Samsung has been on a tablet roll lately. The company leads the Android tablet pack and with 20 percent of all tablets sold worldwide in 2013 and the crown as the biggest tablet maker is within reach. Earlier this year, I reviewed three of Samsung’s PRO model tablets. Those were awesome products for those in the market for a high end device, but Samsung is also paying attention to those who don’t necessarily need an ultra high resolution 359 ppi display or the latest screaming fast mobile processor. This time we take a preview look at the Galaxy Tab 4 range, a new trio of Android tablets from Samsung aimed squarely at the casual use crowd.
Would one of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 4 tablets be the right choice for you?
Samsung has a reputation for building some of the most reliable, attractive and high performance Android tablets on the market. However, not everyone needs an octa-core CPU or the 12-inch display at 2560 x 1600 resolution that the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 boasts. For most tasks, a quad-core processor and more modest display specs do just fine.
The trio of new Galaxy Tab 4 tablets are designed to meet the needs of casual tablet users. Like the PRO line, the Galaxy Tab 4 line includes some basic specs that are shared between all three tablets:
- Quad-core, 1.2GHz CPU
- 1.5 GB of RAM
- Glossy 1280 x 800 pixel display with 16:10 aspect ratio
- 8-16GB of built-in storage with MicroSD card expansion slot
- 3 MP primary camera with 1.3 MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0
- HDMI output, USB 2.0 port
- Runs Android 4.4 (KitKat)
- Kids Mode parental controls
Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch tablet
The most affordable and portable of the bunch, the 7-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 4 is available now. At less than 1 cm thick and weighing just 274 g, this would make a great tablet for pocketing as a mobile gaming device, e-reader, music player, portable movie display or just surfing the web. With Kids Mode and the compact form factor, this also makes a great tablet for the younger set.
Galaxy Tab 4 8-inch tablet
The 8-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 4 (also available now at Best Buy) is still extremely portable, a thin .8 cm thick and svelte 315 g. But by virtue of its larger display, it’s a little more suited to mobile productivity. It still has the horsepower and bright display for games, but that extra space makes use of Samsung’s multi-window display capability more practical and text a bit bigger.
Galaxy Tab 4 10.1-inch tablet
The 10.1-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 4 (in stock at Best Buy) has a big bright display that makes it a great choice as a laptop alternative for casual users —its 469 g weight is much more comfortable to hold while lounging on the couch, while the 6800 mAh battery will outlast more notebook PCs.
That big display also makes the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1-inch tablet worth considering as a mobile productivity solution and combined with its quad-core CPU, it makes an attractive gaming or multimedia option.
If you’re a casual tablet user and don’t feel the need to pay a premium price for a device that smokes all the benchmark tests —but still runs KitKat and all your favourite Android apps— then a Galaxy Tab 4 is worth considering. Not sure what size, or whether you need a little more horsepower? You can compare dozens of Samsung tablets at Best Buy.
