When the very first Samsung Galaxy Tab was released, perhaps not everyone imagined it paving the way for a plethora of other Android tablets made by the Korean company. Yet here we are, almost a year and a half from that day, and the manufacturer's family of tablets is steadily growing, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) being one of the latest slates to join the party.
We spent some time with it at MWC 2012 and walked away with mixed feelings about it as it was not too bad of a device, but nothing impressive either. Now, however, it is time to get a bit more into detail. What we have our hands on today is a prototype Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) unit, so check out our preview to learn more about it.
Design:
Although it is constructed entirely out of plastic, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) feels well put together and we are pretty happy with its design. It has a glossy rim around its edges and a matte back that is practically immune to any visible fingerprints. At 344 grams, the tablet is definitely one of the lightest in the 7-inch category, and with a thickness of 10.5 millimeters, it doesn't feel overly thick. Additionally, the device’s weight has been distributed pretty evenly so it is comfortable to use regardless of the position you are holding it in.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) feels well put together
On its left side we see slots for microSD and SIM cards protected by plastic covers, and on the right we have the lock key and the 2-button volume rocker, both of which you can feel with your thumb relatively easy. Its top side is occupied by a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and a secondary microphone for noise cancellation. The primary one is located on the bottom, along with Samsung's proprietary 30-pin connector and a pair of speakers, which are sufficiently loud.
microSD and SIM card slots (left)
Lock key and volume rocker
Charging port and speakers (bottom)
3.5mm jack (top)
The sides of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)
Above the tablet's display we find a tiny VGA camera that should satisfy your video chat needs, and next to it we have an earpiece. Yes, unless your carrier forbids it, you will be able to make phone calls using your 4G-capable Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) tablet. Just be prepared to suffer the consequences of doing so for you would look pretty darn silly should you place a call in public.
Front-facing camera
Rear camera
Back
Display:
Just like the very first Galaxy Tab, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) sports a 7-inch (d'oh) display with a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels. That translates into a pixel density of 170 ppi, which is nothing spectacular, so don't expect everything on it to look silky smooth like on those high resolution tablet displays. There is one important detail that we have to point out, however, namely that the device's display has been made using Samsung's very own Super PLS LCD technology. As a result, it should be brighter, with better color reproduction, and superior viewing angles as compared to standard LCD displays, at least in theory.
