Samsung has expanded its range of tabletsso it now encompass almost every screen size imaginable. The latest addition to the family is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, which as its name suggests sports an 8.9in screen. Here's our hands-on preview of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9. Watch this space for a follow-up full review. See also: New iPad review.
The first thing that strikes you about the Galaxy Tab 8.9, isn't the screen size but just how thin it is. The company claims that it's the world's thinnest tablet and at 8.6mm thick it's about 0.2mm thinner than the Apple iPad 2.
The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is only the second tablet to ship at that screen size. The other tablet to have been released, T-Mobile's G-Slate, showed that 8.9in could actually be a dark-horse sweet spot for a display. It makes a nice compromise between the larger screens of tablets like the Apple iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the more compact 7in models such as the original Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the BlackBerry PlayBook.
See all: Android tablet reviews
Other than the screen size, the specs are identical to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, with which it also shares a not-too-dissimilar design. Inside, is a dual-core 1GHz processor, a high-resolution 1280 x 800-pixel display, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Weighing in at 470g, it comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions and there's a microSD card slot for up to 32GB cards should you require even more storage space. It has a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, while the front-facing camera is a highly respectable 2 megapixels. The video camera is capable of capturing 720p video at 30 frames per second. See also Samsung Galaxy Note review.
Samsung uses its own interface layer on top of Android 3. Called TouchWiz UX, it builds on Honeycomb's framework by leaving the app management screen untouched as well as the soft navigation buttons intact in location. But that's about all that's untouched: Samsung has completely transformed and optimised the user interface to a pleasing effect. Samsung includes a slew of services for consumers (its Media Hub, Music Hub, Readers Hub, and Social Hub are all present), and the tablet also offers features for business users like support for Exchange Active Sync version 14, on-device encryption, Cisco VPN, and WebEx.
See also: Group test: what's the best tablet PC?
Comments
Jack E Mabry Jr said: I am finding that this table size 89 is optimal Ive had a 101 inch tablet and mess around with my brothers iPad and have played with the 7 inchers 89 is the best size and oddly it is about the same as a hardcover book
wrencis said: Thanks for the reply Matt I am in the camp that 16 to 11 constitutes a failure Not saying that Android-based tablet makers shouldnt try Im rooting for them bc while I respect the iPad I dont want to own one I also disagree that tablets and e-readers should be separated and that tablets are to be compared with laptops I think that is why Amazon and BampN are asked for subsequent shipments beyond the first unlike most stock Android tablets Id love to duel on that topicBecause Tablets iPads and capacitive screen e-readers all have mobility in common they form the consideration set for mainstream buyers iPods are small-screen devices better compared to mp3 players The better the buy understands the utility of the device the more likely theyll buy Laptops are obvious productivity tools Full-size laptops and desktops in one corner mobile devices in the other for mainstream buyers not for techies like us Thats the structure of the market nowHopefully someone will innovate and change that Although I think the best shot was the legendary MS Courier I think the next successful tablet within the broader definition from above will succeed because of a gaming content-setecosystemMainstream buyers buy whole products not technologies I think we can both agree that the Galaxy Tab has better tech than a Nook or Fire But does Tab have any shot at outselling either I really doubt it Why Stock Android isnt a complete value prop Its not a whole product Fire is Nook is iPad is Laptops are Stock Android is not Hopefully that will change - come on innovation
Matt Egan said: Im not sure what constitutes failure in your eyes but Samsung shifted 16m tablets in the third quarter of 2011 Not quite Apples 11m iPads but streets ahead of anyone else Pre-orders suggest the Kindle Fire is going to be massive but its a very different beast to the iPad the Tab or the other Android tablets In essence the Fire and the BampN Tablet exist only to consume media They are entertainment devices in the same mould as the iPod touch The Tabs and the iPads are both entertainment and productivity tools best compared with laptops As such they are very competitively priced