Samsung has the most number of tablet variants in the market. They have the 5-inch Galaxy Note, the 7-inch Tab original, the Tab 8.9, Tab 10.1, and the just-announced Galaxy Tab 2 in 7-inch, 10.1 inch, and Galaxy Note 10.1. Basically, you can find a Samsung tablet between 5 and 10.1 inch that meets your size needs.
On this blog post, I'm going to compare the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and 7.0 Plus, which I received from Samsung for review.
The Difference
Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is essentially an upgrade of the original Galaxy Tab (7.0) with the exact screen resolution of 1024x600, while the Tab 7.7 is a new model and the first tablet to use Super AMOLED Plus screen and follows the more common 1280x800 size.
Here's a breakdown of the differences, Galaxy Tab 7.7 vs. 7.0 Plus (source: Samsung website)
- Processor: 1.4GHz Dual Core vs. 1.2GHz Dual Core
- Weight: 340g vs. 345g
- Thichness: 7.89mm vs. 9.96mm
- Screen: 1280x800 Super AMOLED Plus vs. 1024x600 TFT
- Battery: 5100mAh vs. 4000mAh
- SAR: 0.079 W/kg vs. 0.977 W/kg
- Retail Price: S$898 vs. S$768
The Tab 7.7 is clearly the winner in every aspect. The higher-resolution AMOLED Plus screen looks sharper in higher contrast and displays more pixel information. Even when running on the same Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS, there are subtle additional features on the 7.7. For instance, the Live Panel on the 7.7 can stack multiple apps but the 7.0 Plus can only pop one app at a time. The settings colour theme on the 7.7 is black (conserves battery on AMOLED screens) while the 7.0 Plus is white.
Check out the rear of both Tabs. The 7.0 Plus replicates the Tab 10.1 glossy plastic finishing while the 7.7 sports a new metallic finish.
What impresses me is that Samsung still retains the ear speaker so that the Tab functions exactly like a mobile phone. I know it does look outrageous holding such a large Tab - I mean, people already felt the 5-inch Galaxy Note is huge - but you know you at at least make use of it to make calls if your bluetooth headset or wired earpiece is nowhere to be found.
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| The Tab uses the same ear speaker as the Galaxy S2 (left). |
Sadly, the camera quality is still not comparable to high-end mobile phones like Galaxy S2, which means it could be a deterrent for people who might consider ditching their pocketable phones for this multi-functional goliath.
Does 7.7 Inch Work?
I have tried several 10-inch tablets. I have reviewed the 5-inch Galaxy Note. I have tested numerous mobile phones of 4-inch screens. Now that I have experienced the 7.7 inch Tab, I think it's a great size. It's not too big and heavy, nor too small which strain your eyes. At 340g, it's a nice weight for prolonged usage. At 7.7 inch, it's a nice size when viewing from about a feet away. Thumb-typing in portrait mode is comfortable. The size is even better for playing Draw Something, a cross-platform game for Android and iOS devices. Samsung made it bigger and yet lighter than the 7.0 Plus.
The Verdict
The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus feels and looks dated. Unless you really can't afford the additional S$100+, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the one to own. Higher processor, larger screen, higher resolution, thinner and lighter, it is a small price to pay for a newer tablet experience.
Labels: Android, Review, Tablet, Tech
