Samsung Refreshes Galaxy Tab Again: Dual-Core, No Plus
by Jason Inofuentes on February 13, 2012 11:25 PM ESTThe original 7" Galaxy Tab was already long in the tooth when it was refreshed in the form of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. That iteration brought Samsung's mighty Exynos SoC to bear on an otherwise meager tablet. Great isn't apparently good enough, though. Samsung's seen fit to produce a true successor, the awkwardly named Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0).
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So what's different this time? The Tab Plus already padded out the length and width of the original, while slimming down the depth; the Tab 2 is just a little thicker this time around. The 7" screen remains a PLS panel with a 1024x600 resolution, nothing too astonishing. The SoC is based on a dual-core design clocked at 1 GHz even. We haven't previously seen an Exynos SoC clocked at 1 GHz, though it's not inconceivable. Qualcomm has some dual-core parts clocked the same, as does NVIDIA.
The only other notable feature of the Tab 2 (7.0) is that it will be the first Samsung-branded device running Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). Hewing to their old habits, Samsung has seen fit to bring TouchWiz to the ICS experience, and from the looks of things we shouldn't expect anything to groundbreaking. The usual assortment of Hubs will be on order (Music, Media, Social and Game), along with a new app curation tool S Suggest (kind of like an App Hub). They're also including a Motocast competitor called AllShare Play. Like Motorola's entrant, the AllShare Play app allows users to view media stored on their PCs or other Samsung devices from wherever they have an internet connection.
The presence of Android 4.0 might point us to another likely suspect for SoC: TI. Samsung's involvement in the Galaxy Nexus is no secret, and they have had the most time with the ICS code as any manufacturer. It's plausible that in order to expedite shipping their first ICS tablet, Samsung chose the Nexus' platform, TI's OMAP 44x0. If that's the case, GPU performance could take a hit versus the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, particularly when that device gets updated to ICS.
Pricing and availability Stateside have yet to be announced; though UK availability is pegged for March. In just two short years, Samsung has gone from having no tablets to a stable at least six deep (more if you count the 10.1v and 10.1N). The Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) may fall short in the hardware department, especially compared to something like the Transformer Prime, but the 7" form factor has long been a fan favorite, and at the right price this could be a great way to experience Ice Cream Sandwich on a tablet. We'll update when we have pricing and availability.
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Source: Samsung
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JohnnyL53 - Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - link
I know we should be over-joyed at an ICS tablet being released but I'm very underwhelmed. When you match the specs on this against the 7.7 released in Europe, dual core 1.4 GHz, super AMOLED plus screen with superior resolution. Metal back. Once again the US gets jobbed or rather potential US buyers that would love something like 7.7 but would rather not have to buy it at Verizon on contract as rumored.Also, when will non-Ipad tablet makers realize that presentation is a large part of the sell. Take a look at the iPad ads. The screen shot pops. Close up with jewel like icons. It looks good which is half the battle. Now take a look at your typical Android screen shot. Dull as dirt. Crappy fields of grass wallpaper. Icons look flat and/or are lost in the wallpaper. Look at the screen shot above. Nothing pops. Looks dark. Small icons. As much as fandroids want to say that style doesn't and shouldn't count for so much, for the majority of buyers it's very influential.
janderk - Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - link
The 7" can not be compared to the 7.7". This is a lower end tablet, which is going to be much cheaper than the high end 7.7" AMOLED tab and just replace the original 7" one.Compare this to cheaper smart phones like the Samsung Galaxy mini. We geeks with money don't care about it and rather spend lots of money on the 7.7" AMOLED or iPad. But there is a huge market out there with people that have less money and still want to use a smart phone or tablet that does most of the things that the expensive gadgets do.
I recently played with a Yarvik 7" tablet, which costs €69 (no contract). You can buy 7 of these tablets for the price of one high end tablet. While we the rich gadget geeks would consider it trash, I was pretty amazed what a €69 gadget can do these days. It is fine for checking your email and browsing the internet and playing simple games.
Bateluer - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
You're worried about pictures on a press release?The question we should be asking is 'Why buy this over a Tab 7 Plus, Tab 7.7, or Tab 8.9?' This Tab 2.0 has almost identical specs to the Tab 7 Plus, with the only notable difference being ICS vs HC 3.2 on the 7+. If Sammy prices this at 199, its a good deal. Any higher, and no dice.
Herp Derpson - Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - link
Yet another (android) tablet that nobody wants. Why do manufacturers try so hard to artificially create a market?jiffylube1024 - Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - link
Samsung really doesn't realize that less is more. The notion is smacking them in the face (their grand success is the singular Galaxy S 2), yet they can't help themselves but release dozens of models. They should focus on getting their lineup to Android 4.0, not releasing new devices that are otherwise almost exactly the same.hingfingg - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
** {{w w w }} {{proxy4biz }} {{ com}} *****blzd - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
They have no incentive to update old products which have already been sold.Releasing slightly updated versions of those products with the new software installed is a much simpler solution, make everyone else wait a couple months to give the new products more value.
That's Android for you.
vision33r - Saturday, February 18, 2012 - link
The entire Android tablet ecosystem and strategy is flawed and completely pointless.You got 5-6 vendors putting out the same product, the only thing to compete on really is the PRICE.
Then you got updates that never show up on time and now you got new tabs with the latest ICS installed on pretty much the same hardware.
How in the world will consumers spend $400+ on a tablet that don't get updates and then the same company sells the same hardware with a newer refreshed name and that one has the update!!
Genius marketing!