Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet to feature powerful ARM Mali T-604 graphics, adding to a quad-core processor

posted by Daniel P. / May 15, 2012, 6:40 AM

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet to feature powerful ARM Mali T-604 graphics, adding to a quad-core processor

Whatever tablet Samsung was preparing with the Galaxy Note 10.1, it has gone back to the drawing board in terms of specs now, as a leaked Taiji graphics benchmark shows, and as Samsung itself hinted at us when we were doing the hands-on preview at MWC.

The score of 61.4 megapixels per second beats the second in line - Galaxy S III - by a huge margin, indicating a new graphics processor. Since the chipset in the Galaxy Note 10.1 is listed as the same Exynos 4412 we have in the latest Galaxy phone, then the graphics processor must be the next generation Mali T-604, not the Mali-400 in the Galaxy S II and S III.

We thought that Mali T-604 will only be coming with the Exynos 5 series of chips, but apparently Samsung might be testing other combinations, if this benchmark scale is true. The T-604 is quoted for 5x the Mali-400 performance, so we'd expect it to power a high-res screen also, otherwise there wouldn't be much point in adding such a powerful graphics subsystem, unless this is just a test device.

Just yesterday a device was leaked in Google's Git repo, that uses the same graphics processor, so something is definitely brewing in Samsung land, that requires the heavy GPU cavalry to be unleashed. At MWC we made the hands-on you see below on a dual-core Exynos with 1280x800 resolution. This might have now been bumped to quad-core with next generation graphics, but there are no leaks whether the screen will be different as well yet.

source: NordicHadraware via AndroidAuthority

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44 Comments

1. the_s2

Posts: 239; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

In that case, this is my tab.

posted on May 15, 2012, 6:43 AM 13

2. thelegend6657 unregistered

Looks interesting . I might really jump land from iPad to Samsung tablet for the first time . But the touchwiz for tablet I don't like , like asus skin more , sense for tablet (jet stream) also not bad . Hope somebody port sense for tablet into note 10.1

posted on May 15, 2012, 6:51 AM 8

6. hung2900

Posts: 966; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

There are thousands of roms and lauchers for GTab 10.1 man!

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:25 AM 4

9. thelegend6657 unregistered

Dude tab 10.1 isn't a good device people but it because it's a Samsung . The asus is better and feels more snappy because it's less heavily skinned . For now a Samsung tab I wil buy is tab 7.7

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:29 AM 3

12. ph00ny

Posts: 2052; Member since: May 26, 2011

10.1 is awful because Tegra2 was a terrible choice for a tablet

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:52 AM 0

3. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

*Angels start to sing* Ahh.. the first official appearance of the 5250 chip. Isnt it heartwarming? :) The S3 has already been knocked off the king of the hill crown.. by another samsung, and the S3 hasnt even launched yet.. lol

posted on May 15, 2012, 6:57 AM 3

5. PimpStrong

Posts: 310; Member since: Jul 25, 2011

Eeeasy now. That is a tablet. Let's not get the "S3 is outdated" comments going until it is at least released!

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:16 AM 1

10. thelegend6657 unregistered

This isn't that super fast A15 dual core chip that you say is faster than the quad core A9 chip ? This smokes the Tegra 3 ! This is just a same exynos from galaxy s3 with a new GPU right ? Btw Tegra 2 and snapdragon 3 which is faster ?

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:35 AM 0

13. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

no, the SGS3 uses the 4412 chip, which is an A9 quadcore die shrunk to 32nm. It has some advanced manufacturing processes and its mali400 GPU is set at a higher clock speed as well which is what helps make it a beast. The chip in this tablet is the A15 5250 dual exynos, which on the CPU side gets about the same power as the A9 4412 quad exynos, but the GPU that they use is 5x more powerful at standard clocks than the mali400 in the SGS2/SGS3. This is the chip that everyone WANTED in the SGS3, but knew it wouldnt happen because samsung said this was a Tablet chip first and foremost. A T2 and S3 are both old chips, why worry about them? Between the 2, I'd take the Tegra2. Its stronger over all by just a smidge. Neither are as good as the OMAP4 or Exynos 4210 that sits in the SGS2/Note. Between a T3 and an S4, its a bit of a toss up. The T3 slams the S4 in some tests and fails in others comparatively like with the OneX's (T3 version) camera issues. For actual crunching power, the T3 has a multithreading advantage with its quad set up. So thats really up to you which one you want.

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:56 AM 1

18. thelegend6657 unregistered

nothing just that we are comparing chips i just ask . Samsung tabs for carriers mostly have s3 while normal ones have tegra which i find very laggy on the tab10.1 . But for me i will go with a tegra 3

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:33 AM 0

19. thelegend6657 unregistered

although the tab10.1 is the best selling Honeycomb tablet . thats what makes me think android sucks . I find that the Transformer is more snappy but people buy the 10.1 because its a samsung

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:34 AM 0

24. AFnerdTP unregistered

on spec sheet & price, TF300 might look great, but if you start reading the reviews, you'll soon find that they have some trouble with quality control. hence the lower price i guess.. NOT saying samsung is a whole lot better, but personally, i like to do research and find the most suitable gadget. so far, i've not had any issues with any of my samsung products

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:59 AM 0

22. hung2900

Posts: 966; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

Read the article again! It's quad Cortex-A9 with a newer GPU.

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:57 AM 3

28. thelegend6657 unregistered

HUNG , thumbs up . Thats what i am trying to say

posted on May 15, 2012, 9:32 AM 0

33. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

u know.. i totally missed that part. good catch. if its true, then its a complete surprise since samsung has never mentioned this combination. and if thats true.. WHY THE HELL IS THE MALI400 IN THE SGS3 AND NOT THIS GPU!?!?!? :)

posted on May 15, 2012, 10:12 AM 0

42. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2431; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

I honestly believe that what we are seeing is just a test device. I think they are just testing out the new graphics of the Mali t-604. hung2900 is right that the listed specs on the benchmark match the GSIII's processor. My guess is that they don't have the Exynos 5 series chipset ready yet (it is suppose to be ready in a month), so they are possibly just trying the graphics chipset first and then they may test it again with the 5-series chipset in it. Then, they will most likely make a business decision as to whether to use the new 5-series chipset or the Exynos 4412 if it is sufficient enough. Remember, they will need to weigh in the extra cost that may be associated with the 5-series chipset as well as supplies of it. The other guess is just as PA pointed out: a higher resolution screen. Remember, they are trying to compete with the new iPad so they would need some higher resolution display than what they showed on the Note 10.1 back at MWC. I am very excited about this device though. Even if it just comes with the 4412, I think it will be a superb tablet. My only hope is that the price still comes in around $500.

posted on May 15, 2012, 2:21 PM 0

43. Hemlocke unregistered

As soon as the LG Eclipse LTE gets benchmarked, I doubt the S3 will be anywhere close to "King of the Hill."

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:24 PM 0

4. PimpStrong

Posts: 310; Member since: Jul 25, 2011

I'm gettin' that.

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:14 AM 1

38. Non_Sequitur

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

I will too, but only if it comes with a screen the same or better than the upcoming Transformer Prime Infinity. And it also needs a good keyboard dock with USB ports. Let's also see how this compares to the Asus Padfone.

posted on May 15, 2012, 10:31 AM 0

39. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

they pushed this back to put in a bigger chip and GPU after the crowds moaned at it's dual core nature. Now its quadcore with a massive GPU. That would be nearly meaningless on the short term unless they were raising the screen density/resolution. Maybe thats where the Super Amoled+ HD screens will end up? A nice thought for sure.

posted on May 15, 2012, 10:34 AM 0

44. hung2900

Posts: 966; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

Actually I wish it has an IGZO retina display: nice, thin and extremely power efficient.

posted on May 15, 2012, 8:25 PM 0

7. blinkdagger

Posts: 81; Member since: May 04, 2012

We still will be bombarded by samsung devices. They just keep coming. But sadly samsung ways of "don't put all eggs in one basket" gonna give us lots of redundant products. We not going to get 'killer' spec in one ultimate device, instead samsung will spread it to make all their devices sold. At least that's what my friend in Samsung told me.

posted on May 15, 2012, 7:27 AM 1

30. thelegend6657 unregistered

well i do hope there is an upgrade to the HTC OneX I like it very much but i find it not as good as the s3 . Maybe they would do a OneXE of something like that

posted on May 15, 2012, 9:33 AM 0

8. Jimstar

Posts: 259; Member since: Oct 24, 2011

Alright so now the obvious question...what games on Android require this kind of graphical prowess to run? I can't even find a game that doesn't run smoothly on even the now-aging Power VR540.