Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 Is A Media Powerhouse that still lacks full productivity
Android tablets have flooded the market these days, thus finding one that differentiates itself from the pack is becoming increasingly difficult to do. Samsung could just sit by and sell the brand of Samsung without innovating with these tablets and still sell a ton, but with the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, they’ve added a few key features that may give a little more incentive to buy an Android tablet priced in the $400+ range.
Specs
The main display of the Galaxy Tab Pro Tab 10.1 has a high-resolution of 2560 x 1600. Even in today’s marketplace of 2K displays, that’s quite the display. Of course it’s Super AMOLED thus giving it great visibility outdoors for reading and watching media content. We reviewed the international model so we were graced with the Samsung octa-core Exynos processor. It isn’t a true octa-core processor as its 2 quad-core processor running in unison with each other, but that doesn’t take away from the tremendous power this tablet has. 2GB of ram, 2 megapixel camera on the front and an 8 megapixel camera on the rear gives you the selfie treatment you need, as well as the awkward moments of using a tablet to take pictures with it in public. Powering this bad boy is 8000mah + battery that provides longevity in usage for any tasks you throw at the Pro 10.1, however charging times were extremely long. Up in the 2.5-3 hour range, so be wary to charge the device when the battery is getting low when you can.
Software
You get the latest in Android software in 4.4 KitKat with the new Magazine UI from Samsung. Very reminiscent of the recent changes to TouchWiz for Samsung’s Galaxy line of devices, it brings a much-needed refresh to their Tab line of tablets. In usage, it was very pleasing to use, however it seems to take a lot out of the processing power of the two quad-core processors leading to Samsung setting a certain speed when swiping between screens. App experience did not suffer from this issue. Check the video review for more insight on this particular aspect of the device. Overall, the changes are mainly cosmetic with a few bugs to be kinked out with future firmware updates.
Battery Life
As before mentioned, the battery life on the Tab Pro 10.1 is exceptional. Standby time is becoming a new standard in the industry and it can last for days with inactivity. If you pump constant video out of the device, you can get well over 10+ hours before you need to connect the charger. Charging time is absurdly long, and it’s obvious that incorporating USB 3.0 would have been the sensible decision here, but Samsung is waiting to do that for future Tab models.
Productivity
It’s always been a gripe of mine that tablets, Android tablets in particular have no real value in the productivity department. I was hoping Samsung did something here to add that aspect to the device, however this wasn’t the case. There’s no real way to produce content with this device other than the suite of Google apps like Google Drive and Sheets. If you like those services, and can type well on tablet sized screen, this is a multi-purpose tablet for you.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 is a media based tablet. It’s purely for those looking for top of line specs for occasional usage scenarios. Being priced in this range makes it hard for me to see the Tab Pro as a real differentiator in the market other than some of the apps Samsung provides and superior display technology. I say wait for the upcoming 4K displays about to be released by Samsung to not only get the bang for your buck, but also add a trendsetter element to your repertoire of products.
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