys this and uses it as a cell phone, I will laugh and mock them in public, because that has to be the most rediculous thing I have ever seen. "Look, I'm on MY CeLL phone" can you tell?! Might as well have a day planner next to your ear. I like competetion as much as the next guy, but these companies need to know when they are beaten, seriously.
1. X-Man at 2:21am 12th September 2010 You have heard of bluetooth headsets , right? And how many people do you actually see holding their iPhone to their ear now a days anyway? Most smartphone users I see either use ear buds, bluetooth headsets, or hold the phone in front of them. Being able to carry one device is priceless. If you have your G-Tab with you you know you don't need your phone. Just use your bluetooth headset or earbuds. Those take up a lot less space and are much lighter than a phone. Of course, if you have an iPad, you HAVE TO TAKE YOUR CELL PHONE AS WELL AND THEREFORE MEANS YOU ARE PROBABLY PAYING FOR TWO DATA PLANS AS WELL! WHAT A RIPOFF!
2. kanu at 9:58am 24th December 2010 well said
FireExtinguisher at 2:57pm 8th September 2010 That's the best answer to any product comparison ever. 2 thumbs up, five stars, whichever rating system, to the person who's name's in a char set I don't read above this post. And yeah, it's a silly article, it's comparing apples vs a new hybrid of fruit that hasn't been released to testers yet, or at least this one.
Matt at 2:43pm 8th September 2010 They missed the comparison of "Is it an Apple Product?" Winner: The one that isn't one. Don't be a sheep. Apple is a suppressive organization that takes advantage of stupid people.
HushPuppy at 2:23pm 8th September 2010 They're gonna have a problem if it's priced a penny more than the iPad. Anyone on the fence will get the iPad. Current Android users might get it since they likely have a library of Android apps they already paid for. But then again, if you've already got an Android phone, why would you buy something that's only slightly larger?
1. X-Man at 2:15am 12th September 2010 Which iPad price are you referring to? Because the way I see it, the G-Tab has better specs than the most expensive iPad and therefore ultimately more usable. The most expensive iPad is $829, but you can't upgrade the storage on it, there are no cameras on it, and it can't do voice calls. The G-Tab at $799 would be a better deal!
2. PDR at 1:47am 31st December 2010 I have one in hand and its all it says it is and much much ligher, as well as I have downloaded over 50 apps already and no issues. The camera works great, video phone is awesome and I've had it a week and I'm ready to retire my laptop (well maybe not quite yet) but its a 9 out of 10 for me. End price from Sprint $299, now the ipad can come down in price or retire.
reboot at 2:03pm 8th September 2010 Pppphhh. Apple fanboys will be buying whatever Steve Jobs want them to buy. Send from my ipad
1. Odysseus at 3:48am 16th September 2010 Yeah, especially as we have more money and it doesn't make a difference to us either way.
2. Reebs at 8:54am 6th October 2010 Too funny!
jay at 1:18pm 5th September 2010 It only concludes that it depends... it depends on the user's perception, the pupose and usage,thats all, no need to argue, because each every one of us have different perceptions in life.
1. Arabella Stuart at 2:04pm 15th January 2011 I completely agree with you. Nothing is the best unless it suits your personality, lifestyle, and needs. :)
Harrison at 8:16am 4th September 2010 Nick Mokey should be embarrassed that he published this "review". "We stacked it side by side with the Apple iPad to find out." You're kidding right? An absolutely specious "comparison" between an actual shipping product in users' hands for six months, thoroughly tested/reviewed, and an "announced" product not shipping for a least two weeks.
1. ioman at 1:45pm 4th September 2010 Its a specs comparison, look at the title....
  1. Zem at 12:31am 9th September 2010 Specs compared? Then why did he give the iPad the win for the battery life when you can compare the two specs? Oh that's right - because the reviewer confirmed the specs. Sensationalism != journalism. Last time I visit "digitaltrends.com"
    jake at 4:38pm 28th October 2010 I don't care about ipad's battery life. Overall G tab's every specs are extremely better .
Dan Gaul at 1:05am 4th September 2010 Android might just win because of the OS vs specific item (ipad in this case).
giggity at 6:47pm 3rd September 2010 one of the worst attempts at a comparison i have seen. please wait until you have more detailed specs and actual data before you assume too much. everything should be TBD at this point.
1. ioman at 8:04pm 3rd September 2010 Are you kidding me? In a straight spec comparison, the iPad wins. Looks how small the screen is on the Galaxy Tab. A real comparison would be the iPad Vs. the Google branded tablet.
  1. X-Man at 2:01am 12th September 2010 The Galaxy Tab is the clear winner. It has a better screen resolution than the iPad because the all important pixels per inch is better on the G-Tab even though the screen is smaller. The user upgradeable storage is huge because you can always buy another memory card. It doesn't have to be a 64gb card. As in my case, I have some micro SD cards I use for my digital camera. Now I can share them if and when I need. Great way to also bring data into the G-Tab. It's no where that easy to do that on an iPad. The G-Tab does regular voice calls. That's huge too because if you have your G-Tab with you, you don't also have to carry your phone with you as do all iPad users. No need to carry two devices. Finally, the access to the Android Marketplace is huge too and better than Apple's App store because Android users can customize their devices to a much greater level. It's not just a matter of quantities of apps. One big example is that you can change you keyboard on an Android device. Can you do that on the iPad?
    NotTellinYou at 2:36am 16th September 2010 Sorry Google says it's going to block these "unauthorized" android tablets from the Android Marketplace.
    X-Man at 6:44pm 20th September 2010 You might be right. Just confirmed that the US version will not have voice call capability so it wouldn't comply with Google's hardware requirement for the Marketplace. Strange, considering that the international version will.
  2. www.kwpang.com at 2:12am 14th September 2010 smaller screen doesn't mean it lose, there are other aspect to consider as well
  3. NotTellinYou at 2:36am 16th September 2010 If there was one!
  4. ioman sux at 11:11am 21st November 2010 ur an idiot ioman
    Ioman at 11:14am 21st November 2010 But I am right! Haha
  5. A. Sabzali at 9:34am 24th November 2010 samsung has more and better spec. built in, and with 7" screen i thing it will be enough if you want to compare the size and weight .. other wise just buy a laptop or 32" TV and carry it with you :P
2. Derek Smalls at 6:43am 4th September 2010 I agree, the comparison and the drawing of conclusions from reading a spec sheet doesn't really amount to much. There are significant hardware differences such as the Samsung having a radio chip for mobile calling, and GPS (which is only found in Apple's premium iPad). The completely different philosophies of Android and iOS need to be expanded upon - things like multitasking, notification system, how easy it is get stuff on and off the device. These things make just as big a difference in overall usability as the specs listed in this summary.
3. Pav at 5:39am 5th September 2010 I completely agree. To say the Galaxy has LESS resolution is actually WRONG! The Galexy supports almost the same amount of pixels on a screen which is SMALLER by 3 inches...That makes it a BETTER screen...as the density of the pixels is greater. Please get your facts right before making stupid comparisons DT.
  1. ioman at 3:06pm 8th September 2010 Umm that's not how resolution is figured. Think of it on a monitor, 1600x1200 resolution is still the same no matter what the screen size is. The obvious is that it WILL look better on a smaller screen, because, as you pointed out, the pixels are more denser on the smaller screen. If anything, the screens will look the same. The larger screen has a higher resolution that will look the same as a smaller resolution on a smaller screen. One isn't better than the other. Get your facts straight! ;)
    Matt at 4:14pm 8th September 2010 Actually you should get your facts straight! Both devices have a 1024 horizontal resolution, but the galaxy is clearly smaller. This means that the larger apple screen will look more pixelated than the galaxy tab. Screen quality is more acurately described by PPI, a definate reflection that the author has no idea how to compare these products. The author also forgot multitasking, the annoying requirement to install and use bloated itunes, the ability of higher customisation on the galaxy tab, the fact that android 2.2 has been benchmarked faster than ios4, the missing comparison of the video accelerators (of which the galaxy's is faster). The fact that the galaxy comes rooted should seal the deal for anyone thinking about either of these products. Terrible comparison from an obvious apple fan tard.
    Carrie at 4:22pm 8th September 2010 And where did he say he was referencing the iPad or the Galaxy? He was just explaining the difference in how resolutions and screen sizes are related. He mentioned 1600x1200, which obviously either device doesn't do. IMO, go for the smaller screen. The iPad looks great to me and the resolution is obviously more than good enough. The Galaxy from what I can tell requires a contract with a phone company, have fun with that! haha.
    Sora at 6:42am 16th September 2010 and you know this how... when we trulely dont know to which carrier (besides AT&T) the tablet will go, let alone the price..... talk out of your butt much? btw he was referring to this "The Galaxy Tab offers a 16:9 display ratio, which is preferable for watching movies, but it also reduces resolution (from 1024 x 768 on the iPad to just 1024 x 600) and shrinks to just 7 inches across." which means that the Galaxy has a higher resolution before of the tablet size and screen density
4. bdsuhyfsd at 4:31pm 15th September 2010 I agree completely.
5. Kamar Khan at 2:45am 8th October 2010 Apple fan boy! lol
  1. jake at 4:32pm 28th October 2010 i don't care for apple products. I think that samsung galaxy tab is extremely better than ipad. samsung has more technologies and ideas, and different designs throughout the year, but apple have lack of ideas and designs.
    tab rules!!! at 1:20am 5th December 2010 thumbs up dude i cant believe i actually was about to even think of buying ipad! i sound lame galaxy tab rules!!!!!!!!!!
6. orient at 3:13am 12th November 2010 does the galaxy tab have a mobile phone?? ipad doesn't have
7. mobiletbalet at 6:11am 13th December 2010 good review ProsFast. Well built with a slick design. Runs almost all Android apps. Supports Adobe Flash 10.1. ConsNot enough tablet-centric software. Reflective screen. Slick back. more at http://www.mobile10.org/?page_id=15 Bottom LineWith solid, well-designed hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Tab for Sprint is the first viable Android-based competitor to the Apple iPad. But so far, it doesn’t have apps that will compel you to buy one.