The first major competitor to the Apple iPad has arrived in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch Android-powered tablet and ereader that can browse the web in all its Flash-enabled glory, play 1080p HD movies and 3D games, video chat with its front and rear facing cameras, and download and read ebooks from a plethora of sources.
The Galaxy Tab has already been released in Germany for €799 and is coming to the UK on November 1st for a reported £599 contract-free or £199 with £25 per month payments for 2 years.
The US versions of the Galaxy Tab will come via the 4 major wireless carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It is expected to sell for about $399 with a two year contract or contract-free for $599. Verizon will start selling it on November 11th in the US for $599, with no subsidized option. Instead, Verizon will sell contract-free data plans that start at $20 per month for 1GB.
Running Android 2.2, the Galaxy Tab features a 7-inch TFT multi-touchscreen with a 1,024 x 600 resolution display. It is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor for 3D games, speedy web browsing and video. It has a 4,000 mAh battery that gives the device up to 7 hours of video playback per charge.
For wireless connectivity, the Galaxy Tab has 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0. There are rumors of a Wi-Fi only version coming in the future too.
It has front and rear facing cameras for video chat and for taking pictures and videos, it supports Flash-based videos and games, and provides access to the more than 80,000 applications currently available on the Android Market, which includes the Kindle, B&N, Kobo, and other ereading apps.
According to Samsung’s media release, the Galaxy Tab shares many of the same features of the Galaxy S smart phones that launched earlier this summer, including Samsung’s Social Hub application and the new Media Hub content service, which offers movies and TV programs for rent or purchase from content partners like MTV Networks, NBC, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and Paramount.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Video Tour
Samsung Galaxy Tab Specs
- Multi-touch 7″ TFT WSVGA 1,024 x 600 resolution display at 169 ppi
- Android 2.2 Froyo operating system with Flash Player 10.1 support
- TouchWiz 3.0
- Built-in 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0
- Memory: 16GB/32GB internal, plus microSD cards up to 32BG; 512MB RAM
- Dimensions: 190mm x 120.5mm x 12mm
- Weight: 380 grams (13 ounces)
- Integrated Gmail and MS Exchange ActiveSync
- 3 megapixel AF camera with LED Flash, plus a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat
- Access to the Android Market’s 80,000+ apps
- Google Maps, Latitude, Places, Google Maps Navigation (beta)
- A-GPS
- 3.5mm headphone jack and built in speaker
- Full HD video playback
- Optional accessories: external keyboard, desktop docking station with HDMI port, car/gps dock
- Document Viewer & Editor: Open and make changes to any Word, Excel, Powerpoint, or PDF document
- AllShare DLNA Technology can send content between other DLNA devices
- Daily Briefing: Offers instant access to weather, news, stocks, and schedules.
Unboxing Video
Source: Samsung and Android Community
“The non-contract Galaxy Tab is still a hefty $499”.
You mean if I were to buy the 3G model right? Otherwise wifi is $349.
Do you own a tab?
Right. The new WiFi one will be $349 and the non-contract 3G+WiFi is $499 at Verizon; it’s still $549 at AT&T. I don’t own a Tab but am thinking of grabbing the 8.9″ model to review when it comes out. It is supposed to start at $469 (WiFi-only) and the 10″ is $499 for 16GB.
oops I typed it in the wrong post. I will redo in the other post.
Thanks for pointing that out. I didn’t notice 🙂
I read your info on both the Nook color and the Galaxy Tab. Great info. Which would be the better choice for some book reading but probably more for playing games and Web/E-mail? I do like the great maps on the Galaxy Tab.
It pretty much just depends on how much you want to spend. The Galaxy Tab is a more capable device with the cameras, HDMI port, 3G option, etc., and the price has dropped a lot lately. But you can get a Nook Color for as little as $159 refurbished from Overstock. Get an N2A card for it or make a CM7 card yourself and it has a lot of the same functionality as the Galaxy Tab, including Google Maps and Android Market.