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Apple iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab
Apple iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab
With the iPad tablet computer, Apple is poised to dominate yet another tech category (remember MP3 players) before the competition has a chance to react. For Apple's devotees, the iPad is nothing less than a slam dunk.
Samsung begs to differ. Its Galaxy Tab tablet is a clear threat to the iPad and a worthy consideration to anyone shopping around for a tablet. The Tab offers a smaller, more convenient size, Adobe Flash support, front and rear cameras, and the fastest growing mobile OS: Google's Android 2.2.
But can the Tab unseat the incumbent Apple iPad as the king of tablets? We're about to find out, as these two touch-screen titans square off in five rounds, and our CNET editors get real about which tablet has the goods.
Round 1: Design
When you carry around a tablet, you're going to draw attention to yourself. Design and looks count for a lot when you're shopping for a tablet, so here's where we examine the look, size, feel, and sex appeal of the devices.| player | Donald | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) | 5The iPad feels like a million bucks. It's big without being bulky. The fit and finish of the aluminum and glass is first class. For better or worse, it's become a status symbol. | 5The iPad's thinness and large, sophisticated body add up to a stunner; but its slippery, convex silver backing make it breakable if you don't have a cover. | 5The iPad brings Apple's high level of classy, sleek, and sturdy design. It's a little heavier than you'd like, but it feels solid and worth every penny you paid. | 5 |
Round 2: Controls and user interface
Sexiness is one thing, but are the tablets easy to use? In Round 2, we examine the design and usability of their user interfaces, onscreen keyboards, and navigation controls.| player | Donald | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) | 5My 2-year-old can use the iPad. It's almost unnerving how intuitive the UI is. Also, the onscreen keyboard is larger, more accurate, and responsive than the Tab's, which is a big deal for e-mail and Web browsing | 5iPhone users will know exactly how to get around the iPad. The giant dimple control is conveniently placed and makes it simple for first-timers to pick up and handle right away. | 5It doesn't matter if you've used an iPhone or an iPod. The OS on the iPad is so simple that my nieces and nephews who are almost 2 years old and older know how to use it. The performance was also snappier and more responsive overall. | 5 |
Round 3: Features and performance
What do these tablets offer under the hood? Here we examine the features in each device and rate which tablet offers more.| player | Donald | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) | 4The iPad would be cooler if it included a few cameras, especially with Apple's FaceTime video chat. Still, nothing can compare with the selection of music, movies, TV shows, apps, and games available through iTunes. Battery life exceeds expectations. | 3Apps have to be specially developed for the iPad's large format. iTunes works seamlessly, but it's missing extra hardware features like a camera that would give the iPad more purpose. | 3It lacks some of the hardware features, but this is the snappiest tablet that we've seen, with a longer battery life to boot. Apps are built specifically for the iPad, taking advantage of the larger size, and it makes a difference, but the Galaxy gets the edge here. | 3.3 |
Round 4: Web browsing and multimedia
The core features of any tablet are Web browsing and multimedia playback. Here, we'll tell you which tablet executes best on these bedrock features.| player | Donald | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) | 5Great browser? Check. Movie and TV rentals? Check. Largest online music store? Check. Subscription music support? Surprisingly, yes. Netflix streaming? Check. Killer games? Tons. Big screen to enjoy them on? Yep. | 4Its larger screen makes browsing extremely easy, although a lack of Flash support hampers its usefulness. Streaming videos look great on the iPad. | 5Safari plays like a desktop browser with multitouch. There's no Flash support, but having a larger screen is advantageous. The multimedia experience is amazing with its deep library of content from iTunes, polished media player, and a screen that enhances the experience. | 4.7 |
Round 5: Value
It all comes down to dollars and sense (sic).| player | Donald | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) | 4Apple and AT&T broke new ground with their affordable, contract-free cellular data plans. Also, with Apple you know it's only going to release one iPad each year and lavish it with support. Also, Apple products historically hold their resale value well. | 4A cheaper Wi-Fi-only model gives you options for keeping costs down. Its gorgeous, large screen is ideal for media hounds who can overlook the limited feature set. | 4You'll start at $629 for a 3G/Wi-Fi iPad with 16GB and no contract obligations. The iPad's Wi-Fi-only model gives you more price flexibility. Tablets will eventually come down in price, but the iPad is the better bang for your buck. | 4 |
The winner is...
Winner
Apple iPad (16GB, AT&T, 3G) (4.4 pts)
Runner-Up
The bad news isn't just that the Galaxy Tab lost--it's that the Tab lost in spite of being the best Android tablet we've seen yet. We really thought Samsung had a fighting chance with this one. Hopefully these tablet wars will start heating up soon. The iPad is cool, but it seems downright un-American not to have a Pepsi to its Coke.
To Samsung's credit, the Tab nobly paves its own road without copying the iPad. With time, the 7-inch screen may feel more natural for everyday use, and the apps for Android will likely evolve to make better use of the space. Until then, however, the iPad remains our top tablet pick.
Why not compare the iPad to other tablets Cnet has been completely ignoring, like the weTab (I'm not sure that even review sites in the US can get it yet), or its Win7, sibling, the ExoPC. I've heard both tablets are extremely good
But Apple is a lot more than just a Hype Machine (that's kinda of Microsoft actually.) Apple puts out great and often the best in class products of their categories. Competitors are trying hard to knock them down.
The Win7 Tablets aren't prime time ready. Battery life, ease of use (not touch friendly at all). I nudge you to check out one in action and you'll see. But I'm sure every tech news person out there is dying to write something that isn't i-something. Oh, and maybe those were the only negatives they said because it's actually a good device Eyore.
When the people doing the reviewing define everything apple does as right and good and everything Android does as wrong or bad (out of either blind love for apple or reverence/fear of steve jobs) of course Android will come out the loser in every prize fight. In fact I think they should stop calling it prize fight and start calling it apple wins no matter what.
So faithful readers dont come here for anything BUT apple love because thats what this site is all about...in fact better yet dont bother coming here at all
I hate the whiners that since the iPad won, it was chosen by 'fanboys.' Let's see, Apple's iOS system is more mature than Android, and they designed things specifically for this form factor. Google doesn't even really want people to run Android on anything other than a smartphone (it should be unreleased Chrome) and only gave Samsung Marketplace out of respect for their smartphone production.
The Galaxy Tab came close in this test, but it had its hands tied behind its back by Google not prepared for the tablet movement, and Samsung not being able to reduce the cost of this thing without forcing you to get a contract.
Until Android fragmentation/Chrome gold release happens, I feel Android tablets will either have to be specialized (Nook Color) or skinned for them to be competitive. And developers will not want to make new code if one day there is a 7-incher, and then the next there is a 10 too. Google really needs to define resolution and size to signal developers and manufacturers what will be allowed.
Lets get realistic. A product may be technically better than much of the stuff apple churns out, but what has made the apple products so much better is their consistency. They are consistently well designed and have a simple and easy to use interface. It really doesn't take much to figure their products out.
The best review is to go out and use both products. Make the decision for yourself. Who cares what reviewers think? It is good just to get another viewpoint of the products. The review doesn't take your credit card, deduct x amount of dollars and send you that product based on its verdict. If you used both and truly enjoy the Samsung product more, then go buy it.
No, I'm not an apple fanboy. I do have apple products, but I also have windows/microsoft products and even have linux boxes at home. I'm typing this from my Windows 7 tablet. I'm growing tired of this hatred over products that many people I talk to haven't even given a chance.
As for Cnet they cannot help that they are shills for the almighty stevie jobs, but they someday will have to admit the apple is getting the crap kicked out of it by Andy the Android!!!!!
android tab is closer to the phone realm than the tablet world
and as for cnet being partial to apple, i don't think that's true at all.
apple makes quality products for sure, but if you've seen any of the prize fights between the iphone and any android phone, the android phone wins nearly every time (rightfully so).
so it really is a case of who has made the better product.
android tabs still need some more time to grow and develop. apple ipad has come out as a polished product that gives the user a different experience all together.
$399 3g Galaxy Tab with data or
$629 iPad with data
At least with the Galaxy Tab you are getting basically 2 years of free data. You get no subsidized price for iPad. If you buy a 3g iPad, you are going to want to use a data package. Therefore, you will be spending much more.
Really? Sure, cosmetically and form factor wise, it has the traditional apple good looks...but hardware design...well, its rough, very rough.
The ipad reeks of built in obsolescence, just to help with product differentiation between it and the expected ipad 2. That and to sell more expensive models.
Someone asked me why the ipad does not have a memory slot...the answer is obviously so they can sell models with more memory. This is plain as day to anyone who works in technology marketing.
For value, how about we compare a 32gb tab to a 32 gb ipad with wi fi service for a year including data plans (a 16gb sd card for the tab is $30).
I love the ipad, I really do...but lets be a bit more realistic here. Also, sure, the software is easy to use...as long as you use it exactly how uncle steve wants you to.
Hold back on key components to the device, add them to the next iteration (or the next, or the next) - add some 'sparkle' words and have a select group of acolytes drooling. Rather, they should be taking Apple to task for leeching them of every dollar they can get.
"widgets dont align with icons"
-- Excuse me? What does this even mean...
"hitting the menu button to access app features bugged donald."
-- LOL? Can't be having that can we. I'd much prefer to close the app and go all the way deep into a central settings menu...
2ipad is so simple to use, our judges nieces and nephews 1 and a half years old can use the ipad"
-- VERY important. If a 1 year old baby can't use the Tab, how do you expect ME, a TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD to be able to use it????
I went shopping for a tablet last week. I spend two hours comparing the iPad and a Galaxy Tab at two different retailers (Best Buy and the AT&T store) over the course of two days. Both devices had strengths and, in the end, I decided the Galaxy Tab was more of a mobile/portable device. For me, yyping while holding the iPad was not as easy or convenient as the Galaxy Tab.
There is no clear winner on cost in my opinion. Look at the non-contract price of an iPhone 4G in comparison. Screen size has very little to do with higher/lower cost. Considering the Galaxy Tab has dual cameras along with a MicroSD expansion slot, I personally feel the Tab has more value.
How strange to try to compare two such different products. Fully specced hardware with Android vs. the gorgeous walled garden.
Maybe someday the field will catch up, but right now, the iPad is by far the best overall option.
So, for now I will stick with my iPad until someone figures this out.
I watched that video on my Android phone with flash in full version of the site. Couldn't even find it on the iPhone version, neither could I open the full version on iPhone. Great.